new york city. by dennis a. amith
Transcription
new york city. by dennis a. amith
Toko Furuuchi 古内 東子 THE WELL-KNOWN SINGER/SONGWRITER TOKO FURUUCHI HAS HAD HER SHARE OF HIT CD SINGLES AND ALBUMS AND AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICAL CAREER IN JAPAN, BUT NOW SHE EMBARKS TO MAKE HER DREAM TO PERFORM IN THE UNITED STATES COME TRUE WITH HER FIRST PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK CITY. J!-ENT INTERVIEWS TOKO IN REGARDS TO HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER AND HER PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK CITY. BY DENNIS A. AMITH PHOTOGRAPH Y BY MIMI KO w w w. m i m i k o p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m J!-ENT Covering Entertainment Worldwide J!-ENT PHOTO: Toko Furuuchi playing to a full house at Joe’s Pub on Jan. 20, 2009 in New York City. Photo by J!-ENT’s Mimi Ko contents 4 11 16 INTERVIEW WITH TOKO FURUUCHI J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith interviews Toko Furuuchi. Photography by Mimi Ko. TOKO FURUUCHI: LIVE IN NYC Toko Furuuchi live in New York City at Joe’s Pub on January 20, 2009. Photography by Mimi Ko. WORLD GROOVE ALBUM REVIEW J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith reviews Toko Furuuchi’s latest album “IN LOVE AGAIN” previous articles Visit www.j-entonline.com for the following interviews and articles currently available on J!-ENT. Click on a cover to access a previous article/interview. Copyright © 2009 by J!-ENT. www.j-entonline.com. All Rights Reserved. T oko Furuuchi is one the multi-talented singer, songwriter and musicans in Japan. Looking back on the singer/ songerwriter and musician’s illustrious career, Toko made her debut back in 1993 with her album “Hayakau Isoide”, the singer would have her sixth album “Koi” would win the best album in 1997 for the Nihon Record Taishou Awards ( Japan’s equivalent to America’s Grammy Awards). Her hit ballad “Dare Yori Sukinanoni” released back in 1996 continues to be a powerful song to this day, covered by several artists and has become a slow jam classic. Over 15 years as a music artist, Furuuchi started a new fresh start with a new label (avex trax) in 2008 with her 13th album “IN LOVE AGAIN” and in Jan. 2009, she made her longtime dream of performing live in the US come true with a performance at Joe’s Pub in New York City. To celebrate her marvelous music career, J!ENT interviewed Toko a few days before her live NYC performance. J!-ENT: Before we get into discussions about music, let’s get to know a little about you. When you were younger, was it always your dream to become a singer? TOKO: I never thought about becoming a singer, not until I was 19 when I started writing music. My dream was to become a pâtissier (a person who specializes in French pastries and sweets) when I was little. Then I started becoming interested in becoming an interpreter which made me want to go to the U.S. for studying English. J!-ENT: I’ve read that you attended high school in Connecticut. How was it like growing up in the USA versus living in Tokyo? TOKO: High school students in Japan were more naïve and immature compared to Japanese teenagers now. Twenty years ago, I guess I was one of those typical Japanese shy girls. It was harder than I expected to get along with the kids over there. No uniform, eat whatever you want at lunch and especially, you always have to have your own opinion at class and to not be afraid to fight about it with anyone. Connecticut was a very peaceful, quiet state. I was amazed by the beauty of its autumn. Sometimes at the beginning of my stay, I missed the city. I was born and raised in a city but every time I went to see Connect- 4 J!-ENT icut River which was only a five minute drive from home, it made me calm and happy. That’s something I never could experience living in Tokyo. J!-ENT: Who did you listen to a lot when growing up? TOKO: Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson were my idols. ally and how do you feel about so many International fans listening to Japanese music? TOKO: This is going to be my very first showcase overseas, I never ever got a chance to meet a fan living in other countries. However, I started a new blog last October and sometimes I get comments from overseas. It’s amazing! J!-ENT: If I was to look in your MP3 player right now, which artist or songs would I catch you listening to? TOKO: My favorite musician nowadays is Musiq Soulchild. I have three albums of his right now in my iPod. J!-ENT: You will be performing at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Your first performance in America. How do you feel about performing to an American audience? TOKO: Very nervous, very excited. What else can I say? J!