Update: 30th May 2022
Interview with
How have you found your new life in now that a little over a year has passed since the move to Connecticut?It’s been a blast. But, I haven’t gotten my driver’s license yet, so the biggest drawback is that I’m not able to get around as easily. It’s not somewhere that I can just walk to a nearby deli to pick up things I forgot to buy like I could in NYC. I have to depend on Brian to drive me around in the meantime, but I will get my license this year. The region is rich with not only dairy farms but also agriculture; and many households in the area have their own gardens where they grow vegetables, and sell fresh eggs in front of their homes. The closest grocery to our home is place called New Morning Market, a health conscious organic supermarket: the food is fresh, there is a great line-up of eco-friendly hippy organic products, and beyond that, it’s a miracle that I can get basic Japanese ingredients and American made organic natto there too. Also, Place in the opposite direction takes you to Arethusa Farm, a ranch run by the owner of Manolo Blahnik— the bakery, restaurant and daily stores run by Arethusa are the same level as those in the city, and you can get fresh doughnuts or perfect croissants from the morning. That being said, outside of these two, it’s a country town surrounded by nature. Life is like a dream here— there are many hiking trails around the area, and in the summer it’s easy to go for a swim in the nearby lake.
That’s a little unexpected, as I had the impression that urban life suited you.I think that living in a place like this during your childhood or younger years wouldn’t be stimulating enough, but in my case, as I matured, I’ve come to want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, so the experience of the feeling the seasons through my skin, and seeing those changes is fresh. I’ve started my own garden, but as I have little knowledge of nature it’s been a learning experience. But, it’s a joy to eat the Japanese cucumbers, shiso leafs, and heirloom tomatoes that I grew myself. Winter is cold and we are completely covered with snow and ice, and it feels as if life is dependent on the weather. Also, I’ve learned how to start a fire from kindling, and I keep building up new experiences even at this age. When I was in NY, I never actively tried to communicate with people outside of my friend group, but everyone in town approaches me good-naturedly, and they bring firewood, help with the garden, and when we had COVID, our landlord went shopping for us…They take such good care of us.
Was the pandemic the reason for the move?That’s exactly why. Despite not being able to go outside at all and the city was hardly functioning, and because we continued to pay such a high rent during lockdown, we yearned to live in the middle of wide-open nature. Our place was a comfortable Soho loft that had been renovated over and over by the landlord since the 90s, and the building was a little unique in that we were the only residents of the top floor, and we could be as noisy as we’d like without any worry. We lived as we pleased but, in addition to the pandemic, our lease was up around that time. It’d be impossible to find another place in Manhattan that would allow us to continue as we had without thinking about noise issues, and it looked like the pandemic was going to continue on, so we thought it would be good to go out to the country. In hindsight, it was the right decision. We wanted someplace without close neighbors and we found a place on 36 acres—far enough away that everything will probably be a-ok. No matter how loud we are, we don’t have to worry about it, and the house itself is big enough that I have my own creative space. It’s a great place to focus on myself, but to be honest, I miss the energy from people. So, I’ve started a double life of going to NYC a few times a month and it’s been a blast.
So, you’ve placed more importance on making music recently?I’m always making music. It’s not a recent development but something I’ve done for a long time, whenever I feel I might lose myself. (laughs) I feel like I regain my confidence when I sit in front of the monitor creating music; and especially those who use Ableton or desktop PCs to create will understand when I say that, doesn’t it feel like you’ve become a superhero sitting in the command center when you control sound? While I am creating my mood is lifted incredibly and I doze off; and there are even times where I trip and have no memory of what I was doing. (laughs) It’s incredible as mental therapy and I cannot recommend it enough.
What sort of approach do you take when you start creating?At the beginning, it’s completely the flow. I choose the sounds and build it dimensionally… By cutting and pasting, it’s something close to the way you’d approach making a collage or carving. When I was a kid, I’d hum songs of my own making often, and at the time I was just humming and would soon forget them. Now, those little songs are turning into tracks. (laughs) I’m earnestly trying to make music from the casual humming that flows out unconsiously from inside of me.
Are there times where it doesn’t flow?I don’t do anything then. Music is something that should be enjoyed, not something that should be forced. I think there might be things that are born from working things out, but for me, I won’t create if I am not feeling it, so I do something other than music during those times.
Profile Eterna
Kiki Kudo
2022
The Trilogy Tapes
Kiki Kudo
2022
The Trilogy Tapes
Your new EP Profile Eterna was released through Will Bankhead’s label The Trilogy Tapes, but how did that come to pass?Though we have mutual friends, I hadn’t ever met Will. But this time, we were able to connect through my music and I was thrilled. There are two fans who always purchase whenever I have a release on Bandcamp, and one of them messaged me that they wanted me to become part of their label Best2S, which they were starting on Bandcamp. At the time, we were in lockdown, and those days were ones that I wouldn’t see a soul even if I looked out my window. Having someone reach out to me, and to think that someone out there was listening to my music was very encouraging. Since it was someone who had continued to purchase my music, I decided to accept the offer even though it was a digital release. As part of the promotion for the release of the track Urban Magnetic, Best2S sent it to various people, and one of them just happened to be Will. TTT is a label that I have loved for a long time, but I could have never thought that Will would listen to my music, and it was a true honor that he contacted me through his enjoyment of Urban Magnetic.
