Not Squares are some real original Belfast Electro-Punks, on their way to Japan for the first time this November.
November is a special month, not only are there a whole bunch of good parties going down in Tokyo, but it’s also the first time this Irish trio will be making the trip to Japan together. They will be playing three dates across Japan alongside our previous interviewees Miaou so we grabbed five minutes with the boys ahead of their tour to ask a few questions…
“Not Squares are effortlessly the best dance band to come out of Ireland. Although to call them a dance band would be lazy. Their debut album ‘Yeah OK’ is a knockout of bass driven techno dance which even leans on the punky side on occasion. A 46minute long scissor-kick to the face which showcases originality and real talent.”
Kev Baird (Two Door Cinema Club)
↓↓↓ That said, check out the interview below – JAPANESE FOLLOWS THE ENGLISH ↓↓↓
Hi guys, welcome to MODERNFUSS, what have you been up to so far this year?
Thanks MODERNFUSS, thanks for having us. This year has been a busy one. We’ve started our second record and we’ve been playing lots of shows. We had a busy festival season in the UK and Ireland and we’re looking forward to hitting Japan in November.
Could you tell us how Not Squares came together?
Well Not Squares formed to play parties, as there was a definite lack of bands playing party shows in Belfast where we are based. The idea of having a band that could slip in between two dj sets seamlessly was something we found really appealing. The world of arpeggiators, synths and tight beats was something new and magical to us, and really as we new little about playing dance music it was day one again for us. Very punk rock!
You guys were super popular here as Tracer AMC. What inspired you guys to move away from your post-rock roots?
We’ve always listened to lots of different music, and we wanted to explore something that we loved. We like post rock, we like dance, we like afrobeat, we love indie. Our influences are to many to name. Also, I think Keith and myself had explored enough post rock and felt a change would be very refreshing.
‘Yeah OK’ was an electronic bonanza last December, how did you guys go about writing and producing it?
Yeah OK took around a year to make. We initially approached it very organically with traditionally played live sessions and we learned a hell of a lot during the year in terms of programming and recording. On the finished record there’s a mixture of loose jams and tight programmed electronica and we like to think it’s dance music with a human feel.
We recruited The Vinnie Club (Adebisi Shank) to produce and mix the record, and he brought it all to another level. He really is a wizard and he brought our recordings together and gave it a cool feel.
What’s going to be your next release? And what makes it different from other electronic music?
We recorded lots of material this year and we’re chewing over various ways of putting it out. I like the idea of doing several twelve inches rather than jumping to a full length record. It just seems like a fun way to put music out. All though it’s not peculiar to Not Squares, I think the fact that we play live as much as we can, sets our music apart from most electronic music.
On to the tour… This is your debut trip to Japan as Not Squares. Are you looking forward to coming?
Oh yes very much. Keith has been to Japan a lot, and it’s been 5 years since I was last there. It’s really fun playing music in Japan and the audiences are really appreciative. We’re so excited!
You’re touring with Miaou while you’re here, what do you think about their music?
We love Miaou. They make dreamy landscapes with an underlining groove. I love watching them perform as there’s lots going on and they’re great musicians. They always create gorgeous textures. We were lucky enough to tour with them before and caught them when they came to Ireland a couple of years ago.
Which Japanese musicians would you like to meet or perform with?
We like Lite a lot. They’ve introduced a new synth feel to their sound which is really interesting. Almost verging on a Tortoise type sound which is right up our street. We also like early synth wave things Yellow Magic Orchestra, experimental pop like Shugo Tokumaru and everyone loves Boredoms, OOIOO and Melt Banana don’t they? I caught Afrirampo at ATP festival a couple of years ago, and they were amazing. So much positive energy, really entertaining.
What are your thoughts on the UK/Irish electro music scene? Who is good to look out for next year?
It’s pretty exciting. There seems to be much more of a electro/indie cross over happening, with lots more electro acts playing what would typically be indie shows. In the UK, acts like Gold Panda, Factory Floor, Hudson Mohawke, and Actress are all putting out some great music at the moment. Irish acts we’re into would be Shit Robot & Solar Bears. We are pretty excited about two young Northern Irish acts Screendeath and SertOne who are sure to be doing great things soon.
Sell yourselves… In a nutshell could you tell us why are readers should come watch your show?
Wow Ok, well Not Squares shows are fun first and foremost. We try to make our shows as inclusive as possible and we want everyone to feel like they are part of the whole performance. So yeah, come see us play, scream, shout, groove and rock out. Bring a cow bell!
Nice one guys! Thanks for that!
Thank you!
