BoomBoomSatellites
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Boom Boom Satellites are an electronic rock duo from Tokyo consisting of Masayuki Nakano and Michiyuki Kawashima. They have released six studio albums and toured globally supporting acts like Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers. Their live shows are highly energetic. Their latest album Exposed features a heavier, more metal-influenced sound and has been digitally released in North America. The band hopes to tour more internationally to further spread their music globally.
![CHOPSTICKS NY | vol. 020 | December 2008 | www.chopsticksny.com
The movie soundtracks your music is fea-
tured on appears to be mostly animations.
Are you into Anime?
MK: I grew up on anime, and still watch it today.
Two songs from Exposed have already been used
on various soundtracks. Shut Up And Explode, is
the opening theme to Xamd: Lost Memories and
Easy Action is featured in the film Vexille. It was
truly a wonderful experience to be involved so early
into production. We plan on writing more music for
soundtracks in the future because we know how
much audio manipulation impacts the visuals.
Just watching the video for Moment I Can
off 2005s Full Of Elevating Pleasures I can
tell you guys take visuals very seriously.
MK: Music videos are part of the creation process so
its important to work closely with the video director.
After a few meetings we decide on the concept, and
move forward with production.
Are your live gigs just as intense as the vid-
eos?
MK: More. With the inclusion of drummer Naoki Hirai
we become a three piece ensemble that drops you
somewhere between a heavy metal concert and a
warehouse rave party. The combination of audio and
visual stimulation magnifies the live shows potency.
It appears that 2008 has been a pivotal year
it well because the album has only been released in
Japan, and we havent toured outside Japan.
Michiyuki Kawashima (MK): We have opened up
for many artists like The Chemical Brothers, Moby,
and Fatboy Slim, but have yet to headline anything
major outside the country. Thats about to change as
we prepare for our first Australian tour. We digitally
released Exposed in Australia a short time ago and
since then weve been receiving positive feedback.
Would you like to tour America sometime
in the future?
MK: Of course, the American audience is great. They
really understand our style of music and are ex-
tremely enthusiastic about it. I remember opening a
show for Moby in Minneapolis a few years ago and
the crowd was really into it. Everyone was dancing
and having a great time. We cant wait to perform in
America again.
At what age did you start getting serious
about becoming a musician?
MK: While I was in middle school. We [Nakano
I] originally met in college while I was in another
band, but it was during those middle school days
that I got serious about music.
What sparked your interest to work to-
gether?
MK: Well, I wanted to create a rock band that incor-
porated aspects of the nightlife scene in its music,
something similar to what was going on in the U.K.
Unfortunately, though, we were short a drummer so
I asked Nakano to lend a hand. From that point we
started recording demos and performing at small,
local venues.
What did your parents think when you told
them your dreams?
MK: There were times when we had support from
our parents, and others when we didnt.
The times without that support must have
been difficult.
MK: We were going to quit Boom Boom Satellites
after our third year, but inside we knew that giving
up our dream was not the answer. Soon after the
decision to continue songwriting our music began
generating buzz. It wasnt until we started doing
remixes and movie soundtracks that our sound got
a major push.
PEOPLE
for the Boom Boom Satellites. So whats
next for you guys?
MK: We just released a new Live DVD set that was
recorded in 2008 while touring, and are already in
the studio recording a follow-up to Exposed. After
that wed like to focus on getting our music to more
people around the world.
Has the past success changed the way Boom
Boom Satellites music is created?
MK: Not really. For this new album we basically
locked ourselves in the studio and began writing,
which is what weve done in the past, but this time
the only pressure we have comes from our own de-
sire for perfection.
Is there anything you would like to say to the
Americans who are reading this article?
MK: Yes, please come out and see us. We have a
really great show planned for you. For every album
written, we record two different mixes. The first mix
is the one everybody hears on the album, but the
second mix can only be heard during the live show
because we synchronize the music with a series of
complex visuals that are also mixed live. Another
reason for the two recordings is to make everything
more exciting for the crowd, and they get to hear
something new.
