01Profile
A Double Clapperz Photo
Double Clapperz
Musician/Producer — Tokyo
03Interview
Name
Double Clapperz (UKD and Sinta）
What do you do?
Musician/Producer
Where are you from?
UKD: Fukushima
Sinta: Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
UKD and Sinta: Kahn and& Neek set at Tokyo’s BS0 in 2015. We wanted to experience them live since the beginning of our production career and the incredible 2-hour set consisted almost entirely of unreleased tracks of their crews and themselves. We still get the buzz from their fresh innovative take, throwing reggae and grime tunes while keeping the tradition of bass music. The whole vibe of the event created by the host BS0 team was amazing with the quality sound of the East Audio Sound System.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
UKD: What has influenced me the most in terms of my music production would be UK dubstep. I’ve started listening to it consciously since the release of 'Do The Jazz' by Swindle in 2012 but I think the rise of those recent grime and trap-infused hybrid sounds marks the return of the golden age. I’m sure we have history to go back to but rather than being nostalgic and sticking to the classic sound, the scene is making moves freely in a true sense and I’m very much impressed with such attitude.
Sinta: Grime. Naturally going from UK garage, I began listening to grime at around 20. Since then, I’m constantly inspired by many aspects such as the sound and their DIY mentality.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
UKD and Sinta: What often stays in our memory is the amount of passion from the crowd. Our self-organized event 'GET LOOSE' at WWWβ(Shibuya), and also 'K/A/T/O MASSACRE' at Forestlimit (Hatagaya) were the best recent gigs in Japan. OIL in Shanghai and OHM in Berlin both had tremendous energy for fresh experimental stuff though.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
UKD: The Bug. I never had chance to see his gig in Japan but he’s definitely one of our favourite producers. Gotta have a huge sound system go with.
Sinta: Wiley. He’s a huge influence on the grime scene. I’d love to go wild with him in Tokyo.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
UKD: WEN. He’s in Big Dada which is a big label so it might not be appropriate in this case but I like his sound so much that I’ve been buying all of his releases so far. His minimalistic approach with elements of UK garage, grime and dubstep could well be described as sound art using low frequencies.
Sinta: Oil Gang. Most of the releases from his own label, Oil Gang are solid, genre-bending tunes while retaining roughness of grime. I had a chance to go into his studio/house in London for production and I'll always respect him for his generous support of fledgeling artists.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
UKD: 'Oi' by More fire Crew.
Probably found this track while I was still in high school when YouTube was at its early phase which might be my first encounter with grime. I remember thinking it was some kind of a dancehall reggae track because the lyrics sounded like Jamaican Patois but I kept listening to it because it was shockingly different from the rap music I’d been listening back in the day.
Sinta: 'Crazy Love' by MJ Cole.
It was recommended UKG album in my local TSUTAYA (video/audio rental store). It’s got bits of R&B stuff and gimmicks such as reverse playback and such that you’d find out if you listen closely many times.
One record you would keep forever?
UKD: Kahn and Neek - 'Percy'.
This track drew my attention to Kahn and Neek which I couldn’t buy it at the time of its release so I went around looking for it and finally got the second hand which I don’t think I’d ever let it go knowing only 500 of them are available in the world.
Sinta: 'Raw Trax' by Basic Rhythm. I’m liking the sound, the mood of spontaneous artwork.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
UKD: ‘That’s Not Me’ - Skepta. I feel the punk mentality from his attitude like yeah I’d do my thing independently.
Sinta: Slowthai’s 'Nothing Great About Britain'. Spirit of rebellion. Throughout the album, it inspires me to push myself harder.
Best song to turn up loud?
UKD: 'Skeng' by The Bug featuring Killa P and Flowdan. Pitch black floor, hood on and spit the hook. Pull out the gun fingers sort of a track.
Sinta: 'Talking Da Hardest' by Giggs. Street anthem/unofficial UK national anthem. I’d love to sing out loud in a stadium.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
UKD: 'Lyla' by Oasis. As a school kid, I used to play the guitar all day listening to ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION who were outspoken about their love towards Oasis, so I used to make my way to the local TSUTAYA for the rentals. There are some other great songs such as 'Morning Glory' and 'Whatever' but my favourite is 'Lyla' after all.
Sinta: 'Shiroi' by Mansur Brown which I've got addicted to the hard-boiled mood. This song has made me check out UK jazz on a regular basis.
New bands you are listening to now?
UKD: Bengal Sound who has been the biggest influential artist to me for the past few years. He’s got two beat-tapes entirely made out of Bollywood samples and he’s really good at it. Originally, I’d mostly been producing tracks using synth plug-ins but I’ve switched into constructing melodies just using sampling over the past year largely because of his influence.
Sinta: Vegyn. A fresh take on Memphis rap grooves curiously mixed with some raw sounds.