Tour details:
Teto Records presents ”Not Squares & miaou JAPAN TOUR 2011″
11月3日(木) 名古屋K.D Japon
11月5日(土) 大阪 SUNSUI
11月6日(日) 下北沢ERA
HAVE A LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD FULL TOUR INFO HERE
NOT SQUARES ON TUMBLR / FACEBOOK
NOT SQUARES at KOKO, CAMDEN
日本語
Not Squaresはアイルランドのベスト・ダンス・バンドだよ。彼らのデビューアルバムはものすごいインパクトのあるベースが印象的でパンキッシュなdance technoレコードだね。46分間にわたって顔を蹴られたような大きな衝撃があるし、オリジナリティーと本物の才能があるんだ。
Kev Baird (Two Door Cinema Club)
ようこそ、MODERNFUSSへ。今年はどんなことをしましたか？
ありがとう。今年は特に忙しかったんだ。次のリリースの準備が始まったし、たくさんライブもやったしね。イギリスではフェスシーズンで忙しかったし、11月には日本に行くんだけど、スゴい楽しみだよ！
Not Squaresはどう始まったのですか？
僕らが住んでるベルファストはパーティーバンドが少なかったからNot Squaresを始めたんだ。バンドだけど、DJとDJの間でノンストップでプレイすることに魅力を感じたんだ。アルペジエーターやシンセ、タイトなビートのは世界は新しくてマジカルで、実際僕たちはそんな音楽はよく知らなかったし、ダンスミュージックをプレイすることも初めてだったんだ。パンクロックだよね
あなたたちはTracer AMCとしてすごく人気がありましたが、ポストロックから離れたきっかけは何だったのでしょうか？？
僕らはいつもたくさんの色んな音楽を聴いてて、本当に好きなものを探ってみたかったんだ。ポストロックも好きだし、ダンスも好き、アフロビートも好き、インディーも好きなんだ。影響ありすぎて名前が出てこないけど。Keithと僕はポストロックをやり過ぎたから、チェンジしてちょっとリフレッシュ出来たかな。
去年の12月にリリースした”Yeah OK”は素晴らしいエレクトロニック作品だったけど、どのようにして作ったりプロデュースしましたか？
“Yeah OK”は制作に１年間かかったんだ。まずライブセッションで作ってその後にプログラミングや録音をしたから、色々な勉強ができたよ。完成したレコードはルーズなジャムとタイトにプログラムされたエレクトロニカが混ざった人間味のあるダンスミュージックだよ。
僕らはAdebisi ShankのVinnieをプロデュースとミックスに誘ったんだけど、彼が更に違うレベルに進ませてくれたんだ。彼は本当に天才だし、彼のおかげで新しくてクールな作品になったんだ。
次のリリースはどんな感じになりますか？ほかのエレクトロミュージックとは何が違うと思いますか？
今年はたくさんの素材を録音したんだけど、どうするかはまだ考え中なんだ。フルアルバムの代わりに何枚か12インチを出したいと思ってるよ。もっと面白くなりそうだよ。
Not Squares特有ってわけじゃないけど、いつもバンドでライヴするってことが他のエレクトロミュージックとは違うと思うな。
ツアーについてですが、Not Squaresとしては初来日ですが楽しみですか？
もちろん楽しみだよ。Keithは何回も来日してるけど、僕は５年振りだよ。日本でのライヴは楽しいし、オーディエンスはすごい歓迎してくれるんだ。僕らとってもエキサイティングしてるよ！
miaouとツアーをしますが、彼らの音楽についてどう思いますか？
miaouは大好きだよ。彼らはドリーミーな景色とその下にキャッチーなグルーヴを作るんだ。色んな要素を持った彼らのライブを見るのも好きだし、スゴいミュージシャンだと思うよ。彼らはいつも素晴らしい音楽を作るんだ。幸運にも一緒にツアー出来るし、2年前に彼らがアイルランドに来た時もライヴを見たんだよ。
どんな日本人のミュージシャンと共演したり会ってみたいですか？
LITEは大好きだよ。最近はシンセを使っててとても興味深いよね。ちょっとTortoiseっぽいし、大好きだよ。あとは初期Synth waveのYMOも好きだし、Shugo Tokumaruのようなエクスペリメンタルポップも好きだね。みんなBoredoms、とOOIOOは好きだよね？2年前にATPフェスであふりらんぽを見たけど最高だったよ。ポジティブなエネルギーで本当に楽しませてくれたね。
イギリスとアイルランドの音楽シーンについてどう思いますか？来年は誰がくると思いますか？？
すごくいいよ。エレクトロとインディーはクロスオーバーしてて、たくさんのエレクトロアクトもインディーのショーをやるんだ。イギリスではGold Panda、Factory Floor、Hudson Mohawkeなんかが良いね。アイルランドだとShit RobotとSolar Bearsなんかが良いね。北アイルランドはScreendeath and SertOneっている若い2人組がもうすぐすごい音楽作っちゃうと思うよ。
一言で、読者がNot Squaresのライブに行くべき理由を教えてください。
わぉ、オッケー。僕らのライブは何よりも楽しいよ。出来ればお客さんと一緒にライブしたいんだ。だから僕らを見に来て、叫んで、シャウトして楽しもう！カウベル持ってきてね！！
ありがとう！
どうも！
Hats off to Tim for getting the Japanese translation sorted!!
