Tatsuo Sunago

DJ — Tokyo

01Profile

A Tatsuo Sunago Photo

03Interview

Name
Tatsuo Sunaga/Sunaga t experience.

What do you do?
DJ / music creator.

Where are you from?
Tokyo.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
In Japan, I saw The Clash and in London during the '90s, I went to an Oi Punk gig. But the most memorial gig was seeing Queen when I was in junior high, it was held at Nippon-Budokan. I clearly remember that I watched the ‘Killer Queen’.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Oi-Punk, because a lot of my favourite bands were and I liked the tunes. I got to know Mod culture from The Who. Needless to say, to get records of Oi-Punk, I go after Mods even now.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I have a lot… but if I have to choose one, I pick the beach in the town called Sète in south France, which was the venue for the 'World Wide Festival' presented by Giles Peterson. Of course, only records were played.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Mott the Hoople. Because the subtitle of 'Yoru-jazz/night-jazz' (which I continue to release CDs with my life work) is from their song ‘All The Young Dudes’. I’d like to remix the audio sauce that I ask them to play clicking and synchronizing digitally.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
The Clash. I’d like to hop around the second-hand clothing stores at Kensington with Mick Jones and Joe Strummer. My fashion is still under the effect of these two so that I hopped around old clothes shops with the jacket of their records in my hand.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ralph McTell. He is a famous singer and songwriter. His song ‘Streets Of London’ has been covered many times. And The Peddlers too, who became popular in the Shibuya-related genre during the 2000s. They are also a great band to mentioned in the context of Mod culture.

04Playlist Notes

How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
The title is 'Streets Of London'. I picked from Mod dancefloor hits and Oi, remembering the UK music that I have listened to.

The first track you played on repeat?
Queen. This isn’t the first one, but I can sing ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ without seeing lyrics.

A song that defines the teenage you?
‘(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais’ by The Clash. I got to know reggae from them and know artists like Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe through their lyrics. Because of these influence, I DJ across all genres now.

One record you would keep forever?
Probably 'London Calling' by The Clash. Of course both 1st one and 2nd one. And I listen to 'Quadrophenia' by The Who a lot even now, and David Bowie too.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais’ is the most impressive. I think that it was a chance meeting between UK-rock and reggae. I couldn’t understand why it had reggae, but I learned that it was about multiculturalism and respecting each other. I learnt a lot from this song as well as it making me feel ‘good’.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Sultans Of Swing’ by Dire Straits. I can sing without seeing lyrics.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Get Down’ by Derek B.

Any new bands you are listening to now?
The U.K’s jazz scene is in an amazing situation now. New great musicians are coming out one by one, so I can’t tell all of them. Vels Trio, Esbjörn Svensson Trio EST, and my personal 'person of the year 2018' is Ashley Henry.

03Interview

Name
Tatsuo Sunaga/Sunaga t experience.

What do you do?
DJ / music creator.

Where are you from?
Tokyo.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
In Japan, I saw The Clash and in London during the '90s, I went to an Oi Punk gig. But the most memorial gig was seeing Queen when I was in junior high, it was held at Nippon-Budokan. I clearly remember that I watched the ‘Killer Queen’.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Oi-Punk, because a lot of my favourite bands were and I liked the tunes. I got to know Mod culture from The Who. Needless to say, to get records of Oi-Punk, I go after Mods even now.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I have a lot… but if I have to choose one, I pick the beach in the town called Sète in south France, which was the venue for the 'World Wide Festival' presented by Giles Peterson. Of course, only records were played.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Mott the Hoople. Because the subtitle of 'Yoru-jazz/night-jazz' (which I continue to release CDs with my life work) is from their song ‘All The Young Dudes’. I’d like to remix the audio sauce that I ask them to play clicking and synchronizing digitally.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
The Clash. I’d like to hop around the second-hand clothing stores at Kensington with Mick Jones and Joe Strummer. My fashion is still under the effect of these two so that I hopped around old clothes shops with the jacket of their records in my hand.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ralph McTell. He is a famous singer and songwriter. His song ‘Streets Of London’ has been covered many times. And The Peddlers too, who became popular in the Shibuya-related genre during the 2000s. They are also a great band to mentioned in the context of Mod culture.

04Playlist Notes

How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
The title is 'Streets Of London'. I picked from Mod dancefloor hits and Oi, remembering the UK music that I have listened to.

The first track you played on repeat?
Queen. This isn’t the first one, but I can sing ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ without seeing lyrics.

A song that defines the teenage you?
‘(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais’ by The Clash. I got to know reggae from them and know artists like Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe through their lyrics. Because of these influence, I DJ across all genres now.

One record you would keep forever?
Probably 'London Calling' by The Clash. Of course both 1st one and 2nd one. And I listen to 'Quadrophenia' by The Who a lot even now, and David Bowie too.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
‘(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais’ is the most impressive. I think that it was a chance meeting between UK-rock and reggae. I couldn’t understand why it had reggae, but I learned that it was about multiculturalism and respecting each other. I learnt a lot from this song as well as it making me feel ‘good’.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Sultans Of Swing’ by Dire Straits. I can sing without seeing lyrics.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Get Down’ by Derek B.

Any new bands you are listening to now?
The U.K’s jazz scene is in an amazing situation now. New great musicians are coming out one by one, so I can’t tell all of them. Vels Trio, Esbjörn Svensson Trio EST, and my personal 'person of the year 2018' is Ashley Henry.