カナダ人に日本の音楽を聴かせてみた (レコードショップ店員編)

——At first, can you introduce a little bit of yourself?

My name is Branan Ranjanathan and I’m from Toronto! I’ve lived here my whole life. I am a music lover and a record collector, and I worked at Kops Records, one of the city’s oldest shops. I also write music reviews and interviews for Exclaim!, a Canadian music magazine.
I love punk music, and all other forms of rock! But I try to listen to as many different genres as possible.

——We met at Kops Records. But I didn’t know that you write music reviews and interviews for Exclaim!

Oh really! I thought I told you, I must have forgot!
Yeah they were my first job after leaving university! I still write for them, but maybe less than years past haha

——hahaha I see. Sounds good! So I have a new question. How do you think the recently music scene in Canada?

Oh, the popular music only? Or everything, including popular and underground/indie music?

——Hmm…I want you to state both of them! What is the recently most popular music in Canada? And the latest indie music trend in Canada?

Oh ok! In Canada the most popular kind of music generally speaking is usually Rap/Hip-hop or R&B. Most pop music these days draws from these genres, it all becomes mixed together. Drake is probably the most famous amongst these artists here because he’s from Toronto, so people here take pride in that, since he’s become so globally known. Other artists like Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Post Malone and Kanye West are also some of the most popular these days too, a lot of American culture and music becomes adopted as the norm in Canada. As for independent music, I feel like Canada has much more to offer compared to what’s generally popular these days. The different scenes here are unique and occasionally there is crossover, but we have a lot of great rock, pop and punk bands. It’s difficult to group them together sometimes because they are all quite different, but I’ve personally noticed a lot of 80s pop and New Wave influence on a lot of the bands that come out of here.

——Great! That’s right. Actually, I found so many indie artists in Canada since I came here. I also felt they are all quite different. It’s difficult to group.
So there are many different types of great artists in Canada having their own sense of music though, among them, what’s your favorite?

Yeah it’s true! Some of my favourite independent Canadian artists at the moment are Men I Trust, Andy Shauf, and Rapport. Some independent hardcore punk bands from here that I love are Wild Side, Mil-Spec, and No Warning.

——I see! I didn’t know Rapport. All hardcore punk bands neither lol. I must check them! So Let’s move on to the next question. Do you know any Japanese artists?

Rapport are very new, I think they only have one song out! But they play a lot of shows in the city, they are so good.
Yes of course! I love Japanese music, from many different genres. Some of my favourites are The Pillows, Kinoko Teikoku, SUPER SHANGHAI BAND, Envy, and Lamp, to name a few!

——Oh really? Awesome! I’m surprised…I didn’t know that you know so many Japanese artists. And you have good taste! How did you find them? Actually I told you about SUPER SHANGHAI BAND lol

Thank you! And yes I’m very glad you showed me super shanghai band they are amazing! Many of the Japanese bands that I find come to me through recommendations from friends or from related searches on Youtube! Apple Music sometimes recommends good bands too but sometimes Japanese music can be hard to find generally. My first exposure though to some bands is actually through other Japanese media like anime haha. I found the Pillows from the soundtrack of the show FLCL, and immediately searched out more of their music because of how much I loved it.

SUPER SHANGHAI BAND – DAZED

——I see. Actually, Japanese anime is popular all over the world. I think it’s one of the easiest ways to find Japanese music for non-Japanese people. In Japan, it’s important to be chosen for the song of an anime. By the way, you went on a trip to Japan recently. Did you enjoy? And you went to the SUPER SHANGHAI BAND’s gig, didn’t you? How was it?

