Q&A Feat. Hibiki Ichikawa and DJ Takaki – Making Music

Journalists: Thank you so much for meeting us. Well, thank you for such a wonderful show. That was brilliant. I was having a little dance.

DJ Takaki: Thank you.

Journalists: How was it for you, to play in London?

DJ Takaki: It was so impressive and it was so fun for me because in my case I moved to London last year. I still have a few times to play at London, but it’s important to try it out every time.

Journalists: So where did you live before?

DJ Takaki: I lived in Tokyo. I decided to move to London because the culture is better for me, more than in Tokyo.

Journalists: Your different musical styles complement each other and match so well together. How did you meet? How did this happen?

Hibiki Ichikawa: We met this January through one of my friends who played at a music event. This person introduced us. We tried to cooperate. Our first gig was so successful, so we should cooperate more and more.

Journalists: So it grew from one event into playing in the Square today.

Journalists: Where do you take inspiration from?

Hibiki Ichikawa: For me, of course, I play shamisen. So I play stuff from them. But in the UK I usually play by myself. I also usually play in the Japanese folk music style.

DJ Takaki: For me as well. Before I met with Hibiki, I always focused on the electronic side of music. I had never met a really good Japanese musical instrument player. But when I first saw his performance on YouTube I was so, oh my god, so influenced by his playing. I must say that I’m always pleased to play with him all the time and am influenced by him as well.

Journalists: How do you create the pieces, working together? Do you start with a melody? Do you start with a beat? Or is it…

DJ Takaki: When we create music, we are always in my studio together. And we spend three or four hours, five hours sometimes. Normally, I create all the sounds in my computer. Then we talk about which parts I play and which parts Hibiki plays, and then how we correlate [that].

Journalists: So going back to you, talking about the shamisen side of things. When did you start playing it?

Hibiki Ichikawa: When? Because when I was in Japan, I used to play the guitar. Then when I heard the sound of the shamisen, I was so moved by my teacher. So I changed my mind and thought I should be playing shamisen. So I started playing the shamisen when I was twenty. Then it was addicting practicing every day.

Journalists: When did you start getting into DJing?

DJ Takaki: When I was fourteen or sixteen I saw a famous Japanese DJ competition on the TV. It was so impressive and was influential. It was the first time I was interested in scratching and beat juggling. Somewhat the performance side of the DJ. And after on that I was focusing on good electronic music. Finally I was active in Tokyo for fourteen years and then I decided to move to London from Tokyo because New York and London have great electronic music scenes, better than Tokyo. And I thought in all things it was good for me in activities and in my life .

Journalists: You had some early success as a DJ.DJ Takaki: No, I think I didn’t suck.Journalists: You’re too modest.

[Translator Interjects]

Translator: Humbleness. He comes from Japan.

Journalists: For sure, but that’s, still. You had success. Congratulations! What’s your favorite piece to play together? Is it the same or is it different?

DJ Takaki: For me, when I do the beat juggling, using a turntable, using this kind of move. When I do those kinds of things, I feel like I’m drumming in real time. I create the bass from the beat juggling, then Hibiki plays, and I really enjoy that.

Hibiki Ichikawa: To be honest, I love every song. Of course, I had never played that kind of music before I met him. I have performed with several musicians who use flute, bass guitar and drum kits. They might follow me. But he’s kind of a director of music. I must hit the beat. I must concentrate a lot. This is a really good opportunity for me to play shamisen.

Journalists: Could you say if, from what you have seen today, there could be some sort of shamisen scene or movement in the UK arising? I see that from your website that you offer tuition for shamisen?

Hibiki Ichikawa: Ah, lessons.

Journalists: Do you think it could become popular in the UK?

Hibiki Ichikawa: I hope so. Because now I have over twenty students and I am teaching in Germany as well. So I hope more people become interested in shamisen.

Journalists: My first experience of a similar style of music was Dance Dance Revolution. I was wondering if you had ever played DDR?

Hibiki Ichikawa: I have seen it but I have never played it. Because I’m no good at dancing.

Journalists: What music do you enjoy listening to. What acts or bands?

Hibiki Ichikawa: I’m interested in listening to UK rock music. This is one of the reasons I came here to the UK.

Journalists: So have you taken any inspiration from the UK scene here?

Hibiki Ichikawa: Yes. I consider some of my original pieces influenced by UK local music.

Journalists: Would you consider covering a rock song?

Hibiki Ichikawa: I want to one day, but it’s difficult because the shamisen has no frets. I have to play each note by ear. So it takes time. But one day I will try to pick that note.

DJ Takaki: For me, I also like to listen to everything as well. But normally I check new electronic music from other websites as well. I want to use my DJ [skills] for techno, house , drum and bass. But I prefer local music as well. I like everything.

Journalists: What’s your aspiration? What’s next for the two of you? Album? Tour? Superstardom? The O Tube? Wembley Stadium?

Hibiki Ichikawa: As much as possible, we like to perform more, in London and through England.

DJ Takaki: I also think that we need to play more. Small or big venues. Everything and everywhere.

Journalists: There’s definitely an audience for what you’re doing. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for the performance.