01Profile
A Utena Kobayashi Photo
Utena Kobayashi
Musician — Haramura, Nagano
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Utena Kobayashi, Haramura, Nagano
What do you do?
Musician.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I happen to have seen James Blake’s gig when I was supporting D.A.N. at Namba Hatch in 2017. I don't usually get a chance to see musicians rehearse very often, so I was excited just to see that. I remember Airhead, the guitarist was practising all the time, and not using clicks (metronome) to play around. It was amazing to catch them from rehearsal, then to the performance.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Harry Potter. Form of witchery isn’t it. Considering ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ was huge back then.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
It's difficult to say the best yet, but anywhere in the deep mountains would be it. It really depends on the conditions I'm in, so I guess I'll have to wait and see. Smaller festivals, in the woods, are the best.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series. He’s not a musician though, he could use magic, couldn't he. Yes, music and magic collab.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ozzy Osbourne. I don’t know he believes in but I’d like to join him to attend Mass.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Jacob Collier. He’s already famous but I didn’t get to know him until recently. I caught his 'Moon River' on YouTube where he overdubbed using only his own voice, and it's a beautiful track that I probably play every Christmas season. If you haven't heard it yet, you’ve got no reason not to.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Coffee And TV' by Blur. That music video of milk cartons… I heard 'Coffee And TV' when I was still in primary school. In Haramura, where I come from, the only way we found out about foreign music was through MTV. I recall finding milk cartons with arms and legs super cute.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Coldcut by 'Timber'. It’s kind of a formative experience itself for me. I played this tune a lot too. I like the way the hymn-like sample comes, adding the track a very sacred vibe.
One record you would keep forever?
It would be the album 'Let Us Play!' by Coldcut that includes the 'Timber' track.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I'm not influenced by the lyrical aspects, neither in English nor in Japanese. I don't listen as a song, but rather as sound of music.
Best song to turn up loud?
I scream but I won’t sing. Instead, I do make a lot of strange voice!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I don't know if it's surprising, but I like EDM. The sound that seems to be derived from brostep would be my cup of tea.
New bands you are listening to now?
I mentioned earlier but Jacob Collier. He’s my 2020.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Utena Kobayashi, Haramura, Nagano
What do you do?
Musician.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I happen to have seen James Blake’s gig when I was supporting D.A.N. at Namba Hatch in 2017. I don't usually get a chance to see musicians rehearse very often, so I was excited just to see that. I remember Airhead, the guitarist was practising all the time, and not using clicks (metronome) to play around. It was amazing to catch them from rehearsal, then to the performance.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Harry Potter. Form of witchery isn’t it. Considering ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ was huge back then.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
It's difficult to say the best yet, but anywhere in the deep mountains would be it. It really depends on the conditions I'm in, so I guess I'll have to wait and see. Smaller festivals, in the woods, are the best.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series. He’s not a musician though, he could use magic, couldn't he. Yes, music and magic collab.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Ozzy Osbourne. I don’t know he believes in but I’d like to join him to attend Mass.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Jacob Collier. He’s already famous but I didn’t get to know him until recently. I caught his 'Moon River' on YouTube where he overdubbed using only his own voice, and it's a beautiful track that I probably play every Christmas season. If you haven't heard it yet, you’ve got no reason not to.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Coffee And TV' by Blur. That music video of milk cartons… I heard 'Coffee And TV' when I was still in primary school. In Haramura, where I come from, the only way we found out about foreign music was through MTV. I recall finding milk cartons with arms and legs super cute.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Coldcut by 'Timber'. It’s kind of a formative experience itself for me. I played this tune a lot too. I like the way the hymn-like sample comes, adding the track a very sacred vibe.
One record you would keep forever?
It would be the album 'Let Us Play!' by Coldcut that includes the 'Timber' track.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I'm not influenced by the lyrical aspects, neither in English nor in Japanese. I don't listen as a song, but rather as sound of music.
Best song to turn up loud?
I scream but I won’t sing. Instead, I do make a lot of strange voice!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I don't know if it's surprising, but I like EDM. The sound that seems to be derived from brostep would be my cup of tea.
New bands you are listening to now?
I mentioned earlier but Jacob Collier. He’s my 2020.
Utena Kobayashi - fai
Utena Kobayashi - HIHIHI (Lyric Video)
Utena Kobayashi - roioi (gifvideo)