Shawn Despres - The Japan Times

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Shawn Despres

Shawn Despres has been contributing to the Japan Times’ music page since 2005, and he has a passion for writing about the independent music scene in East Asia. He spent several years living in Yokohama and currently resides in Seoul.

For Shawn Despres's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Apr 2, 2010

The fifth Punkspring music festival takes place at the beginning of April. Usually held alongside its urban music cousin Springroove, this year only Punkspring has been scheduled and, in an interesting twist, despite selling out its last three editions in Tokyo, tickets prices for the high energy, fist-pumping bash have been lowered.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Mar 26, 2010

Japanese bands go big in Texas at SXSW festival

AUSTIN, Texas — 'We want to conquer the world," says Okamoto's vocalist Shou Okamoto after their well-received gig at the 24th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Mar 19, 2010

Mudy on the Sakuban "Pavilion"

Mudy on the Sakuban turned out an awesome showcase of their energetic instrumental rock during their 2008 appearance on Fuji Rock's newcomer stage, Rookie A Go-Go. And while that year's "Voi" EP was a good disc, it paled in comparison to how powerful the Nagoya quintet sounded in a live setting.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Mar 5, 2010

Moools "Weather Sketch Modified"

Much has been made of the strong ties Tokyo's Moools have forged with U.S. indie imprint K Records. And while the relationship has helped the underground rock trio tour overseas and earn slots supporting the seminal label's visiting bands and other acclaimed U.S. acts such as Modest Mouse and recently Quasi, at times it seems that who they know almost overshadows what they can do.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Feb 12, 2010

Kinoco Hotel "Marianne No Yuutsu"

With their first album proper, "Marianne No Yuutsu," Tokyo's Kinoco Hotel join the continuously growing legion of entertaining Japanese revivalist pop acts. Showcasing a similar fashion sense as Sendai throwback band The Captains, the attractive all-gal 1960s Group Sounds-inspired quartet sport matching short "Sgt. Pepper"-esque military style dresses and knee high boots.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jan 29, 2010

Math rockers Toe take it slow

Toe have their own record label, Machupicchu Industrias. It's not so much to flaunt a punklike DIY ethic, they're basically just slow.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jan 22, 2010

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Pegged by a handful of blogs as a "band to watch" after their 2007 eponymous EP, there was a small buzz circulating at the start of 2009 about New York's The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and their pending self-titled full-length. Three days after its February release, the disc was branded with a "best new music" tag from top underground tastemaker Pitchfork.com and instantly the shoegaze-pop quartet were pushed to the forefront of indie cool.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jan 15, 2010

Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro "Uhuru Peak"

A mere few weeks old, 2010 is already shaping up to be a hell of a year for Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro. To get primed for the release of their new "Uhuru Peak" sophomore full-length, the Saitama sextet started off January with a three-week live jaunt of Australian clubs and summer festivals. Familiar with large-scale events, the natty-looking group previously appeared in the Crystal Palace tent at Fuji Rock '08.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jan 8, 2010

Ghent's Das Pop goes overground

His upbringing pretty much ensured that the thought of being in a band was the farthest thing from Bent Van Looy's young mind.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 25, 2009

BBQ Chickens "Good Bye To Your Punk Rock"

I was new to the country and eager to experience some Japanese bands back in 2002. Following an entertainment rag's recommendation, I went to see BBQ Chickens at Shinjuku ACB. After four hours of searching I finally found the punk dive, but disappointingly discovered the gig was sold-out.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 11, 2009

Considered one of Asia's top postrock acts since their 2001 "Under the Pipal Tree" debut and now a decade into their career, Tokyo's Mono are listed alongside the global leaders in their genre. Taking full advantage of their continually growing stature, the instrumental quartet invited a 28-member chamber orchestra to join them in Chicago to record their fifth full-length, March's "Hymn to the Immortal Wind," adding even more beauty to their already epic songs.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 4, 2009

PanicSmile "A Girl Supernova"

Girl Supernova" is the seventh full-length studio effort from Tokyo-based underground stalwarts PanicSmile. Founded in Fukuoka in the early 1990s, the seminal quartet share 14 new tracks filled with the off-kilter art punk that has established them a small global following and earned them opening slots for indie darlings Deerhoof and no wave innovators James Chance & The Contortions.

