"In Tokyo, there is too much information," says famed Japanese producer and DJ Towa Tei. "Even if you don't want to listen to music, you are raped into listening to something you don't like at the convenience store. So I try to go somewhere quiet and listen whenever I want to!"
Announcing the release of "Big Fun," his first album in four years, former New York resident and Deee-Lite member Tei, 44, has maintained a mystique and allure thanks to his creative sound collages that defy genre, fashion or fad, mixing modes as he creates almost entirely electronically. "Sweet Robots Against the Machine" (2002), "Flash" (2005) and "Big Fun" are all linked by their quirkiness, creativeness and optimism.
"This time I tried to write the songs when I was having fun," explains Tei, who spends most of his time at his home in Nagano Prefecture. "So first of all I needed to enjoy life, not only force myself to write songs like some routine job. If you try to become an antenna to receive information from outside, you need to be relaxed, especially for something creative. I think humming comes when you are relaxed. If you are under pressure, you don't hum.