Project Description

Interview with

AKIRA KOSEMURA

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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Akira Kosemura
(Modern Classical – Japan)
 “Diary 2016-2019”
Out on October 25th 2019

“Diary 2016-2019” is the first music archive compilation of Akira Kosemura’s works composed between 2016 and 2019, selected by the artist himself. All the tracks included in the album will be released on CD for the first time. As this album is entitled “Diary”, all the tracks are listed in chronological order, which includes the original soundtrack for “Konatsu and Hiyori” (Kansai TV Production), a music composed for the French movie “Mais vous êtes fous (Losing It)”, a short composition series ‘In Moonlight’ produced during the score production for “Chūgakusei Nikki” (TBS TV Drama), ‘You’ which was used as a theme song for an American TV Drama “Love Is __”, a reworked version of ‘Someday’ featuring Devendra Banhart, and 2 unreleased tracks ‘Red Diary’ and ‘Late Night Tales’. This album of 17 tracks may be seen as an introductory piece for piano music lovers, but also can be recommended to soundtrack fans.  It is a music diary written with a piano, colored with the sensitive emotions of the artist.

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When did you know you wanted to make your own music? Has music always been a major part of your life?
I used to playing the piano since I was 3 years old. However, I did not like it. When I was 10, I was impressed the film music and had interested the music deeply and around 18, I’ve been starting the composing music and in my all life, yes the music is a major part of it.

How would you describe your sound?
Between the physis and the artificial or between the harmony and the discord.

Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I’m not sure. Maybe I’m not a special person, just a man exploring the music so maybe similar persons to me just resonate my music.

Which music did you grow up listening to? How has it inspired you?
The film music including James Horner, Alan Silvestri and John Williams, also the minimal music of Phillip Glass and Steve Reich, Arvo Part, Ryuichi Sakamoto. More experimentals of Fennesz, Alva Noto, Lawrence English. Recent years, Johann Johannsson, Max Richter and Dustin O’Halloran, now most interesting in Hildur Guonadottir.

You are releasing a compilation of your works on October 25th, featuring compositions from 2016-2019. How did you select the tracks to include on this new release?
I always use the concept when I make the solo album. In The Dark Woods, One Day, Polaroid Piano…All albums have the very strong and own concept. However, recently, I composed a conceptual short stories, as a kind of the Ep only on the digital platforms so maybe it’s time to arrange the one album with some short stories on the same table as my diary. Because my music which released in public is very few, very selected by me but in this present, I would like to more open my desktop for the world.

Why did you decide to name it ‘Diary’?
As I said above, a kind of my musical diary in three years and all music were written by the own conceptual short stories.

What kind of emotions are expressed through the songs from this release? How do your personal life and feelings influence the music you produce?
First five songs came from the short film “Konatsu and Hiyori” and it shows a breathing of a young woman’s mind, came back to her home and facing her own purpose of the life with a amazing beautiful Japanese scenery with the season. So the music are very Japanese home music for me and special emotions with the season of Japan. Then “But You’re Mad” was written for a French film “Mais vous etes fous (Losing It)” that’s a very chaotic drummy music, then “Minerva”, “In Moonlight, Op.1&2”, “Trace” came from my Ep “In Moonlight” was from the inspirations of the several female images which of the feelings of her who stands the branch point of life, her past and future…”You” and “Out of The Solitary Mind” came from the Ep “Our Own Picture” and these songs were written in 2016, after my son was born in 2015 and my life was perfectly changed better than before, so I needed to write it down to the music. The music in this albums have their own conceptual stories and these came from my imagination or experience of the real life.

What was it like to release your first solo album when you were still at school?
It feels strange. Because Lawrence English listened to my music on myspace and emailed me he’s interesting in releasing my very first album from his brand-new label closed to the avant-pop music in 2007. He’s famous sound artist and manager of Room40 in the world, so it’s very strange experience for me but that was the first step of my composer life.

How has your music evolved over the years since that first album?
Technically, I suppose yes I’ve been growing up as the composer but the behind of my music, the origin of my music which I want is never changed since then.

If you could perform or record with any musician, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
James Horner, because he’s my hero when I was 10.

Do you have any long-term goals and aspirations for the future? Where do you hope to be in five years time?
I want to continue the exploring music life for the future. I’m interesting in the physis sounds of the world which is not harmonized, as much as the beautiful music from the musical instruments. So I want to explore the between of them in my solo work and film scoring as well.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
See the listeners and sharing the music together.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – I could not choose one.
Artist – No one
Movie – I could not choose one.
Place to visit – Nowhere.
Venue to play – Nowhere.
Food – Soba
Drink – Tea
Person in History – No one.
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t think so.

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Check out AKIRA KOSEMURA below
Website | Facebook  | Instagram  | Twitter 

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AMNPLIFY – DB