Based in Chiba prefecture, Yuta Orisaka (折坂悠太) sings with Japanese heart but in the rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music in the new song named “Asama” (あさま).
He just released his first LP “Tamuke” (たむけ), which means “An Offering”, on the label Noroshi Record, which focuses on Japanese folk music. Among his influences, Yuta mentions bands like Radiohead, Queen, Spoon or Bon Iver in his profile on the label site. Yet he sings in a very Japanese style.
“Even if you make music bound to a particular region, it might get inspirations from distant places,” Yuta explained when we asked him about it. “Whatever kind of art we make, we must explore our own roots, remember what we loved when we were young. And finally we find our deeper origin, don’t we?”
By the way, “Asama” is also the name of a volcano. In the song, Yuta might compare volcanic eruption to children’s cry, and these children might be Tengu, imaginary creatures found in Japanese folk religion.
Why does Yuta bring about such an old motifs bound to Japan? “When I make music,” he answered, “I rely on my own emotions or the kind of tunes I like. So I take emotional landscapes around me or something I feel nostalgia for, or something I’m familiar with.”
I agree with him. It’s a natural way to look for our own roots, not only for making music but also for our life.
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