The two pieces recorded for the EP are both long, was there a reason or intent for this decision?It was Will’s request. For me, I interpreted it as long songs of over twelve minutes that you could trip to. I like to make short tracks as well but it was a period where I was making longer tracks, ones that had a story to them. But, that 14-minute track is the longest one.
Do labels usually provide such themes when they reach out to you with an offer?Yes, they do. An abstract image, or they tell me to make something like a previous track. Even then, contrary to what you may think I’m only human, so it’s rather difficult for me to create exactly to their desires. But, since I was a long-time listener of Will’s label, I generally had the idea of what he wanted. That being said, I can only make something that only I can make… I’m happy that he took a liking to it.
Each label certainly does have what you’d call their own flavor, direction and style.Yes, they do. I think that independent labels are run especially by people who are doing it out of love, so when you look at the titles of their releases, you get an idea of what their taste in music is. There’s no need for them to force themselves to release music that they don’t like, so it’s on fate. (laughs) Everyone has their own preferences in music, so I think everyone should stay true to what they like with respect to music.
Did you undertake any new challenges during the production of this EP?Making it on Ableton, I’d say. Once the pandemic started, the days where I was stuck at home continued on, and I started using Ableton, which I had wanted to try for some time. I learned the basics from Brian. Up until then, I had been using an iPad. Though the apps for music on iPad are excellent and fun, if I were to make 12-14 minute long songs, I thought it’d be best to learn how to use Ableton. On a desktop, you can control everything, and I created it much like a collage.
Where did the title Profile Eterna come from?Profile Eterna is the name of my microwave. (laughs) From my time living in Japan, the impression that electromagnetic waves from microwaves are dangerous had been pounded into me, and I hardly use them myself. But, people in America use them quite often, and there is one in every home. When I was thinking about the title for the EP in the kitchen, I raised my head and the words “Profile Eterna” written on the door of the microwave that I have never opened caught my eye. In that moment, I thought to myself—“aha, let’s go with that.” (laughs)
What an amazing place to take inspiration from! (laughs) Please tell us more about the titles of the songs Plotlined and Space Planar?I was playing with words. Plotlined is something like a psychedelic way to say a finished story. There really isn’t that deep of a meaning to it. Space Planar is a track that I wanted to make with a dubby grid-like feel, so when I was asked to make long tracks for the record, I thought of pieces such as Manuel Göttsching’s E2-E4, but I wasn’t able to re-listen to it before I finished the tracks for the record. (laughs) At any rate, I made them while remembering so many things. Going back in my memories to jam-sessions I did in the past with everyone, remembering how that one time this person hit the congas like that, or how this person would hit the percussion with this timing… It feels like I imagined a fantasy jam session.
That’s fascinating! I simply felt great when I listened to the tracks, but I’ll listen to them again, imagining them as a jam-session.I’m so happy to hear that you felt great while listening to them. Especially since I made them through repeatedly getting high off them, dozing off over and over myself. I made this EP in the middle of pandemic in the summer of 2020, and I absolutely love these tracks, and I’ve continued to listen to them for almost two years. It’s the greatest happiness that they’ve finally been released.
Could you tell us about the sleeve artwork?Will is personally responsible for all the artwork on The Trilogy Tapes’s sleeves. Because I’ve known of several of the sleeves he was involved in for Mo’Wax, I’m incredibly happy to have received a design from a legend, even though he has so much work and must be very busy.
Kiki Kudo: Plotlined
Music Visual by BC/ Georgia
EP “Profile Eterna” TTT098 A
The Trilogy Tapes
2022
Music Visual by BC/ Georgia
EP “Profile Eterna” TTT098 A
The Trilogy Tapes
2022
I saw the MV for Plotlined, the visuals are trippy and have a such a good vibe. Did Brian produce it?Yes, he did. It’s fantastic, isn’t it? I’m always watching it. The first half is images from around our house, and even my garden is shown. The latter half is drone footage taken during our trip to Costa Rica in October last year. No matter where he goes, he is always taking footage. Since he has so much material to work with, we thought why not make a MV using it? I am so grateful to Brian.
Do you have any upcoming plans?The cookbook I spoke of in my previous interview is coming out soon. Brian created CG food visuals to match photos that Naoko took and the recipes I wrote, and it will be released as part of P.A.M.’s upcoming collection. I’m really excited about it. Also, I’m tightening up my live set so if you’re interested, please get in touch with me.
It was rather early in the morning at half past 7AM when I connected with her online, but even in the brilliant morning light she responded as her unchangeable natural self. It was fascinating to hear her chat about each and every episode, and moreover, the boundless curiosity and love she had for music was tangible, and it was an interview that ended with me hoping earnestly to be able to experience her performance live someday. I’m also personally excited to see her finished cookbook, which will be released as part of P.A.M.’s upcoming collection A+ (A Positive Message).
In a previous article for this section, we introduced the original Nike movie from GR8, which also features her music, so please click here if interested.
Kiki Kudo:
Profile Eterna
2022
Bandcamp
The Trilogy Tapes
Kiki Kudo
www.kikikudo.com
@keekee_kud
Nigh Magazine Issue 1:
Interview 2: Kiki Kudo
2022
Bandcamp
The Trilogy Tapes
Kiki Kudo
www.kikikudo.com
@keekee_kud
Nigh Magazine Issue 1:
Interview 2: Kiki Kudo