01Profile
A Seiya Ohta Photo
Seiya Ohta
Hair and makeup artist — Japan
03Interview
Name
Seiya Ohta
What do you do?
Hair and makeup artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Psytrance rave footage on youtube. Loud sound, wild crowd.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Art is something I have always liked, so I have been inspired by the UK street art, including Banksy. A collage-like work with multiple letters lined up to a wall, photorealism or scribble style paintings. Such contrasts of his work once got me to lay scribbles on a denim once.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I also DJ here and there so ‘fancyHIM’, a club event that takes place in Shinjuku would be the one. Back when I was still a beauty school student, I had a chance to DJ for an LGBT friendly night which was pretty deep, only known to some, anyway, that was my first time to DJ for a crowd. It turned out great even though beats were out of sync but the crowd did not care much and kept the groove on.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Beatles. I get inspired not only by their sound but also by their artworks as I like the album cover designs, so let me just fantasize about taking part as a hair make and to get involved in artwork direction in a photoshoot with them for an album cover.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
John Lennon would be the one, as I have heard of his episode as being artsy and of course a pacifist, but he was also known to be always sleepy and quite lazy in fact. It would be interesting to delve into the philosophy in his mind in an indoor conversation.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
'90s psychedelic rock band, Spacemen 3. Their first album release 'Sound Of Confusion' had quite a heavy materials but it is interesting to see the change of their sound into calm melody line, almost into ambient. They are not afraid of changes are they, I like how they think flexibly.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Virtual Insanity' by Jamiroquai. I found the vinyl of original version at home but at that time, the parody version was used for the Cup Noodle ad on TV and I remember singing along to it.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Shamanix' by Simon Posford. My regular track as background music while focusing on tasks, so I feel nostalgic listening when I hear this tune.
One record you would keep forever?
'Chill Out' by The KLF. It is one of the cool ambient releases which I feel comfortable listening to. Would be a great one to chill out with.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Some Might Say' by Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher My inspiration for life, or rather, the way of rock life. He is the male muse in me.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen. You got to sing it out loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Kiss You' by One Direction. I found it on YouTube when I was in junior high school, and I've been listening to it since it before becoming popular in Japan, actually. I played this track a lot during a trip to Hawaii. Pretty easy cool track for a teen and I do dig it once in a while.
New bands you are listening to now?
Lauren Auder. Looks visually amazing too.
03Interview
Name
Seiya Ohta
What do you do?
Hair and makeup artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Psytrance rave footage on youtube. Loud sound, wild crowd.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
Art is something I have always liked, so I have been inspired by the UK street art, including Banksy. A collage-like work with multiple letters lined up to a wall, photorealism or scribble style paintings. Such contrasts of his work once got me to lay scribbles on a denim once.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I also DJ here and there so ‘fancyHIM’, a club event that takes place in Shinjuku would be the one. Back when I was still a beauty school student, I had a chance to DJ for an LGBT friendly night which was pretty deep, only known to some, anyway, that was my first time to DJ for a crowd. It turned out great even though beats were out of sync but the crowd did not care much and kept the groove on.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Beatles. I get inspired not only by their sound but also by their artworks as I like the album cover designs, so let me just fantasize about taking part as a hair make and to get involved in artwork direction in a photoshoot with them for an album cover.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
John Lennon would be the one, as I have heard of his episode as being artsy and of course a pacifist, but he was also known to be always sleepy and quite lazy in fact. It would be interesting to delve into the philosophy in his mind in an indoor conversation.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
'90s psychedelic rock band, Spacemen 3. Their first album release 'Sound Of Confusion' had quite a heavy materials but it is interesting to see the change of their sound into calm melody line, almost into ambient. They are not afraid of changes are they, I like how they think flexibly.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Virtual Insanity' by Jamiroquai. I found the vinyl of original version at home but at that time, the parody version was used for the Cup Noodle ad on TV and I remember singing along to it.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Shamanix' by Simon Posford. My regular track as background music while focusing on tasks, so I feel nostalgic listening when I hear this tune.
One record you would keep forever?
'Chill Out' by The KLF. It is one of the cool ambient releases which I feel comfortable listening to. Would be a great one to chill out with.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Some Might Say' by Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher My inspiration for life, or rather, the way of rock life. He is the male muse in me.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen. You got to sing it out loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Kiss You' by One Direction. I found it on YouTube when I was in junior high school, and I've been listening to it since it before becoming popular in Japan, actually. I played this track a lot during a trip to Hawaii. Pretty easy cool track for a teen and I do dig it once in a while.
New bands you are listening to now?
Lauren Auder. Looks visually amazing too.