Massive attack

>> Legends unite for the latest
album from Japan’s Shuya Okino

UNITED WE STAND: Shuya Okino

by SCOTT C

Japan’s Shuya Okino formed the DJ unit Kyoto Jazz Massive back in the early ’90s with his brother Yoshihiro, motivated by a growing movement called acid jazz that was quietly sweeping Japan, Europe and the U.K. Their international reputation for remixing and composing quality music has continued to grow over the years, and Shuya’s latest, United Legends, calls on collaborators like Mark de Clive-Lowe, Da Lata, Seiji, Navasha Daya, Afronaught and Phil Asher—an appropriate list for Japan’s longstanding source of jazzy, soulful house and broken beat.

Mirror: At what time in your life did you realize that you had a connection to soulful music?

Shuya Okino: I found I loved soul music when I listened to Stevie Wonder’s Hotter Than July. I was 13 years old. Since then, music, especially soulful music, has been the focus of my life.

M: How has the music scene in Japan changed in the last 10 years?

SO: Ten years ago, there was no jazzy music after the acid jazz scene finished. Five years ago, everyone was talking about future jazz. And now club jazz, like Sleep Walker, Soil & Pimp and what we call crossover, for example Jazztronik or DJ Kawasaki, are finding success. Our scene is quite active at the moment.

M: What do you think of classifications like future soul, broken beat and nu-jazz?

SO: These different classifications are actually made up of a worldwide network of DJs, producers and collectors. We know each other. We invite each other. We share good taste in quality music. Of course, the media needs to tag a name on it. But the most important thing is our attitude. As DJs, producers and track-makers, we try to mix soulful and jazzy vibes from all kinds of music.

M: What do the contributions on United Legends represent to you?

SO: I wanted to show my ability as a composer. The vocalists’ and track-makers’ work is an interpretation of my melodies and concept. With the collaborations, I tried to prove the possibilities of digital communication. I didn’t meet with any of the vocalists or track-makers during the making of this album. I completed the entire album by e-mail. Also, I aimed to make a monumental crossover work by collaborating with legendary artists. I’m really happy the artists I chose could contribute to make this happen.

With Moonstarr and guests at Academy
on Tuesday, May 22, 10 p.m., $10