America lines up another future legend
Zach welcome to DMCWORLD. A new 8 tracker swinging our way on Ghostly on January 31st which we will come to later. Firstly though, you hail from the affluent Ann Arbour town in Michigan where as a child your father spoon fed you classic Motown and Jazz. Your pops must have been a big influence on your life as a musician then?
“My family definitely influences everything I do. Mostly their influence comes through me more in everyday things and morals than my music. The albums that were themed around my Japanese heritage are more a personal statement to try and connect with them rather than being influenced by them if that makes sense. Involving them in my music is my way of reaching out to them, thanking them if you will.”
You ventured to New York to study music for a few semesters and then tripped over to London for three years where you hit the jazz scene. What were your first impressions on our capital city – and why did you choose here? What are your memories?
“I love London. I remember right off the bat how people always told me the food was bad there and how wrong I thought they were. Within the first month being there I found some of my favorite places I’ve ever eaten at. I also love the mix of culture, London being a huge melting pot of different people much like New York is. I started producing in London as well. The UK will always have a place in my heart for sure. Learned a lot about life and myself while I was there.”
If you hadn’t become a musician, what on earth do you think you would have ended up doing?
“I would most definitely be in the food industry. I still would love to have a venue/tapas bar sort of thing in Detroit one day.”
You describe your music as instrumental using electronics and live instrumentation taking influence from hip-hop, idm and jazz. Who would you say are your musical heroes?
“I have so many. Growing up it was your usual jazz suspects, Davis, Coltrane, Shorter, Evans etc. I’d have to say, my main musical “hero” would be my band leader growing up in Ann Arbor. I played in the Vincent York Quartet. He was an alto player based in the Metro Detroit area and taught me all through out high school. To this day I owe him for everything I’ve done. The lessons he taught me apply to everyday life as well as music. Thanks Vincent.”
You return home once a year to put on a warehouse party with your brother. Your home town obviously had a big influence on you growing up, but surely the love of electronic music must have come later?
“My home town is very important to me. Musically it represents so much. I’ll the great musicians I grew up with, Ghostly and many of their artist all hail from Ann Arbor. I go back as much as possible so not to be to separate from what ever is going on there. I plan on being back in the Michigan area at some point in life as well. The show I put on with my bother is called “fourth from its’ hinges” and saw it’s final year last summer. We do plan on doing more project in the future. My brother now helps run a coffee shop in Detroit and is starting a small clothing company.”
We can’t speak to you without asking you about this great rumour…did your Great Aunt really sleep with Frank Sinatra?
“After my Great Aunt was released from the internment camps she changed her name and started trying to find work as a “Chinese” actress and model. She ended up becoming the first Asian runway model in Paris, a broadway actress and apparently dated Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando. The true facts of her life are still a mystery to my family and I.”
The new release, ‘Lineage’ is a very apt name for record. You are obviously very close to your family. The album cover shows a photograph of your great grandfather Shigeto Ohmura at his house in Hiroshima in 1916 and the back cover of him at the Amache Internment Camp in Colorado where he was transferred after the attack on Pearl Harbor. You have also claimed that two of your previous releases are influenced by your grandmother. So even though you don’t speak Japanese, or indeed Russian where part of your heritage also lies, how has your past had a sway in your work?
“My heritage is very important to me but I feel very separate from it (never learning Japanese playing a roll in this) Having my family so involved with the artwork and theme of my releases is my way of connecting with them in my own way.”
Great answer. So please talk us through your new release ‘Lineage’, how long did it take to create and what’s the story of the album?
“Lineage was made throughout the year of 2011. The main focus was to get back to where I came from musically. My musical lineage if you will – Jazz, live instrumentation etc. The whole album uses a similar sonic pallet. Rhodes, Harp, Xylophone and Kalimba making can be found on all most every track on the album. My goal was to use all live instruments that could be cohesive together and create a sound that was felt and familiar no matter where I took the music. That’s why there is a big variation in tempo and style but the live and organic feel seems to flow from track to track. The goal was to reach the next step of my music through my old and more comfortable methods.”
It may not be good for my image, but I really like…
“Oohh, I got a good one. The Justin Beiber Documentary. I don’t care what anybody says, that kid works super hard. I can’t stand his music. In fact, I had never even heard it in my life until I watched the documentary ( and I can’t stand it ) but there is no doubt that he works his ass off and has true talent and drive.”
We come back to your place after the show, what is the Shigeto Back To Mine 10 tunes you play us to chill to?
“I’d probably just put on Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works or some old jazz albums. It’s hard sometimes listening to music after a show.
Have any of the early Ghostly releases had any influence on you?
“Dabrye One/Three changed my life. I had never heard instrumental hip hop like this before.”
What is the best album in your collection?
“Ashamed to say but my girl owns more records than I do. Part of why I fell in love with her. As for me, I do have an original pressing of KInd of Blue. Kinda cool.”
What one song can’t you get out of your head at the moment?
“In A Sentimental Mood.”
Not many people know this but Zach Saginaw is really good at?
“Making, maturing and selling artisan cheese.”
What is the best live gig you have ever witnessed?
“Robert Glasper Trio in London. It was shortly after Jay Dee passed and they played an entire set of his beats as a trio for the second set.”
What is coming next for your studio wise in 2012?
My next album “Lineage” drops on the January 31st and I plan on finishing another before the end of the year. I’m also working on several collaborations I’m very excited about. I’ll be spending a lot of this year working out a new live set as well.
And finally, dead or alive, what artists do you assemble to make your very own super group?
“That’s a hard one. Here’s one of infinite combinations. Aaliyah on vocals. Robert Glasper on piano and rhodes. Stanley Clarke on bass. Pat Metheny on guitar, Flying Lotus on extra textures, noise, pads and processing Aaliyah’s vocals live and myself on drums. That would be a lot of fun.”
Shigeto – Live Dates
Feb 15 – Los Angeles – Low End Theory at the Airliner
Feb 16 – San Diego – Kava Lounge
Feb 17 – SF – 1015 Folsom*
Feb 18 – Missoula, MT – The Palace Theatre*
Mar 14 – Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Ghostly Showcase) ^
Mar 16 – 17 – Austin, TX – SxSw Festival
Shigeto – Lineage
Out 1/31/12 on Ghostly International
Tracklist:
Lineage (Prologue)
Lineage
Ann Arbor Parts 3 & 4
Soaring
A Child’s Mind
Huron River Drive
Field Day
Please Stay
