Interview with Japanese indie rockers The Suzan
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Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat hits stores Oct. 26. (Fool's Gold/Downtown Records)
By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
The Suzan is a quartet of Japanese indie rock gals who call New York their home. Bounding between gigs in their native Tokyo and NYC, they’re now prepping a new album, Golden Week for the Poco Poco Beat. I caught up with the group (Saori, vocals and guitars; Rie, guitars and keyboards; Ikue, bass; NICO, drums) in advance of the band’s area shows this week for NickyDigital.com’s CMJ Showcase and Pitchfork.com’s #Offline Festival.
How did The Suzan form?
The Suzuki sisters, Rie and Saori, began making tracks in 2003. After they sent their demos to a Japanese indie label and that label released their songs, the owner of the label told them to organize the band to play shows. Then NICO and Ikue joined.
What does your name refer to?
It is the sisters’ nickname.
The band’s music is an eclectic mix of Western styles. Who are your biggest influences?
The Beatles and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Earlier this month we’ve had famous Japanese groups like X Japan, Vamps and Puffy AmiYumi playing New York. Did you and your friends get to see any of these shows? What are your feelings about the warm reception these artists have received in the States?
Ikue: Me and my friends didn’t see these shows. I think what they are doing is a good way to show Japan’s recent musical culture (Visuals, animation, etc.). Their ways to approach this are different from ours, though.
At the same time, it’s been difficult for any Asian band to achieve mainstream success here. What are The Suzan’s goals as a group?
NICO: I don’t believe THE SUZAN is an Asian band. We are a worldwide band that was just born in Asia.
Saori: I think it’s difficult to achieve mainstream success for Asian people. But we can do it! This is our goal.
Read the rest of the interview here.
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