つしまみれ tsushimamire TsuShiMaMiRegirls sensational rock band !
Interview conducted on Feb. 02, 2021
by Dan Locke
I show you Our Music Video and Our Live Shows and Our comments.
Enjoy!!!
What is your upbringing?
Mari: I’m from Chiba Japan. Chiba is next to Tokyo.
My grandfather and grandmother were farmer.
My home town is near by Pacific Ocean. I’m a country girl.
I grew up very ordinary family.
Yayoi: Study a lot. Know many things.
Maiko: I grew up in a very normal family, studied in normal high school and college.
How did you discover music?
Mari: I like singing a lot as far back as I can remember.
I like children songs, pop songs…
I found the new songs from TV programs when I was children.
When I was in Junior high school, I go to my favorite CD shop.
The shop manager told me his recommend.
Yayoi: Friends tell me.
Maiko: TV programs and internet.
How did you start to write music?
Mari: I wanted to be a singer when I was 3 or 4…
And then I thought I have to have my original songs.
So, I had been humming the songs and recording on the cassette recorder since I was about 10.
It was just voices. So, I needed accompaniment.
Yayoi： When TsuShiMaMiRe started to make song. I told members how wily neighbor cat was….
Maiko: Naturally when I started the original band.
Mari- How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
Mari: My favorite boy played guitar. So, I want to start playing guitar.
I got my first guitar at the instrumental shop in my hometown.
I was junior high school student.
My father gave it to me.
I gave it my friend when I was university student.
Mari- What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
Mari: Fender USA JAGUAR is perfect for me..
I just have 3 guitars.
2 is Fender USA JAGUAR.
One is acoustic guitar. It’s “breed love.”
And these guitars are enough for me.
Yayoi- How did you get your first bass, and do you still have it?
Yayoi- What is your bass of choice now? Year, make and model?
Yayoi: I bought it my 20th birthday.
I still use it always.
Fender USA precision bass `57 model
How did you form the band?
Mari: When I was a university student. I was in a Band Circle.
Yayoi and Mizue(ex-drummer) are also same circle.
And we were friends. And I wanted to cover “BLANKEY JET CITY.”
I really love this band.
They are famous legendary Japanese all male 3-piece rock band.
So, I thought all female 3-piece rock band will be cooler!
I ask Yayoi and Mizue, and then we start the band.
How did you get Maiko as your new drummer?
Mari: Our recording engineer, Soichiro Nakamura introduced her.
She had no band, and she had enough time to remember our songs. (It’s 100 over!!!)
And She loves drinking beer.
It’s important thing for us!
How did your band get its name?
Mari: We needed very original band name. So, we created new word.
“TsuShi” is from Yayoi’s family name.
“Ma” is from Mari’s “Ma”
“Mi” is from Mizue’s “Mi”
And “MaMiRe” means “Mix” in Japanese.
So, it means 3 girls mixed, and make the very original songs!
Now “Ma” is from “Mari” & “Maiko” ‘s “Ma.”
What was your first performance at like?
Mari: Our first performance is in very Japanese old hotel.
It was a band circle’s camp.
I remembered I couldn’t play well.
And we are crying each other.
I promised that I will do more practice!
We were very young!
Yayoi: About the band, same as Mari. About me, piano concert when I was 6 years old.
Maiko: When I first performed with TsushimamiRe, I went blank…But very excite!
What makes a good songwriter?
Mari: Great experience makes a good song writer, I think.
I want to meet a lot of people, and touch their feelings and reach a lot of places and find new things.
So, I need the touring all over the world.
Yayoi: Experience and imagination
Maiko: Beer.
What is the process of writing your music?
Mari: I hum the songs during cycling, taking a bath, walking around…
And memo the part of lyrics or record the hum on my voice recorder.
And then I took my guitar.
Or sometimes playing guitar is first. I like to find new guitar riffs.
Yayoi: Sometime, at first, I hit on a phrase of base. Sometime, song melody. Sometime, song theme.
Maiko: Mari and Yayoi make riffs, and we discuss the image of the song. And I decide the speed of the song and make a rhythm pattern. Sometimes I make rhythms to the lyrics.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Mari: About TsuShiMaMiRe, I think Almost JASRAC.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Mari:
I think TsuShiMaMiRe’s first original song is “Cat is not really affable Creature”
(猫は本当はやさしい生き物じゃない)
And we recorded it in our album “GIVING BLOOD” （2011）
.
