INDEX
The Power of Context: Why We Listen to DJs
Takano: PARCO has adopted the theme “KEEP TURNING” for its 55th-anniversary logo. This theme expresses the evolving lifestyles and the blending and diversification of values. One of the most striking phrases within this theme is “transformation.” How do you perceive the changes happening in the world?
Obukuro: Over the past five years, starting with the pandemic and followed by wars and other extraordinary events, it feels like we are living in an unimaginable world. The changes in the world have been so rapid that it feels like I’ve become a witness to history. In a time when I don’t know where to start, I feel fortunate that I can express myself through making music. Recently, with the U.S. presidential election, I was surprised by how many people hold values different from mine. It really makes me realize just how small my community is.
Takano: Depending on where you live, there are different perspectives, and the fast-paced changes in the world surely have a significant impact on artists. It changes not only where you draw inspiration from but also how you express it.
Obukuro： I’ve been listening to a lot of older music, and I feel that the message hasn’t changed. For example, around the time PARCO opened in 1969, albums like The Beatles’ Abbey Road (1969), Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin (1969), and Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) were released. The song “Money” from The Dark Side of the Moon feels like it reflects current times, and it’s interesting to think that PARCO was born in an era when such music was being created. 1969 was also the period of the Woodstock Music and Art Festival, when anti-establishment hippie culture was thriving, and you can feel that vibe in the music from that time. When making music, I draw inspiration from the past and am constantly challenged to think deeply.
Takano: Works born in 2024, influenced by the chaos of modern times, may also be talked about 50 years from now.
Obukuro: I think it’s the role of DJs and music lovers to make that happen. If you think about why people listen to DJs, it’s because certain songs shine in specific contexts. A track that may not resonate when listened to on its own can gain new value when placed within the flow of surrounding songs. I feel that the role of a DJ is to rediscover and highlight that value. That’s why I pay attention to the order and timing of songs in FLIP SIDE PLANET, and I had the same intention for the PARCO party.
Takano: DJs also create and deliver stories through their sets.
Celeina： That’s such a beautiful insight. Finally, could you share what you hope for from the future of PARCO?
Obukuro： At the PARCO in Urawa, I’ve noticed students studying in the library and many families visiting. I’d be happy to hold DJ events in an environment where people of all ages gather.
Celeina： That would be great at Shibuya PARCO as well!
Obukuro： I’d love to do that in Shibuya too, but I also want to bring DJs who are active in local areas slightly away from the city centers like Urawa and Kichijoji. With the decreasing number of live music venues, I hope the music they play is passed down to the next generation in various places.
Takano: It would be exciting if different cultures emerged from each PARCO location.
Celeina： We look forward to your future activities and the future of PARCO. Thank you very much for joining us today, Mr. Obukuro.
PARCO 55th Anniversary
The ever-changing scenery of daily life. The blending and diversification of values. The complexity of rules and laws. In this society that transforms in the blink of an eye, we want to create unknown moments of excitement. The ordinary and the unconventional continually switch places. At the heart of this chaotic world, PARCO continues to evolve today.
Ikebukuro PARCO 55th Anniversary Special Site
https://ikebukuro.parco.jp/page/55th_anniversary_link/
