01Profile
A Nairu Yamamoto Photo
Nairu Yamamoto
Model / Actress — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Nairu Yamamoto, Tokyo.
What do you do?
Model / Actress.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I’m more of a radio person than an avid music listener. If there are songs that I like, I have them on an endless loop—the number of plays are grotesque (lol). As I have this kind of crazy way of listening to music, I don’t have many options to choose from. However, the gig that comes to mind is The Beatles’ Rooftop Concert. I came across it on YouTube three or four years ago when I was really into The Beatles. I was shocked that these musical gods played regular shows like the one I watched. I could tell that they played it because they loved music and they wanted to create a sound. It was cool that the location wasn’t really relevant.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
The only subculture I’ve ever really known is the “gyaru (gal)” fashion culture. Growing up in my area of Tokyo, I didn’t know other kinds of magazines existed (lol). However, I had just finished secondary school and picked up the fashion magazine NYLON JAPAN. It was in those pages that I first came across Dr. Martens. I was pretty shocked that such a cool brand existed in this world. Finding these shoes actually shaped my life. I loved the Dr. Martens fashion stylings so much that I went solo shopping in Harajuku to recreate that style for myself. I bought a pair of black eight-eyes—a pair I’ve loved and looked after ever since. It was on that trip I was approached by a modelling agency and I began modelling. All thanks to those shoes!
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I have a growing number of friends who play music, so I used to go to lots of shows pre-COVID-19. The place I remember the most is LIQUIDROOM. I have strong memories of the New Year countdown event there. I like to go to places where I can meet up with my mates.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Any track by Queen. It’s amazing that all of their songs are mood-boosters that make you want to get up and move. I really can’t choose one track, so any will do—I mean that in a good way! I'd love to hear Queen live at the Live Aid show they recreated for the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' film.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I haven’t got a specific musician in mind, but I’d love to be alive for an hour in the '70s or '80s. The Beatles and Queen were around and I imagine it to be like a scene from the film 'Sid and Nancy'. I’d love to walk around a city that’s overflowing with '70s/'80s culture and fashion and then duck into a live music venue to catch a gig… I want to experience life when that whole culture was just the norm.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
So, I did a bit of background research for this interview because I really don’t know much about music. I found that I have actually been listening to UK musicians without really knowing it. When I think that UK musicians have influenced my life and memories in such a big way, it makes me realize that the music itself has given me something special.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Penny Lane' by The Beatles. There isn’t a life-changing reason behind it. I was around 23 years-old and spring cleaning the house. I wanted to have some music in the background, so I just randomly stuck on a Beatles album, and that’s when I first heard 'Penny Lane'. It’s not a quiet track, but then again, it’s not particularly loud. I can’t speak English, so I just enjoyed the melody at first rather than getting any kind of message from the lyrics. But when I started to understand the words, I liked the song even more.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I can’t boil it down to one song, but I’ll choose several from Japanese artists. 'Start' by KREVA, 'Blow' by Rip Slyme, and 'ONE DAY' (KREVA Remix) by m-flo loves Kato Miliyah.
One record you would keep forever?
The Beatles’ Red Album (1962–1966). I remember being in primary school and going with a friend to their grandad’s house. He had two records hung up on the wall; one was red and one was blue. I remember thinking, I wonder why these records have the same kind of picture but were different colours (lol). Then as I got older, I listened to the album and I remembered that visit to my friend’s grandad’s house and felt surprised that he must have liked those songs. As I keep saying, I’m not a music expert at all. However, these songs have a way of making you want to get up and move, no matter where you hear them, how old you are, or what era you are living in. I’d like to hold on to this record for those reasons.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
It’s a Japanese song, 'Amber Colored City, The Morning of The Shanghai Crab' by Quruli. I was 24 or 25 when I first heard it. There’s a lyric that goes, “(translated) I want to eat Shanghai crab” and you can feel the singer has a lot of emotions attached to that line. I really like that sweet element of the song. I’m not sure I get the song on a hugely deep level, but I feel your body connects to it in a positive way.
Best song to turn up loud?
'I Wanna Be Me' by Sex Pistols. I sing this song on rainy days when I go out running. When it’s bucketing down, there is no one outside, so it’s really fun. More than running, I feel like I’m on a rampage.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Blue Monday' by New Order.
New bands you are listening to now?
