01Profile
A UMMMI Photo
UMMMI
Film Director/Artist — London/Tokyo
03Interview
Name, Where are you from?
UMMMI (Umi Ishihara), Born in Tokyo, currently living in London.
What do you do?
Film Director/Artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Aphex Twin at the Club to Club 2018. It was the first time in my life that I have ever been in a place to have witnessed so many people, each moved in a completely different way, all at once. Totally psyched.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I make films so I have to mention Derek Jarman and Ken Loach, as both of their works are personal and political. I'm also interested in writers, such as Sylvia Plath and Kathy Acker. They emigrated from their countries to the UK as women writers.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I'd like to spend an hour with Margaret Thatcher. I want to ask her why she decided to mess up society and make the weak suffer and how, in hell, she feels about what she's done.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
My own father, a party organizer. He organized music festivals although he was going into debt, or organized numerous small parties in grassroots venues...He hasn't been in the limelight, indeed, but right now as an adult, I can look at my father who suffered financially all his life (my childhood, too) in exchange for his passion, as a hero.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Smooth Operator' by Sade.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Lola' by The Raincoats. I spent my teen as a riot grrrl so they were pretty important to me. They came to Japan but I was skint at 17, so I had to go listen to them from outside the venue. Then, I saved money so I did go see them in the front row when they came again a few years later. Got the vinyl copped signed by them too. That’s my first and last take to be such a fangirl. The raincoats, I mean those super cool girls were the ‘Lola’ themselves for me.
One record you would keep forever?
'Dream Less Sweet' by Psychic TV. I listen to their tracks every season when the temperature gets chilly. Sentimental to no end while being dark and full of noise, as if praying so hard to see the light in the midst of the madness.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"We’ll make it"
From 'Sumtime' by King Midas Sound. I thought it was a song about me. Sad fact, my life has not progressed much at all since I heard this track when I was 19. Still unable to get up in the morning, and on workdays, I down a cup of coffee and whisper that "We’ll make it" to the one still sleeping next to me just to feel better about it, and sometimes get messed up being too emotional and inspired in a place with loud sound. Plus I drink too much and bother people too much, too sad to be alive no matter what I do, and I am feeling too hopeful to know that someone in the world could sing this track.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Creep' by Radiohead. Shortly after I moved to England, 'Creep' was playing in a chain-like art supply store I walked into. Music echoed through the empty store while I stayed there for half an hour and I just had to sing along to the music.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Ijiwaru na Tenshi yo Sekai wo Warae!' by Aiko. I was even in her fan club and I like all the tracks but this is a special one. You love enough to save from one’s crisis but keep loving more and more, Aiko is someone who can love beyond measure. I should learn from her.
New bands you are listening to now?
Gone Deaf.
03Interview
Name, Where are you from?
UMMMI (Umi Ishihara), Born in Tokyo, currently living in London.
What do you do?
Film Director/Artist.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Aphex Twin at the Club to Club 2018. It was the first time in my life that I have ever been in a place to have witnessed so many people, each moved in a completely different way, all at once. Totally psyched.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
I make films so I have to mention Derek Jarman and Ken Loach, as both of their works are personal and political. I'm also interested in writers, such as Sylvia Plath and Kathy Acker. They emigrated from their countries to the UK as women writers.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I'd like to spend an hour with Margaret Thatcher. I want to ask her why she decided to mess up society and make the weak suffer and how, in hell, she feels about what she's done.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
My own father, a party organizer. He organized music festivals although he was going into debt, or organized numerous small parties in grassroots venues...He hasn't been in the limelight, indeed, but right now as an adult, I can look at my father who suffered financially all his life (my childhood, too) in exchange for his passion, as a hero.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Smooth Operator' by Sade.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Lola' by The Raincoats. I spent my teen as a riot grrrl so they were pretty important to me. They came to Japan but I was skint at 17, so I had to go listen to them from outside the venue. Then, I saved money so I did go see them in the front row when they came again a few years later. Got the vinyl copped signed by them too. That’s my first and last take to be such a fangirl. The raincoats, I mean those super cool girls were the ‘Lola’ themselves for me.
One record you would keep forever?
'Dream Less Sweet' by Psychic TV. I listen to their tracks every season when the temperature gets chilly. Sentimental to no end while being dark and full of noise, as if praying so hard to see the light in the midst of the madness.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"We’ll make it"
From 'Sumtime' by King Midas Sound. I thought it was a song about me. Sad fact, my life has not progressed much at all since I heard this track when I was 19. Still unable to get up in the morning, and on workdays, I down a cup of coffee and whisper that "We’ll make it" to the one still sleeping next to me just to feel better about it, and sometimes get messed up being too emotional and inspired in a place with loud sound. Plus I drink too much and bother people too much, too sad to be alive no matter what I do, and I am feeling too hopeful to know that someone in the world could sing this track.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Creep' by Radiohead. Shortly after I moved to England, 'Creep' was playing in a chain-like art supply store I walked into. Music echoed through the empty store while I stayed there for half an hour and I just had to sing along to the music.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Ijiwaru na Tenshi yo Sekai wo Warae!' by Aiko. I was even in her fan club and I like all the tracks but this is a special one. You love enough to save from one’s crisis but keep loving more and more, Aiko is someone who can love beyond measure. I should learn from her.
New bands you are listening to now?
Gone Deaf.