01Profile
A Koji Shimotsu Photo
Koji Shimotsu
Musician — Amagasaki City
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Koji Shimotsu (Dancing Empire), Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture.
What do you do?
Musician.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Thom Yorke at Fuji Rock Festival. It was like being pulled into a different dimension; as if I was witnessing the future of humanity. That was definitely a first for me. I felt like I wasn’t existing in the present. 'Videotape' is the track that sticks out. The album version has a pretty simple acoustic feel, but on this gig, he played it with a full band sound and recreated the reverse drums live. I’m not sure if the drums were human- or computer-generated but I remember thinking it must be a pretty tough job to create that drum sound live (lol). I’d seen Radiohead play at the Yokohama Arena before, but this was completely different.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I saw 'Trainspotting' on late-night TV when I was in the fourth year of primary school. I felt a strong connection with the film because Amagasaki — where I was born and raised — is an industrial city. When I discovered the band The Libertines after that, my life direction was pretty much fixed. My dad would play reggae and bands like The Clash when I was young, so for me, that sound was the norm. So with my dad teaching me all about the culture of the first Summer of Love, I felt I’d met my own second Summer of Love (lol).
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
If we include outdoor venues, it would be the Field Of Heaven stage at the Fuji Rock Festival. The stage is surrounded by mountains and the crowd tend to be music-heads who really know their stuff. If I sing something on that stage, it takes a good three seconds for the sound to come back to me — it has the best sound of any stage at the festival.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
I’d like to record with The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios. It would be super cool to sing opposite John Lennon on 'Across The Universe'.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to party with Amy Winehouse in Ibiza and dance till we drop.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Bert Jansch. I believe he is responsible for laying the foundations of modern popular music. He’s a folk artist, but his songs include progressive-traditional and psychedelic elements. He’s a true unsung hero.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Time For Heroes' by The Libertines. I had it on repeat when I was in the sixth year of primary school. I also listened to Green Day and Limp Bizkit, who were huge bands around the same time, but their sound was very different and pretty alien to me… I was pretty shocked by the sight of those skinny guys playing a diluted kind of rock and roll. Listening to The Libertines’ flippant guitar sound made me feel the same way I did when listening to Captain Beefheart as a kid (lol).
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Champagne Supernova' by Oasis. It perfectly matches the fleeting and momentary nature of those teenage years.
One record you would keep forever?
The 'Trainspotting' soundtrack. If I had all the albums in the world to choose from, it would be that one. That album changed my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Strawberry Fields Forever' by The Beatles. My dad had the album, and I remember reading the translated booklet that came with it when I was in my second or third year of primary school, but it made absolutely no sense to me. It was only when I became an adult that I could get a sense of what they were saying. Of course, there’s no way a child would understand the realm of the dead and Shangri-la! I guess, if it was a reggae track, they would use the term, Zion. The song made me realise that music is a fantasy.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Rocks' by Primal Scream. Once it starts playing, I just find myself singing.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Trash' by Suede. I like the song’s intro.
New music you are listening to now?
black midi. I first saw them on a KEXP session video.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Koji Shimotsu (Dancing Empire), Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture.
What do you do?
Musician.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Thom Yorke at Fuji Rock Festival. It was like being pulled into a different dimension; as if I was witnessing the future of humanity. That was definitely a first for me. I felt like I wasn’t existing in the present. 'Videotape' is the track that sticks out. The album version has a pretty simple acoustic feel, but on this gig, he played it with a full band sound and recreated the reverse drums live. I’m not sure if the drums were human- or computer-generated but I remember thinking it must be a pretty tough job to create that drum sound live (lol). I’d seen Radiohead play at the Yokohama Arena before, but this was completely different.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I saw 'Trainspotting' on late-night TV when I was in the fourth year of primary school. I felt a strong connection with the film because Amagasaki — where I was born and raised — is an industrial city. When I discovered the band The Libertines after that, my life direction was pretty much fixed. My dad would play reggae and bands like The Clash when I was young, so for me, that sound was the norm. So with my dad teaching me all about the culture of the first Summer of Love, I felt I’d met my own second Summer of Love (lol).
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
If we include outdoor venues, it would be the Field Of Heaven stage at the Fuji Rock Festival. The stage is surrounded by mountains and the crowd tend to be music-heads who really know their stuff. If I sing something on that stage, it takes a good three seconds for the sound to come back to me — it has the best sound of any stage at the festival.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
I’d like to record with The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios. It would be super cool to sing opposite John Lennon on 'Across The Universe'.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to party with Amy Winehouse in Ibiza and dance till we drop.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Bert Jansch. I believe he is responsible for laying the foundations of modern popular music. He’s a folk artist, but his songs include progressive-traditional and psychedelic elements. He’s a true unsung hero.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Time For Heroes' by The Libertines. I had it on repeat when I was in the sixth year of primary school. I also listened to Green Day and Limp Bizkit, who were huge bands around the same time, but their sound was very different and pretty alien to me… I was pretty shocked by the sight of those skinny guys playing a diluted kind of rock and roll. Listening to The Libertines’ flippant guitar sound made me feel the same way I did when listening to Captain Beefheart as a kid (lol).
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Champagne Supernova' by Oasis. It perfectly matches the fleeting and momentary nature of those teenage years.
One record you would keep forever?
The 'Trainspotting' soundtrack. If I had all the albums in the world to choose from, it would be that one. That album changed my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Strawberry Fields Forever' by The Beatles. My dad had the album, and I remember reading the translated booklet that came with it when I was in my second or third year of primary school, but it made absolutely no sense to me. It was only when I became an adult that I could get a sense of what they were saying. Of course, there’s no way a child would understand the realm of the dead and Shangri-la! I guess, if it was a reggae track, they would use the term, Zion. The song made me realise that music is a fantasy.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Rocks' by Primal Scream. Once it starts playing, I just find myself singing.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Trash' by Suede. I like the song’s intro.
New music you are listening to now?
black midi. I first saw them on a KEXP session video.
Dancing Empire | Nietschze live at Unseen Studio Coast (2022)
Dancing Empire | Ghost (2019)
Koji Shimotsu | Bird Song (2021)