Beabadoobe who I first heard on the radio. My friend put a different track of hers on their own playlist. She is such a sweetie with a really cool sound.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Nairu Yamamoto, Tokyo.
What do you do?
Model / Actress.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I’m more of a radio person than an avid music listener. If there are songs that I like, I have them on an endless loop—the number of plays are grotesque (lol). As I have this kind of crazy way of listening to music, I don’t have many options to choose from. However, the gig that comes to mind is The Beatles’ Rooftop Concert. I came across it on YouTube three or four years ago when I was really into The Beatles. I was shocked that these musical gods played regular shows like the one I watched. I could tell that they played it because they loved music and they wanted to create a sound. It was cool that the location wasn’t really relevant.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
The only subculture I’ve ever really known is the “gyaru (gal)” fashion culture. Growing up in my area of Tokyo, I didn’t know other kinds of magazines existed (lol). However, I had just finished secondary school and picked up the fashion magazine NYLON JAPAN. It was in those pages that I first came across Dr. Martens. I was pretty shocked that such a cool brand existed in this world. Finding these shoes actually shaped my life. I loved the Dr. Martens fashion stylings so much that I went solo shopping in Harajuku to recreate that style for myself. I bought a pair of black eight-eyes—a pair I’ve loved and looked after ever since. It was on that trip I was approached by a modelling agency and I began modelling. All thanks to those shoes!
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I have a growing number of friends who play music, so I used to go to lots of shows pre-COVID-19. The place I remember the most is LIQUIDROOM. I have strong memories of the New Year countdown event there. I like to go to places where I can meet up with my mates.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Any track by Queen. It’s amazing that all of their songs are mood-boosters that make you want to get up and move. I really can’t choose one track, so any will do—I mean that in a good way! I'd love to hear Queen live at the Live Aid show they recreated for the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' film.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I haven’t got a specific musician in mind, but I’d love to be alive for an hour in the '70s or '80s. The Beatles and Queen were around and I imagine it to be like a scene from the film 'Sid and Nancy'. I’d love to walk around a city that’s overflowing with '70s/'80s culture and fashion and then duck into a live music venue to catch a gig… I want to experience life when that whole culture was just the norm.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
So, I did a bit of background research for this interview because I really don’t know much about music. I found that I have actually been listening to UK musicians without really knowing it. When I think that UK musicians have influenced my life and memories in such a big way, it makes me realize that the music itself has given me something special.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Penny Lane' by The Beatles. There isn’t a life-changing reason behind it. I was around 23 years-old and spring cleaning the house. I wanted to have some music in the background, so I just randomly stuck on a Beatles album, and that’s when I first heard 'Penny Lane'. It’s not a quiet track, but then again, it’s not particularly loud. I can’t speak English, so I just enjoyed the melody at first rather than getting any kind of message from the lyrics. But when I started to understand the words, I liked the song even more.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I can’t boil it down to one song, but I’ll choose several from Japanese artists. 'Start' by KREVA, 'Blow' by Rip Slyme, and 'ONE DAY' (KREVA Remix) by m-flo loves Kato Miliyah.
One record you would keep forever?
The Beatles’ Red Album (1962–1966). I remember being in primary school and going with a friend to their grandad’s house. He had two records hung up on the wall; one was red and one was blue. I remember thinking, I wonder why these records have the same kind of picture but were different colours (lol). Then as I got older, I listened to the album and I remembered that visit to my friend’s grandad’s house and felt surprised that he must have liked those songs. As I keep saying, I’m not a music expert at all. However, these songs have a way of making you want to get up and move, no matter where you hear them, how old you are, or what era you are living in. I’d like to hold on to this record for those reasons.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
It’s a Japanese song, 'Amber Colored City, The Morning of The Shanghai Crab' by Quruli. I was 24 or 25 when I first heard it. There’s a lyric that goes, “(translated) I want to eat Shanghai crab” and you can feel the singer has a lot of emotions attached to that line. I really like that sweet element of the song. I’m not sure I get the song on a hugely deep level, but I feel your body connects to it in a positive way.
Best song to turn up loud?
'I Wanna Be Me' by Sex Pistols. I sing this song on rainy days when I go out running. When it’s bucketing down, there is no one outside, so it’s really fun. More than running, I feel like I’m on a rampage.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Blue Monday' by New Order.
New bands you are listening to now?
Beabadoobe who I first heard on the radio. My friend put a different track of hers on their own playlist. She is such a sweetie with a really cool sound.