Tsubasa

Hair Stylist — Tokyo

01Profile

A Tsubasa Photo

03Interview

Name

Tsubasa

What do you do?

Hairstylist.

Where are you from?

Tokyo.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

That would be Cosmo Pyke at Omotesando WALL&WALL in 2018. I remember it being such an incredible show. His sensational looks and voice, the way he was in tune with the chilled vibes of the current generation, and his overall sound added up to create a natural freshness.

Which sub-cultures have influenced you?

I’ve always been into fashion, so definitely Thom Yorke from Radiohead. As I was getting into fashion as a teenager, I thought the clothing, hairstyles, editorials, and artwork of that era in the UK were really cool.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?

The Green Stage at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL. I went for the first time last year and it was way beyond my expectations.

If you could be on the lineup with any bands in history?

There’s a photo of Thom Yorke getting a haircut, and I would like to join a team as a hair stylist to create an editorial. It’d be cool to collaborate with the band on their CD jackets and other creative elements that will remain in their archives.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?

You’ve probably guessed it, but Thom Yorke. I’d love to sit down with him in a London cafe and talk about his identity and the contemporary ideas behind ‘Anima’.

Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?

Swim Deep. I styled the band's guitarist Robbie (Wood)'s hair a few times. I met him for the first time in Japan before the band formed, but then we met again after Swim Deep had become Swim Deep; it was in New York when I lived there for a year. The band is up-and-coming and starting to attract more attention.

04Playlist Notes

What are the important points of the playlist?

I based the playlist on music by famous UK artists that I listened to during my teenage years and early twenties when my musical consciousness was growing and expanding. I then mixed in some contemporary songs for extra spice. I wanted to create a playlist that would boost everyone's mood when they listened to it.

The first track you played on repeat?

There are too many songs to choose from, but I'm pretty sure it was a Beatles track. I feel like it was probably 'Help!'

That song has left its mark on me throughout my life.

A song that defines the teenage you?

I was close to choosing the Blur record 'Girls & Boys,' which I liked because of its catchy jacket cover, but I'll go with 'My Generation' by The Who.

One record you would keep forever?

I think it has to be ‘A Night At The Opera’ by Queen. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is one of the tracks on the album, and that song always brightens my day.

A song lyric that has inspired you?

‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ by Arctic Monkeys. I like the chorus with the line about “Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984”.

Best song to turn up loud?

It's a Japanese song, but the track 'Aozora (Blue Sky)' by The Blue Hearts. I find myself humming it in all kinds of situations, and I feel it is deep-rooted in reality.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?

‘Windowlicker’ by Aphex Twin. When I was in beauty school, we had to create our own show, and we used this track as our main song.

What new bands are you listening to?

Rina Sawayama. She reminds me a lot of Hikaru Utada, and I think she should be more famous. She is a very cool person.

03Interview

Name

Tsubasa

What do you do?

Hairstylist.

Where are you from?

Tokyo.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

That would be Cosmo Pyke at Omotesando WALL&WALL in 2018. I remember it being such an incredible show. His sensational looks and voice, the way he was in tune with the chilled vibes of the current generation, and his overall sound added up to create a natural freshness.

Which sub-cultures have influenced you?

I’ve always been into fashion, so definitely Thom Yorke from Radiohead. As I was getting into fashion as a teenager, I thought the clothing, hairstyles, editorials, and artwork of that era in the UK were really cool.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?

The Green Stage at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL. I went for the first time last year and it was way beyond my expectations.

If you could be on the lineup with any bands in history?

There’s a photo of Thom Yorke getting a haircut, and I would like to join a team as a hair stylist to create an editorial. It’d be cool to collaborate with the band on their CD jackets and other creative elements that will remain in their archives.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?

You’ve probably guessed it, but Thom Yorke. I’d love to sit down with him in a London cafe and talk about his identity and the contemporary ideas behind ‘Anima’.

Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?

Swim Deep. I styled the band's guitarist Robbie (Wood)'s hair a few times. I met him for the first time in Japan before the band formed, but then we met again after Swim Deep had become Swim Deep; it was in New York when I lived there for a year. The band is up-and-coming and starting to attract more attention.

04Playlist Notes

What are the important points of the playlist?

I based the playlist on music by famous UK artists that I listened to during my teenage years and early twenties when my musical consciousness was growing and expanding. I then mixed in some contemporary songs for extra spice. I wanted to create a playlist that would boost everyone's mood when they listened to it.

The first track you played on repeat?

There are too many songs to choose from, but I'm pretty sure it was a Beatles track. I feel like it was probably 'Help!'

That song has left its mark on me throughout my life.

A song that defines the teenage you?

I was close to choosing the Blur record 'Girls & Boys,' which I liked because of its catchy jacket cover, but I'll go with 'My Generation' by The Who.

One record you would keep forever?

I think it has to be ‘A Night At The Opera’ by Queen. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is one of the tracks on the album, and that song always brightens my day.

A song lyric that has inspired you?

‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ by Arctic Monkeys. I like the chorus with the line about “Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984”.

Best song to turn up loud?

It's a Japanese song, but the track 'Aozora (Blue Sky)' by The Blue Hearts. I find myself humming it in all kinds of situations, and I feel it is deep-rooted in reality.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?

‘Windowlicker’ by Aphex Twin. When I was in beauty school, we had to create our own show, and we used this track as our main song.

What new bands are you listening to?

Rina Sawayama. She reminds me a lot of Hikaru Utada, and I think she should be more famous. She is a very cool person.