So what have you got planned  for 2010 as Storm and Urban ether?

Well   as Urban ether, we have 4 albums coming out of the camp , one is a collective of the whole family of artists and 3 solo projects from Driphtah , BC , and myself , and  we will have a whole bunch of singles squeezed in as we explore different music styles and collaborate  with other artists , and at the end of the year we have a short tour of Japan and hopefully Hong Kong .Personally  I will be performing less  I will be working on a short movie  with group of people heading to Cannes festival and have  a book coming out “letters to my unborn” then i will be relocating to the US 2011 hopefully permanently.

It sounds pretty intense  does it mean you’re leaving music or Urban ether to do film  and writing?

Aghhh no, not at all I am not ashamed to say that the urban ether as a camp is so strong they don’t need me which is good because we can go off and do other projects and come back  and still be involved, i have always being a writer last year i won 32 awards in poetry  and short story and my first script and the music comes from there and the chance has just popped up for me to head to the Cannes festival , and I am taking it next the Oscars (laughing).

You mentioned  you will be relocating Any specific reason record deals  exclusives and how will it affect the whole Ether thing?

Honesty i want to be around my family (laughing) that’s the truth.  I am more famous in Japan  and online and amongst my Zim peeps than i am NZ so it was the only natural  move , you know what a prophet is without honour in his home town . But I feel I can grow faster as an artist outside NZ. Either way the New York is calling me there is an amazing artist Mikael Music from Brooklyn  and hope  to link up with here latter in the year because there this song I wrote , i want see where it goes she is gifted . There a number of upcoming artist in the US I will be working with  and we see where it goes.

So you will pull a Akon , so you will the next biggest thing out of new Zealand ?

(laughing) No ... wow . Akon is to big i just want to be the first me , and see Urban ether grow to its full potential, I hope to make my mark , and travel the world , I feel music is coming full circle and people are going back slowly to making music with lyrics  and that what I am good at  .

You have being around for a while  why now the sudden explosion ? and what’s being the formula for success?

Success.... umm. I haven’t succeed yet (laughing). I am not famous  i don’t have groupies  there not thousand s of fan outside the house and you should see my bank account (laughing) . But in terms of success the key is being grateful to do what we get to do and hard work , i can only think of 2 other things , i never worry about making a hit just good music that i can feel , and honesty or putting your soul in your work .  secondly yeah being around for while , but i wasn’t ready  immature , smoking drinking  unfocused , but Jesus is the centre of my life and have put my childish ways behind me the industry will eat you up if you are not solid in yourself .

We saw your performance last night , what would you say about having a genre , you started out Hip hop , slowed down to jazz Changed to rock and then back to hip hop?

(laughing) we make  music not genres .. if it feels good we do it that’s about it ? its a live  the Cubana connect, and Japan Connect made me look good (laughing).  I have decided not to be put in box  and that’s  about love us or leave us  there are no half measures.

What can we expect on your tour of Japan and who will be on it  , will the whole Ether camp be there or will it be like last time with half of you  ?

Energy a lot of energy creativity , I love the japan audience be they give you whatever you push out maybe i will make it my second home (laughing) as for who will be on this tour well i can’t say yet .. but i will definitely be on this tour , and so too will Driphtah , if the prompter allows for it and i have managed to escape to the US and I have being paid , i know a few artist out there who would like to come along  and maybe BC.

So tell us about you and the Debut Album  “Freedom” ?

(laughing) freedom strangely enough wasn’t supposed to be my song at all  last year when Alicia Keys was   in NZ Touring, some AR said she was looking for some song writers to writer her a song and we would meet her and stuff  , so I went in the lab  and finally come up with song freedom , then on the day I was supposed to meet her it  never happened because it was all a lie (laughing) the guy just  wanted me to write the song , so I pretty much burnt song but it was stuck in my head because it was honest and personal , and as I worked  the album , when Nas toured NZ i snuck in to see the man literally Ninja style snuck past security (laughing) , by the way he is a really cool dude and  I gave him my 30 second sample of it and he pretty music said do the album and try your luck in New York   and that pretty much that’s  that.

So what’s next for you  and for Urban ether ?

For urban ether sky’s the limit because it’s more than one person people have to make chioces, for me personally , I just wana settle down and make good music , and be able to provide for my family , I don’t do glitz and glamour , i am very simple man .. Longevity  i still want to be making music 20 year form now  and grow with the times .

Is there a special lady in your life because you have all these love songs ?

(laughing) It’s tragic   so so tragic I am absolutely in love with this one woman but we can’t be together it’s complicated . I mean I am  sprung  so for know my work is my woman  but you never know ? any body out there looking(laughing)

Sounds juicy  does this woman have a name ?

No she doesn’t .. can we get back to music 

What inspires  the music  what is ether music ?

