Rock4four: the 4/4 rockers

4.1 The Box car Kids

Daito Akahoshi is 23, and a trainee train driver. He lives in Nakano, Tokyo. A few days ago, I was introduced to him, and some of his friends, by Miki Ohara.

As it's the middle of the rainy season now, it is a very, very wet Tokyo afternoon, when we all meet, so Miki suggests we all decamp to her favourite south east Asian bar and grill. Miki is obviously well in, with the landlady, or Mama san, as such ladies are known. She's a nice, friendly Vietnamese lady, in her sixties. Miki asks if it's ok to play one of her Rock4four mix cds. Mama happily obliges, which creates a good vibe, in which to talk about Rock4four itself.

On the cd, 'suspicious minds' by Elvis, has been looped and mashed, with 'I am the resurrection' by the stone roses. "Well done, Miki!" I enthuse. "This mix is absolutely bangin'!"

"It's Fox on the mix", says Miki. "I don't do mash ups". My mix is on the next cd"

Well, as the Yokosuka crew would say 'you're oh for one, dude'.

OK, time for a different tack. I ask Daito how he got into Rock4four.

'Well, as you might know, alot of guys who drive cube cars rig them up, with the most powerful speakers, and accessories, even light shows. Starting in spring time, alot of us get together, at open spaces, like Yokohama bayside, and show off our rigs, and play the latest dance mixes.

'I was there, with my girlfriend, and a couple of friends, one evening last spring, in my Nissan cube, when a friend of mine, Junpei (he gestures across to the smiley, but quiet guy, sitting next to me, in a baystars outfit, and bling) shows up, in his fine tuned stepwagon, playing this fine rock mix. it caused a bit of a stir, at bayside, that night - usually, you can hear dance - euro and trance, mainly, but this mix was really getting people talking. Everybody wanted a copy'

According to Daito, Jun (Junpei) had stumbled across Rock4four, while on a day trip, to Enoshima, last summer. Massively impressed, with the mixing and party building skills of Fox, Yuji, Miki, and Tommy Tokugawa, Jun had asked Miki to send him some mp3s, which she duly did.

As well as really firing the imaginations, of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama cube car kids, who upon hearing the mixes, began to hit the beaches in their droves, it also inspired Jun to promote a couple of big Rock4four club events, over the winter. Largely as a result of working together, to make these events a success, Jun (22, and Miki (30) are now an item. 'I'm the oldest cube kid in Japan!' laughs Miki.

'And the cutest!' beams Jun.

'He talks!' I gasp, feigning complete surprise, and fall off my chair. They laugh... with me, I'm sure...

I ask Daito if he thinks many cube car kids will be at the beaches, starting in about two weeks.

'The buzz started last summer. 4/4 rock really got people thinking. This music belongs to us, and the beaches. Not London, not L.A. Us! We started it, supported it, adapted it, and expanded it. 4/4 rock is a sound and a scene in itself now. Bands have adapted their style, and everything. It began in Yokohama, is successful in Tokyo, but is totally, and absolutely linked to Kamakura. I think most cube car kids will come... I think most armed services kids will... I think many students, many foreigners, many curious people too. But it won't last forever. We have to enjoy it while we can. Those beaches are gonna be absolutely packed, this summer!'

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I get a chance to speak to Miki, before I split, too. I ask her about her DJing, and what influences come through, in her sets.'

As I'm not using computers, mash ups, or things like that, I draw my influences, as a DJ, from the Northern soul DJs of england. You know, our new 4/4 album is called 'Twisted Wheel'.

'Why Northern soul? and what's the meaning of 'Twisted Wheel' as an album name?'

'Twisted wheel was the name of a famous Northern soul nightclub, in Manchester. Also, it evokes how my band has changed it's sound, to suit the rock4four scene. in terms of DJing, I'm not playing anything new, but like the Northern soul DJs, I look for a certain type of track, to suit my sets. I just look for tracks I think will fit. You don't hear extended mixes, in my sets, but I hope you'd agree that I keep the beat going, and the party pumping. Just like Northern soul DJs, I spend alot of my time looking for tracks, some of which were previously quite obscure, which I think will fit. But, in an attempt to find 'my stvle' I avoid remixes, dance mixes, extended mixes. I just play original recordings.'

I ask her if she's looking forward to the summer dance parties, especially in light of Tommy Tokugawa's misfortunes.

'I actually got along quite well with Tommy'. She sighs. 'I hope things work out, for all of us. He was always happy to recommend tracks to me, and I was grateful. I learned alot. So, this summer, I feel duty bound, to raise my game, as a DJ, out of respect for all I learned from him. I hope we'll get a chance to DJ together, again.'

Judging by her successes and plaudits, from last summer, Miki will be wowing the crowds again this year. Additionally, though, Yuji Fuji has been hard at work, to bring Japanese and international DJ talent to the beaches of Kamakura...