Osaka music production has a uniquely diverse musical landscape that reflects Japan’s second largest city’s rich cultural history. From traditional enka and minyo songs to modern J-pop and electronic dance music, the city’s thriving entertainment scene offers something for every taste. The city’s renowned audio equipment producers have helped to create world-class sound for everything from live concerts and theater performances to club nights and recording sessions.
One of the most famous and influential Japanese record labels to emerge from this era was FILE Records, responsible for releases by Scha Dara Parr and Rhymester among others. The imprint also helped to shape a new generation of Japanese DJs, rappers and beatmakers who took the boom-bap influences from the West Coast and made them their own in the process. Taro Kesen, founder of Jazzy Sport and the LOSER music store in Osaka, was a key member of this movement.
LOSER was the heart of Osaka’s 大阪 ミックス growing community of homegrown beatmakers during this time. In addition to hosting some of the best LA-based beatmakers like Daedelus, Teebs, Ras G, Mndsgn and Machinedrum, it was also a gathering place for local artists to form new bonds and hatch creative projects. It was also here that many of these producers first introduced Joy Division to Japan – a band that would later inspire their own genre-defying sound.
In Osaka, people are referred to as “kuidaore” – a phrase that literally means “eat and drink until you drop.” This attitude is reflected in the city’s music culture. While many Japanese musicians are trained in classical or folk traditions, there is no shortage of improvisers and avant-garde practitioners embracing the city’s famously rowdy bar scenes and live music venues.
This mix of genres has helped to fuel a dynamic and ever-growing culture of music, art and other pop-culture byproducts. A prime example of this is Osaka Popstar a punk rock multimedia music and art project led by frontman John Cafiero, long-time Misfits and Ramones collaborator. The band’s critically acclaimed debut album Osaka Popstar And The American Legends Of Punk features an impressive roster of punk rock veterans as the backing band for the record’s 13 tracks.
Cafiero taps into his pool of friends to find the right guests for each release. The album’s opening track, for instance, features textures created from aerophone recordings and East Asian bamboo flutes that align with the verbal beat patterns and intensify the drama. This attention to detail is evident throughout the album’s evocative soundscapes, giving listeners a unique sonic experience. The band has extended its brand to limited edition vinyl toys and collaborations with Topps (appearing in their Garbage Pail Kids & Wacky Packages series). It has also spawned animated music videos. These unique merchandising ventures show just how far Cafiero and the rest of the Osaka Popstar team will go to keep the flame burning bright. Osaka Popstar is an ongoing creative endeavour that is set to release its next LP this year.
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