----------- Interviewed by Sam Frank
Over the last decade America has been binging
on Japanese pop culture. Judging by the Poke-
mon craze of the late 90s to the more recent
video game wars between the Sony Playstation
3 and Nintendo Wii, it appears that pop culture
is evenly exchanged between both countries.
Unfortunately it has yet to properly acknowl-
edge Japans bustling music industry. There
are a few reasons for Americas lackluster re-
sponse to Japanese artists. One significant de-
tractor is the language barrier. American audi-
ences place just as much importance on the
lyrics as they do to the music, which is why Ja-
pans most successful artists are unable to
make a breakthrough.
Although language and concept have blocked
most J-artists from conquering Americas music
market there are some recent additions who
have slipped through the cracks. Thanks to
movies, anime, and commercials groups like
the Teriyaki Boys (Tokyo Drift), Puffy-AmiYumi
(Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi), and The Yoshida Broth-
ers (Nintendo Wii) have all found their way into
American homes.
So, whats next? With Japanamania still ram-
pant, America is ready for a J-music hero to
emerge. A band with enough talent to show the
international community that Japan not only im-
ports music from around the world, but is a
country that cultivates and exports its own,
unique sound; and no group is more ready to
carry that torch than Boom Boom Satellites.
What will come next?The future of J-music](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/30a7dfba-1d49-4dff-8f7e-2fb582fc43e3-161025180256/85/BoomBoomSatellites-2-320.jpg)
BoomBoomSatellites
- 1. CHOPSTICKS NY | vol. 020 | December 2008 | www.chopsticksny.com Boom Boom Satellites are bassist/programmer Masayuki Nakano and guitarist/vocalist Michiyuki Kawashima, two friends who met in the early 90s while attending college in Tokyo. Since then BBS have released six studio albums; remixed music for artists including Garbage, Josh Wink, and Ken Ishii; toured globally with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld; and have had their music featured in anime and commercials. While the groups studio albums have garnered critical acclaim its their dynamic live shows that transformed BBS into bona fide superstars. BBS seventh album, the metal-oriented Exposed, has just been digitally released in North America. EXPOSED is now available on iTunes Music Store. www.myspace.com/bbsamerica www.bbs-net.com PEOPLE Anime, manga, J-Horror, and video games are all examples of the J-pop craze that now dominates Americas subculture. J-music is the only part of J-pop not making headway in the U.S., but thats about to change. Al- ready enjoying stardom in Japan Michiyuki Kawashima (singer/guitarist) and Masayuki Nakano (Bassist/DJ), a.k.a. Boom Boom Satellites (BBS), are now making a landfall in America with the digital release of their most recent album, Exposed, and Chopsticks NY caught up with BBS to discuss crossing cultural boundaries in pursuit of that revo- lutionary sound and the importance of liv- ing your dreams. Before we begin I wanted to congratulate you on winning Japanese Magazines best album of 2006 award for ON. Coming off the success of ON was there any particular sound you were striving for while recording your most recent album, Exposed? Masayuki Nakano (MN): We were trying to go for a more metal sound. Something heavier. We used a lot more guitars and drums on Exposed than on any of our prior records. Who were some of the artists that original- ly got you into electronic music? MN: I was very influenced by the Detroit techno sound of the early 90s. One group I remember listen- ing to a lot early on was 808 State. While club-hop- ping around Tokyo in the early 90s, I would see these revolutionary DJs perform and talk to them after their sets. It was an exciting time. Although Exposed is being released digital- ly in America it actually hit stores in Japan a year ago, do you think its being embraced more by Japanese or international fans? MN: Im not sure if fans outside Japan are receiving Boom Boom Satellites We were going to quit Boom Boom Satellites after our third year, but inside we knew that giving up our dream was not the answer. 息 2008 Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- 2. CHOPSTICKS NY | vol. 020 | December 2008 | www.chopsticksny.com The movie soundtracks your music is fea- tured on appears to be mostly animations. Are you into Anime? MK: I grew up on anime, and still watch it today. Two songs from Exposed have already been used on various soundtracks. Shut Up And Explode, is the opening theme to Xamd: Lost Memories and Easy Action is featured in the film Vexille. It was truly a wonderful experience to be involved so early into production. We plan on writing more music for soundtracks in the future because we know how much audio manipulation impacts the visuals. Just watching the video for Moment I Can off 2005s Full Of Elevating Pleasures I can tell you guys take visuals very seriously. MK: Music videos are part of the creation process