01Profile
A Kenichi Aono Photo
Kenichi Aono
DJ / Writer / Creative Director — Tokyo
03Interview
Name
Kenichi Aono
What do you do?
DJ / Writer / Creative Director
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A secret party at Loop Aoyama with DJ Harvey on the decks. The dance floor wasn't too crazy and I remember how chilled he was, dropping his collection of African music consecutively that had no distinct beat. Joe Armon-Jones, a young jazz keyboardist, at Billboard Live Tokyo in June 2019 was fun too. It brought the energy of London’s Jazz scene and I actually realised it always has the influence of reggae and dub behind music expression based on black music in London.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
New Wave. I was born in 1968 so I was really open to this kind of thing in the ’80s. Something like New Romantic, which was one of the offshoots.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Zero Aoyama in Tokyo, where I regularly throw parties. I usually play vinyl records so I like the high-resolution sound there. It’s a venue that I would consider as a reference point.
If you could be on the line-up with any bands in history?
Under the influence of YMO, I like Japan so I would love to see their gig from the side of the stage. The year could be around the early 1980s when their esthetics had gone stronger. Some occasional hits on the pads along them will be more than enough.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love it if Paul Weller guided me around record shops in London. Let's say it was around 1987, when I first started DJing, I'd go crazy and buy a few crates.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
I hope more people would listen to the album by Ex:Re. It’s by Elena Tonra, vocalist from a trio called Daughter.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
I can't distinctly remember... the tune I listened to a lot and remember well is 'My Ever Changing Moods' by Style Council. It was around high school time.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Let's Dance' by David Bowie. I was really influenced by the tour costumes and the styling of its music video.
One record you would keep forever?
'Eden' by Everything But the Girl. It has a really rich range of sounds and each time the impression I get from it changes depending on my feeling.
Best song to turn up loud?
I really don’t have a particular song.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I listen to music by individual track as a DJ, so I think I don’t really have dislikes as such.
New bands you are listening to now?
I frequently check in with the Jazz scene in South London. For example, I liked the introspective electronic Jazz in Leifur James’s album last year, 'A Louder Silence'. Also from a different perspective, my friend, Nabihah Iqbal is someone I’m paying attention right now.
03Interview
Name
Kenichi Aono
What do you do?
DJ / Writer / Creative Director
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A secret party at Loop Aoyama with DJ Harvey on the decks. The dance floor wasn't too crazy and I remember how chilled he was, dropping his collection of African music consecutively that had no distinct beat. Joe Armon-Jones, a young jazz keyboardist, at Billboard Live Tokyo in June 2019 was fun too. It brought the energy of London’s Jazz scene and I actually realised it always has the influence of reggae and dub behind music expression based on black music in London.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
New Wave. I was born in 1968 so I was really open to this kind of thing in the ’80s. Something like New Romantic, which was one of the offshoots.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Zero Aoyama in Tokyo, where I regularly throw parties. I usually play vinyl records so I like the high-resolution sound there. It’s a venue that I would consider as a reference point.
If you could be on the line-up with any bands in history?
Under the influence of YMO, I like Japan so I would love to see their gig from the side of the stage. The year could be around the early 1980s when their esthetics had gone stronger. Some occasional hits on the pads along them will be more than enough.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love it if Paul Weller guided me around record shops in London. Let's say it was around 1987, when I first started DJing, I'd go crazy and buy a few crates.
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
I hope more people would listen to the album by Ex:Re. It’s by Elena Tonra, vocalist from a trio called Daughter.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
I can't distinctly remember... the tune I listened to a lot and remember well is 'My Ever Changing Moods' by Style Council. It was around high school time.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Let's Dance' by David Bowie. I was really influenced by the tour costumes and the styling of its music video.
One record you would keep forever?
'Eden' by Everything But the Girl. It has a really rich range of sounds and each time the impression I get from it changes depending on my feeling.
Best song to turn up loud?
I really don’t have a particular song.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I listen to music by individual track as a DJ, so I think I don’t really have dislikes as such.
New bands you are listening to now?
I frequently check in with the Jazz scene in South London. For example, I liked the introspective electronic Jazz in Leifur James’s album last year, 'A Louder Silence'. Also from a different perspective, my friend, Nabihah Iqbal is someone I’m paying attention right now.