ADSR Inspirations pod – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Yuri Nagahori is a Tokyo-based DJ, promoter and producer who has been captivating hearts and dancefloors with her infectious beats. Music has been a constant throughout Yuri's life, with early expressions through piano, drums, and dance. Her journey led her to study abroad in Canada, the USA, and the Philippines, immersing herself in clubbing and electronic music culture. Upon returning to Japan Yuri discovered her true calling as a DJ. After honing her skills, she slowly but surely started playing parties herself. Her sets are unique, blending genres from techno to hip-hop, house, and trance. Yuri has graced major clubs in Japan and international venues, and her events have earned a devoted following. More recently Yuri has taken on the challenge of producing her own music to bring her passion to new heights. 

In today’s chat, James and Yuri recall her early exposure to music and clubbing adventures in the USA, Canada, and the Philippines. Yuri shares her unique entry into Japan's music scene and the spark that ignited her passion for DJing. The discussion spans topics like pursuing music as a full-time career, gender dynamics in the industry, music production, and her dreams within the realm of music. Yuri also sheds light on how she stays at the forefront of DJing trends and the profound role of music in her life.

Connect with Yuri: Website

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Ian Lynam is the product of a life lived with post-modern art and endless curiosity. Originally from the small town of Averill Park, New York. He holds a BSc in Graphic Design from Portland State University and an MFA in Graphic Design from CalArts. Since 2005, he has led his Tokyo-based design studio, Ian Lynam Design, specializing in identity design, cultural research, and typography. Currently, he serves as faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts and Temple University Japan, offering his experience and knowledge in art and design. Ian is also a prolific writer and co-founder of the critical cultural online journal Néojaponisme, which fosters creative dialogue and exchange on Japanese culture, society, art, and design. When you visit Sailosaibin in Sasazuka, Tokyo, you'll see some of Ian's creations coming to life alongside stacks of books and a carefully curated selection of handcrafted pieces and clothing from talented collaborators, all contributing to a collection that resonates with the contemporary zeitgeist.

In the interview, James and Ian touch on his early days in upstate New York, his childhood passion for art and design, and the influence of the American West Coast and Asia on his design sensibilities. Ian's deep involvement in design education and his profound connection to mentoring young designers show how passionate he is about art, cultural affairs and developing ideas. Ian’s latest book “The Failed Painter” is a bite-size exemplification of his storytelling approach that combines design and writing in ways that are compelling and relatable for the artist in all of us.

Connect with Ian:

Studio Website // Instagram

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AOKI Takamasa is a Kansai legend who carved the early sounds of minimal techno and glitch in Japan. AOKI has been pushing the boundaries of music since his teenage years from his debut album, Silicom, released in 2001 through the independent Japanese electronic label PROGRESSIVE FOrM and later releases on Op.disc and the German imprint Raster-Noton. Some of his recent work includes live performances and music collaborations with Fumitake Tamura producing together under the name Neutral. AOKI's musical path has taken him from Japan to France and even Germany early in his career. Since returning to his roots in Osaka in 2011, AOKI has continued to push creativity within the industry and has developed a strong reputation in the digital arts community. Not only a musician, but AOKI also indulges his passion for photography.

Join James as he delves into AOKI's artistic journey, exploring his inspirations, collaborations, and the invaluable role of experimentation and risk-taking in music production. Discover the secrets to longevity in the industry and find inspiration in the beauty of everyday life.

Connect with AOKI
Website // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

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Check out our music on https://adsrmusic.ca/

Now residing in Tokyo, Toronto-born Demsky takes a lot of his inspiration from the chill instrumental, beat-making music scenes that he’s heavily involved in. Demsky's music is a unique blend of ambient soundscapes, trip-hop beats, and rock influences. Lessons of love, understanding, choices, perseverance, and adaptability are some of the themes in Demsky's sound. His music features the ambient and weaving formations of the layers in each track, which are representations of the elements of the environment around us.

