3.1 Live and let jive
One of the positive byproducts of the 4/4 rock scene, in Yokohama last winter, was the interest in English bars, and rock bars, around Noge, and Kannai, the old port areas. Business, by all accounts was great, and helped many bars through a potentially sticky patch. Ocean traffic into Yokohama port has been down by a third this year, but, thanks to Rock4four, the inevitable impact was softened, in regard to portside nightlife. Noge and Kannai remained lively, as kids from all over the city poured in, as well as kids from Tokyo, Kawasaki and Shonan too.
Another positive byproduct has been the bands who've performed at Rock4four related events. Miki Ohara might sound Irish at first listen, but she's Yokohama born and bred - as well as being a friend of Yuji Fuji's, she's a dj with the Rock4four sound system, a promoter, and also the bassist and lead singer with Yokohama band Keihin Space. Along with several other bands, Keihin Space found their sound was perfect, for the Rock4four ethos, and vibe:
"In fact, we added a fifth member - a dj" she recalls. "Before that, we were a more traditional rock outfit, although of course, we encouraged dancing. But the punky, moshy side of our sound has been toned down, now, and the dj is also like a conductor. Our drummer plays to the djs' beat and the rest of us just follow."
"Has it stifled your range, creativity, or appeal?"
"No, no, not at all. We still have a range of tempos. but our mindset has changed. we used to play to a crowd... a moshpit. Now we play to a dancefloor. and commercially, and creatively, we are way ahead of where we were 12 months ago. Also our first 4/4 album is out soon."
Miki's DJ style differs from others in the posse, for example Fox White. Whereas Fox often mashes up, and loops beats, to increase the mixability, Miki, although also a beatmixer, tends to use tracks that are already mixable, and dancefloor friendly:
"Tracks like Scarlet Fantastic, Love Rollercoaster, and Hella Good are ready for the floor. All I have to do, is whack 'em together, live, in the mix. Raw, rough, yet keeping their integrity. Also, I go for tracks with female vocals. And the tracks I play as a DJ have had an effect on the music we make - dancey, yet focussed on vocals. That's the Keihin Space sound, now."
Featured tracks:
Scarlet Fantastic - No Memory
No Doubt - Hella Good
RHCP - Love Rollercoaster
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Boom Boom Satellites - Pill
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