-ENT: Were you aware that you have so many fans of your music Internation- J!-ENT: Let’s talk about your music. Let’s even start from the beginning. J!-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE: Toko Furuuchi Your debut single “Hayaku Isoide” debuted back in Feb. 1993. Looking back at that moment in time, what is the best memory that you have releasing your first CD single? TOKO: I remember that I couldn’t believe that my first CD debuted for real, because all I was doing was have fun at studios everyday with staff and musicians just like playing basketball or something after school. I was a university student at that moment, so I did go to studios after school taking subways. I was very young. J!-ENT: What is the biggest difference musically for Toko Furuuchi the singersongwriter (1993) and Toko Furuuchi (2009)? TOKO: Now, after 15 years of writing and singing, I think I learned to have almost a perfect blend of having fun as an artist and being serious as a professional musician. Believe it or not, I love my career more than ever and am enjoying myself being a singer-songwriter. J!-ENT: In 1996, your song “Dare Yori Sukinanoni” was such an incredible hit! What was your first impression of the song when you first recorded it and looking back at the song now, how do you feel about it today? TOKO: It occurs to me very often that I don’t remember how I wrote the song. To me it is a good thing not to be able to remember the process, for that should mean I wasn’t tossing and turning during the writing. What I do remember is I had such an incredible band including the producer back then at the recording that song. Very young and fresh but so talented people. I treasure this song for eventually having let people recognize me as a singer. Being able to write songs and sing and make albums even after 15 years because of this song. J!-ENT: You have written your own songs, you compose a lot of the music. But I always wondered, when it comes to your songs, are you a perfectionist when it comes to your music or are you pretty laid back in terms of your musical and songwriting approach? TOKO: When I write music or lyrics, I think I am laid back, all I have to do is be myself, not an artist, I guess. Yes, it is my job to write songs, but I try not to think about all the business related things during writing. However, once I get into the studio for the actual sound making part, I may be a perfectionist in a way that “I LOVE” a perfect sound such as Steely Dan’s! J!-ENT: Let’s talk about your latest album “IN LOVE AGAIN”. How was the experience of working on this album? And how long was the process of writing the songs, composing and recording? TOKO: I never enjoyed working on an album before as much as this time. It took some time, almost one year, which I think is pretty long for Japanese artists, to complete, but I loved every moment of every process making this album. Shin Kono, who is one of the two pro- J!-ENT 75 J!-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE: Toko Furuuchi ducers I had for this album, and he is to me, a perfect musician to make my songs glow. All the songs were written within a year. J!-ENT: My favorite track on the album is “半分だけ”. Can you please tell me how this beautiful song was created and how it came about? TOKO: Shin is such a great pianist. The way he plays the piano inspired me a lot to compose this song. About the lyrics, every time I listen or sing this song, I always think that “Oh my god, this is so me”. This song seems like a ripped page from my diary. J!-ENT: On this album “IN LOVE AGAIN”, is their a song that has special meaning for you and why? TOKO: Well, all of them mean special to me, but the title tune, “IN LOVE AGAIN” has a big message, especially for adults who work too hard, that says “let’s be in love again. That’s something we must do now, isn’t it?”. J!-ENT: Your music career has produced 25 CD singles, 13 full-length albums and 6 J!-ENT 15 years of beautiful music. Of all the songs that you have written in your career, which song remains as a favorite for you and a song that you will always treasure and why? TOKO: “Strength” is the most memorable album, because it’s the first album that was recorded in New York. A lot of great legendary musicians played for this album, which influenced me as an artist a great deal. Not understanding what the lyrics were about, they felt the sound of the lyrics as music, not as a language. They taught me a lot of things by playing the instruments beautifully to my songs. J!