Interview: Junko Hiroshige
I’m intrigued by the setup of your upcoming solo shows at Tusk Festival. I understand that they’re going to be limited to 10 people per performance. Are you able to share any details on what attendees can expect?
I have a chance to play for several audience sometimes. I believe that the audience can enjoy something in the limited space and time.
I first saw you perform at Multiple Tap earlier this year. I’ve been listening to extreme music for many years, and yet your voice is one of the most excruciating sounds I’ve ever heard. Is it part of your intention to make your audience agonised and uncomfortable?
Thank you for your coming to Multiple Tap event at Cafe Oto 2014. I always do my best but I can understand about uncomfortable for several audience. It is true my voice makes people unhappy and uncomfortable. I always never announce about my performance. I wish the most enthusiastic audience can choose the event by Internet information. You can listen Junko solo at Multiple Tap, Cafe Oto, London 2014.
Perhaps the reason I find your voice so intense is that it occupies the same frequency range as a lot of typically disturbing sounds: fingernails on a blackboard, children screaming in terror. Is this deliberate? Are there any particular sounds that you are trying to emulate?
I always play naturally by my self. It means I’m out of fine music. I think noise means troublesome and irritating sometimes. It reaches a consensus on a matter. And I’m happy for the noise scene. I feel I’m really lucky to my surroundings.
When did you start using your voice like this? On Youtube, I’ve found videos going all the way back to 1987!
I remember I play in SHYUNOH KAIDAN first at osaka 1982. I do not remember about my voice like this, but you can listen again here.
What first inspired you to use your voice in this way?
I think that HIJOKAIDAN makes my voice in this way by nature. It was really easy idea for me like a happening.
Is it difficult to sustain the same style over long periods of time? Do you have to train your voice in order to do this?
I do not try to train! Please remember my sound check is a few minutes enough.
I can play really natural and free with HIJOKAIDAN.
I thougt that I could grow up with HIJOKAIDAN.
As well as working in Hijokaidan, you’ve collaborated with many other musicians (Kylie Minoise, Rudolf Eb.er). How does your approach vary depending on who you are collaborating with?
I’m not active to make a plan about concerts and recordings in fact. Nowadays I can play with gorgeous ,magnificent, heartbreaking artists.I’d like to say really thank you for Michel Henritzi, Mattin, Kylie Minoise, Rudolf Eb.er, Sutcliffe Jugend,Yves Botz and so on.
They asked me about collaboration directly. Specially Kou Katsuyoshi manages Multiple Tap and he asks me fantastic collaboration. I’m looking forward to playing with unbelievable artists soon.
What are you listening to at the moment (this can either be records that you’ve been enjoying recently, or the sounds that you can hear right now)?
MAN WITH A MISSION / TAKE ME HOME MV.
Other than Tusk Festival, what else is coming up for you?
It will be long tour and I’m looking forward to visiting every place.
JUNKO – OCTOBER DATES:
16 : youkoANDO & Junko & Jean play L’embobineuse marseille
18 : Dustbreeders / Junko LAUSANNE (LUFF Festival)
19 – 23 oct : Junko & Yves (TBA) ???
24 : MESA / Junko LYON (Ground Zero)
25 : MESA / Junko MONTPELLIER (Villa des Cent Regards)
26 : MESA / Junko TARNAC (Magasin Général)
27 : MESA / Junko BOURG EN BRESSE (Centre psychothérapique de l’Ain))
28 : MESA / Junko GENÈVE (Cave 12)
31 : Dustbreeders / Junko PARIS / MONTREUIL (Instants Chavirés)
JUNKO + MICHEL DUO – NOVEMBER DATES
3 : BOURGES ART SCHOOL
4 : ANGERS
5 : NANTES
7 : ROTTERDAM
8 : ANTWERP
10 : Dustbreeders / Junko + William Nurdin / Junko NANCY / MAXÉVILLE (TOTEM)
14 : MESA / Junko – METZ (La Face Cachée)
15 : Junko solo DE KREUN IN KORTRIJK, BELGIUM
Tusk Festival – http://tuskfestival.com
Junko Discography – http://www.discogs.com/artist/310831-Junko
