Mouse on the Keys Buck Against Post-Rock Label Ahead of Yugong Yishan Festival Slot, Apr 21

Kyle Mullin | Apr 20, 2018 10:00 am | Add a comment | 2107 reads

Even though Tokyo instrumental rockers Mouse on the Keys have been hailed as one of Japan's top post-rock acts, frontman Akira Kawasaki rejects that label entirely. During an interview ahead of the band's performance at the inaugural Yugong Yishan Festival this weekend, Kawasaki gave a surprisingly different take on the band's music, before going on to describe the scene in Tokyo these days, defending the use of his band's music in TV ads, and more.

You're sharing the bill with Tortoise at the Yugong Yishan Festival. Both their band and yours have been praised as some of the world's best post-rock acts. And, like you, they also incorporate elements of jazz into their music. Do you think Tortoise was a major influence or inspiration on your band?
Tortoise is one of the bands that our generation has admired the most. I’m so honored to share a stage with them. I think Tortoise is a true post-rock band.

That being said, the band that I used to belong to, and many of the bands that I deal with now, are post-rock bands, so many people say Mouse on the Keys is a post-rock band. But I actually don’t think we are. Our music is “Quickness” by Bad Brains plus “Neo Geo” by Ryuichi Sakamoto, divided by “Gigantic Days” by Ian O'Brien. It must be a bit hard to understand. But I'd say the true similarity between Tortoise and Mouse on the Keys is that we are both instrumental bands.

Red Bull Music has described your band as "blending minimalist classical music with hard-hitting rock." Tell us about your classical music background, and how you went on to incorporate it with rock.
I had a concept before I formed Mouse on the Keys. The concept was to mix my hardcore drums, French modern harmonies ala Debussy, and minimal music like that of Steve Reich. My parents were into classical music and I grew up listening to it, and so classical music was very familiar to me.

That article also described your live shows as "very intense." Tell us about your fondest memory from one of your most intense shows.
We toured in North America from the end of 2016 until March 2017, and did approximately 50 shows in total. We were together on the road all the time, and sometimes our relationships got a little strained, but the unity of our sound was amazing at the performances.

Your music has been used in some high profile TV commercials. How does that feel? Some bands worry about being called "sell outs" after making such a decision.
Although we are an independent band, we’ve been invited to many overseas music festivals and, yes, our music has been used for high profile TV ads. I think it is great. It is amazing to see our music spread out to the world.

How would you describe the music scene in Tokyo these days?
Most of the post-rock bands in Tokyo are my friends. We respect them, but at the same time, they are competitors. We do not invite each other to play together unless the music is of high enough quality. I think this professional relationship is very healthy.

Your friends in the band Lite played in Beijing last year. What was it like to release a split EP with them in 2016?
The split EP was released for the US tour that we did together. We didn’t have much time to make it, but it was a good memory.

Mouse on the Keys will perform at the inaugural Yugong Yishan Festival on Apr 21 at The New Great Wall Valley. The festival runs Apr 21-22. For the full lineup see the poster below, and click here for information about how to get there.