I Interviewed : Shinichi Osawa!


well alot of you should know who he is, i did a review for his album couple weeks ago & if you don't then go here & start knowing, coz hes amazing! The interview was consisted of long ass questions but shinichi only gave short not neccesarly descriptive answers & it took a translator to convert the questions to japanese & the answers to english! lol

Anyhow here's the interview, Check it out...

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*First of all What made you departure from being "Mondo Grosso"? What genre your currently fall under?

This time, it was necessary to make an album focused on the aspects of DJ Shinichi Osawa, thus I used the artist name.

I hate to talk things by genres, but I guess this falls into “electro,” the global movement happening in sync.

*Why did you call it "The One"?

The Oneway

* Now even though you've been making music before they even started, but let ego aside, was "The One" by any chance influenced by "Junkie XL"? Because he released one of the best albums in 2006 that I ended up killing by overplaying it all year long & your record/songs severely remind me of his songs along with "Boys Noize" & "Digitalism"?

I haven't been influenced.

* Who/ What were your main influences in the process of making "The One"?

Many inspirations came from feedbacks at DJ GIGs.

* Your recent music, it's really a hybrid of indie rock songs and pure power electro tracks! or am I not quite right?

I guess it can be expressed like that.

*do you write the lyrics to your own music?

I think of motifs, but I don't actually write them.

* When you start producing a new tune/remix how do your start? Do you analyze the original tune and then got inspired or start from scratch? How does the process work?

It depends on each song. In fact, I try not to make rules nor theories.

* Let's talk a bit about the brilliant collaborations specially "princess superstar"? How did that happen? What made you choose her for "detonator" (because she's the absolute perfect person for it)?

My friend in NY, Larry Tee helped and came true. I had always liked her style.

* Did she have to fly to Japan or were you in the us recording the album? Did you meet?

The first phase was done in NY, but the vocal recording was done by herself.

* & the retro mingle jingle electro pop "Freeform Five", how did they get involved!?

We swapped remixes.. I also have future collaboration plans with the leader, Anu.

*Let's discuss few tracks shall we, who the hell is "Ania" singing "Push"? Because that is a one hell of a brilliant track, it just reeks with attitude! tell me more about it & her?

She is a Swedish model/singer based in Paris. Igot to know her through an art directing team called TVISIONS.
It is a rock track having much digital essence. I tried to fuse the early productions of RUN DMC and punk music.

* "Rendezvous" gave me a hard time to get into! It's the most unfitting overall with the style of the album... Don't you think you took it a bit far on some bits of the song? because at some points it sounds like a monster mash-up, bit off and a bit odd (which means it shouldn't work), but it does!?

Yes, I think this is the most experimental track, but I don't think ithas gone too far.

I sense that my improvising journey has begun again.

* Now the last track "The Golden" (which is my favorite semi-instrumental track on the album) a beautiful combo of sounds, tell us a little bit about the track, how did it come along.. What were you thinking of when you were making it?

I made this track myself. This too is a track which resulted from improvisation on the desk top.

I sampled a lot, and when I compared the outcome with the original, the process was so complicated that I can't even see the path it went through.

This is my favorite, too.

* What do you want the fans to get/feel from a whole "The One" listening session?

This is my personal philosophy, but I think once the music is made, it no longer belongs to the composer.

So, ifthe listeners listen to it in a free attitude, there is no greater pleasure for the creator.

*Who are your typical fans?

I have no idea.

* Do you think the price of music CDs is fair these days? Because i think that is the main motive for piracy & illegal music sharing!?

I don't think about these things, so I have no idea.

* What's up with the record labels & Japan? Why do you guys always get more/bonus tracks? Even with your CD (but you're Japanese and it makes sense)! But is the only chance to ever hear "Maximum Joy" & "Ami Nu Ku Tuu (The One Version)" is to import the CD for an outrageous amount of money from Japan?

This is a matter of industrial system, so I'm not the right one to answer this question.

* Who have you been listening to lately?

I've been listening to folky yet contemporary music like Feist, Kings of Convenience, and Rubies.

* Is there one producer/remixer/artist you admire and if yes, who and why?

I haven't thought about this much, because it really depends on the track.

* You request people to do remix for them or do people ask you to remix their tracks? I noticed you mostly remix for idependent artists, would compromise by remixing for a mainstream artist or a pop act?

Generally, I receive offers. I've done major artists like Jamiroquai, Basement Jaxx, and Soul2Soul.

For each and every case, I decide by the track and its music. It doesn't matter if it's major or independent.

* Any future or currently in the works Remixes?


FELIX DA HOUSECAT／RADIO (SHINICHI OSAWA REMIX)
BUNNY LAKE／BOWIE (SHINICHI OSAWA REMIX)

...& couple more on the way.

*thank you for your time, i really love "The one" & i wish you all the best for the future. I hope you enjoyed this interview.

Thank you so much for the support.

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:/