This week – The Japanese Popstars – Paddy boys ripping it up
Okay dudes, you three are being bigged up by the likes of Mixmag, DJ, IDJ, Word, Radio 1 and XFM at the moment, where the fuck did three lads from Northern Ireland ever get into this mad crazy world of sending home clubbers looking like ET?
“The band technically ‘birthed’ at the Oxegen Festival in Ireland about 2 years back. We were, ahem, drunk in a field and decided that we could go to the festival for free the next year by forming a live act, playing out and basically blagging free passes in. We left it a little late in actually writing any music and getting on the line up for the following year, but our hearts where in the right place. I’ve actually known Gary for about 10 years. He gave me my first gig! I was producing music under another alias and I used to take my tracks to Gary to play when he DJ’d at a local nightclub. I sent out one of our first Popstars track on a messagebord and we got asked to play a full live show off the back of a promoter hearing that first track ‘Rodney Trotter’, we agreed to the gig and then wondered how the hell can we play live with only one song? Gary had met Gareth a few months earlier at a club night he was DJing at and knew that he could produce music in a live environment using his laptop – as Gary and myself didn’t have a clue how to do this live. He called him up and Gareth said he’d be right up for this, even though he had only actually met Gary twice in his life. We all decided to meet together at a Radio Soulwax gig in Belfast so we could get ideas for the live show.”
The ‘We Just Are’ album rocks the box. What’s the story behind this delectable mix of music?
“It basically reflects what we have been playing out and producing over the last two years. We tried to reflect everything that we are about and keep it similar to our live show, but we realized that we can’t have an album completley in your face and banging as it would get a little boring listening to it at home. So we did our best to keep it interesting with different moods and euphoric numbers too. We hope that comes out when you listen. It was the hardest part to actually select which tracks and what order to place them. Blood, sweat, tears, snots and band break-ups almost came about during the track order phase of the album!”
Lush in Portrush – come on guys, there must have been some very messy nights…
“Yes, but what goes on tour stays on tour! Unless we get really drunk and it all slips out!”
How did the Japanese ‘Beatnik’ label connection come around?
“They heard some of our tracks and became very interested. We sent them the majority of the album before it was complete and they said they really, really liked it! Within a few days we were in chats about signing to their label. They are all very nice people and have even flown over to the UK to check us out live a few times. We are really excited to be signed to such a prestigous dance label as as Beatnik in Japan! We’re heading over to Japan in October to play out and we’re extremely excited as we’re all into Japanese movies, art, history, food etc. – especially since our band name is based on an aspect of Japanese culture.”
Your press geezer has just tole me on the phone that, and I quote,” The Japanese Popstars aren’t indie rave, or any other sub-sub-sub genre – their’s is big room, cool as fuck electronic music built for festivals and stadiums.” Comments please lads…
“Well what can you really say to that? We just do what we do. We make music that we would like to hear when we go out to clubs. Music that we would like to dance to when we go to see a DJ. At the end of the day, we are just happy that people like it!”
What’s the best plot around the world you have giggled and danced at?
“We are very fond of a few clubs. ‘Fabric’ in London always goes off, ‘Tripod’ in Dublin is just amazing, ‘Lush’ Portrush is legendary and ‘Babyface’ in China is just something you have to experience. The atmosphere in these clubs have been electric when we’ve been there and we have had the best craic playing these. Also, even being a punter at them over the years was just incredible. It’s really hard to limit it to just one club, every one has been a grand experience.”
