INDEX
Creating Precedents for Presumed Impossibilities
-Even if you choose to do what you want and live your life with hope for the future, I believe that you will experience suffering again and again. How do you think you should deal with such suffering?
SIRUP: In my opinion, there are three things. The first is to learn about the structure of society. I have never lived outside of Japan, so I can only speak from the perspective of living in Japanese society, but I feel that things are often decided on the basis of 0 or 100, black or white. The process of making things is a complex one, and it is made up of a variety of things, but we are overflowing with information and values that tell us “what not to do” or “what to do”. There is also a lot of behavior that is created for a specific purpose, such as selling something. I think that by knowing those structures, we can learn why we are suffering and where our responsibility lies.
SIRUP: But even so, a lot of hurtful and painful things happen, and I think there are parts of us that we cannot control our emotions even though we understand them in our heads. The second thing is to face your state of mind at such times. Why are these tough feelings being generated now? Sometimes it is a complex thing that cannot be simply expressed like anger or sadness. I feel that knowing what I don’t like and why I am feeling this way will link my feelings and experiences, and I will be less likely to say, “I don’t know why, but I am sad.
Third is to output. In my case, I feel that I am accepting and understanding my suffering through music, painting, and dialogue. Just putting it into words and talking about it with others is fine. And it is also important to feel that outputting is not a period of the suffering and feelings. I believe that suffering and problems are rarely resolved immediately. But if you keep facing them, the problem may become unimportant, or you may have to keep dealing with it until you die. That is why I think it is important to first have the feeling of wanting to know how to face the problem, and I hope that you will face it well when you do. Outputting is the feeling of taking the feelings at that moment out of your body and putting them aside.
-Thank you very much. I get the impression that you are constantly changing as you go along, but what kind of image do you have for SIRUP in the future?
SIRUP： My music and my way of doing things are sometimes treated as indie and sometimes as major, and I think I am neither. But I think the fact that I am able to exist as such is a change in the music industry. I want to be a person who can show that it’s okay to be neither, and that it’s cool to be both. Thanks to my team, I have been able to collaborate with many overseas artists, and I want to continue to set precedents for things that were once thought to be impossible.
SIRUP: And what I do is music of the black community, like R&B and Hip Hop, which is born out of the history of the black community’s ongoing struggle against discrimination and the empowerment of the community. Therefore, I would like to use my music and the influence I have built to express myself in a way that will improve society. I believe that it is neither a musician nor an artist who just has influence but does not use that influence to make society a better place. I want to continue making music with people who share the same intention.
-I am very encouraged that there are artists who have the will to give back to the community and to society, firmly, rather than exploit only the good aspects of the culture that has been created by a community that has been and still is treated unfairly. Apart from your career, do you have any goals or ideal state for the future as an individual?
SIRUP: I want to paint more, because I feel that music, as well as painting and dancing, are very important and personal in my life. Also, this is very abstract, but I want to become a gyal [laughs]. I trust Gyaru, and I think the best Gyaru are those who have the ability to give accurate answers without making any distinctions. I feel that nail art is now a modern art form, and I think that gal is now transmitting culture. Isn’t it too great? [laughs]
-You already have a gyaru mindset, sirup [laughs]. Lastly, we have selected a new song, “GO! as the song that she would like to deliver to the people of #those days. Please tell us why you chose this song and what you put into it.
SIRUP: With all the things going on in the world, I have not been able to write a song with a positive message of looking forward for a long time. To be honest, I have the most chaotic feeling in my life, and I feel like I am forced to live this way. But it would be a waste to be forced into such a situation, and it is very important to have fun in life, which is why I wrote this song to encourage people to just have fun.
Of course, I can’t and don’t want to tell people to forget about everything in the world and have fun. However, I think there are many people, especially among the younger generation today, who have been told to “stay afloat” or “live life this way. I wanted to send a message to those people, “It’s okay to get carried away, we will take care of you as your seniors, so just enjoy your life for now! We’ll take care of you as your seniors, so enjoy your life! You were deprived of choices because of the Corona, so you can seek out the world and choose to enjoy it. I wanted to help them prepare for that, and I chose this song because I want to live my life that way.
#WordsToMyYoungerSelf presented by FRISK
FRISK is championing positive strides and ventures with its “#WordsIWantToSendToMyselfFromBackThen” campaign. Here, 11 artists, talents, and creators have penned letters to their former selves, encouraging them to embark on new paths and embrace challenges. Expect interviews and discussions on the letter contents across platforms like CINRA, J-WAVE, me and you, Natalie, NiEW, and QJWeb. The handwritten letters in full will be showcased at the FRISK exhibition titled “Words I Want to Send to Myself from Back Then,” commencing April 11th (Thursday) at BONUS TRACK in Shimokitazawa. (Details here).
#WordsIWantToSendToMyself
Eleven groups of leading artists will present “Words I Wish I Could Deliver to Myself Back Then”. The exhibition features handwritten letters written to their former selves who were once troubled by problems. This exhibition is a gift to all those who will start a new life this spring.
Venue: BONUS TRACK GALLERY, Shimokitazawa (2-36-12 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)
Dates: April 11 (Thu) – 17 (Wed), 2024, 11:00 – 20:00 (common for all days) *Opening hours are subject to change.
Participating artists: Sekai Kan Ozaki (Creep Hype), Ayuni D, Boru Juku (Tomoka Tanabe, Hope Sakayori, Anri, Haruka Kiriya), SIRUP, imase, Megane, Ameko Kodama, TENDRE, Kento Nagatsuka (WONK), Aile The Shota, Masaya Mifune (ROTH BART BARON)
Organized by NiEW Supported by FRISK
A special talk show featuring Ayuni D. and Ameiko Kodama x Megane will also be held!
In addition to the exhibition, we will hold a special talk show featuring Ms. Ayuni D., Ms. Ameko Kodama, and Mr. Megane, who have contributed messages to this project, on the stage. Talk show will be held.
Location: BONUS TRACK LOUNGE (2F BONUS TRACK central building tenant 2-36-15 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)
Date & Time:
Talk show by Ameiko Kodama and Megane-san” April 11 (Thu) 19:30-20:30 (doors open at 19:00)
Talk show by Ayuni D.” April 14 (Sun.) 14:00-15:00 (doors open at 13:30)
Seating at the venue is limited, so if you wish to attend, please register via the link below. Only winners will be notified after a drawing will be held. (Please set “@niew.jp” as a designated domain to receive emails.)
→Please check the NiEW special page for details.