For me personally  pain struggle triumph my mom my family, as corny as it sounds love , in the short time i lived on earth I being through a bit , as for the other artist you would have to ask them ? Ether is love music

We checked you tour set up  and it appears you will be in Japan  south Africa  and the Uk, you mentioned you haven’t being home for almost 10 years how do you feel about it?

Heading back to Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade , i am looking forward to it , in some ways  its scary to think i haven’t set foot on African soil in 10 years I just hope they don’t treat me as stranger, UK is like my second home because all my family  is there and my high school  friends  are there.

The last time i spoke with you , your pretty adamant about staying independent as an artist where do you stand on this issue?

(laughing) show me the dotted line .

Any last words ?

Hey folks, Dale is an incredibly tallanted acoustic guitarist from the UK. Doesn't matter if you are into punk or hip-hop or metal - you HAVE to check him out (a metalhead is telling you).

17 Sep 2009     19:15 Japan - Live Bar Kids  Toyonaka

18 Sep 2009     20:30 Bamboo Club       Osaka

19 Sep 2009     20:00 KMC Showcase @ ZOU   Osaka

20 Sep 2009     Kansai Music Conference - South Room Osaka

21 Sep 2009     20:00 TOKYO VENUE - TBA Tokyo

22 Sep 2009     16:00 Kickback Cafe     Tokyo

23 Sep 2009     20:00 Kazefuku - with Hiro/Sola & Pete Kronowit Tokyo

24 Sep 2009     20:00 Evening off in Osaka!!    Osaka

25 Sep 2009     19:00 Vi-Code   Osaka

26 Sep 2009     20:00 Kyoto Venue - TBA Kyoto

27 Sep 2009     Day off in Osaka!!      Osaka

28 Sep 2009     Day off in Tokyo

www.myspace.com/dalecampbell

www.youtube.com/user/DaleCampbellAcoustic

 

Kev and Gav from Osaka's royalinserts knew that you shouldn't have to pay just to have people listen to your music. They took this ridiculously simple notion, ran with it, and turned it into a dynasty. They created the the Big Jugs Experience (TBJE) for bands that want to perform without having to guarantee a number of sold tickets (and being forced to pay the difference out of their own pockets according to the noruma system in Japan) The show has a dedicated following in both Osaka and Tokyo.  TomBizarre from Japan4music had Kev and Gav take some time from their busy schedule for an email interview to talk about the band and their upcoming March 21st show at Nishi Ogikubo's Bin Spark. 

Japan4music: For fans new to the Big Jugs Experience (TBJE) events, can you enlighten them? 

Gav: We love going to gigs, but often you can just never tell what the bands are going to be like if you are just going to a gig on the off chance. We wanted an event that was underground, fun and gritty but with all great bands playing, always!It's a social occasion, pretentious bands are kept to a minimum. In Osaka at "The Cellar"  the bar and stage are almost one, everyone can mingle and get to know cool new bands and Djs.Kev: Yes, it' all about new music and up and coming talents, so we aim to make each event as cutting edge as possible.  TBJE acts as a perfect stepping stone for new bands to get themselves on the scene. 

J4M: What number TBJE are you up to? 

Gav: We're up to  28 in Osaka, number 7 in Tokyo Kev:  We started this event in November 2006 and we've done one in Osaka every month since.  Many great bands have played too, some of them now nationally recognized and with a chance to achieve big success.  It's been a lot of fun and just gets better and better.   

J4M: What can you tell me about the bands in the upcoming 3/21 show? 

Gav: One of our most ambitious line-ups, and  as with all TBJE events, we have a little of bit of everything.  It's sexy, punky, vibrant and energetic, and   especially being in the capital and such a fantastic city as Tokyo,  we always make sure it has that extra spark!  Kev:  That's right!  First up we've got de!nial, real party animals on the Tokyo stage, popular electro rocking.  Then our own band royalinserts, always causing trouble and bursting eardrums - before, during and after the gig!  GiMME UM, making their second appearance at TBJE are wild guys with cool Metallic Glam sounds.Gav: Yeah, they know how to rock and are sure to have the crowd dancing!Kev: Then finally we have MOLICE, excellent beats and driving melodies with the irresistible line up of classy female front vocals and guitar.Gav: Yeah!Kev: To ensure the event is a wall of noise, non-stop action and party vibes, we have quality DJ's from our top pals and electro-dance specialists KinKies who wreaked havoc on tour in Europe.  DJ ry01 organizer of the label GOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR with it's pumping club night events and music magazine.  Then we have our big mate DJ Grant McGaheran from super electro jazz synthesizers Abikyokan. DJ TerryKani is our own DJ mixing. What a line up and top night in store!Gav:  For the criminally low price too for an event of this quality, the party go-ers are in for a real treat! 

