01Profile
A Manon Photo
Manon
Artist — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Manon, Born in Fukuoka, working out of Tokyo.
What do you do?
Artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
That would be the David Bowie live show I have on DVD. It was from around the time of 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars'. With music from the older eras, I have pretty strong feelings about what I like and don’t like. However, watching the Bowie show, I was blown away by a lot of it including the fashion. It’s cool music to listen to. My mum always liked it when I was growing up, so I guess the music is imprinted on my soul somehow. I have lots of other music videos, too. In some, Bowie is dressed normally, in others he is dressed like an alien. I also have videos of him playing country-style music. I’ve seen all of these, but from a musical and visual standpoint, the Ziggy Stardust era is my favourite.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I wouldn’t necessarily say I was influenced by it, but what I’m into is rave culture. I love the concept that these guerilla parties would happen where nobody knows the location. And you only found that out through physical letters and stuff, not on social media. Similar kinds of events have been happening in Tokyo recently. We know they are happening somewhere in Shibuya, but that’s all the information we have! VICE Japan made this documentary on rave culture. The more I watch it, the more I get into it (lol). The music they play in the documentary is high-tempo BPM, and I find myself listening to more and more of that nowadays. It makes me want to go out raving even more.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The most fun I’ve had was in March this year at the after-party of CIRCUS×CIRCUS—the outdoor festival at Maishima Sports Island in Osaka. I played at the Creative Center Osaka, which is on the site of the Namura Shipbuilding yard. The whole set was pretty much new material. All the festival-goers and performers were riding this wave of excitement because it was the first time in ages we could go to a late-night event. It was such a great show and a big motivator for me. I’m working on my craft every day so I can surpass that show the next time out.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Wow, that’s a tough question. I’d love to collaborate with Gorillaz by appearing in one of their animations. The first CD I wanted and bought with my own money was 'Plastic Beach'. I love the illustrator who worked on that album (Jamie Hewlett). It’d be so cool to have him draw me as a character. My dad listened to them in the early noughties, and I remember enjoying their videos because they were all animated. The music is super cool, and I’ve loved them ever since.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to play a duo show in England with Sarah from Kero Kero Bonito. We’ve worked together in the past, but we’ve never actually met in person. I’d love to hang out in real life and play the music we made together.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I’m not sure I’ve found that person yet.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Stylo' by Gorillaz (ft. Mos Def and Bobby Womack). I reckon I was in the early years of primary school. The track switches to this deep soulful vocal section halfway through. I’d never heard that kind of music before, so it was a really fresh discovery for me. It was the same eye-opening feeling as seeing a graphic film for the first time. I’d never listened to hip-hop before, either, so the track affected me in a big way.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Life On Mars' by David Bowie. It’s my favourite song by the artist I’ve loved as far back as I can remember. I listened to lots of different genres of music when I was in secondary school, but I would always keep going back to this song. It was like I was going back to my roots when I listened to it and every time I heard it, it sort of reactivated my love for it. It’s probably the song I listened to the most before I was a teenager. I love the music video, too.
One record you would keep forever?
That probably has to be a live album … I’ll go for David Bowie’s 'Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Sick Beat' by Kero Kero Bonito. I know the lyrics so well that I can pretty much recite them all. The track is on my playlist. Sarah (vocals) can speak Japanese, so the lyrics are a hybrid of English and Japanese. It has this relaxed rap kind of vibe and has a really great verse.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Fancy' by Iggy Azalea (ft. Charli XCX). It has a party song feel, so I love to sing it when I’m in a party mood. The music video is a parody of 'Clueless'—it’s a really cute video.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Can You Feel My Heart' by Bring Me The Horizon. I often blast out this sort-of-metal UK rock song when I’m at home. It’s the best way to de-stress. I like blowing away the cobwebs by listening to this cool, power rock at full volume. I want to try something like this myself in the future.
New bands you are listening to now?
It’s PinkPantheress who is on my playlist. I got to know her through TikTok. She uses a lot of samples, and the songs are kind of short and sweet with sweet lyrics. And to top it off, we are the same age.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Manon, Born in Fukuoka, working out of Tokyo.
