For Mariko Lochridge's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
British magazine DJ Mag caused some ripples among critics this month when it released its list of the most popular DJs from around the world and there wasn't one woman among the 100-strong pick. Though the magazine points out that its editors don't decide ...
Crystal Kay has been an exciting singer to watch mature in the music industry. Since her debut at 13 years old, this Yokohama native has wowed fans with her powerful vocals and a compelling personal story of being a mixed-race singer (Korean-American) in Japan. It's ...
While many artists claim they are taking the next step in music, breaking rules and pushing boundaries, most of the time I find the effort merely results in the same melodies being pitched an octave higher. As the old adage goes, in order to ...
All-female vocal quartet Bright are putting their efforts into Action for Nippon, a charity that works to help kids affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. For the past few months, the women have been hosting an hourlong Ustream show on Wednesdays sponsored ...
Japan-based American rapper Travis Tewes, who performs under the moniker Crazy T, originally planned to use kanji on the cover of his sophmore album. However, since so few young Japanese could actually read the kanji, he decided at the last minute to spell out ...
When it comes to reppin' Japan's B-girls, no one does it better than DJ Sarasa. Her skills have caught the attention of music lovers worldwide and of course here in Japan. Golden Oldie: Eric B. & Rakim — "Juice (Know The Ledge)" (Fontana MCA). This ...
Thanks to a solid base of Japanese fans, acid jazz will probably never go out of style. However, that doesn't mean it won't evolve. Lesser known than acts such as the late Nujabes, Cro-Magnon is a part of that genre's evolution. The band is ...
