01Profile
A Kensuke Ushio Photo
Kensuke Ushio
03Interview
Name
Kensuke Ushio / agraph.
What do you do?
Artist/ Producer
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Underworld at Zepp Tokyo in 2010, I watched them from the side of the stage because I played as the opening act. When my show finished and I went off the stage, they were watching my show and told me "keep on techno". I keep these words close to my heart even now.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Music. Techno among others. The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Warp Records etc, a lot of musician from the UK. I noticed later that I liked UK techno.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. Not only because I’ve watched many artists there, but because playing a show there is a meaningful part of the culture. In recent years, the quality of the sound there is getting better and better. The graffiti-covered backstage by artists lifts me up.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I’d like to make a second 'Polygon Window' with Richard D James. Meaning he'd let me put my name in another ‘Polygon Window’.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to talk with Brian Eno about how he went through a transition to ambient, because I feel that I’m in that transitional period now. I want to know how conscious of it he was at that time.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Rainer Veil. They released songs from the label called MODERN LOVE. This label’s leading artist is Andy Stott. Rainer Veil has a cool track, so I think they should get more attention.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
UK techno which became a part of myself.
The first track you played on repeat?
‘Blue Monday’ by New Order. I think that was the period after graduating junior high and before enrolling in high school when my musical preferences had changed a lot. I didn’t have a record player but I bought twelve-inch with cover art designed to look like a floppy-disk by Peter Saville.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Aphex Twin’s mellow music. If I’m forced to say, ‘Xtal’, which is introversive and not intense very much but emotional.
One record you would keep forever?
'Drukqs' by Aphex Twin. from has many tracks from intense beats to mellow, so I don’t think I will ever get tired of it.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘Out Of Control’ by The Chemical Brothers. I remember that the voice of Bernard Sumner was burned into my brain.
Best song to turn up loud?
Absolutely ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Make Her Mine’ by Hipster Image. In my late teens, I listened to only techno music, so I wondered if I should listen to others. The mod compilation album I took by chance had this track.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
He isn’t new, but John Hopkins, who learnt a lot from Brian Eno. released an album for the first time in 5 years called 'Singularity' which is great.
03Interview
Name
Kensuke Ushio / agraph.
What do you do?
Artist/ Producer
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Underworld at Zepp Tokyo in 2010, I watched them from the side of the stage because I played as the opening act. When my show finished and I went off the stage, they were watching my show and told me "keep on techno". I keep these words close to my heart even now.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Music. Techno among others. The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Warp Records etc, a lot of musician from the UK. I noticed later that I liked UK techno.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. Not only because I’ve watched many artists there, but because playing a show there is a meaningful part of the culture. In recent years, the quality of the sound there is getting better and better. The graffiti-covered backstage by artists lifts me up.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I’d like to make a second 'Polygon Window' with Richard D James. Meaning he'd let me put my name in another ‘Polygon Window’.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to talk with Brian Eno about how he went through a transition to ambient, because I feel that I’m in that transitional period now. I want to know how conscious of it he was at that time.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Rainer Veil. They released songs from the label called MODERN LOVE. This label’s leading artist is Andy Stott. Rainer Veil has a cool track, so I think they should get more attention.
04Playlist Notes
How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
UK techno which became a part of myself.
The first track you played on repeat?
‘Blue Monday’ by New Order. I think that was the period after graduating junior high and before enrolling in high school when my musical preferences had changed a lot. I didn’t have a record player but I bought twelve-inch with cover art designed to look like a floppy-disk by Peter Saville.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Aphex Twin’s mellow music. If I’m forced to say, ‘Xtal’, which is introversive and not intense very much but emotional.
One record you would keep forever?
'Drukqs' by Aphex Twin. from has many tracks from intense beats to mellow, so I don’t think I will ever get tired of it.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘Out Of Control’ by The Chemical Brothers. I remember that the voice of Bernard Sumner was burned into my brain.
Best song to turn up loud?
Absolutely ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Make Her Mine’ by Hipster Image. In my late teens, I listened to only techno music, so I wondered if I should listen to others. The mod compilation album I took by chance had this track.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
He isn’t new, but John Hopkins, who learnt a lot from Brian Eno. released an album for the first time in 5 years called 'Singularity' which is great.