so its important to work closely with the video director. After a few meetings we decide on the concept, and move forward with production. Are your live gigs just as intense as the vid- eos? MK: More. With the inclusion of drummer Naoki Hirai we become a three piece ensemble that drops you somewhere between a heavy metal concert and a warehouse rave party. The combination of audio and visual stimulation magnifies the live shows potency. It appears that 2008 has been a pivotal year it well because the album has only been released in Japan, and we havent toured outside Japan. Michiyuki Kawashima (MK): We have opened up for many artists like The Chemical Brothers, Moby, and Fatboy Slim, but have yet to headline anything major outside the country. Thats about to change as we prepare for our first Australian tour. We digitally released Exposed in Australia a short time ago and since then weve been receiving positive feedback. Would you like to tour America sometime in the future? MK: Of course, the American audience is great. They really understand our style of music and are ex- tremely enthusiastic about it. I remember opening a show for Moby in Minneapolis a few years ago and the crowd was really into it. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. We cant wait to perform in America again. At what age did you start getting serious about becoming a musician? MK: While I was in middle school. We [Nakano I] originally met in college while I was in another band, but it was during those middle school days that I got serious about music. What sparked your interest to work to- gether? MK: Well, I wanted to create a rock band that incor- porated aspects of the nightlife scene in its music, something similar to what was going on in the U.K. Unfortunately, though, we were short a drummer so I asked Nakano to lend a hand. From that point we started recording demos and performing at small, local venues. What did your parents think when you told them your dreams? MK: There were times when we had support from our parents, and others when we didnt. The times without that support must have been difficult. MK: We were going to quit Boom Boom Satellites after our third year, but inside we knew that giving up our dream was not the answer. Soon after the decision to continue songwriting our music began generating buzz. It wasnt until we started doing remixes and movie soundtracks that our sound got a major push. PEOPLE for the Boom Boom Satellites. So whats next for you guys? MK: We just released a new Live DVD set that was recorded in 2008 while touring, and are already in the studio recording a follow-up to Exposed. After that wed like to focus on getting our music to more people around the world. Has the past success changed the way Boom Boom Satellites music is created? MK: Not really. For this new album we basically locked ourselves in the studio and began writing, which is what weve done in the past, but this time the only pressure we have comes from our own de- sire for perfection. Is there anything you would like to say to the Americans who are reading this article? MK: Yes, please come out and see us. We have a really great show planned for you. For every album written, we record two different mixes. The first mix is the one everybody hears on the album, but the second mix can only be heard during the live show because we synchronize the music with a series of complex visuals that are also mixed live. Another reason for the two recordings is to make everything more exciting for the crowd, and they get to hear something new. ----------- Interviewed by Sam Frank Over the last decade America has been binging on Japanese pop culture. Judging by the Poke- mon craze of the late 90s to the more recent video game wars between the Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, it appears that pop culture is evenly exchanged between both countries. Unfortunately it has yet to properly acknowl- edge Japans bustling music industry. There are a few reasons for Americas lackluster re- sponse to Japanese artists. One significant de- tractor is the language barrier. American audi- ences place just as much importance on the lyrics as they do to the music, which is why Ja- pans most successful artists are unable to make a breakthrough. Although language and concept have blocked most J-artists from conquering Americas music market there are some recent additions who have slipped through the cracks. Thanks to movies, anime, and commercials groups like the Teriyaki Boys (Tokyo Drift), Puffy-AmiYumi (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi), and The Yoshida Broth- ers (Nintendo Wii) have all found their way into American homes. So, whats next? With Japanamania still ram- pant, America is ready for a J-music hero to emerge. A band with enough talent to show the international community that Japan not only im- ports music from around the world, but is a country that cultivates and exports its own, unique sound; and no group is more ready to carry that torch than Boom Boom Satellites. What will come next?The future of J-music