James and Demsky had an insightful conversation about the art of music production, finding balance in your life and tips for touring. They discussed various techniques for creating unique sounds and melodies, as well as ways to overcome creative blocks in the music-making process. They also delved into the importance of experimentation and taking risks in order to create something truly original. 

Connect with Demsky:

Website // IG @demskymusic //Facebook // Bandcamp

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Jay Holmes, originally from North Carolina, has been residing in Japan for the past two decades. As a musician, he is best known for his band Fever Moon, which gained acclaim after releasing two albums in November of last year and performing live shows around Tokyo. Music has always been an integral part of Jay's life. He has been writing songs, making music, and playing in bands since his high school days. In Japan, Jay has also hosted a fantastic radio show called Mystery Cuts Radio, where he unearths and showcases long-forgotten vinyl treasures from the 60s and 70s. Jay often DJs under the moniker Evil Jay and brings out some of his rare mystery cuts, sourcing each track directly from vinyl with great care and attention to detail.

Jay's creative pursuits also extend to his professional life, where he has been working as a full-time artist and designer since 2019, a career he has been doing part-time for decades longer. 

In this episode James and Jay discuss Jay’s passion for the arts, his music, his design, his radio show and more. Jay gives tips on how to approach making a living out of design and when to make the leap from part-time to full-time. He shares his secret to keeping passion in your life and art. He also details how he’s able to stay balanced through the challenges of being a freelance artist, a musician and more important than all, a loving husband and father. 

Check out Jay’s designs or connect with the man:
Website // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

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Check out our music on https://adsrmusic.ca/

Lee Reeve, originally from Glasgow, has been living in Japan for over 20 years, mainly in the Yokohama region. He is the CEO and founder of inCider Japan, a marketing and creative consulting firm also known for publishing the only bilingual cider magazine in Asia under the same clever name. InCider Japan is dedicated to all things cider! In addition to being an importer, retailer, and maker of cider and cider-related goods, Lee also works as a consultant for various alcohol and beverage brands worldwide.

In the episode Lee and James chat about Lee’s history with cider growing up and then how he came to reignite his passion for the drink upon living in Japan. The pair also get into how he first became interested in craft (beer) brewing and his eventual shift to cider, what it was that led him to start his cider magazine and then in turn his import business. Lee also outlines some of the difficulties he’s had throughout the past 5 years of running the business, particularly how he’s had to adapt and pivot through the pandemic. Lastly, Lee gives some great advice for entrepreneurs and future business owners about what it takes to keep going and find success. 

Connect with Lee and discover more about cider!

Website: https://www.inciderjapan.com

Instagram @inCiderjapan

Twitter:@inCiderJapan

FB: inCiderJapan

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Lisa Wallin is a self-described travel writer, novelist, bookworm and research junkie. She grew up traversing the globe as she immersed herself in various cultures, driven by a deep-seated need to understand the world around her. 

She's been writing professionally here in Japan for well over 10 years now, initially writing on Japan's varied and dynamic music scene and then branching out into writing about culture, travel, cuisine, craftsmanship and more.  If that wasn't enough, she also writes fiction and partakes in other travel and culture writing outside of Japan. 

Some fun facts about Lisa from her bio, she's lived in 7 countries (Sweden, England, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Germany and France)  she's travelled to dozens more, she studied fashion design in Sweden as well as business at Queensland in Australia.  She's a music junkie, obsessed with good coffee and she aims to befriend every Shiba dog she comes across (which I imagine is quite a few here in Japan.) 

In today’s episode, James and Lisa discuss what it is that’s kept her interested in Japan all these years. She speaks about how she continues to hone and improve her craft of writing. She addresses travel writing, the challenges through the pandemic and why it's been her niche in the world of writing. Lisa also gives advice to aspiring writers and interviewers and shares some of her favourite works for writers and readers, alike. 

