TO FUTURE ZINEの方はネット(https://online.recordshop-misery.com/items/88231992)で購入可能です。「スナック社会科横浜映画祭#2 特集:飯山由貴」の方ですが、公開して良いとのことなのでせっかくなので掲載しておこうと思います。作品をすでに観た人もまだ観たことない人も少しだけ違う視点をで作品を観れる文章が書けたらいいなと思いながら書いたけれど、読み返すとやっぱり上手く書けていないなと思ってしまって、あちこち手直ししたい気持ちになってしまう。でもいまそれをする時間の余裕もないのでそのままにしておきます。
Discolor + May’s always humming something- out now★←
Instagram@HarryTeardrop
Twitter@harryteardrop
★新曲のコンセプト、制作、レコーディングについて教しえてください。
この曲では、まずインストルメンタルから始めました。ドラムのプログラミングそれに合わせてギターやベースのパートを書きます。最初は歌詞はありませんでしたが、「Discolor」という言葉だけが頭の中に浮かんでいました。なぜその言葉が潜在意識に浮かんでいるのか、それが私にとって何を意味するのかを考えました。数日間歌詞を書いたり書き直したりしているうちに、「I won't quit even if I'm discolored(変色しても諦めない)」というフレーズが浮かびました。この曲は、自己不信に直面したときに希望を見つけること、そして自分自身の道を辿ることがどれほど困難であってもそれに従うことについての歌です。
私は5歳のときにドラムを始めました。記憶に残る限り、音楽はずっとそばにありました。11歳か12歳のときに曲を書き始め、高校の時にGaragebandでプロデュースする方法を学び、Soundcloudで本当にひどいデモ音源をリリースしました。18歳のときに "Harry Teardrop"として最初の曲「Chinatown」を発表しました。当時の自分をほとんど認識できないくらいですが、それが私の音楽の本格的なキャリアを築けると愚かにも信じるきっかけとなりました。それにもかかわらず、それに伴う困難があるにせよ、私はそれをうれしく思っています。もし自分を出し切っていなかったら、東京の新しい友人であるあなたとは繋がることはなかったでしょう!
★Please tell me about the concept, production and recording of the new single .
Thank you! I'm so happy it resonates with you. For this song, I started with the instrumental. I usually start with programming the drums on my computer and then write the guitar/bass parts over that. I didn't have any lyrics at first but I had just the word, "Discolor". I thought hard about why that word was floating around in my subconscious -- what it means to me. After a few days of writing and re-writing the lyrics, I wrote the line "I won't quit even if I'm discolored". To me, the song is about finding hope in the face of self-doubt. It's also about following your own path, as challenging as that may be.
★what does your creative process ?
My creative process is so scattered. I never really know why I want to make something. It just feels like an itch that I need to scratch. Musically, it usually starts with making an instrumental idea on my computer. But I also write poetry, make visuals, sometimes make clothes or spraypaint-- it all comes from the same place. I just try my best to be honest with what I'm doing.
★Can you tell me about your new music video?
I made the video with my good friend Soren Harrison, who's from London. A few months ago he told me he was going to be in New York. I knew I wanted to make a video with him because I've been a fan of his work for over 4 years now. I actually finished the song the day before he flew into New York and then we shot the video the day after. It was all so spontaneous, just going around my favorite spots in the city. Some of them are places where my first memories were formed like the Natural History Museum and Central Park. As with pretty much everything I do, there was no budget. I'm so grateful he was willing to DIY it with me because he usually makes videos with way bigger budgets. That's love.
★who are your musical influences?
I have too many to name but a few of my favorite artists are The Cribs, Bill Evans, Mazzy Star, Ride, The Replacements, and My Bloody Valentine.
Growing up though it was Oasis, Blink-182, The Strokes, probably The 1975 too.
★can you tell me about your personal history?
