INDEX
Harnessing Events for Social Commentary
The upcoming event where the two of them will perform together, Grooving Night, has the theme of “Connecting Music, Society, and People with a New Music Event.” It features a two-part format with live music and a talk section where guests discuss social issues. After three previous events, what are SIRUP’s thoughts on hosting this initiative?
SIRUP: The reason we started this was because I felt that when making social statements outside of music, it’s difficult to convey the message effectively through just SNS. With Grooving Night, we have live performances, so we can connect society, music, and live shows in a way that doesn’t feel heavy, and convey messages in an ideal form. Additionally, I hope that through the talks, guests will get a deeper understanding of the artists’ thoughts and take away a richer experience from the music they’ve been listening to.
In Japan, artists sometimes face criticism when they simply say “go vote,” with people saying things like, “I liked their music, but it’s disappointing to tie it with politics,” or when discussing social issues during live MCs, some argue that live performances should be an escape from reality and not involve real-world discussions. By declaring an event dedicated to discussing social issues, it seems like you’re opening up more opportunities to address these topics.
SIRUP: We started this event at a time when there was a growing interest among listeners in social issues, and I hope it will continue to grow into a bigger movement.
What are some of the interesting or memorable stories from previous Grooving Night events?
SIRUP: At the second event, Show Okamoto from OKAMOTO’S gave a fascinating talk about the value of marriage. It was quite rare in Japan for someone who is married to openly discuss the imposition of marriage views. For example, he addressed the common expectations like “Your wife must be waiting at home” or “Eventually, you’ll start a family,” and talked about how these societal pressures on married people are actually just personal choices. The fact that he, being married himself, was able to discuss this openly in front of a large audience was significant.