J4M: How did you manage to find venues that didn't require the noruma down payment? 

Gav:  A lot of scouting! In Tokyo we do actually have to shell out for the venue. but it is the policy of TBJE not to ask bands for money.Kev:  That takes the fun out of the night having to think about impending debts at the end.Gav:  Quite the opposite of the Noruma system, we aim to give something back to the bands as without them there is no event.  We guarantee to give bands a few drinks and to share any profits at the end of the night.. 

J4M: How do you pick new bands that you want to invite to participate in TBJE events? 

Kev:  One hell of a lot of social networking goes into each event.  It's about getting down gigs even when there imminent typhoon warning, or when it's so cold you can't feel your face!  Osaka's AmemiraMura is a unique community of all genres too, and it's easy to pick up the latest gig that's going down by word of mouth from friends and contacts that we frequently meet.  Then there's endless hours on MYSPACE and other music networking sites from which we find new bands, and maintain contact with bands that have played at TBJE.Gav:  We're always on the look out for new and cool bands, and we're always willing to help experimental projects try new things in front of a live blood-thirsty crowd! 

J4M: How many bands approach you requesting to participate in the event? Do you turn down many? 

Gav: Most bands that play, usually ask to come back and play again which is great.  I don't recall turning anyone down, but we have a preference for original music which means cover bands wouldn't fit the bill as they go against the objectives of TBJE.  Kev:  If it's original then we'd never turn anyone down.  If they've got the heart and desire to play their own music live then that's cool, and if they want to play TBJE and be part of the scene that we are trying to create then that's a big honour for us.    

J4M: Could you tell me a little about what you can see on the TBJE TV video podcast? 

Gav: Promotion for the next coming event. a break-down of the bands that are going to play and a review of the previous TBJE, and a bit of arsing around inbetween!Kev:  Gav's usually the one doing the arsing around!  But anyway, we'd like to add up-coming gigs and events from our friends and previous TBJE bands, and also footage and interviews from gigs that we get too throughout the week.  Ideally we'd like to make into a weekly music report, something that stimulates people into going to gigs regularly as part of their regular social activities.  The idea of putting video's on YouTube (soon on iTunes) was to enable people to be able to watch episodes on their ipods or modern keitai's, while on the go. TBJE radio (audio podcast) is available and will have it's first episode to preview TBJE Tokyo 7 uploaded soon.      

J4M: What do you see in the future for TBJE and your band, royalinserts? 

Gav: TBJE is royalinserts'  hometurf. We love playing the event as well as other stages and hope to get out there with real music lovers and go as far as we can.  TBJE is a commitment to providing a cracking monthly live gig party  in Osaka (and every 2-3 months in Tokyo) and hope that cool bands will always want to come and play. A compilation CD featuring TBJE bands was released in December 2007, CD 2 is well in progress and will be available before the summer.  Kev: We see TBJE is becoming one of the most exciting and modern music experiences in Japan, and we hope everyone will put TBJE in their monthly schedule as a day to party with friends, and make plenty of new ones one the way! 

J4M: Have the events raised royalinserts' public profile?Gav: I'd like to think so. Better ask the punters! How did you meet and form royalinserts? 

Gav: We met at college in England at the height of the infamous Britpop boom of 1995.  That was a very special time, everyone wanted to be in a band and have indie-muppet hair.Kev: Gav still has Indie-muppet hair!Gav: What?  You're just jealous of my lovely locks!Kev: Oh yeah!  Anyway, we've had many drummers along the way but we have remained the main components of the band, and are now at a point that we both consider to be the best time we've had.Gav:  Definitely.  We're ready to have a major influence on the music scene.  Watch this space! 

J4M: You describe your work with the Royal Inserts as "music to get smashed to" What do you recommend getting smashed on before listening to your music? 

Kev: English tea and scones of course!! (not forgetting clotted cream and strawberry jam) Gav: Nah, strictly booze! Nothing illegal now! But we hope people will get smashed to the music primarily!! 

J4M: What's the craziest backstage incident you've ever witnessed? 

Gav: Dangerman playing pinball! He's a dangerous M****r F****r!ED WOODS stripping off to the nudie at Jugs 17! OK, he did that on stage, but they seemed like decent, respectable folk backstage!Or Kev getting so plastered at The Big No-Pan Experience that we couldn't actually play. Kev: How come I get the blame all the time?Gav:  Then you may be lucky or unlucky enough to see us fight each other like dogs when the adrenaline is pumping!  We see it as a healthy release of tension however, as with many partnerships through out the history of rock and roll.Kev: How come I get the blame all the time??! 

J4M: How can bands/fans contact you for more information on TBJE? 

Gav: www.myspace/thebigjugsexperience   and www.youtube.com/user/tbjetv  make friends a and send us a mail.

