01Profile
A Shotaro Tsuda Photo
Shotaro Tsuda
Editor/Journalist — Hyogo
03Interview
Name
Shotaro Tsuda
What do you do?
Chief editor of the 'Festival Life' website / Author of 'The World Festival Guide' / Festival journalist.
Where are you from?
Hyogo, Japan.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The one that I really got moved the most was the Rolling Stones at the Glastonbury Festival 2013. It even led me to quit the company I was working for and moved to the UK. I bought all of the Glastonbury exclusive Rolling Stones T-shirts at the venue.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
Music festival. Back in school days I used to collect recordings and clips of the big fests like the Glastonbury Festival, the Reading Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival. My life work involves going to all sorts of festivals around the world.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The one that got me impressed was the Hammersmith Apollo. Well known for the venue for David Bowie’s last performance as the Ziggy Stardust. There’s a release of the YMO’s live recording. I also like The Cafe Oto in East London.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Who, when all the members were together. I just want to sit beside when they record 'Tommy'.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would go to a festival with David Bowie.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Will and The People. I met them while they were performing on the street at the Great Escape which takes place in Brighton. It was the best act of the year of that festival.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Music box version of 'Yesterday' by the Beatles was being played during the lunchtime at my primary school. It was rather forced to, though.
A song that defines the teenage you?
There was no chance of foreign artists coming to play at the city where I grew up, so I kept admiring Tokyo as a teen. I already liked music from UK/US very much since that time but 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' by The Verve fits very nicely with that gloomy feeling I used to get from not being able to share that with anyone.
One record you would keep forever?
'Space Oddity' by David Bowie. I happened to find the album among a few hundred vinyls that my father passed on to me. The last track of the B-side 'Memory Of A Free Festival' must be the track which I played the most in my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Rise' by Public Image Limited. The phrase at the intro "I could be wrong, I could be right" has Britishness and I often recall the word when I need to make a decision.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Mr. Brightside' the Killers. It’s a band from Las Vegas though loved in the UK. Or 'When You Were Young'. I remember not being able to hear the performance at all by the cheer from the crowds when they came on the stage as a secret guest at the Glastonbury festival.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I generally appreciate the UK music overall so… if it’s okay to choose from Japanese, always surprised when I say Subaru Shibutani. He sings super well.
Four new bands you are listening to now?
Mahalia, if I was to choose from the playlist. She was chosen by the BBC’s 'Sound of 2019'. I’ve also been following and speculating that they would break through this year is a three-piece band called the Shopping from East London.
What is the concept of your playlist?
I chose around 20 tracks based on "What if you spend a day at a festival". From waking up to the morning and gradually gets to the headliners then after hours till the bedtime, listed in timetable order.
03Interview
Name
Shotaro Tsuda
What do you do?
Chief editor of the 'Festival Life' website / Author of 'The World Festival Guide' / Festival journalist.
Where are you from?
Hyogo, Japan.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The one that I really got moved the most was the Rolling Stones at the Glastonbury Festival 2013. It even led me to quit the company I was working for and moved to the UK. I bought all of the Glastonbury exclusive Rolling Stones T-shirts at the venue.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
Music festival. Back in school days I used to collect recordings and clips of the big fests like the Glastonbury Festival, the Reading Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival. My life work involves going to all sorts of festivals around the world.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The one that got me impressed was the Hammersmith Apollo. Well known for the venue for David Bowie’s last performance as the Ziggy Stardust. There’s a release of the YMO’s live recording. I also like The Cafe Oto in East London.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
The Who, when all the members were together. I just want to sit beside when they record 'Tommy'.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would go to a festival with David Bowie.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Will and The People. I met them while they were performing on the street at the Great Escape which takes place in Brighton. It was the best act of the year of that festival.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Music box version of 'Yesterday' by the Beatles was being played during the lunchtime at my primary school. It was rather forced to, though.
A song that defines the teenage you?
There was no chance of foreign artists coming to play at the city where I grew up, so I kept admiring Tokyo as a teen. I already liked music from UK/US very much since that time but 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' by The Verve fits very nicely with that gloomy feeling I used to get from not being able to share that with anyone.
One record you would keep forever?
'Space Oddity' by David Bowie. I happened to find the album among a few hundred vinyls that my father passed on to me. The last track of the B-side 'Memory Of A Free Festival' must be the track which I played the most in my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Rise' by Public Image Limited. The phrase at the intro "I could be wrong, I could be right" has Britishness and I often recall the word when I need to make a decision.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Mr. Brightside' the Killers. It’s a band from Las Vegas though loved in the UK. Or 'When You Were Young'. I remember not being able to hear the performance at all by the cheer from the crowds when they came on the stage as a secret guest at the Glastonbury festival.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I generally appreciate the UK music overall so… if it’s okay to choose from Japanese, always surprised when I say Subaru Shibutani. He sings super well.
Four new bands you are listening to now?
Mahalia, if I was to choose from the playlist. She was chosen by the BBC’s 'Sound of 2019'. I’ve also been following and speculating that they would break through this year is a three-piece band called the Shopping from East London.
What is the concept of your playlist?
I chose around 20 tracks based on "What if you spend a day at a festival". From waking up to the morning and gradually gets to the headliners then after hours till the bedtime, listed in timetable order.