What do you do?
Artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
That would be the David Bowie live show I have on DVD. It was from around the time of 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars'. With music from the older eras, I have pretty strong feelings about what I like and don’t like. However, watching the Bowie show, I was blown away by a lot of it including the fashion. It’s cool music to listen to. My mum always liked it when I was growing up, so I guess the music is imprinted on my soul somehow. I have lots of other music videos, too. In some, Bowie is dressed normally, in others he is dressed like an alien. I also have videos of him playing country-style music. I’ve seen all of these, but from a musical and visual standpoint, the Ziggy Stardust era is my favourite.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I wouldn’t necessarily say I was influenced by it, but what I’m into is rave culture. I love the concept that these guerilla parties would happen where nobody knows the location. And you only found that out through physical letters and stuff, not on social media. Similar kinds of events have been happening in Tokyo recently. We know they are happening somewhere in Shibuya, but that’s all the information we have! VICE Japan made this documentary on rave culture. The more I watch it, the more I get into it (lol). The music they play in the documentary is high-tempo BPM, and I find myself listening to more and more of that nowadays. It makes me want to go out raving even more.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The most fun I’ve had was in March this year at the after-party of CIRCUS×CIRCUS—the outdoor festival at Maishima Sports Island in Osaka. I played at the Creative Center Osaka, which is on the site of the Namura Shipbuilding yard. The whole set was pretty much new material. All the festival-goers and performers were riding this wave of excitement because it was the first time in ages we could go to a late-night event. It was such a great show and a big motivator for me. I’m working on my craft every day so I can surpass that show the next time out.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
Wow, that’s a tough question. I’d love to collaborate with Gorillaz by appearing in one of their animations. The first CD I wanted and bought with my own money was 'Plastic Beach'. I love the illustrator who worked on that album (Jamie Hewlett). It’d be so cool to have him draw me as a character. My dad listened to them in the early noughties, and I remember enjoying their videos because they were all animated. The music is super cool, and I’ve loved them ever since.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d love to play a duo show in England with Sarah from Kero Kero Bonito. We’ve worked together in the past, but we’ve never actually met in person. I’d love to hang out in real life and play the music we made together.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I’m not sure I’ve found that person yet.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Stylo' by Gorillaz (ft. Mos Def and Bobby Womack). I reckon I was in the early years of primary school. The track switches to this deep soulful vocal section halfway through. I’d never heard that kind of music before, so it was a really fresh discovery for me. It was the same eye-opening feeling as seeing a graphic film for the first time. I’d never listened to hip-hop before, either, so the track affected me in a big way.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Life On Mars' by David Bowie. It’s my favourite song by the artist I’ve loved as far back as I can remember. I listened to lots of different genres of music when I was in secondary school, but I would always keep going back to this song. It was like I was going back to my roots when I listened to it and every time I heard it, it sort of reactivated my love for it. It’s probably the song I listened to the most before I was a teenager. I love the music video, too.
One record you would keep forever?
That probably has to be a live album … I’ll go for David Bowie’s 'Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Sick Beat' by Kero Kero Bonito. I know the lyrics so well that I can pretty much recite them all. The track is on my playlist. Sarah (vocals) can speak Japanese, so the lyrics are a hybrid of English and Japanese. It has this relaxed rap kind of vibe and has a really great verse.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Fancy' by Iggy Azalea (ft. Charli XCX). It has a party song feel, so I love to sing it when I’m in a party mood. The music video is a parody of 'Clueless'—it’s a really cute video.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Can You Feel My Heart' by Bring Me The Horizon. I often blast out this sort-of-metal UK rock song when I’m at home. It’s the best way to de-stress. I like blowing away the cobwebs by listening to this cool, power rock at full volume. I want to try something like this myself in the future.
New bands you are listening to now?
It’s PinkPantheress who is on my playlist. I got to know her through TikTok. She uses a lot of samples, and the songs are kind of short and sweet with sweet lyrics. And to top it off, we are the same age.
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