SATOH, the dynamic rock duo whose groundbreaking sound has earned them widespread acclaim, was recently nominated for the prestigious APPLE VINEGAR -Music Award- hosted by Masafumi Gotoh of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. Their debut album BORN IN ASIA showcases their bold, genre-defying approach to music, and their philosophy of creating songs that resonate with their inner world rather than fitting into conventional molds.
In this interview, SATOH opens up about their unique creative process, offering insights into why they choose the sounds and melodies that feel right to them. Their words challenge the norms, reminding us of the true power of music and its ability to communicate raw emotion and authenticity.
This conversation marks the first time I’ve connected with them since their major debut with OK, a milestone they humbly refer to as their “record deal.” Reflecting on their journey, from the release of their EP Monkeys to their performances at massive festivals like FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL and REDLINE ALL THE FINAL, we dive deep into the core of SATOH’s artistic vision.
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Bringing the Rock Band Energy: Headbanging on the Same Stage
This time, we’re reflecting on the year since the release of your major debut single “OK.” Over the past year, you’ve completed a total of seven songs, produced music videos for all of them, including the tracks on your EP, and performed on big stages like Fuji Rock and REDLINE at Makuhari Messe. It seems like you’ve had an incredibly intense year. How does it feel to you two?
Linna Figg： Whether it was at large venues or places far from our scene, or even at the super-homey CIRCUS × CIRCUS, we’ve had the chance to perform, and there’s definitely a sense of “understanding” now. Like, “I get it now.” So, right now, I’d say we’re in a “we get it” state.
A “we get it” state?
Linna Figg： We’ve figured out what needs to be done.
Kyazm: Absolutely.
Linna Figg： Over the past year, I feel like we’ve laid a solid foundation. So, for this year, I’m planning to release a ton of new songs. Though I’m known to change my mind (laughs), right now, I’m really eager to put out as much music as possible.
Emerging from the depths of the pandemic, SATOH quickly transformed their creative vision into a captivating force. As the masterminds behind the secretive FLAG parties, they’ve seamlessly fused their artistic journey with collaborations from a diverse array of global talent. Their first album, BORN IN ASIA, dropped in March 2023, followed by a triumphant release tour that took them through Shibuya’s WWW and Osaka’s CIRCUS. The duo’s momentum continued to build, culminating in the largest FLAG event yet at Shibuya’s O-EAST in September 2023. Alongside their long-time collaborators such as Age Factory, HEAVEN, No Buses, and Peterparker69, they also welcomed New York’s Harry Teardrop, solidifying their impact on Tokyo’s dynamic music scene.
Over the past year, what have you explored as SATOH, and what have you “understood”?
Linna Figg: About a year ago, when we were interviewed, it was right after we performed at the SPARK!!SOUND!!SHOW!! event, and just before that, we had been invited to THE ORAL CIGARETTES’ Hokkaido tour, which was our first proper invitation to perform with a band. Up until then, we had been innocently creating what we liked and performing in front of people, saying things like “We’re going to be the top of J-ROCK!” But once we actually went to perform with bands, we felt the culture and energy of the audience firsthand, and it was like, “I see.” I realized that if we really wanted to be taken seriously, we couldn’t keep going like this. I started to want to make the crowd headbang too. So, over the past year, I’ve been thinking about how to make that happen while staying true to SATOH’s style. “OK” wasn’t even recorded at that point, but it was the song that resonated the most during our live performance at SPARK!!SOUND!!SHOW!!.
With that response in mind, this must have been the song you chose for your major debut. Over the past year, while you’ve been focused on figuring out how to make the audience headbang on the same stage as a rock band, what specific answers have you found?
Linna Figg： We really thought about the drums and guitar sounds. We’re not the typical band with drums and bass, like, “We’ve been playing together since high school.” The final version of the track has a digital beat and heavy guitar, but when we considered it as a live show, we realized that wasn’t enough. So, Kyazm tried a lot of different equipment.
Kyazm: Exactly. Over the past year, we realized that “live performance is crucial,” and for me, it was a time to really focus on the guitar. I tried all sorts of equipment. At first, I tried to bring out the best from the amp, but that didn’t quite work, so now I’m playing without an amp and connecting directly through the line.
Linna Figg: We bought a car just to transport the amp, but then… [laughs].
Kyazm: And now it’s all pointless [laughs].