Connect with Lisa:

Instagram - @ichigoichielove
Website - https://www.lisa-wallin.com/

Mark Schilling is one of the world's leading writer in Japanese film. He’s been reviewing Japanese films for The Japan Times since 1989 and has reported on Japanese film since 1990, first for Screen International and currently for Variety. Schilling also serves as an adviser to the yearly Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy. He's been on juries for international film festivals, interviewed countless Japanese film icons, recorded numerous DVD commentaries and worked as a script adviser on 2003's “The Last Samurai.” 

Over the years, Mark has written, contributed to and translated several books. Some of his original works include Contemporary Japanese Film, The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films, No Borders, No Limits: Nikkatsu Action Cinema and more recently Art, Cult and Commerce: Japanese Cinema Since 2000. 

In today’s episode, Mark discusses what’s kept him passionate about Japan and Japanese film all these years. He also gives some advice for aspiring writers and film buffs as well as shares some personal stories of meeting some Japanese cinema legends. 

Connect with Mark on Twitter @moviefan55 

This episode was recorded in 2021 when COVID19 was affecting drastic lifestyle changes and work.

Patrick St. Michel is a freelance writer, copyeditor and consultant based in Tokyo. He reports on and writes with a focus on Japanese music, pop culture, food, internet culture and travel. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Patrick moved to Japan in 2009 and has been writing for publications like The Japan Times, The Atlantic, Pitchfork, NPR and many more. A milestone in Patrick's writing career came in 2018 when he contributed an entry to the 33 1/3 book series, which is a series of short books about albums by Bloomsbury Publishing. Patrick's book was part of the 33-1/3 Japan Series and focused on Japanese pop group Perfume’s album ‘GAME’. 

Patrick has also worked with companies and artists based in Japan and abroad. He has spoken at music conferences such as the Pop Conference in Seattle and the Shibuya Showcase Festival. He has also appeared as a guest on radio programs, TV shows and podcasts. In today's episode, Patrick discusses the importance of having a niche field in writing while being willing to branch out into unknown territory. He details what it took for him to do writing as a full-time professional. Patrick speaks to the importance of having a foundation of a steady income and how to keep the joy and passion in your writing when you turn it into a full-time job. 

Connect with Patrick! 

Twitter @mbmelodies 

Website https://patrickstmichel.com

Blog http://makebelievemelodies.com/

This episode was recorded in 2021 when COVID-19 was affecting drastic lifestyle changes and work.

Derrek Buston is originally from Seattle Washington, where he attended the University of Washington first majoring in music, then Japanese linguistics. His sophomore year in 2000 was also when he studied abroad at Keio University Tokyo. After graduating college and then working for a Japanese company in Seattle he soon found himself drawn back to Japan and settled in the Shizuoka area. Around this time, Derrek began to focus on design and architecture. This eventually led him to become a licensed architect and in 2013 established his own company: West Coast Design. After finding success with West Coast Design, including a commission in 2014 to make the Shizuoka Whiskey distillery, Derrek soon got the idea to get into the beverage industry himself. His entryway was first in 2017 with his bar, Twelve and then in 2019 with his brewery, West Coast Brewing. WCB has gained popularity over the past few years and now finds itself as one of the top craft beer brands in the country with Derrek at the helm. 

In this episode, Derrek offers advice for those looking to get into the design and architecture world in Japan. He speaks on what drew him into the world of craft beer and how he now balances his two companies. He talks about his roles as a CEO and how to stay relevant and forward-thinking in an increasingly competitive industry. 

Connect with Derrek on Instagram @dbuston and the West Coast Brewing team @wcbshizuoka !

Brewery Website: https://www.westcoastbrewing.jp/

Design Website: https://www.westcoastdesign.co.jp/ 

Design team IG  @westcoastdesign_team328 

This episode was recorded in 2021 when COVID-19 affected drastic lifestyle changes and work. The hotel project Derrek talks about in this episode is now open! Check out The Villa & Barrel Lounge in Shizuoka.