INDEX
Intent to Upend the World
– Spotify has grown a lot at around the same time, and dance music has shifted to EDM and festivals. It’s all very exciting, but the audience on the floor has stopped moving.
Sugiura: Yeah, it got more and more fragmented in the 2010s, and there was no more interesting combinations of different genres.
– I think the problem in Japan was that there were not many people in their 20s in clubs before Corona, and I think Corona was a reset or a fresh start. Do you have any memories or memorable songs from the 2010s?
Sugiura: Well, I don’t really remember.
– But you’ve done solo DJ set for 24 hours straight and played overseas, right? Do you have any songs that are tied to those memories?”
Sugiura: Not really. I honestly don’t remember much about myself (laughs). But I do remember stories that people found amusing when I told them. For example, when I played Pink Floyd’s ‘Pow R. Toc H.’ from their 1st album as the opening act for The Chemical Brothers, all of their crew came to the DJ booth and said, “You konw the good stuff” [laughs].
Sugiura: But I really dislike just talking about the past. It’s not that it’s bad, but I still feel like I have a lot more growing to do. I’ve always hated being called an artist too. It’s because I’ve been making money since my band days. I think artists are people who paint or make music without being asked, but lately I feel like I’m doing things that no one asked me to do, right? I guess I can finally say I’m an artist for real now [laughs].
– That’s right, no one asked you to do anything.
Sugiura: Yes, even if no one expects me to do it and it may not bring in any money. But it’s a little different from just doing it because you like it. I always do things with the intention of turning the world upside down.
– At first, you said you were going to make this album as a solo album of Eiji Sugiura. As your music, regardless of categories or genres.
Sugiura: A major influence was composing music for Miyashita-san’s shows and Kawamura Takeshi-san’s theatrical productions. Both of them are uncompromising artists, so meeting their expectations gave me a great sense of achievement, especially since the music wasn’t intended to just make people dance. Also, starting The Alexx simultaneously allowed me to revisit being in a band. That’s why I could create this album with a very fresh mindset. Although I was quite pressed for time towards the end [laughs].
SUGIURUMN “SOMEONE IS DANCING SOMEWHERE” Party
Saturday, July 6, 2024
SHIMOKITAZAWA SPREAD
open / start 15:30
DJs : SUGIURUMN, YODATARO
Live Guest : Haruna Yusa
3,000yen + 1D
SUGIURUMN, who debuted in 1999, celebrates 25 years this year. Throughout his career, he has consistently engaged with the dance floor, delivering messages through dance beats. Last September, he released his first original song in Japanese lyrics, marking a milestone in his extensive career. Since then, he has continued to produce music that transcends genres, featuring numerous singers including his own vocals. Now, this project culminates in the release of his album. Including unreleased tracks, the album features 11 songs. It encapsulates stories from everyone involved—singers, remixers, designers, and staff—from the past and sets the stage for the future. The album will be released on CD in August, with an early release scheduled for this day, where he invites everyone to celebrate the album together on the dance floor before anywhere else.
SUGIURUMN “SOMEONE IS DANCING SOMEWHERE”
August 7, 2024 release
KKV-155
CD: 3,300 yen
- True Story feat. Mirai Oukura
- Midnight Club feat. mayu
- Music Function feat. Hokuto Asami
- All About Z feat. Haruna Yusa
- Juveniles feat. Daiki Kishioka
- Slowmotion Through The Night feat. ANI (Scha Dara Parr)
- Razor Sharp feat. Jimme Armstrong
- Love Degrees feat. Keiichi Sokabe
- Rebel Boy
- Into The Light feat. Jun Yoshimura
- Butterfly Effect
Started his career in 1992 as the singer of the indie band Electric Glass Balloon. After the band disbanded in 1998, he continued his career as a DJ and solo artist under the name SUGIURUMN. He has released nine albums to date, produced numerous singles and remixes, and performed at DJ booths around the world, including Pacha in Ibiza and Sankeys in Manchester. In 2019, he restarted his band as The Alexx, bridging dance and rock styles and leaping onto larger stages. He also composed the soundtrack for fashion designer Takahiro Miyashita’s collection TAKAHIRO MIYASHITA The Soloist.
Following only the music he believes in, he looks back on a trajectory spanning over 30 years. No one can live like him, but he himself is still evolving. The project, which started in the summer of 2023 with the release of his first Japanese-language original song, is complete! It showcases the real humor and message of a DJ/producer who has continued to battle in Japan, where dance culture has never taken root as a scene like overseas, featuring distinctive singers.
Label pre-orders now available
https://store.kilikilivilla.com/v2/product/detail/KKV-155