-ENT: Let’s get to know more about you with a few fun questions. Have you ever sung your own songs at karaoke and did you ever get a perfect score? TOKO: Never! I think the highest score I got was 70 or 80 something. It was so embarrassing! J!-ENT: Having lived in the USA and in Japan, when you come to the United States, is there a certain food that you yearn for? TOKO: I am such a meat lover. Pork, beef, chicken, anything. Hamburgers and French fries are always my favorite food for lunch when I go to the States. My friends are surprised that how much I love Western food, I don’t mind spending months without Japanese food. J!-ENT: I’ve read somewhere that your favorite foods are spicy foods such as Kim chi and Choriso. Is that true? TOKO: Yes, I’m so into spicy food! I’m a huge fan of Tabasco, too. The other day, I had a plate of curry that was 80 times hotter than the regular one. J!-ENT: I noticed on your ameblo and even on your website blog that you have a lot of postings of food and wine and going out with friends and staff. Now if we were to spend time at a restaurant with Toko Furuuchi, anywhere in Japan, what restaurant would you recommend, what food would you order and what kind of wine? TOKO: A yakitori restaurant called Fuku in Shibuya-ku. They have a good selection of wines as well as good chicken and lots of side menus. I like quail eggs, smoked cheese, and grilled shitake mushroom. “Believe it or not, I love my career more than ever and am enjoying myself being a singer-songwriter.” J!-ENT 7 Though I’m not a connoisseur of wines, Spanish red goes well with juicy grilled chicken. J!-ENT: Outside of music, what kind of hobbies do you enjoy? TOKO: My friend gave me PSP for Christmas, I love playing games. Also, I love to cook for my friends when they come to my place for BYOB party. J!-ENT: You’re a very fashionable person. Are there certain designers that you enjoy or their clothing line? And also for shopping, which cities in Japan or around the world that you love shopping at? TOKO: I go almost every area for shopping, Barneys in Ginza, Estnation in Roppongi, Isetan department store in Shinjuku, etc. I always love dresses of Diane Von Furstenberg, they make your body look curvy. J!-ENT: If there is one word to describe yourself, what word would that be and why? TOKO: Carefree. I think I am such an optimist. 8 J!-ENT J!-ENT: In every interview we have a section called, word play. We give you one word and you give us your definition of that word. With a new album and 15 beautiful years of music, I want to celebrate your career by doing something different with the word play. Here’s the first word: myself of the present not the past. a. LOVE TOKO: Hard to notice when it’s there. i. CONNECTICUT TOKO: Fine scenery of colored leaves. b. SUCCESS TOKO: Seems strange but something that people would judge, not yourself j. Family TOKO: Where I came from. Unconditional love. c. Distance (your third single) TOKO: Sometimes it’s necessary in relationships. J!-ENT: What final words would you like to say to your fans? TOKO: Please come and see me in NY, I’d like you to enjoy the sound of the piano and many many words of love. d. Strength (your sixth single) TOKO: Being able to care about others. e. Koi (your sixth album) TOKO: Romance… My beautiful vitamins. f. Kinou ni Sayonara (your 16th CD single) TOKO: Proud to say that I always enjoy g. Kono Tenohira (your 20th CD single) TOKO: Love to watch people’s hands.. h. Sayonara Aishiteta Hito (your 22nd single) TOKO: Pain, pain, pain, ouch! For more information on Toko Furuuchi, please visit her website at: http://www.tokofuruuchi.net/ Visit her blog at: http://ameblo.jp/furuuchitoko/ “IN LOVE AGAIN has a big message, especially for adults who work too hard, that says “let’s be in love again. That’s something we must do now, isn’t it?” Toko Furuuchi A J ! - E N T S P E C I A L F E AT U R E Live in New York City @ Joe’s Pub - 1.20.09 PHOTOGRAPH Y BY MIMI KO J!-ENT 11 Toko Furuuchi - 12 J!-ENT - Live in NYC J!-ENT 13 Toko Furuuchi Live in NYC 1.20.09 - Performance Set List 1. Aitaikara 2. Ginza 3. Mystical 4. Game 5. IN LOVE AGAIN 6. Koijyouzu 7. Dare Yori Sukinanoni 8. Hohaba 9. Beautiful Days 10. hoshizora 14 J!-ENT Toko Furuuchi - Live in NYC J!-ENT 15 world groove J!-ENT A J!-ENT MUSIC REVIEW Toko Furuuchi IN LOVE AGAIN Tearbridge Music RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2008 Format: Album TRACKLIST: 1. 歩幅 2. 恋の不思議 3. あなたのトモダチ 4. IN LOVE AGAIN 5. Mystical 6. カサノバ 7. 今夜ベッドで 8. 帰る場所はあなた 9. よくある物語 10. Confusion 11. game 12. 