Jan Urila Sas

Artist — Tokyo

01Profile

A Jan Urila Sas Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jan Urila Sas (Jan and Naomi), Tokyo.

What do you do?
Artist.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
PJ Harvey at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in 2017. I'd been a fan for a long time but never been to a concert. Though her recent songs are more traditional than her previous ones, it was like a kind of ritual rather than a concert because of a combination of her past grungy and dark taste. I felt as if they took me to another world. I think a performance can sometimes the transcend music and I felt this was one of those gigs.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Neo-garage rock around 2002 and I was inspired by it in real time, including The Libertines, Babyshambles and a little bit later Arctic Monkeys. They were in scenes I felt through my eyes and ears.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Christ Shinagawa Church, which was the last venue in Tokyo of our “Leelo and Alexandra” tour in 2016. It was special for various reasons rather than that I just like it. I thought that was the best place to express who I am. The atmosphere is different from other music venues.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Coil. They are a band that play gothic/experimental music. I've watched their gigs on YouTube. They truly understand how to connect people with music - like a ritual, in a way. I would like to play the gig according to the two principal members’ instructions.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to have a beer with Mani of The Stone Roses at a bleacher seat of the JINGU baseball stadium.

Your greatest unsung hero in music?
Cremation Lily.

04Playlist Notes

How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
I selected BGMs from my own memories. Starting with heart-breaking songs, youthful ones in the middle, then ending with more comfortable ones when you are drunk.

The first track you played on repeat?
It’s not a UK musician, but I listened to ‘Hound Dog’ by Elvis Presley on repeat.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Fuck Forever' by Babyshambles.

One record you would keep forever?
'Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 1' by Coil. I don't completely understand it yet, and I discover something new each time I listen to this album.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'The Next Day' by David Bowie, which shocked me.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'You Raise Me Up' by Celtic Woman.

Any new bands you are listening to?
As mentioned above, Cremation Lily. I really like them, and I listen to them often.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jan Urila Sas (Jan and Naomi), Tokyo.

What do you do?
Artist.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
PJ Harvey at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in 2017. I'd been a fan for a long time but never been to a concert. Though her recent songs are more traditional than her previous ones, it was like a kind of ritual rather than a concert because of a combination of her past grungy and dark taste. I felt as if they took me to another world. I think a performance can sometimes the transcend music and I felt this was one of those gigs.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Neo-garage rock around 2002 and I was inspired by it in real time, including The Libertines, Babyshambles and a little bit later Arctic Monkeys. They were in scenes I felt through my eyes and ears.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Christ Shinagawa Church, which was the last venue in Tokyo of our “Leelo and Alexandra” tour in 2016. It was special for various reasons rather than that I just like it. I thought that was the best place to express who I am. The atmosphere is different from other music venues.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Coil. They are a band that play gothic/experimental music. I've watched their gigs on YouTube. They truly understand how to connect people with music - like a ritual, in a way. I would like to play the gig according to the two principal members’ instructions.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would like to have a beer with Mani of The Stone Roses at a bleacher seat of the JINGU baseball stadium.

Your greatest unsung hero in music?
Cremation Lily.

04Playlist Notes

How did you select the tracks for this playlist?
I selected BGMs from my own memories. Starting with heart-breaking songs, youthful ones in the middle, then ending with more comfortable ones when you are drunk.

The first track you played on repeat?
It’s not a UK musician, but I listened to ‘Hound Dog’ by Elvis Presley on repeat.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Fuck Forever' by Babyshambles.

One record you would keep forever?
'Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 1' by Coil. I don't completely understand it yet, and I discover something new each time I listen to this album.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'The Next Day' by David Bowie, which shocked me.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'You Raise Me Up' by Celtic Woman.

Any new bands you are listening to?
As mentioned above, Cremation Lily. I really like them, and I listen to them often.

 

05Videos

Jan and Naomi | TIC (Requiem for Tokyo) (2018)

Jan and Naomi | CSKE (2018)