EIC's 10Q's w/ Films

"..ebbs and flows between sublime beauty and ominous curiosities.."

Films

Phonic Ataraxia

Films Bio:

The dark fantasy music unit, which is centered upon two female vocalists who sing in their own originally created languages. They are making creative and beautiful music by mixing the classical sounds of piano and stringed instruments, and electric destructive rhythms. They debuted by releasing their first album "Messenger" from Noble Label in 2010. The members of Films are some awesome musicians who are active at the forefront in Post-Rock, Classical music, Modern Classical music and Electronica music, though their names have not been made public yet. However, their works can be heard on TV, in movies and at events all over the world. Yuki Murata and Takahiro Kido who are the members of Anoice, and Daisuke Kashiwa, take charge of performing musical instruments, mixing and mastering. And RAKU-GAKI, famous for art director of website design and product design, also participates in Films' works. They all make Films' world more unique.

Hello, how are you?

Yuki: Hello! I'm good.

What are you currently listening to?

The Incredible Moses Leroy's 'Become The Soft Lightes' album.

What's with the band name and when did this project begin?

We started in 2011. When we formed this project, we wanted to make music which could make our listeners imagine diversified scenery and story, so we decided upon "Films" as this band name.


Care to shed some light on your latest release 'A Forbidden Garden'; theme, favorite track, etc?

I set "some kind of forbidden affairs" as the subject of this album, that is, it means an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom such as "a forbidden love". Like in The Little Mermaid, and other ethical taboos against "a forbidden technology" (such as cloning technology). But this album has not only a negative factor but also hope. My most favorite tune is "Lost Field," the second track of the album. It's neither Classical music nor Electronic music but a new kind of music to which most of music fans have never listened, though this can also be said about other tunes included on the album.

Do you plan on touring extensively for said release?

Yes, we have a plan for touring together with Anoice in Europe and Russia this October. But this plan is still uncertain at this stage.

Got any other weird/hidden talents besides being talented musicians?

I don't have any talents except for music, such as composing music and playing musical instruments, but my band mates have some splendid talents for taking pictures, designing for websites a& products, cooking, and making guitar effect pedals. A talent I particularly want to recommend are Fleursy candles which are beautiful hand made LED candles, of which we have the patent. If you are interested in them, please visit the following official website of Ricco Label, the Tokyo-based Modern-Classical/Post-Rock music label which we manage by ourselves.

Got any other projects we should know about?

Yes, we have many projects besides Films; such as Anoice, Takahiro Kido, Yuki Murata, RiLF, Mokyow, and Cru. To explain these projects briefly; Anoice is Tokyo-based Modern-Classical/Post-Rock music band, Takahiro Kido and Yuki Murata are solo projects of the members of Anoice, RiLF is the Alternative Rock band formed by the members of Anoice and the vocalist of Matryoshka, Mokyow is a Post-Rock band formed by the male members of Anoice, and Cru is the Modern Classical music unit formed by Takahiro Kido and Yuki Murata (who are the members of Anoice). All of which, can be found HERE.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to your music?

Nothing special. The best way to listen to our music is to close your eyes, I think. Or, please watch some music videos for the album which we've already uploaded or will upload via YouTube.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

Takahiro Kido's 'Fleursy Music' album. I really like it.

Are you living your dream?

Of course, YES!!

Thanx Takahiro, Yuki & Films!

Films second LP ('A Forbidden Garden') recently came out via the wonderful label Fleursy/Ricco. Do yourself a favor and get that now..

EIC'S10Q'S w/RiLF

"..may bring a tear to your ear. If it's raining where you are right now, you need this more than you need oxygen. .."


RiLF
Axiomatic Impassioned Apparatus

RiLF Bio:
RiLF is Tokyo based alternative band formed by the members of Anoice, Matryoshka and some friends at the beginning of 2010. The members are Takahiro Kido, Takahiro Matsue, Calu, Yuki Murata, Jyunko Tabira, Utaka Fujiwara, and Aki. After releasing their debut EP, “Era EP” under their live name “Ricco Label and Friends” they shortened the band name to RiLF. And now RiLF have just made their 1st album “Ferris Wheel”, which was just released off of the Ricco Label.


Hello, how are you?
Hi, Thank you for your being interested in our band RiLF and giving me the chance to do this interview. First of all, please let me introduce myself, I'm Takahiro Kido, the leader of RiLF. I am also as the owner of the Ricco Label, which is a music labe/home to Tokyo's RiLF.

What are you currently listening to?
Right now "Lost Horizons" by Lemon Jelly and "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane. These albums make the fall season feel more fresh, I think.

What does “RiLF” stand for?
RiLF was named by abbreviating Ricco Label and Friends, it doesn't mean "Rapper I'd Like to Fxxk", though this word is often misunderstood.

Can you please explain your sound within five words or less?
Something to compose the nature

I LOVE your debut “Ferris Wheel”, you should be pretty proud of it as well. Will you be touring the US with this release?
Thank you very much. To our regret, we don't intend on touring the US right now because we are preparing to make our 2nd album, though we are scheduling some concerts with Dakota Suite in Japan.We may plan a tour in U.S. as soon as the next album comes out.

The song “Pray For A Piano” is particularly GORGEOUS, it kind of reminds me of Sigur Ros meets Miko. Were you at all influenced by either of these artists?
I like either artist, but this particular track was not influenced by their works. The song "Pray for the Piano" was composed by three members of RiLF. Takahiro Matsue (the bassist) played 4 notes on his piano, next I arranged it by adding strings, organs, voices and rhythm, and then Calu (the vocalist) laid her melody down on the track. I don't know what kind of music influenced Matsue and Calu when they made the melody, but I arranged this song while being conscious of some minimal music composers such as Arvo Part and Michael Nyman. These artists often make beautiful music for strings. Now that I think about it this particular composition does kind of remind me of Sigur Ros..

Do you guys have any side projects we should know about?
Yes. Some members of RiLF; me (Takahiro Matuse), Yuki Murata (the pianist), and Utaka Fujiwara (the violist) are also apart of Anoice. Which is a Tokyo based six-piece band, we have released 3 albums from Important Records and the Ricco Label. Calu is also member of Matryoshka which is an Electronica group from Tokyo, they have released one album from Novel Sounds and will release their 2nd album from Virgin Babylon Records next year. I've released some solo albums on PLOP and the Ricco Label, and intend to make my 6th and 7th album next year. Yuki has released 2 solo albums of impromptu piano sessions also on the Ricco Label. She has also released some works under another artist name. In addition, Me and Yuki formed a band called Cru we have released one album. Also me and Tadashi Yoshikawa (the drummer of Anoice) have released one album under the name of Mokyow (also off of Rico).

Can you name me 2-5 amazing artists from your hometown that deserve some attention?
Sorry.. I rarely listen to the works of fellow musicians in our hometown of Tokyo. But, if I could enumerate names of artists in Japan other than Tokyo, I would start with recommending Fuqugia, which is the solo project of Daiki Sakae. Whom is residing in Kagoshima south of Japan. He is a one of the most wonderful/original guitarists out there.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
"Closing Time" Tom Waits. This is a very difficult question, so I might say another album if you asked me the same question tomorrow:)

Are you living your dream?
YES.

Thanx Takahiro!

RiLF are currently playing a few shows here and there, mostly in Japan, hopefully one day the rest of the world will have their moment in witnessing this terrific band live...