Kev: Yep, we also have The Big Jugs Experience group on Facebook, on Mixi and Last FM.  If you'd like to e-mail then contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Beautiful...Hypnotic.....Moving....are some of the words you could use to describe RedSun music. 

 The team of Maiko Mogi and Naoya Yuda have been performing together for almost a decade and remain as busy as ever. Right on the heels of a CD & photobook released on February 4th, Redsun will debut their mini album "Escape Please" on March 4th, followed by a greatest hits album being released on April 2nd.  

 TomBizarre from Japan4music and Round Eye Radio sat down with singer  Maiko from Redsun after a recent live show at Heaven's Door in Sangenjaya.  

Japan4music: How did you first meet your partner Naoya ?

Maiko: On the internet. Through BBS 

J4M: I was your first thoughts of him

M: When we met we really wanted to work together. 

J4M: How long ago was this?

M: 8 years?.......9 years....A long time ago (laughs) 

J4M: How would you define your music to a new listener?

M: Electronic Pop....In Japanese Kuroshi Melodi eiga tekinashi.....cinematekinashi (a poem like a movie) like a movie soundtrack 

J4M: What musicians were your inspiration?

M: Mick Jagger, Aimee Man. 

J4M: How about in electronic music?

M: Ummmm I don't really know electronic music?  

J4M: Do you know Dee-Lite? You sound a little like them?

M: No, I don't know them. I (also) like Jane Birkin, Edith Piaf and in electronic hmmmm CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) 

J4M: Where was the cover shot for your new album "Escape, Please"

M: It's Yanaka in Tokyo (Downtown Tokyo near Ueno station)  

J4M: Why that place?

M: The photographer recommended it. 

J4M: Why did you make a mini-album instead a full one?

M: I wanted it to be an album with the concept of escape. That theme has 5 chapters. Each one is like a detective story.  

J4M: How do you promote all your work?

M: The staff of ANC do all our promotional work. 

J4M: How often do you perform in a month?

M: Usually 2-3 times a month. It varies depending on the time of year. While we're making music we may not perform for up to 3 months. 

J4M: What has been your biggest show to date?

M: Kawasaki's Club Citta was our biggest show. 

J4M: When was that?

M: How long was it?.... About 5 years ago. (laughs) 

J4M: What's your favorite place to perform?

M: That place, Sangenjaya's Heaven's Door 

J4M: Who would you love to share the stage with at a show

M: I can't think of........Air (French electronic) after that......Underworld (Laughs) and CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) 

J4M: Tell me an interesting fact about you and you co-founder Naoya Yuda

M: I like sweets.  

J4M: What kind?

M: Chocolates! Naoya likes to shop for musical equipment like mixers on Yahoo Auction. 

J4M: Anything else?

M: I like shopping for clothing and accessories. I also like watching comedians perform. 

Be sure to check out Redsun on their website at redsun.cc Catch them at Motoyawata Route 14 on February 11th.

Considered to be one of the best live rock acts in Tokyo, lead singer Rinko and guitarist Yuzuru Takeda of the Molice sat down with Round Eye Radio's TomBizarre to talk about their beginning, their future, and their recently released debut album "Doctor Ray"

Japan4music: Where did the name "the Molice" come from?
Rinko: We are fans of many bands. We wanted to show that in our name so We took "MO" from the KA-TA-KA-NA pronunciation of Jim Morrison, Morrissey, & Maureen Tucker combined with THE POLICE.

J4M: What are your influences?
R: THE POLICE
Yuzuru Takeda: Pixies
R: The Doors.....There are too many.

J4M: What are your plans for 2009?
R: We'd like to put out another album & have people all over the world have a chance to hear our music.

J4M: Do you have a favorite track on Doctor Ray?
R: My favorite is [Ms. PANIC].  Because it represent me.
YT: [In the light]. Because (it's a) Hopeful songs.

J4M: What do you think of the current music scene in Japan?
R: We think popular music scene is chaos and a little boring, but the underground scene is full of diffrent sounds and styles.

J4M: You have many foreigners at your shows. Why haven't you played outside of Japan?
R: We want to play all over the world, We are ready, but we need money and an opportunity. Someone invite us!!

J4M: If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be? (famous stage/club/stadium?)
YT: Ummm Madison Sq Garden, because the Beatles played there.
R: CBGB when it was opened, because Television played there.

J4M: Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?
R: I focus on an image.
J4M: What image?
R: It's a secret. You understand if you watch our performance. 
YT: I just stretch and sit quietly.

J4M: Tell us an interesting fact about each band member.
R: Yuzuru wear the cool shoes. Takashi & Ikuhiro wear the same belt. I hate underwear!

Thanks to Tom and The Molice for the special interview for us!

Go to www.themolice.com to hear sample tracks, see promotion videos, and order their new album "Doctor Ray"