Do you remember the first time you heard your music on TV, in a movie on a video game?
Mari: I remembered “Smoothie Nomu Hitsuji” (from our album “TsuShiMaMiRe & Rock & Beer” 2008) played on TVCM.
It made me happy.
Yayoi: I was so excited when Wim Wenders shot our live at small club in Tokyo!
And I was very fun to make songs for Power Puff Girls!!
Maiko: I think the first time I heard it was at a convenience store. It was playing on the radio. I was very happy to hear that my friends also listened!
How do you stay fresh over 18 year, 13 albums and over 1800 shows?
Mari: I think I still not get satisfaction. I still not get enough money.
We are still hungry.
And I believe TsuShiMaMiRe is one of the best rock band in the world.
So, I’m searching the best way to show our music for everybody.
It’s very difficult but very fun.
So, I stay fresh.
Yayoi: I think tours make us fresh. We have had many tours. We had many problems. Also, we got many wonderful experiences too. Never boring.
You have been very busy in 2020. With the new release, a mini album, Lucky and a live DVD. How do you have time?
Mari: We didn’t do the tour in 2020 because of COVID-19.
So, we have a time to make new songs and make the dvd.
It’s a kind of busy but it was fun time.
Yayoi: We were busier usually though. We had much times but difficult to see members in 2020 because of COVID-19.
We use online very much.
Maiko: I wasn’t as busy as usual because of COVID-19.
Who idea was it for the cover of “Doing Nothing”?
Mari: Did you say about this?
It’s an idea from our photographer, Atsuki Iwasa. (http://www.atsukiiwasa.com/)
He wanted to shoot bad girls.
His photos are always so cool!
Why did you re-release “The Payday” after 20 years?
Mari: We made new lyrics version for the company.The company name is “DORAEVER”. ( https://doraever.jp/)
They released the automatic Payment machine. ( https://doraever.jp/trcd)
This company president came across “The Payday” on our Youtube channel.
And he contacted us. And we discussed the new version for this machine.
And we re-recorded for the machine.
This machine reached very niche market.
We have sympathy!
What is your favorite track on the album?
Mari: About “Lucky”?
My favorite song is “Love Love Love La”. Harmony is beautiful. And I like my singing and guitar riff.
Yayoi: My favorite track is “NORI”.
Maiko: “Song for an end to the epidemic”. Because of Yayoi’s funny voice.
How do you stay healthy while touring Pre-covid-19?
Mari: We always have a good breakfast.
And sometimes do the exercise.
And in the van, I keep quiet and take a nap for singing!
The most important thing is hangout, “KANPAI” after the show!
It made us super healthy!
Yayoi: I tried to eat many vegetable or fruits. Sometime difficult to get vitamin during tour.
Maiko: Eat vegetables, drink alcohol and go to bed.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Mari: It’s useful. But a little bit too easy to find the new songs.
It’s not dramatic…but it’s good!
Yayoi: I hope it give many people who don’t know tsushimamire the chance to know our music.
Maiko: I think it’s good for background music.
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical
score? Because of social media #sonyrecords vs. F#
Yayoi: I don’t think people forget sharp….
Digital vs. vinyl?
Mari: My favorite music bar in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo plays only vinyl.
I like to drink a glass of red wine and listening the songs in that bar.
So, I feel vinyl is special for me.
But Spotify told me a lot of new good songs for me.
So… Both are good!
Yayoi: I like Vinyl
Maiko: I like both.
How does touring in the United State vs. Japan?
Mari: Both are great. U.S. is huge. Japan is compact.
People are great.
About Mexican foods and Margarita, U.S win!
About Sushi, Japan win!
Yayoi: I think doing in both is win
Maiko: I love both.
Why do you always tour in the United States in the autumn?
Mari: I think we release new album in Spring, and we do Japan tour in Summer, and then we do the U.S. tour in Autumn.
Yayoi: not always. Many times, we did in Spring.
How was it to be a part of SXSW in 2015 during 2015 Japan Nite?
Mari: It’s fun! But I almost forgot…It was 6 years ago.
