Naviar Records – Japan 2024

First and foremost, I want to thank the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, which, once again, believed in our mission and supported us on our most ambitious project.

My special thanks also go to Hirotaka Shirotsubaki, an incredible artist as well as a wonderful human being. Thanks to his support, we were able to host an unforgettable concert at Space eauuu in Kobe, together with supporting artists 2o2 and Molder. He was also the main act of our show at Knock Koenji in Tokyo, together with Hideo Nakasako and Naviar member Nukumori Eugene.

The art residences that hosted me along the way allowed me to delve into the local creative scenes and make the most of the time I had at my disposal.

Looking back, I can't think of a better place to start our Japan tour than Studio Kura in Itoshima, where I stayed with Gosia and Zoe for a month. There, the peaceful atmosphere and wonderful nature around allowed us to take it easy, explore, and feel inspired by the new environment.

My stay at Ikibase was a wonderful experience and one I'll hardly ever forget. Being on my own for a week, in a place devoid of distractions, gave me the time and mental space to look within and put me in a creative mood I thought I had lost long ago.

AirK not only hosted me but also helped us immensely with the promotion of our event in Kobe, and Mari and Ayumi even took me out to experience first-hand the local traditions and events around the city. In Kobe, I felt as if I could belong there, and that was also thanks to AirK and the beautiful people I met during my stay.

A big shout-out to the music venues where we performed, which allowed us to host shows in Japan for the first time.

Space eauuu in Kobe is an unmissable place if you’re into ambient/experimental music, with a carefully-curated programme and impressive PA system. Great space and vibe.

Knock Koenji in Tokyo is a fantastic venue committed to high-quality, uncompromising music, and during my week in Tokyo, I was lucky enough to see other events there, aside from our Haiku Fest. Jun and Sayoko helped us promote the event, and its success was also possible thanks to their support from day one.

I heard about Kagurane even before I got to Tokyo, and as soon as I saw it, I understood why artists love it: a space dedicated to experimentation, with a fantastic team helping bring to life unique events. When I go back to Tokyo, this will be hands down one of my go-to places for gigs.

As I write, faces and memories keep resurfacing, reminding me of all those moments that made this journey unforgettable. I’ll never be able to thank everyone, but I’m going to try.

Kengo, for the great nights out in Kobe and for sharing the stage with me in Tokyo, together with two other artists you should definitely check out: Chie Otomi and Haruhisa Tanaka.

Vincent from the Init Music Bar in Kobe. Thanks to his recommendations, I was able to discover some of the best record stores and bars in Kyoto, as well as the works of Shiro Takatani.

Martin Hall, aka How the Night Came. Our 5-hour conversation on music making and creativity will resonate with me for a long time.

Elliot Carson, for the fantastic stencil workshop he hosted at the Naviar Haiku Fest. My collaborator and long-time friend Katrin for the marketing and psychological support over the last couple of months.

Finally, I want to thank Gosia, who came with me to Japan for a month, took care of Zoe while I was organizing the tour, and then stayed with her on her own for almost a month. She’s the one who made it all possible.