INDEX
The Enigmatic Background of Hakushi Hasegawa Dismantling Clichés
Yes, it’s bewildering. My limited knowledge makes it impossible to fully articulate Hakushi Hasegawa’s musical foundation. In fact, understanding exactly which artists, genres, scenes, or platforms Hasegawa draws from and references is likely beyond anyone but Hasegawa themselves.
It’s easy to label their influences as jazz, electronica, breakcore, or Brazilian music, but such simplifications miss the deeper complexities. Hakushi Hasegawa’s music is so layered, mixed, and high-context that these concepts alone can’t fully capture its essence. Hasegawa works like an alchemist, blending and amplifying elements with profound intricacy, while seamlessly transforming input sounds into new, unexpected realms. This art of transformation is, in itself, a kind of magic.
Certainly, as someone who relies on DJing for a living, I consider myself fairly proactive in exploring diverse music and translating commonalities from various genres into the dance floor. However, when it comes to Hakushi Hasegawa, the gap in their approach to “replacing A with B” seems particularly striking. For instance, the sudden, unexpected insertion of a rave horn (the “Pwoooon!” sound often used by hip-hop DJs) in “KYŌFUNOHOSHI” is a testament to their unique approach.
Imagining why Hakushi Hasegawa relentlessly pursues such an extreme and, as of 2024, unconventional soundscape, it seems to stem from their dedication to continuously pushing beyond conventional boundaries. Reflecting on past interviews, it’s clear that Hasegawa’s strong desire to reject clichés and constantly seek new possibilities drives their creative process.
Such pure desires can be felt from the lyrics of the twelfth track, “Outside,” particularly the line <I love the outside so much that I want to go out>. This final number is highly suggestive; for example, one might wonder what exactly is meant by <my creepy closet>. Just by isolating a single line, the scope for interpretation and speculation is vast. Every element that makes up “Mahōgakkō” can be understood in both an inspiring and terrifying way. However, the true intention can only be known by Hakushi Hasegawa themselves.