I absolutely loved my trip to Japan! It was one of the best experiences of my entire life without a doubt, and I want to return as soon as possible! The culture is very different from Canada in many ways but I think I actually enjoy the Japanese way of living more in certain ways. I got the sense that people think less about themselves and more about the wellbeing of others and their community, and because of that everyone is more considerate to one another and their surroundings. I also met so many kind people on my trip who made me feel very welcomed, and I was very grateful for that. I am very glad you introduced me to SUPER SHANGHAI BAND! Their gig was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Firstly, the venue it took place in, MARZ in Shinjuku, is one of the best sounding places I’ve ever been in. The atmosphere reminded me of some of the smaller venues we have in Toronto like The Horseshoe, but the system quality and the mixing of the whole show was perfect throughout. Super Shanghai Band themselves were amazing to see live – their energy is absolutely incredible. My first thought when seeing them was that they could easily compete with bands from America that are internationally popular within their genre, like Wavves or anyone on the Sub Pop Records roster. Many times when you see a band from North America that plays punk or more uptempo rock music, they are sloppy with their instruments in a live setting – but Super Shanghai band was the opposite. Their playing was so clean that it sounded like the recording, but with even more energy and amazing stage presence. I was really so blown away, more people need to know about them. What also surprised me though was also how good all of the other bands were who played the show as well! It is rare for me in Canada that I like every single band that is on the bill for a given show, but that was the case for me at the MARZ show that night! betcover!!, Walkings, and sui sui duck all played music from different genres but I was so impressed with all of them. I searched out and listened to recordings from each of them since. Something I noticed and that I really like with Japanese musicians is that they really take the time to learn their instruments well, and it shows in the way they write music and perform. Everyone is so skilled at what they do, and if any of these bands came to Canada I’m sure other people would be equally impressed as me.

——Glad to hear that! Yeah, I think so. I hope cool Japanese artists become more popular in the world. So now, I know that you like many genres of music and take interest in Japanese Music. I want somebody like you to listen to these 5 songs. I also love all of them.

Which one did you like the best? And also why? Please feel free to state impressions after listening these songs.

So to answer your first question, I have to say that it is actually very difficult to pick which one of these I liked the best, because I actually loved all of them for different reasons! They all sound so unique, but if I really had to pick one it might be NOT WONK – because their music gives me the same feeling as one of my favourite bands, Joyce Manor. As soon as I started to listen to “This Ordinary”, it hit so hard but maintained very good melody, and mixed shoegaze style guitars into it all. It kind of reminded me of the band Nothing, who I also love, but NOT WONK’s sound is more lively. I searched other songs, and then I listened to “Laughing Nerds and a Wallflower”. I really loved the chorus especially, it reminded me of The Pillows in some ways!

NOT WONK – This Ordinary

BALLOND’OR was a lot of fun to listen to, and what I loved the most was the raw punk energy that they had! In some ways it reminded me of the Canadian band METZ – with lots of noise and speed and craziness, it makes you feel very alive. The music video was very funny too, I love their whole style.

BALLOND’OR – Music Video「ICE BOY」

“Kids in the Dark” by TENDOUJI also honestly blew me away too, I loved the lighthearted, summery surf rock feeling I got from the song so much. In some ways it reminded me of Wavves, but I actually like TENDOUJI better already, because of how well written and paced the song was. It sounded like they were using a lot of jazz chords too which I really loved and the singer’s voice is very unique! The video was also very well shot and made me laugh a couple times too, which was great.

TENDOUJI – Kids in the dark (MV)

Yogee New Waves are one of the most interesting and unique sounding bands I’ve heard in a long time. I absolutely loved the funk element in their sound, and the instrumental arrangement in their song was absolutely perfect. I was especially impressed by the bassline throughout the whole thing, the rhythm just naturally makes you want to dance, it is fantastic. Their singer is also especially talented too, his very clean style of singing fits the sound here perfectly, it’s amazing.

Yogee New Waves / Bluemin’ Days (Music Video)

“years” by odol sounds like the perfect song to close an album on. I really like the way it slowly builds up to a big finish at the end. Even though I can’t understand what’s being said, there’s enough emotion in the singer’s voice to make me feel very nostalgic, I love it. The use of piano is also absolutely wonderful!

odol – years (Official Music Video)

I will have to search out and listen to the complete discography of all of these artists for sure! I was really so impressed by it all.

——Thank you so much for your polite commenting on each of them. And all your opinions are pretty good! I think your love of music will be certainly conveyed to Japanese readers. Anyway, I’m so happy you like them. Japan has more great artists, so I will let you know next time! Thank you, Branan!