Jimmy Binks and the Shakehorns Q&A

Your name:

Sam, singer and guitarist.

Where are you from?

We're from the UK, the US, Canada, and Japan, but we all live in Tokyo, Japan!

Name of band:

Jimmy Binks and the Shakehorns.

Who else is in your band?

We are 

Sam – vocals, guitar (Sheffield, UK)

Ju Ju – vocals, guitar (Cambridge, UK)

Yuuki – bass (Kanagawa, Japan)

Erin – trumpet, vocals (Newfoundland, Canada)

Dan – drums (Virginia, USA)

Jonny Barefoot – banjo, mandolin, vocals (ON, Canada)

How would you describe yourselves?

We always struggle with this! We've been variously described as alt-country, Americana, folk, roots, bluegrass, and acoustic rock. Recently little bits of ska and 1920s have been creeping in, too...

Who are your main influences musically?

Classics like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. More recently fun stuff like Pokey Lafarge, Lumineers, Milk Carton Kids, Avett Brothers, Tallest Man on Earth. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Above all, we like to play live, and among the live show, the festival live show is king. Based in Japan, our number one target would be playing at the Fuji Rock Festival, which is huge. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

We played at the Asagiri Jam festival a few years ago, which is a bit like Fuji Rock's younger cousin. We also played at Happy Farm Music festival up in the mountains of Nagano in Japan. It was a beautiful weekend. We've also been lucky enough to have had our tracks played regularly on BBC radio, and placed in NBC and CNN TV shows, and even in a couple of movies! 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Perhaps not a rock n roll answer, but nothing really! Will let you know if something happens in the future! 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

I'm going to go with Cabin Fever. Although we have changed a lot over the last few years, at heart we're an alt-country band, and this song sort of shows what we're trying to make: a kind of danceable alt-country. 

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/jimmybinks/jimmy-binks-and-the-shakehorns-cabin-fever

Where can we find out more about your music?

Twitter - @Jimmy_Binks

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jimmybinksandtheshakehorns

Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/jimmybinks

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

Nope, but we love meeting new people. If you or any of your readers are ever in Tokyo, get in touch on Facebook or Twitter and we'll show you some great live spots! Cheers for the chat!

Lily Q&A

Your name:
矢木史恵 / Fumie Yagi.

Where are you from?
Okayama, Japan.

Name of band:
LILY.

Who else is in your band?
中村拡穏 /Hiroyasu Nakamura on drums, synthesizer and keyboards. All of my songs are arranged and produced by him.

How would you describe yourselves?
I'm a singer.I also play guitar and keyboards and write words and music. I earnestly started doing music as a guitarist of LILY when I was 20 years old.

Who are your main influences musically?
Lykke Li, Soley, My bubba.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I want to create good works, and put them out into the world. I would be very happy that many people would listen to and like them.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
There is nothing special. I've been performing in various places in Japan for seven years and also writing words and music.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Though I think that is a little different from the moment I want to forget, I really feel sorry for having stopped a tour once before because of sickness. I won't let it happen again.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
AUM. It is expressed myself directly.

Where can we listen to it? 
http://youtu.be/zItMqhS-ppY

Where can we find out more about your music?

HP: http://lilywhoooooooooo.web.fc2.com/
LILY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilywhoooooooooo
My Tumblr: http://lilywhoooooooooo.tumblr.com/

Lee Negin Q&A

Your name:  

Lee Negin (sounds like 'Ray gun').

Where are you from? 

Originally the USA. I last lived in San Francisco. I left many years ago and have since lived in several countries, including India, the UK, Japan, Poland, etc.. I currently reside in Seoul, S. Korea.

Name of band:

Lee Negin.

Who else is in your band? 

Lee Negin (band of doppelgängers).

How would you describe yourselves? 

I'll only describe one of my selves this time. Upwardly bipedal, mobile (primarily), at times sentient humanoid; constantly moving happiness machine. 

Who are your main influences musically? 

The list is endless, in terms of artists, genres and cultures, and as of late I'm more influenced by visual artists and my life experiences, herbal blends and philosophical leanings. I create many genres of music (and fusions of them).

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

Satori.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

The highlights are when the 'genie' appears - the moments when the sounds/concepts appear, with me acting as a conduit (could I be any more pretentious?). To put it into common parlance, the moments when I'm 'in the zone' both as a composer and a player.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

That Bar Mitzvah gig in Cleveland when I had to sing "Do You Think I'm Sexy" accompanied by two Rabbis wearing pastel leisure suits on clarinet, accordion and a Radio Shack Rhythm Box. After the set and three encores of' Stayin' Alive,' when the delirious crowd clacked their dentures in appreciation...well, money isn't everything, and you gotta pay your dues.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Not possible. Again, my 'catalog' spans many years and many genres (often in the same track). However, my new album, a Technopera called "The Cheeze Chronicles: Volume V" is representative of what I'm up to these days.

Where can we listen to it?

You can hear samples at: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeeNegin

Where can we find out more about your music? 

http://passingphasemusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/LeeNegin1

http://leenegin.com

https://twitter.com/umeboshiroshi

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeeNegin

http://www.youtube.com/user/passingphasemusic

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lee+negin&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alee+negin

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/lee-negin/id357053891?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

That should get you started!

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

Thank you for the opportunity. 

Full-length album from coldrain next month

JAPANESE rockers coldrain will release their full-length album The Revelation on June 23rd through Hopeless Records.

The album - produced by David Bendeth (Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember) is available for pre-order now and the band have launched the video for their track The War Is On.

Vocalist Masato said: "It's hard to put in words how excited and proud we are that The Revelation will be released Worldwide. The dream we've had ever since we started playing music is finally coming true. I can't wait for everyone to hear the songs, learn the words and sing them with us live.

"We are grateful for the many fans in our homeland that have supported us in becoming the band we are today. Without them this would have been impossible. This step will be the biggest in our careers and we couldn't be more ready. See you soon world."

coldrain - who will play a number of shows in Europe this summer including Rock am Ring and Download - formed in 2007 and saw success in their home country with 2012 EP Through Clarity.

You can find out more at facebook.com/coldrainofficial or twitter.com/coldrain_jp

Lily Q&A

Band name:

Lily.

Where are you from?

Japan.

Who is in your band? 
Fumie Yagi : Vocals Guitar
Hiroyasu Nakamura : Drums

How would you describe yourselves? 
We are a two-piece band formed in 2008, playing alternative rock , progressive rock and pop. 

Who are your main influences musically? Our influences are the underground musicians in Japan. We often went to the live music clubs or bars in the town where we live to listen to their music in those days when our band started. And these days, we are influenced by some of the singers in Iceland and Sweden.

What do you hope to achieve in music? We want to continue to creative good songs and perform them not only in Japan but also in the world, and hope that so many people will listen to our music.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? We don’t think that we have a career or a highlight yet, but we supported various musicians and have played in many places within Japan.  

And what’s the moment you want to forget? None, we appreciate everything that we experienced.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

It would be a song called “SAKOTIS”. It expresses what we are now and we feel very special.

Where can we listen to it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFnOymW5pT8
http://soundcloud.com/lily-whoooooooooo/lily-sakotis

Where can we find out more about your music?

http://lilywhoooooooooo.web.fc2.com/