DONGURIZU

Name, where are you from?
DONGURIZU／MORI, CHOMO. Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture (Around 3 hours north of Tokyo).

What do you do?
Musicians (Japanese pop duo).

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
C: I’m going to choose a pretty famous video. It’s the 'Love Is The Message (Live @ Abbey Road)' session with the four-piece group, drummer Yussef Dayes, bassist Rocco Palladino, who is Pino Palladino’s son, keyboardist Alfa Mist, and guitarist Mansur Brown. I just love it as a piece of music and have watched it over and over. I know all the parts each musician plays, but I really love what Dayes and Mist are doing on this track. These are guys who know how to work a jam to create their own work. You can feel the improvisational nature of jazz through listening to this. I am a guitarist, so I have so much respect for the nature of Brown’s playing.
M: For me, it’s something really recent, Little Simz and her Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. It’s the part where she raps sitting cross-legged on the sofa. I’ve had her latest album 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert' on repeat, and she’s my go-to badass rapper of choice at the moment (lol). I love her fashion choices and her rapping style. She has this cool, frank way of rapping backed up with a strong groove.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
M: In the fashion world, it’s Dr. Martens. They recently collaborated with Loake shoemakers on tassel loafers and I bought a pair. I also got a pair of eight-eyes in green. I started getting into them around a year and a half ago when I saw Tyler, the Creator wearing them.
C: I’m not sure if you can call this a subculture or not, but I’m into drum and bass. I guess the most well-known artists would be Goldie or Photek. My love for it started around four or five years ago, so I was really late to the party. I don’t listen to it because of its connection to dubstep. I just dig it as a separate type of music. Oh, and something else I just remembered. The film 'This Is England' had a strong effect on me. I saw it when I was in secondary school and it was the first time I came into contact with skinhead culture. I liked the punk-ish mindset of it.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
C: That would have to be the Shibuya club, Sound Museum Vision. It was before we had played any gigs, and I was just hanging out there. I experienced this complete culture shock. It was like the clubs you see in films or TV shows, but the sound was totally different. I felt as if I was in some kind of Disneyland of sound (lol).
M: We recently played ZOZO Marine Stadium for the Supersonic event after they changed it up. The place was massive and the excitement levels were off the scale. I like small, dark venues, but after this event, I realised I also like stupidly big places, too.
C: The monitor set-up was completely different, so we were a bit confused at times. But it was a crazy experience.
M: If we play that event again, I’d love to give it a double-shot of energy.

If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
M: Sex Pistols for me. I’d love to be on stage as a rapper and just get punched in the face (lol). I gobbled up all their music when I was in secondary school. I love the show where Sid Vicious gets pissed off and leaves halfway through.
C: I’d love to join Yussef Dayes and Tom Misch on their Instagram live session and play bass.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
M: I’d love to have a drink with Sid Vicious. I’d go to his house and neck whiskey from the bottle. And then get beaten up again (lol).
C: For me, I’d love to sit down with George Harrison and play the sitar. I’ve no clue how to play it, but I’d travel to India with George and learn how. Having said that, I’d also like to board the Yellow Submarine with John Lennon (lol).

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
M: Louis VI. He’s a super cool London guy with a matter-of-fact rap style and clear UK jazz sound. His stuff is really deep. I’ve been a fan for about a year and a half and I’ve slotted him into the playlist. He deserves a bit more shine in the hip hop community.
C: Emma-Jean Thackray would be mine. I think she’s already pretty well known on the London jazz scene. I watched her 'Against The Clock' video where she writes a track in ten minutes. I was super impressed with her studio setup. In the video, she plays the trumpet and a host of other instruments … It's just a really sweet video and I liked her even more after watching it.