Rei

Name
Rei

What do you do?
Musician

Where are you from?
Hyogo / New York

What's the best gig you've ever been to?
Paul McCartney at the Osaka Dome in 2002 when I was in primary school. I loved The Beatles.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I collect miniature cars because I like cars, especially Japanese light trucks of 60's and Citroën. In the case of Citroën, I’m attracted to its background including the ideology of the company and designer Flaminio Bertoni. I like a three-wheel truck like the Daihatsu Midget because I’m interested in a service vehicle which was designed with a clear purpose.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I performed at Les Eurockéennes in France in the summer of 2017, and the festival stood out in my memory. The festival was huge and held in Belfort, near Switzerland. I played the gig on a stage which had a capacity of 18,000.

If you could form a band with anyone from history?
Keith Moon. I like The Who and Pete Townshend as a solo artist, but I can see that Keith was completely crazy through documentaries and films. I have a delusional desire that he and I form a 2-piece band of a guitarist and a drummer.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Raymond Lowey, Franco-American industrial designer. He designed cars, aeroplanes, and corporate logos including Fujiya, Nabisco and Shell Oil Company's logo. I’d like to see his great train of thought and how he gets his inspiration and ideas.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Amy Winehouse - she isn’t unsung, but if you don’t know her, I recommend her songs. I only started listening to her music since her passing, but she has such a strong talent that really goes beyond the borders of fashion and culture.

How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
I’ve been affected by British rock music, so I selected songs both from the past and present, from my favourite British musicians. I hope you can feel the unique atmosphere and viewpoints of the British musicians, which differs from American or Asian musicians, through the songs on my playlist.

The first track you played on repeat?
‘Honey Pie’ by The Beatles. When I was 9, I covered the song for the first time.

A song that defines the teenage you?
‘Crossroads’ by Cream. It was originally Robert Johnson’s song, but they adapted it into British rock. That was shockingly amazing to me, so I sang it many times in my teens.

One record you would keep forever?
'McCartney' by Paul McCartney. Because the jacket/cover is so vibrant and iconic and I feel it's such a personal album, with so many great songs, I’ll keep it forever.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘Trouble Sleeping’ by Corinne Bailey Rae. The arrangement and the groove sounds intimate and soothing to me. Like the song says, I also listen to this song when I can’t sleep.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Someone Like You’ by Adele. It has a lot of long tones, and I sing it when I need to let go of negative emotions.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Isao Tomita. 'The Planets' is my all-time favourite record. I got to know him while I was into techno music like YMO and Kraftwerk. His sound that he creates only with analogue synthesisers is mesmerising and so colourful, it is out of this world beautiful.

Any new bands you are listening to now?
Naia Izumi, based in California. He sings with a guitar on his own and also plays in a band. He creates riffs and melodies that I have never heard of, which his voice complements, creating a unique chemistry of sounds.