My mom is from Vietnam, my dad is from China. Right after they had my brother Grey (Push Ups), they moved to NYC for school where I was born. Our family moved around a lot when Grey and I were growing up. I grew up split between NYC, Portland, Oregon, Shanghai, and Orange County, California. Somehow we always turned to music to make sense of our changing world. 6 years ago, I moved back to NYC for school and started releasing music as "Harry Teardrop". I'm still figuring out my life with each new day but I just feel grateful to be here on this earth.
★how did you start your music career?
I started playing drums when I was 5 years old. Music has been around as long as I can remember. I started writing songs when I was 11 or 12 and then learned how to produce on Garageband when I was in high school, releasing really shitty demos on Soundcloud. I put out my first song as "Harry Teardrop", "Chinatown" when I was 18 and even though I barely recognize the person I was back then, it led me to foolishly believe I could make a real career out of my music. I'm glad it did, despite the challenges that come with it. If I had never put myself out there, I would never be connecting with you, my new friend in Tokyo!
★how do you feel about the scenes around you ?
Do you have any connections with other bands?
Creative people in New York are always bumping into each other. I feel like everyone knows each other or knows a friend of a friend. Even though I'm friendly with so many artists coming out of New York right now, I don't feel like I'm part of any particular scene. I'm not a band, nor am I an electronic artist. I'm somewhere in between. I'm also an Asian American artist which is rare, even in the most diverse city in America. That's how I've been my whole life though so I'm used to that feeling. I'm just happy I get to live in a city where new ideas are being exchanged every day.
★Are there any Japanese artists you listen to ?
Yes! I listen to a lot of Japanese music. Most recently, I've been really loving that new Cruyff album. Some of my favorite Japanese artists are Supercar, ART-SCHOOL, Number Girl, m-flo, Strawberry Machine, Quruli, Daisuke Miyatani, and Rei Harakami.
★You and SATOH(LINNA FIGG/Kyazm) follow on Instagram each other. How did you get to know each other?
I love SATOH! They're so cool to me. I don't remember how we found each other, maybe through lil soft tennis. But I'm a big fan of how genuine their music feels. Linna figg and I had a facetime call recently, I was surprised by how good his English is! I really want to learn Japanese but it's convenient that a lot of people in Tokyo speak English. We're working on playing a show together in Tokyo later this year. I'm just trying to find a sponsor to fly me out there, so if you know of any brands that would be interested, let me know!
★Are there any other Japanese musicians you are close with?
I've never met any of them in person but I know DYGL, SATOH, Lil Soft Tennis / Heaven, and JUBEE, to name a few. I know once I go out there I'll make so many friends. Just the thought is so exciting to me. I really want to DJ a party while I'm out there too.
★What are your current/dream goals for the upcoming ?
My main goal for 2023 is to release my debut album "Inbetween Webs" in the fall accompanied by memorable visuals. I also want to play shows in London and Tokyo. In the grand scheme of things though, I just want to inspire people, have my own house with huge windows, and have a cat, a wife, maybe kids someday. Until then, I'll take every win I can get.
★ The appeal of your music is a hot topic in Japan, and you have many passionate fans. Do you have a message for your Japanese fans?
That's so crazy to me! Such a big part of music is the cultural identity aspect. Sometimes I feel more understood by people in Japan than even here in the US because I'm Asian so they can see me for who I am. My mom was also an English teacher in Japan in the 90s, so I grew up with a love for Japanese culture. That love has only grown as I've gotten older and discovered my favorite artists from there. I can't wait to come out there and party my brains out hahaha.
さて、今回は関空発のツアーでしたので、関西人だらけのアウェー状態を覚悟していましたが、Munichでカメラ仲間になり(使用しているカメラのメーカーが同じというだけですが笑)、食事も隣の席にいた兄弟が私と同じく九州人であることが判明。福岡→伊丹の往路の飛行機の便も同じだったそうです。
そして、さらにluckyなことに宇田川さんの話が通じる方でした🥰
"What more could I want?"はこのためにあるような言葉だとつくづく思った瞬間でした😇