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LISTINGS
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AFTER
DARK
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Debuting in Kotto Dori hideout Chambres D’hotes on December 14 is Domo Arigato, the party with, as its name suggests, an underlying theme of gratitude. And the first bestowee of thanks—served with an eclectic and riotous melee of multi-genre beats, themes and visuals—is Chicago band Anathallo. The indie art-pop act has just launched a new disc, Canopy Glow, and completed a Japan tour. Vocalist Matthew Joynt will take to the wheels of steel along with a mob of Tokyo’s underground beat-meisters. Dub- and reggae-fuelled Kenta and Tokyo-based electro warlord Maxwell will add to the shenanigans, while disco- and electro-tinged Dirk Bite, aka Jaybee of Loudminorityradio notoriety, ices what should be quite the delectable cake.
Domo Arigato@Chambres D’hotes, Dec 14. JC
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PAST
ISSUES
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by Don Crispy
Pete Tha Zouk
In advance of his first tour here, the Portuguese DJ says
the future will come from Japan
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“Everything
will change...mixers, turntables, CDs, MP3s will be
transformed into something else.”
www.petethazouk.com
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There once was a time when this writer had to scramble to
find materials on DJs touring Tokyo. Few had released anything
besides vinyl, and decent photos, biographies, and discographies
were far and few between.
These days, spinning discs is a career and DJs approach it
the way they would any other. A turntablist worth his or her
salt comes armed with resumes detailing notable club residencies,
honors and awards, as well as discogs, professional photos
and bios.
Take Portugal’s Pete Tha Zouk. Slated to play promoter
Valys’s Tribe All event at Aoyama club The Orbient May
28, Pete has a website (petethazouk.com) that not only lists
his achievements, but also provides downloadable audio, video,
and even a press pack for journalists.
It’s this kind of professionalism that’s taken Pete
to the top ranks of European DJs at age 26. With his own tightly
produced tribal house tracks for the Stereo Productions imprint
and a distinctive look, he has won a string of awards, including
National House DJ of Portugal in 2003.
But as young as Pete is, his career already stretches back
over a decade. Without the support of the kind of dance music
industry that exists today, things were tough when he was
getting into the game. “When I started, everything was
difficult,” he says in an email interview. “There
were places to play, but nobody cared about giving you a chance.”
These days, though, Pete waxes nostalgic (one suspects) about
a time before drugs had come to dominate European dance clubs.
“As a style, house is very healthy, but if you want me
to talk about crowds, I can’t say the same. People need
to go for the music and for the music only, not for something
else.”
With a number of hits under his belt, including last year’s
“Iberican Sound” remix and hard-hitting singles
like “The First Tribal Feeling,” Pete says his forthcoming
releases take a new creative tack. “The tribal essence
is there, but [it’s] not so underground this time...the
tracks have sensual female vocals with dark and crazy bass
lines.”
Pete enthuses about his first Japan tour, “It’s
clear here in Europe that the best visuals are in Japan.”
But it’s not just Japan’s VJing that he ranks highly.
Asked how he thinks DJing will evolve, Pete says, “The
answer will come from Japan...Everything will change...mixers,
turntables, CDs, MP3s will be transformed into something else.”
Created by Valys, a group quickly establishing itself as one
of the serious house music promoters in Japan, Tribe All will
also feature a slew of domestic turntablists, including veteran
house DJ/producer Koutarou.A as well as Hiyoshi of ethno-dub
label Dakini Records and Valys’s own DJs D, Etto, Mitch
and Enzo.
Tribe All@The Orbient, May 28. See
club listings for details.
Would you like to comment on this article? Send a letter
to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
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