CULTURE / Music

Nov 20, 2009

Dubbed the 19th best single of the 1990s by American mainstream rock rag Spin, the fuzzed-out, power pop anthem "Slack Motherf*cker" from Superchunk's 1990 eponymous debut helped push them to the forefront of the U.S. underground music scene. With A&R reps scrambling to unearth alt-rock superstars to cash in on Nirvana's and their Seattle brethren's successes, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina quartet were tagged with "Next Big Thing" status and became unwilling participants in a major-label bidding war for their services.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Nov 20, 2009

Dubbed the 19th best single of the 1990s by American mainstream rock rag Spin, the fuzzed-out, power pop anthem "Slack Motherf*cker" from Superchunk's 1990 eponymous debut helped push them to the forefront of the U.S. underground music scene. With A&R reps scrambling to unearth alt-rock superstars to cash in on Nirvana's and their Seattle brethren's successes, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina quartet were tagged with "Next Big Thing" status and became unwilling participants in a major-label bidding war for their services.

CULTURE / Music

Nov 13, 2009

An active player in Japan's underground rock scene from his teens (he performed alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra's Ryuichi Sakamoto on TV while in high school), Tokyo-born guitarist Yukie Sato began to tire of his beloved genre in his 30s. His passion was renewed in 1995 after discovering Korean classic rock. Instantly enamored with the country's 1960s and '70s musical output, he formed Kopchangjeongol, a psychedelic act that plays covers of old Korean songs. With their 1999 "Annyoung Hashi-mu-nika?" debut, they became the first Japanese rock band to release an album in South Korea. Shortly after that, Sato relocated to Seoul.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Nov 13, 2009

An active player in Japan's underground rock scene from his teens (he performed alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra's Ryuichi Sakamoto on TV while in high school), Tokyo-born guitarist Yukie Sato began to tire of his beloved genre in his 30s. His passion was renewed in 1995 after discovering Korean classic rock. Instantly enamored with the country's 1960s and '70s musical output, he formed Kopchangjeongol, a psychedelic act that plays covers of old Korean songs. With their 1999 "Annyoung Hashi-mu-nika?" debut, they became the first Japanese rock band to release an album in South Korea. Shortly after that, Sato relocated to Seoul.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Nov 6, 2009

The Shapeshifters

One of the world's premier house-music labels, the U.K.-based Defected Records, brings its famed global "Defected In The House" shindig to Tokyo on Nov. 6. Headlining the event are The Shapeshifters.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Oct 30, 2009

Ling Tosite Sigure

After selling out seven of their 11 "Just a Moment" CD release gigs in May and June, it came as little surprise that posthardcore act Ling Tosite Sigure's upcoming "Tornado Z" solo trek would be an anticipated affair. Performing at Japan's six Zepp music halls in November, all 2,700 Tokyo tickets and the nearly 2,220 tickets for Osaka were rapidly purchased less than 60 minutes after being made available to the public. Fans in Nagoya had a slightly larger window in which to act in; it took their 1,800 capacity Zepp venue two hours to sell out.

CULTURE / Music

Oct 23, 2009

Formed in February 2008, in the short span of eight months Tokyo trio Parms penned their debut eponymous effort and traveled to Louisville, Ky., to record its 13 tracks with producer Kevin Ratterman, the ex-drummer for American emo act Elliot. The album was issued earlier this year in the United States and South Korea with the band touring both countries to promote it and has now been released domestically.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Oct 16, 2009

Ogre embrace their inner nerds

"I'm not sure. I guess it is because of our name."

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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