01Profile
A Saki Kamiya Photo
Saki Kamiya
Choreographer / Artist — Tokyo
03Interview
Name
Saki Kamiya
What do you do?
Choreographer / Artist
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s a Japanese artist, but the best gig I’ve been to was X Japan at Tokyo Dome in 2008. I was only a kid when they were in their heyday, so I never got to see them, but it was great to finally see them live many years later. They beamed a hologram of their sadly passed away legendary member hide, which made it such an impressive and memorable gig.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I would say UK rock. I’m not all that knowledgeable, but I learned about it through my years working as a pop idol. For example, we would play a song that was a homage to Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’. Glam rock is influencing some of the pop idol groups I work with now, so I’ve got to know about that indirectly.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
I would say Yokohama Arena. I played a farewell gig with BiS, the first ever pop idol group I was a part of, in 2014. That was my first experience of pop idol life, and I made it through to the band’s end… the arena holds some very special memories for me. I’ve played many other unforgettable gigs, but that one was special. There was a section in front of the stage with barbed wire wrapped around it, and some audience members ran into it — that was a crazy audience (laughs).
If you could be on the line-up with any bands in history?
I’d like to join Coldplay on stage and sing ‘Vida La Vida’. Actually, if we could, It’d be great to have Coldplay hear the homage version I just mentioned by GANG PARADE, the group I joined after BiS.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I know this is a Japanese artist, but I’ll have to say hide from X Japan. Ideally, it would be around the time he started his solo career when he had pink hair. I’d like hide to listen to the group I was in — although I’d already quit by then — and hear his opinions on the music we were making… it would be so worthwhile just to sit down and chat with him in a casual setting.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What is the concepts / important points of the playlist?
I would describe it as on-off. It starts slow, and when it seems like it’s reached a peak, it drops off again. I wanted to put together a playlist that would naturally lift my spirits when I was feeling a little down and dejected.
The first track you played on repeat?
It’s not the first, but I feel strongly attached to the track ’Car Radio’ by Twenty One Pilots. During my time as a pop idol, I shaved my head for a music video, and the music video for ‘Car Radio’ inspired me to do it. Things are different now, but I can say that my life changed quite a bit when I shaved my head, so that song marks a turning point for me.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I’d probably say hide’s track, ‘Misery’. He wrote it for one of his fans who was sick, and it’s the track I listened to the most during my teenage years,
One record you would keep forever?
I’m going to say ‘IDOL is DEAD’ — an album by BiS when I wasn’t part of the group. Pop idol culture is all-encompassing, and I can’t separate myself from that lifestyle. It’s also not that well-known that idol groups are influenced by non-Japanese culture in their music and visuals. This album is the one that made me think that even pop idols can have such cool songs.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
It's a line from the GING NANG BOYZ track 'Ichigo no Uta (Strawberry song)', released around the time I left the group I was in. I can be quite a dry person, but I was reminded of how blessed I am to have people around me… The line "I get lonely because I know you" hit home for me at that time.
Best song to turn up loud?
‘BABY BABY’ by GING NANG BOYZ. If I’m walking home and there’s no one around, I feel compelled to start singing this track.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
The Hearts Filthy Lesson’ by David Bowie. I’m a fan of that dark view of the world he portrays through the music video.
What new bands you are listening to now?
It’s an Italian band called Måneskin. I got to know their music during my dance lessons, but I’m really attracted to their visual style.
03Interview
Name
Saki Kamiya
What do you do?
Choreographer / Artist
Where are you from?
Tokyo
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s a Japanese artist, but the best gig I’ve been to was X Japan at Tokyo Dome in 2008. I was only a kid when they were in their heyday, so I never got to see them, but it was great to finally see them live many years later. They beamed a hologram of their sadly passed away legendary member hide, which made it such an impressive and memorable gig.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I would say UK rock. I’m not all that knowledgeable, but I learned about it through my years working as a pop idol. For example, we would play a song that was a homage to Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’. Glam rock is influencing some of the pop idol groups I work with now, so I’ve got to know about that indirectly.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
I would say Yokohama Arena. I played a farewell gig with BiS, the first ever pop idol group I was a part of, in 2014. That was my first experience of pop idol life, and I made it through to the band’s end… the arena holds some very special memories for me. I’ve played many other unforgettable gigs, but that one was special. There was a section in front of the stage with barbed wire wrapped around it, and some audience members ran into it — that was a crazy audience (laughs).
If you could be on the line-up with any bands in history?
I’d like to join Coldplay on stage and sing ‘Vida La Vida’. Actually, if we could, It’d be great to have Coldplay hear the homage version I just mentioned by GANG PARADE, the group I joined after BiS.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I know this is a Japanese artist, but I’ll have to say hide from X Japan. Ideally, it would be around the time he started his solo career when he had pink hair. I’d like hide to listen to the group I was in — although I’d already quit by then — and hear his opinions on the music we were making… it would be so worthwhile just to sit down and chat with him in a casual setting.
04Playlist Notes
What is the concepts / important points of the playlist?
I would describe it as on-off. It starts slow, and when it seems like it’s reached a peak, it drops off again. I wanted to put together a playlist that would naturally lift my spirits when I was feeling a little down and dejected.
The first track you played on repeat?
It’s not the first, but I feel strongly attached to the track ’Car Radio’ by Twenty One Pilots. During my time as a pop idol, I shaved my head for a music video, and the music video for ‘Car Radio’ inspired me to do it. Things are different now, but I can say that my life changed quite a bit when I shaved my head, so that song marks a turning point for me.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I’d probably say hide’s track, ‘Misery’. He wrote it for one of his fans who was sick, and it’s the track I listened to the most during my teenage years,
One record you would keep forever?
I’m going to say ‘IDOL is DEAD’ — an album by BiS when I wasn’t part of the group. Pop idol culture is all-encompassing, and I can’t separate myself from that lifestyle. It’s also not that well-known that idol groups are influenced by non-Japanese culture in their music and visuals. This album is the one that made me think that even pop idols can have such cool songs.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
It's a line from the GING NANG BOYZ track 'Ichigo no Uta (Strawberry song)', released around the time I left the group I was in. I can be quite a dry person, but I was reminded of how blessed I am to have people around me… The line "I get lonely because I know you" hit home for me at that time.
Best song to turn up loud?
‘BABY BABY’ by GING NANG BOYZ. If I’m walking home and there’s no one around, I feel compelled to start singing this track.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
The Hearts Filthy Lesson’ by David Bowie. I’m a fan of that dark view of the world he portrays through the music video.
What new bands you are listening to now?
It’s an Italian band called Måneskin. I got to know their music during my dance lessons, but I’m really attracted to their visual style.