03Interview
Name
Double Clapperz (UKD and Sinta）
What do you do?
Musician/Producer
Where are you from?
UKD: Fukushima
Sinta: Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
UKD and Sinta: Kahn and& Neek set at Tokyo’s BS0 in 2015. We wanted to experience them live since the beginning of our production career and the incredible 2-hour set consisted almost entirely of unreleased tracks of their crews and themselves. We still get the buzz from their fresh innovative take, throwing reggae and grime tunes while keeping the tradition of bass music. The whole vibe of the event created by the host BS0 team was amazing with the quality sound of the East Audio Sound System.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
UKD: What has influenced me the most in terms of my music production would be UK dubstep. I’ve started listening to it consciously since the release of 'Do The Jazz' by Swindle in 2012 but I think the rise of those recent grime and trap-infused hybrid sounds marks the return of the golden age. I’m sure we have history to go back to but rather than being nostalgic and sticking to the classic sound, the scene is making moves freely in a true sense and I’m very much impressed with such attitude.
Sinta: Grime. Naturally going from UK garage, I began listening to grime at around 20. Since then, I’m constantly inspired by many aspects such as the sound and their DIY mentality.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
UKD and Sinta: What often stays in our memory is the amount of passion from the crowd. Our self-organized event 'GET LOOSE' at WWWβ(Shibuya), and also 'K/A/T/O MASSACRE' at Forestlimit (Hatagaya) were the best recent gigs in Japan. OIL in Shanghai and OHM in Berlin both had tremendous energy for fresh experimental stuff though.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
UKD: The Bug. I never had chance to see his gig in Japan but he’s definitely one of our favourite producers. Gotta have a huge sound system go with.
Sinta: Wiley. He’s a huge influence on the grime scene. I’d love to go wild with him in Tokyo.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
UKD: WEN. He’s in Big Dada which is a big label so it might not be appropriate in this case but I like his sound so much that I’ve been buying all of his releases so far. His minimalistic approach with elements of UK garage, grime and dubstep could well be described as sound art using low frequencies.
Sinta: Oil Gang. Most of the releases from his own label, Oil Gang are solid, genre-bending tunes while retaining roughness of grime. I had a chance to go into his studio/house in London for production and I'll always respect him for his generous support of fledgeling artists.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
UKD: 'Oi' by More fire Crew.
Probably found this track while I was still in high school when YouTube was at its early phase which might be my first encounter with grime. I remember thinking it was some kind of a dancehall reggae track because the lyrics sounded like Jamaican Patois but I kept listening to it because it was shockingly different from the rap music I’d been listening back in the day.
Sinta: 'Crazy Love' by MJ Cole.
It was recommended UKG album in my local TSUTAYA (video/audio rental store). It’s got bits of R&B stuff and gimmicks such as reverse playback and such that you’d find out if you listen closely many times.
One record you would keep forever?
UKD: Kahn and Neek - 'Percy'.
This track drew my attention to Kahn and Neek which I couldn’t buy it at the time of its release so I went around looking for it and finally got the second hand which I don’t think I’d ever let it go knowing only 500 of them are available in the world.
Sinta: 'Raw Trax' by Basic Rhythm. I’m liking the sound, the mood of spontaneous artwork.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
UKD: ‘That’s Not Me’ - Skepta. I feel the punk mentality from his attitude like yeah I’d do my thing independently.
Sinta: Slowthai’s 'Nothing Great About Britain'. Spirit of rebellion. Throughout the album, it inspires me to push myself harder.
Best song to turn up loud?
UKD: 'Skeng' by The Bug featuring Killa P and Flowdan. Pitch black floor, hood on and spit the hook. Pull out the gun fingers sort of a track.
Sinta: 'Talking Da Hardest' by Giggs. Street anthem/unofficial UK national anthem. I’d love to sing out loud in a stadium.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
UKD: 'Lyla' by Oasis. As a school kid, I used to play the guitar all day listening to ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION who were outspoken about their love towards Oasis, so I used to make my way to the local TSUTAYA for the rentals. There are some other great songs such as 'Morning Glory' and 'Whatever' but my favourite is 'Lyla' after all.
Sinta: 'Shiroi' by Mansur Brown which I've got addicted to the hard-boiled mood. This song has made me check out UK jazz on a regular basis.
New bands you are listening to now?
UKD: Bengal Sound who has been the biggest influential artist to me for the past few years. He’s got two beat-tapes entirely made out of Bollywood samples and he’s really good at it. Originally, I’d mostly been producing tracks using synth plug-ins but I’ve switched into constructing melodies just using sampling over the past year largely because of his influence.
Sinta: Vegyn. A fresh take on Memphis rap grooves curiously mixed with some raw sounds.