On Sunday, the 2014 edition of the Red Bull Music Academy officially touched down and fired up the circuits at its brand new HQ right in the middle of Tokyo. After 16 years of traversing the globe, in some ways this feels like a homecoming. The Japanese capital has long been a muse for creators of all sorts, with its myriad contrasts, fascinating musical and technological narratives, and an urban environment like no other.
Internationally renowned architect Kengo Kuma has fitted out four floors of the HQ in Aoyama, creating spaces that speak of the paradoxical nature of life in the city: a place both calm and exciting, traditional and high tech. Within those halls, musical legends from across time are set to share the essential knowledge that links or even transcends eras.
Alongside a diverse program of public events and concerts to be held across Tokyo, a group of 59 musicians, producers and DJs from around the world have been selected to take part in invite-only lectures, and music-making sessions in the Red Bull Music Academy’s custom-built studios; with the lectures available afterwards as archived video content on the Red Bull Music Academy website. Lecturers in term one of this year’s Academy include TOKiMONSTA, the LA native known for her sun-drenched, futuristically soulful productions who headlined the RBMA stage at The Great Escape this year; sampling innovator and hip hop legend Marley Marl – producer of many iconic tracks including Eric B. & Rakim’s first hits and LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out”, founder of Cold Chillin’ Records, and a hugely influential radio figure; and Isao Tomita, the Japanese electronic music and soundtrack composer, famed for his pioneering use of synthesisers and analog music sequencers in the late ‘60s which still inspires today.
The wider world can tune into all the action live, as RBMA Radio broadcasts from 11AM to 12 noon Japan Standard Time (2AM – 3AM GMT) on weekdays during the Academy viarbmaradio.com.
Studio team members for term one of the Academy include super producer Just Blaze, who became renowned for his craft as a key collaborator for Jay Z and Roc-A-Fella Records, and has worked with heavyweights like Rick Ross, Eminem, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and many more. Austrian producer Dorian Concept will also be on board to help mentor the participants. Dorian made a name for himself at cutting-edge beat bonanzas around the globe, with his inimitable mix of sticky funk and overwhelming electronic chord changes that doff a cap to hip hop and jazz, experimental electronica and classic virtuosity alike. Also joining the studio team for term one are Marco Passarani, the beloved Italian producer of far-out techno, electro, Italo and disco on labels like Running Back and Desolat; and Om’Mas Keith of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, a definitive figure of 21st century soul and R&B, who won a Grammy Award for his production work on Frank Ocean’s landslide LP, channel ORANGE.
Meanwhile, for those in Tokyo there is an incredible line up of events and talks at cult venues across the city, including the Japanese debut of studio crew member Dorian Concept’s new live show that should see Dorian’s sticky funk freed from its usual swirling beat structures, with support from veteran producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Om’Mas Keith, Academy grads TOKiMONSTA and Yosi Horikawa, and 2014 participant Lafawndah. Wails to Whispers, another highlight of the Academy’s month-long event series, sees Red Bull Music Academy explore the dichotomy of noise and silence. In the early evening, there will be wails: The legendary pysch rock group headed by Keiji Haino, Fushitusha, will headline alongside the long-running group Melt-Banana, with Japanoise veterans Violent Onsen Geisha and Masonna also promising to exert proper pressure on the sound system. The night will then transition to a whisper for the next five hours, with Keiji Haino performing this time with Hurdy Gurdy. Robert Rich, meanwhile, will help the audience glide lightly on the edge of consciousness with one of his famous Sleep Concerts.
The legacy of all that has been shown and discussed here will live on after the Academy leaves town, as the recording studio on the ground floor will continue to be run as a creative space for Japan’s most visionary music makers and foster collaborations between Japanese and international artists. For now, though, Red Bull Music Academy is honoured to welcome the first group of 29 participants representing 22 different countries as they join term one, and set out on a two-week odyssey through the outer realms of music.
Red Bull Music Academy Tokyo runs until November 14, 2014. Check out the program of magical musical events at the city’s cult venues HERE.