半分だけ 13. Beautiful Days - New Version- Toko Furuuchi made her return on a new a label with her 13th album and a live performance in New York City in January 2009. The singer/songwriter from Tokyo who once lived and studied in Connecticut in the US has had a string of hits in the 90’s especially with the hit song “誰より好きな のに”, which continues to be a wonderful song today with many artists having covered the song. Having wrote songs and produced hits for a good number of music artists, it’s actually great to have a new original, full-length album from Furuuchi, her first in three years since “CASHMERE MUSIC” back in 2005. “IN LOVE AGAIN” continues Furuuchi’s staple of music which showcases her beautiful vocals, in-depth songwriting, producing and also composing all music on this album. The album starts of with “歩幅”, a beautiful mid-tempo ballad that features a beautiful arrangement from Shin Kono and features a good balance of strings courtesy of Kinbara strings and an overall beautiful medley. The second track “恋の不思議” is an upbeat track featuring another smooth arrangement and many instruments by Shin Kono and followed up by another upbeat track “あなたのトモダチ” featuring an arrangement, keyboard-driven dance track by Toshiyuki Mori. The fourth title track “IN LOVE AGAIN” features an arrangement by Shin Kono for a beautiful, smooth ballad which features beautiful acoustic guitar playing and bass. The fifth track “Mystical” features an arrangement by Toshiyuki Mori and has a funky style to it. While the sixth track “カサノバ” has a 16 J!-ENT < “Beautiful, smooth and sensual, Toko Furuuchi continues to showcases her vocals and in-depth songwriting for her thirteenth album, ‘IN LOVE AGAIN’.” more Summer-like arrangement by Shin Kono with the acoustic guitar and jazz like upbeat arrangement. One of my favorite tracks on the album! The seventh track “今夜ベッドで” features a smooth, bass driven track and another wonderful arrangement by Shin Kono that also sports a hint of brass. Very cool song and followed by a beautiful ballad titled “帰る場所はあなた” which is piano and acoustic guitar driven. While the ninth track “よくある物語” is more upbeat keyboard driven track, while the tenth and eleventh track “Confusion” and “game” features a little experimentation with keyboards and electronic bass. The 12th track on the album “半分だ け” is a beautiful and awesome ballad and I can imagine Furuuchi performing this song live and delivering a beautiful performance. The final track on the album “Beautiful Days -New Version-” features a sort of live-band type of feel with the piano, bass, percussion and strings which were all well-balanced with each other. Another awesome track on this album. As for the CD insert, the CD insert booklet features lyrics, a picture of Toko, a message from Toko Furuuchi and production credits. Personally, it’s hard to go wrong with a Toko Furuuchi album. Her music tends to be quite elegant and you know that with each song, you get a well-sung, well-written album that features music that incorporates strings, a bit of brass, piano, acoustic guitar and overall, just a refreshing, lively and elegant album. Toko Furuuchi continues to look great and sound incredible well over a decade later when I first discovered her music. “IN LOVE AGAIN” is a lovely album that is just smooth, sensual and enjoyable. Highly recommended! — DENNIS A. AMITH J!-ENT Covering Entertainment Worldwide www.j-entonline.com Dennis A. Amith is the Editor-inChief and founder of entertainment and pop culture website J!-ENT. He is also the owner of the multi-disciplinary communications and design business, nt2099 media and entertainment. Graduating from California State University, Fresno with an educational background in mass communications and journalism, Dennis A. Amith has interviewed and featured many talents and industry professionals in the United States, Europe and Asia and is recognized for promoting the entertainment and pop culture of different countries to an International audience. Currently residing in California. MIMI KO first joined J!-ENT in 2006, where she found the opportunity to combine photography with her passion for Japanese music. An editorial and portrait photographer, Mimi’s work was recently selected for Group Show 23 of Humble Arts Foundation, and the 14th Juried Exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Photography. Originally from Hong Kong, she now lives and works in New York City. For more from her portfolio, visit www.mimikophotography.com. AVAILABLE NOW ON J!-ENT J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith interviews “SWORD OF THE STRANGER” director Masahiro Ando. Image: Toko Furuuchi, image courtesy of avex entertainment, inc.
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