Interview: pandagolff
Music of Japan #10
✊In conversation with Tokyo’s fresh industrial post-punk band, pandagolff 🐼
Hi everyone!
This week, I’m excited to introduce pandagolff, a Tokyo-based post-punk band that has been making waves across the Japanese independent music scene recently with the release of their new album, “IT’S NOT FOOD”, earlier this year.
They’re energetic, they’re loud, they’re artistic, they’re experimental. Pandagolff’s thick blend of psychedelic sounds with passionate post-punk and an experimental electronic backdrop is unique and certainly holds a strong presence during their live performances.
Coming up later are two relatively different picks of the week from me, along with a special bonus track - a recent selection by my friend at City Game Pop - as well as a special feature that will introduce some things you never knew about Japan 🇯🇵
Strap in for the next 10 minutes and enjoy discovering some new and unique music!
誰かが私に「それは食べ物ではない」と言ったとき、多くの場合、手遅れです。😆 When someone tells me “It’s not food”, it’s often too late.
pandagolff - Interview
🐼 pandagolff are an industrial post-punk trio formed in Tokyo in 2019. The band consists of Machiko (vocals, guitar, synths), Hitori (bass) and Ucchi (drums).
First things first, how did you meet?
We met at a live music club called "Ufoclub" in Tokyo.
At that time, we were in different bands. But I was so drunk that I didn't remember well 🍻
🎶“Be over the sun” by pandagolff (2021)
Wonderfully psychedelic, dreamy and kitsch. One of the band’s earlier singles.
What has inspired you to create your unique sound?
“Our music originated from a combination of intuition and coincidence.“
🎶“KOREDEWAKARU” by pandagolff (2021)
Vibrant, punchy post-punk.
You’ve stated online that it has taken a lot of experimentation with sound to find your style and tone. What kind of instrumentation/tools were you trying out in this process?
“Guitars, effectors, synthesisers (Moog Werkstatt-01, Korg Monotribe, Moog grandmother and so on), drum machines(Yamaha, Roland, 808, Korg), softsynth, Field Recording and noise not made by musical instruments.”
🎶“ZETTON” by pandagolff (2023)
Driven by a thick bass-line and pierced with bubbling synthesisers.
Your latest work, “IT’S NOT FOOD” is a unique, eclectic and fascinating album. What inspired its name and how did you conceptualise it?
“I heard my friend shout this when he ate some traditional food in Australia. Actually, it was food, just not for him. We selected these words as one sentence poem.”
🎶“RADIO PAPA, RADIO MAMA” by pandagolff (2023)
Punk gets a synth/psychedelic makeover.
What does the near future hold for pandagolff??
“We hope pandagolff will be globally famous and touring around the world.”
🎶“ADDITIONAL LEMON” by pandagolff (2023)
Homage to the new album’s food-theme 🍋
🙏 Many thanks to pandagolff for kindly taking the time for the interview!
Check out pandagolff’s website here and listen to their music on Spotify and Apple Music.
Like what you’re reading? 😃 If so, please share this newsletter with your friends, enemies, family, dogs, cats, as well as friendly strangers of the internet.
⭐️ Special Feature: Hidden Japan
Leon is an English speaker who splits his time between a small Japanese city and a big Australian one, moving between those places with his partner, who has a Japanese family.
From the unique viewpoint of a non-local, Leon shares some very insightful perspectives on different aspects of Japanese culture. His newsletter, “Hidden Japan” newsletter covers a multitude of cultural topics.
I will be sharing new articles of his with you in my future issues. Here are just a few to get you started:
How Japan created the Paris Syndrome
“Transient happiness” by DOPING PANDA
🎶 indie rock, electronica📍 🗓️ released on 23rd may 2023
Formed in 1997, electrifying indie rockers DOPING PANDA were a well-known band in Japan throughout the early to mid-2000s, winning several awards in the process, including a MTV Music Video Award for “Best Rock Video in 2006”.
Disbanding in 2012 due to creative differences (but reforming again 2022 to release a new album), the band has consisted of Furukawa Yutaka (vocals, guitar, programming), Houjou Taro (bass, backing vocals) and Hayato (drums, backing vocals).
Throughout the band’s musical catalogue of 9 studio albums, 2 EPs, 11 singles and a live album, DOPING PANDA combine elements of rock, electronica and hip-hop and were known for their energetic live performances.
“Transient happiness” is my personal favourite song of theirs. The second single from their third album, “PINK PaNK”, this fun and dreamy song boasts a sharp guitar riff, a dance-inspired backbeat and beautiful lyrics about how the feeling of happiness is fleeting, yet worth finding.
Check out DOPING PANDA’s website for more information on the band and explore their music on YouTube here.
🎶 Bonus Track of the Week
Selected by City Game Pop
Iván Campos writes a wonderfully in-depth newsletter each week covering Japanese pop culture, including video games and in particular, great new music.
There are several editions of the newsletter every week, many of which cover news of current affairs in Japan as well.
City Game Pop always has a fantastic playlist - “Pop(cast) selections” - check it out on Spotify here and on Apple Music here.
City Game Pop is written in Spanish - for non-Spanish speakers, each edition can be translated using your internet browser 👍
I discovered the track below from the latest edition of City Game Pop. “Kaiten shite kara kangaeru” (Spin and Think) is the title track of female Osaka four-piece Haku’s debut album. It’s a refreshing indie rock song with some beautifully clean guitar lines, smooth vocals and gorgeous harmonies. Their debut album in its entirety is fantastic - would highly recommend a listen here.
“Kaiten shite kara kangaeru” (Spin and Think) by Haku.
🎶 indie rock📍osaka 🗓️ released on 9th august 2023
“alcohol” by macico
🎶 pop📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 28th october 2020
Macico, whose name is derived from merging the words “macaron” and “piano”, were formed in 2017 and consists of Yui Yamada (vocals, guitar), Yuki Sakurai (bass) and Yuto Uemurea (drums).
The band support their catchy pop songs with dreamy soundscapes, lending them a more intricate atmosphere. Having toured extensively throughout Japan and performing in Europe and the United States, macico have been praised by critics for their unique sound and live performances.
The band have been rising stars within the Japanese music scene for the past few years and have released two albums alongside several excellent singles. “Alcohol” comes from the double single “coin laundry/alcohol”, released in 2020.
A dreamy track with melancholic undertones, “alcohol” contrasts its joyous melody with lyrics about how the feeling of intoxication can make you feel both good and bad and the complex relationship between alcohol and happiness. Yamada’s breathy vocals are pleasant and blend into the dreamy atmosphere of the song effortlessly.
Visit macico’s website here and explore more of their music via their YouTube channel here.
Thank you for reading! I hope you discovered some music you may have liked in this edition.
If you have any thoughts on how I can improve this newsletter and your experience with it, please get in touch at musicofjapan@gmail.com.