01Profile
A Aimi Odawara Photo
Aimi Odawara
Artist, Illustrator, and I&ME Designer — Tokyo
03Interview
Name
Aimi Odawara
What do you do?
Artist, Illustrator, and an I&ME designer.
Where are you from?
Tokyo.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw The Specials at Zepp Tokyo in 2017. I've been a fan for as long as I remember, so I got tickets straight away when I heard they were coming to play in Tokyo. It was my first time seeing them live, and I couldn't get over the fact that the musicians I had listened to for so long were right in front of me. As a band, they don't really interact with fans while onstage, and I thought the casual way they played was super cool.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
It’s not a UK influence as such, but B-horror films. In terms of UK influence, I’m a big fan of mod fashion.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Club Asia in Shibuya.
I'm a bit of an introvert and not the type to go all out on the dancefloor. However, I remember seeing the didgeridoo player GOMA perform at Club Asia, and it sent me into some kind of natural trance; it was like a state of unexplainable confusion. I think I was 18 or 20 years old at the time.
If you could be on the lineup with any band in history?
It's pretty cheeky, so I wouldn't actually do it, but I like the idea of meeting David Bowie and clapping my hands while looking into his face (laughs). I saw the documentary 'Ziggy Stardust' and I just remember his very well-proportioned face.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to hang out at Terry Hall’s (The Specials) house and just relax on the sofa and watch a film.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
The US band, Talking Heads. Their music feels fresh every time I listen, and I highly recommend them to younger people out there. I wasn't aware of the Tom Tom Club connection, and I only found out about them when I first met my husband; he suggested I listen to 'This Must Be The Place'. I also really enjoyed the movie 'American Utopia' with David Byrne, one of the core members.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts of the playlist?
The playlist is a mix of cool songs from multiple generations and genres that sound fresh at any time of the year.
The first track you played on repeat?
If I think about UK music that I would consciously play on repeat, then The Specials 'A Message To You Rudy' and 'Little Bitch'. I played those tracks all the time. I bought The Beatles' albums, such as 'Help!', because I felt that's music I needed to know, but I didn't listen to them that often. I felt the same way about bands like the Sex Pistols, too.
A song that defines the teenage you?
‘Little Bitch’. The title tells you all you need to know (laughs).
One record you would keep forever?
I sound like a broken record, but it's The Specials again and their album, 'The Specials.' There are several albums that I got as a child that I have continued to listen to, and even clothes that I have been wearing since primary school. There are also some films I've seen about 300 times. I'm that type of person.
Best song to turn up loud?
‘Little Bitch’. It’s a great track to have on in the car.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Perhaps The Beatles. I think that might be unexpected. My favourite song of theirs is ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ because of the rather unorthodox way it develops.
What band's you are listening to now?
The Kinks. It’s music I’ve known for quite a while, so not really a band I’m listening to right now as such, but my husband has them on all the time.
03Interview
Name
Aimi Odawara
What do you do?
Artist, Illustrator, and an I&ME designer.
Where are you from?
Tokyo.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw The Specials at Zepp Tokyo in 2017. I've been a fan for as long as I remember, so I got tickets straight away when I heard they were coming to play in Tokyo. It was my first time seeing them live, and I couldn't get over the fact that the musicians I had listened to for so long were right in front of me. As a band, they don't really interact with fans while onstage, and I thought the casual way they played was super cool.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
It’s not a UK influence as such, but B-horror films. In terms of UK influence, I’m a big fan of mod fashion.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Club Asia in Shibuya.
I'm a bit of an introvert and not the type to go all out on the dancefloor. However, I remember seeing the didgeridoo player GOMA perform at Club Asia, and it sent me into some kind of natural trance; it was like a state of unexplainable confusion. I think I was 18 or 20 years old at the time.
If you could be on the lineup with any band in history?
It's pretty cheeky, so I wouldn't actually do it, but I like the idea of meeting David Bowie and clapping my hands while looking into his face (laughs). I saw the documentary 'Ziggy Stardust' and I just remember his very well-proportioned face.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to hang out at Terry Hall’s (The Specials) house and just relax on the sofa and watch a film.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
The US band, Talking Heads. Their music feels fresh every time I listen, and I highly recommend them to younger people out there. I wasn't aware of the Tom Tom Club connection, and I only found out about them when I first met my husband; he suggested I listen to 'This Must Be The Place'. I also really enjoyed the movie 'American Utopia' with David Byrne, one of the core members.
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts of the playlist?
The playlist is a mix of cool songs from multiple generations and genres that sound fresh at any time of the year.
The first track you played on repeat?
If I think about UK music that I would consciously play on repeat, then The Specials 'A Message To You Rudy' and 'Little Bitch'. I played those tracks all the time. I bought The Beatles' albums, such as 'Help!', because I felt that's music I needed to know, but I didn't listen to them that often. I felt the same way about bands like the Sex Pistols, too.
A song that defines the teenage you?
‘Little Bitch’. The title tells you all you need to know (laughs).
One record you would keep forever?
I sound like a broken record, but it's The Specials again and their album, 'The Specials.' There are several albums that I got as a child that I have continued to listen to, and even clothes that I have been wearing since primary school. There are also some films I've seen about 300 times. I'm that type of person.
Best song to turn up loud?
‘Little Bitch’. It’s a great track to have on in the car.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Perhaps The Beatles. I think that might be unexpected. My favourite song of theirs is ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ because of the rather unorthodox way it develops.
What band's you are listening to now?
The Kinks. It’s music I’ve known for quite a while, so not really a band I’m listening to right now as such, but my husband has them on all the time.