Attack Magazine

Having recently been supported by artists such as Maceo Plex, Perc and Amelie Lens, Tokyo DJ and producer Risa Taniguchi introduces herself.

We were first alerted to the talent of Risa Taniguchi with her “Calling You” EP released last year. The lo-fi, eerie and disconcerting moods (take a listen to “Execution” on the aforementioned EP) took us on a journey East where, whilst the sun might eternally rise, an undercurrent of dark and often brutal techno lurks in the shadows. We asked Risa to introduce herself.

Because my music which is inspired by my classical training will help you sink into a dark yet passionate acid enhanced world.

I found it was very easy to get obsessed with it quickly!

My friend at university took me to my first club, and I felt it opened up my world. It was also the first time that I really was exposed to electronic music, so it didn’t take much time to start digging for new songs and artists from all over the world.

At the time I was studying and practicing classical music, but after a few months I bought my first DJ gear with the money I had saved from working. I DJ’d a few years before I even thought about producing, and I had some friends with studios who helped me kick start with that.

I always wanted to make my own music, which I felt represented me in some way, which I could play in my own sets, so this is really why I started to produce my own tracks. I learned a lot very quickly fast and started to understand what MIDI was!  

I’m an only child and every single aspect of the way I see things are influenced by her I guess. She was a fashion designer and used to work at Yohji Yamamoto, her closet is filled with black clothes, which has of course influenced my fashion preferences.

When I started out, I was not well known and therefore used to just release my songs on my own label in Japan. My first song which came out on an internationally recognised label was “What Are You Doin” on an Italian label called Lyase Recordings.

My first EP followed that on Clash Lion and then a full EP release on Suara.

Most recently my track “Ridiculous” will be included on Second State’s VA SUM 6 releasing July 19th.

I’d say ‘What Are You Doin’ as it had a lot of the first elements of my early producing. Things of course have developed since then, but I still have so much love for this track and play it regularly now in my sets. It has a lot of memories for me, as it was the first international release.

Hanging out with my homies and I guess a more stable life….

In my motherland, I’d say Contact. Overseas, probably Bossa Nova Civic Club in NYC.

At the moment, I am mainly playing in Japan, at Contact or some other cool venues in Shibuya.

Hopefully you’ll catch me at some of the venues in Europe in the near future as well! Stay tuned!

When I see my favourite DJ’s playing my songs! That’s always a bit weird at first and then it becomes the most amazing feeling.

I am 152cm (5’0”) tall. I sometimes have difficulty DJing as it’s often installed in too high and I can’t reach anything!!

“Do push yourself too hard.”

Spending half my time in Japan and the other half in Europe.

Risa Taniguchi’s “Ridiculous”, her debut on Second State is out July 19th. Follow her on Instagram.

Source: Attackmagazine.com

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Keywords:

Maceo Plex • Tokyo • Disc jockey • Record producer • Calling You • Extended play • Lo-fi music • Extended play • Techno • Use Your Illusion II • Electronic music • Song • Musician • Classical music • MIDI • Fashion design • Yohji Yamamoto • Clothing • Japan • Italy • Lyase • Extended play • The Clash • Extended play • Bossa nova • Japan • Shibuya • Europe • Stay Tuned (film) • Disc jockey • Disc jockey • Japan • Europe • Instagram •