• IU TAKAHASHI •
Iu Takahashi always keeps in mind to deliver music that is considerate of the listener's thoughts and feelings. Music that is conscious of the unconscious mind.
Based in Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Iu has produced a beautifully curated collection of albums in recent years - still left on Luminous Drift, Interspace on Slow Music Movement and her most recent Sense/Margin released by the wonderful French label LAAPS.
I first discovered Iu’s music listening to Contour - released on the Tokyo label Umé Records. I was immediately struck by her intricately assembled sound worlds.
I discussed some elements of her creative process with her as she was preparing this exclusive mix for Sonic Tapestries.
You're in the studio about to write something new. What is the first thing you reach for?
Art books, poetry books, or coffee.
What is the strangest item in your studio?
I don't know if it's strange or not, but I light candles. I can concentrate better in the dark.
You mention on your artist profile that you create music that is conscious of the unconscious mind. What methods do you employ to explore this effect?
I guess the way to do it is to leave a blank space. For example, When I listen to my favourite ambient music outdoors, I feel the outside sounds (e.g., birds chirping or leaves rustling) combine with that music and resonate with it. At such times, a moment comes when I become conscious of the outside sounds that I was unconsciously listening to. I hope to incorporate that kind of awareness into my music.
You’ve been releasing music since 2018. What inspired you to follow this path?
I was originally a singer, but the more songs I wrote, the more I agonized over what kind of music I wanted to make. Around that time, I started listening to ambient music through an acquaintance and thought, "This is the music I want to make!"
Could you tell us a little more about your studio - what equipment or software do you cherish most?
SONY PCM-D100. I use it for field recording. The other is OP-1 field, which I purchased at the end of last year. I'm not used to using it, but I would like to make use of it in future productions.
When producing your music - do you use a lot of digital processing to create your sound or do you tend to keep things natural and organic?
I mostly use digital processing a lot. I think my voice and the field-recorded sound will be natural.
What is your approach to field recording - do you seek particular sounds or do you record first and scan through later when listening back?
When I casually go out and find good sounds, I often record them first and use them later. I may not often record for specific sounds.
Do you have a particular non-musical practice that helps to put you into the creative mindset for writing or recording?
As I mentioned at the beginning, I review art books, poetry books, and if I have time, movies. I value getting exposure to the works I love more than anything.
I listen to your music and I feel a presence of Ryuichi Sakamoto, your ability to almost suspend time with your compositions — as an artist, who do you relate to most in your work?
I have great respect for Ryuichi Sakamoto. So I did not expect you to say such an honor. I am very humbled. As an artist, I sympathize with Hiroshi Yoshimura, Satoshi Ashikawa, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
You are based in Yokohama City, not too far away from Tokyo. Tell me some of your favourite spots where you like to spend your time?
My favorite spot in Tokyo is a restaurant called AHIRU STORE. It is a popular restaurant, so you may have to wait in line to get in, but the food and natural wines are delicious. I go there on special occasions such as birthdays. I live in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, so I have more favorite stores in Kanagawa than in Tokyo. The bookstore "SEIKATSU TSUDZURIKATA" in Myorenji is a place where I can find books I want to read. I end up buying about ten books every time I go there.
If you would like to contribute your sounds or propose a feature for a future edition of Sonic Tapestries, please write me here with links/codes/wavs:
sonictapestries@gmail.com
Date of Broadcast : Wednesday 28th February via Threads
NEXT EPISODE - Wednesday 24th April 2024
TRACKLIST
FEDERICO DURAND, PABLO PICCO - Olas (Sonic Dialogue 4 - Los colores) - Sonic Dialogue
TATU RÖNKKÖ - Tekoäly ft. Islaja (Spheres) - Sonic Pieces - 05:10
DAISY RICKMAN - Winter Solstice (Howl) - Weird Walk Record Cult - 09:21
SECRET CIRCUIT - Illuminated Knights (Green Mirror) - Invisible Inc - 12:33
HU VIBRATIONAL - Oceanic (Timeless) - Meta Records - 18:05
- - Photographs From a Dream (Where Substance Meets Emptiness) - Mystery Circles - 20:53
ALVIDREZ - So Much Depends Upon (Antiphon) - Memorials of Distinction - 25:15
INNESTI - We Found the Edge of the World (The World We Knew) - 30:00
—IU TAKAHASHI MIX—
IU TAKAHASHI - Blink/Landscape (Sense/Margin) - LAAPS - 37:05
OLIVER COATES - Night (Aftersun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Lakeshore Records - 40:10
DISASTERPEACE - Paper Lanterns (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) - Lakeshore Records - 43:53
JEFF RUSSO - Edith’s Theme (What Remains of Edith Finch OST) - What Remains of Edith Finch (Original Soundtrack)- 45:23
ASKA MATSUMIYA - Mizuiro (After Yang - Soundtrack) - Milan Records - 48:13
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - After Yang Main Theme Solo (After Yang - Soundtrack) - Milan Records - 51:43
MATIJA STRNIŠA - Going Home (House of Hummingbird) - 56:03
EIKO ISHIBASHI - Drive My Car (Drive My Car Original Soundtrack) - Newhere Music - 57:31
KENJI KAWAI- TYPE 2052 HADALI (Innocence O.S.T) - 1:00:13
SQÜRL - Dark To Light (Paterson Original Film Score) - Third Man Records - 1:03:59
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - Monster (Monster - Motion Picture Soundtrack) - 1:08:29
JOHANN JÓHANNSSON - Around The Clock News (Arrival (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - 1:11:03
HAMMOCK - Eliel (Columbus (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - 1:12:29
OLIVER COATES - Happy Birthday Sophie (Aftersun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)) - Lakeshore Records - 1:16:25
DISASTERPEACE - Tender Backhoe (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) - Lakeshore Records - 1:18:45
COWBOY SADNESS - The Cowboy Way (Selected Jambient Works Vol. 1) - People Teeth - 1:23:19
Sonic Tapestries • S2 E2 w/ Iu Takahashi