For about half a year since moving my base back to Japan, I’ve spent most of my time on “sound” in the broadest sense: building sound systems, field recording, DJing, developing synthesizers. I’ve enjoyed music as a DJ and run systems from a sound engineer’s perspective before, but this feels like the first period where I’ve engaged with sound so intensely and been made to think so deeply about it.
Out of that activity came know clue, a collective formed with hikino, taishi.ro, and torrentshinoda — friends I’ve been working alongside through our shared point of contact, sound. I’m deeply grateful to the members of know clue for trusting the first sound system I ever designed from scratch, and for giving me the chance to face sound together with them.
And now, we’re putting on an event as know clue. This is a space presenting the results of half a year of our experiments, starting from sound as experience. Allow me to introduce not only the members of know clue, but all of the performers who kindly agreed to join us.
dj desu
There’s something wonderful about how he expresses the big emotions inside him as sound; heavy industry, the creak of gears, the smell of oil. I have heard his experimental sets, but this time he’s on the 1F dance floor, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he shapes the mood of the room. He’s also provided a mix that we’ll be handing out on the day of the event. Be sure to grab one on site.
hikino (know clue)
A Happy Boy with a wonderful smile. Enjoying music with him reminds me how important it is to enjoy sound with your body, especially when I start overthinking it. That feeling is something I hold dear, and I’m always grateful for it. And it’s not just pure happiness; he mixes something murky in there too, which makes it even better. On the day, I’m sure he’ll bring lovely dance music that will put a smile on your face.
https://www.instagram.com/kosuke.ai/
dJ 置石
The breadth and depth of his selection is staggering. I can’t quite put into words the shock of hearing his mix for the first time: all kinds of sounds flying around, yet the set as a whole holds a clear direction while remaining completely unpredictable; a seemingly contradictory thing that floored me. His playing style, unbound by BPM or genre, has had a huge influence on me. His record review blog is also a must-read. You will find amazing reviews.
https://okiisi.hatenadiary.org/
Oyubi
An artist I’ve long respected as a friend. Within hardcore beats you can feel playfulness and complex sound that sometimes hides a mochi-like softness. It’s never difficulty for its own sake; he never loses his own axis, yet he watches the floor closely, and his physical, embodied playing always makes you feel safe enough to let your body go. This time I’m really curious to see how he builds his set out of the floor the other performers create.
SUGAI KEN
His work evokes a psychedelic experience hidden inside everyday sound, something that peeks out at you unexpectedly. I discovered him while living in the Netherlands, and he became part of my daily routine, soundtracking morning and evening incense sessions at home with my partner. Later, while sharing mixes with taishi.ro, we found out we both owned “UkabazUmorezU” and that it was a favorite album for both of us. He’s the artist who became the intersection point for two people who had until then been digging separately.
taishi.ro (know clue)
At after-parties where we gather and play records for each other, he often shares wonderful music I’ve never heard. Getting to know that music, I was moved by his enthusiasm and his attitude. I’m very grateful that he reached out and asked me to make music together right when I came back to Japan. His sets let you experience strange sonic experiments that process and reconstruct electronic and environmental sounds; not just fun, but a whole range of emotions. He might open your door to a new interest.
torrentshinoda (know clue)
A sworn friend I’ve worked with around music for a decade, even through the trouble we’ve caused each other. Of everyone here, he and I share the longest history of musical styles, and I feel his axis; sound that expresses the emotions found within the city has stayed consistent throughout. He’s on the 1F dance floor this time, and I’m looking forward to a set that guides the beginning of the night. He’ll also be serving coffee at the party His curiosity about coffee is the real thing. Honestly, I never liked the heaviness of coffee, but what he brews was a breakthrough for me: a drink with a richness of flavor inside its lightness (so easy to drink you’d hardly believe it’s coffee!).
https://www.instagram.com/seeding_by_torrentmast3r/
That’s it for the introductions. Finally, my deepest thanks to everyone at bar bonobo for generously lending us the venue and for their attentive care on the day. See you at the venue. ciao:)