The Unrelenting and Contagious Energy of Japanese All-Female Party Punks BimBamBoom

Bands from Japan operate on a different wavelength then what Westerns have become accustomed to. The bedrock may be the same – a sharp sense of genre and the skill sets needed to invoke and elevate it – but the building that towers skywards embodies an updated architectural design, taking the familiar and twisting it into invigorating new shapes. That "old but new" formula can also be used when discussing the strengths of BimBamBoom.

The all-female Tokyo-based outfit is a smorgasbord of influences and yet sound like nothing out there. The ingredients are recognizable, from Southern-fried humid jazz motifs to slick propulsive funk grooves and Memphis R&B, but in BamBamBoom’s more than capable hands the final product is a party in a shot glass – a symphony of acute instrumental breakdowns, cerebral bass-slapping good vibes, and a free-wheeling punk attitude that’s downright contagious.

Led by veteran drum maestro Miyoko Yamaguchi, who cut her teeth with trailblazing bands such as punk band Detroit7 and math-rockers Tricot, and rounded out by a crime-fighting team of zestful female musicians whose love of funk is palpable. Along with bassist Maryne, guitarist Oka Aiko, keyboardist Tanaka, and saxophonist Misaking, the band has garnered steady acclaim for turning every stage into a non-stop dance party, drawing from tireless sounds and putting their own spirited madcap spin on them.

Before BimBamBoom return to China this Thursday, Dec 5 at Omni Space, we asked the band some questions about where their apparently endless creativity and energy come from.

It’s been less than a year since you were last in China – what brought you back? What your fondest memory of that tour? 
So many girls came out to see our first China tour in April. It made us so happy because in Japan our fans are mostly men. So, we’re excited to meet all our music fans in China again!

While funk may be the foundation of your sound – there’s so much else going on in your music. How did you decide on what direction you wanted to take with the band's sound? 
Actually, We all have different musical backgrounds: from rock to punk, jazz to fusion. In the beginning, we started to cover songs, and even now, we still haven’t decided on our musical style yet because we think that we are still in the process of evolution.

What message do you hope to get across with your music? 
We are very happy and proud that if someone listens or is inspired by our music that they can find more possibilities in their life. Whether those possibilities are small or big, we don’t care.

Possibilities like... Someone smiling, someone starts a new thing, someone being thankful to others, someone giving love to the lovers, (and even) helping to stop war...

I imagine your live shows must turn into parties real quick. What have been some of the craziest audiences you’ve played for? 
They always look so cute, awesome, and crazy and everybody who listens to our music dances and frees themselves on the dance floor.

Join BimBamBoom in shaking your booty this Thursday at Omni Space. Doors open at 8.30pm and tickets cost RMB 200 on the door or RMB 150 advance.

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Images courtesy of BimBamBoom