11 Questions with… aigotakayama
1. What song do you often listen to on the train?/Love Is A Song – DJ Soulscape
This is the ending song of Cemetery of Splendour, a feature film by my favorite Thai director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Along with the experience of the film, it feels like it brings back memories, times, and recollections I had forgotten in the busyness of everyday life.
2. What song do you often listen to while walking?/Ball – Duval Timothy
I really love Duval Timothy’s music in general, but this one song is special. It carries me from some abstract, minimal place into richly colored emotions like sadness and nostalgia.
3. What song did you like in high school?/Nice Boys – TEMPOREX
A close female friend in high school introduced me to this memorable song. Looking back now, I feel it expressed her mysteriousness and elusiveness.
4. What song do you listen to when you’re feeling down?/You, at the End, Laurel Halo Version – Lafawndah, Laurel Halo
I don’t think there’s another drone track I’ve been listening to for so many years. On cloudy or rainy days, when I feel depressed, I put this on and make sure to let myself sink fully into the mood.
5. What song do you often listen to when working?/Moon Undah Water – Puma Blue
I’ve loved Puma Blue since high school. This particular song strongly reminds me of something close to that initial creative impulse.
6. Which song has influenced your own work?/機械仕掛乃宇宙 – 山田庵巳
With my sister’s influence, I used to listen to Susumu Hirasawa and Ichiko Aoba, and my sister told me that Ichiko Aoba had a mentor. Through that, I learned about the mystique of the “bard”. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this song became a foundation for my judgement of value.
7. What song do you listen to when going out at night?/24時間 – GOODMOODGOKU, 荒井優作
I’m from the countryside, and this song expresses both the longing I had for the city back then and the sense of loss I felt after moving to Tokyo—both at the same time.
8. What song do you find yourself always listening to?/Porto Seguro – Batuki (Marku Ribas)
This plays in a scene from Robert Bresson’s film Four Nights of a Dreamer. The moment the shot cuts to that scene, I felt a deep impression. I listen to this song along with the imagery of that scene.
9. What’s a song a friend recommended that you’re glad you heard?/AS Going (feat. LYZZA) – Amnesia Scanner
A university classmate I met right after moving to Tokyo introduced me to it. I remember feeling as if I’d been struck on the head—the shock of realizing music like this could even exist.
10. What was the first song you ever bought for yourself?/無罪モラトリアム – 椎名林檎
My memory is a bit fuzzy, so I’m not sure if this is accurate, but I’ve always liked Shiina Ringo thanks to my sister’s influence. I think when I was in elementary or middle school, I bought the CD secondhand.
11. What’s your next move?
Right now, I’m making a picture book. Of course, I plan to continue with video as well. I’ve also started to develop an interest in theater and stage work, and ultimately I’d like to create something within the realm of performing arts.
There was a period when I stopped doing VJ and video pieces (or rather stopped creating altogether) to reflect on things.
Even now I continue to struggle and keep failing, but I hope to create something that, even just a little, can pierce through the darkness—or at least I hope to make what would be a part of the search toward the light.