Yayoi: Very fun! I want to join again!!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Mari: I just remembered “Umeboshi Plums Big Seeds”. It’s from our first album “Pregnant Fantasy”.
It’s super simple and nonsense. But U.S. people loved this song, I think.
That time I understood rock music don’t need meaning.
We just need passion and energy and smile.
Yayoi: “My-brain is short cake”. Maybe we played the most at show. I want to do tour very much.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
Yayoi: Depend on how to be announced.
To make things a bit more complex, there is talk that people could either mix the manufactures of the vaccines or in the case of Moderna studies have shown you could take a half doses for the first shot and still be alright for the second vaccine. Do you feel that this is right?
Yayoi: I have never study medical science. I need very long to get knowledge for answering.
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Mari: Yes.
Not only the music business, but also every show business got a huge damage.
I want to find good way for music business and our life.
Yayoi: Yes
How was it to do your first show after 9 months at Shinjuku Loft?
Mari: It’s so much fun!
The audience have to keep quiet and keep the distance each other.
Bu t I really felt they gave me the energy and power and imagination on the stage
Yayoi: It was fun. And I was really happy to play for audiences at there. I hope worry about virus will gone soon.
Maiko: Very excited! Before it started, I was nervous. But when I saw the faces of the audience, I was very happy.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Mari: I have my shop, it’s dress and accessory shop.
I started to making cotton masks. I think I made 5000 over now…
Yayoi: Having mask. Wash hands. Staying at home as far as possible.
Maiko: I was almost at home.
How often do you do an acoustic show?
Mari: I think TsuShiMaMiRe have one show every 1-2 years…
It’s very rare show for us.
For me, I do solo acoustic show 3-4 shows every year.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Mari: I started to use sewing machine. So, I made cotton masks and some bags or re-make t-shirt. It’s fun.
Yayoi: “Kin-tsugi” Not start yet though…. Just bought tools. I hope someday I will open the tool box….
Maiko: I started drawing pictures with iPad.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Mari: My favorite channel is “TV TOKYO” ’s streaming channel.
TV TOKYO has some very unique programs.
Yayoi: I like to watch my kitty watching animal channel.
Maiko: DOMMUNE
With the streaming services (Disney (50+ new shows/movies Lizzie McGuire, The Sandlot, Beauty and the Beast prequel, Moana, Cars, Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, Sister Act 3, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Wendy, all future Star Wars and Marvel movies and shows) and HOB Max ( including Wonder Woman 2, Godzilla vs Kong, Top Gun: Maverick, Mortal Kombat, Tom and Jerry, The Many Saints of Newark, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, The Matrix 4) planning to pull all the upcoming movies from next year and put them on their streaming service. How will that affect the entertainment industry?
Yayoi: income decrease in the conventional way. So, entertainment industry will try to find new way.
One thing you have to remember also most these movies are already in the can ready to be release. And the original agreement was for the movies to come out at the theater first. The actors and crew make most of their money from the residuals (financial compensations that are paid to the actors, film directors and other involved (including music) in the making of the movie in cases of reruns, syndication, DVD release, and online streaming release).
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
In October that is going to change at least on Facebook.
Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Yayoi: I think operation Facebook becomes complicated.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show? How is your original mask sell going?
Yayoi: I hope that Making new songs keep fans. We didn’t expect much revenue from mask sales. We made mask for audience came to our show.
Anyway, I like our original mask design.
How hard was it to ship a physical product during the virus?
Yayoi: The shipping system we use usually to US had stopped for 6 months.
I was very sorry that people who ordered our merchandise waited so long.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Yayoi: I love real. But If I have the chance to do holographic concerts, I will try. And then think good or bad.
Government heard the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.”
Will this help save the industry?
Yayoi: I think yes
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Yayoi: Difficult to imagine without music… because I always think how to keep music… But maybe I would try to make other arts.
What is your happy place?
Mari: In front of the microphone on the stage and in the recording studio.
Yayoi: The clubs I play music.
Maiko: It’s where there’s a lot of music, people and alcohol.
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Mari: We were saved.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Mari: I hope to see you guys next tour! We’re making new songs!Please wait our new release and listen our music!
Yayoi: I hope we can do tour soon!!
Maiko: Stay healthy. See you soon!
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter |
You must be logged in to post a comment.