A DJ/producer from Okinawa, Japan, Iori Asano is famed in Japan and seen on stages around the world. Deeply influenced by Depeche Mode, Carl Craig, Moritz Von Oswald, and Basic Channel, Iori does not only present sets ranging from House to Techno but is also proficient in alternative deep terrain. Miss Eleanor of WNYU-FM’s Bentwave radio show got a chance to chat with the man from the land of the rising sun about his music and surroundings…
You can hear Iori Asano’s exclusive Bentwave set here
Miss Eleanor: What influences you and your music?
Iori Asano: I’ve been listening to many kind of music. That and nature make up all my influences.
E: Who are you listening to these days?
I: Moritz von Oswald trio… Demdike Stare… Sandwell District… Christopher Rau… many more…
E: When did you get into dance music and techno? How did you get into making music?
I: When I was 15 years old, I started to buy dance music vinyls, which included techno. I always wanted to make my own music when I started to DJ. A kind of completely free style, just using software and hardware synthesizer. I’m not a trained musician.
E: Your music has a very hypnotic quality that feels sometimes like chanting.
I: Happy to hear that. I always try to incorporate that.
E: Have you lived in Okinawa your whole life?
I: Almost my whole life. For a year and a few months from 2003, I lived in the East Village. I was helping David Mancuso’s “The LOFT” parties.
E: Okinawa is a very unique place, with a totally different atmosphere from what most people think of when they think of Japan. Can you describe a little about Okinawa?
I: Yes, Okinawa is really different from the rest of Japan. It’s like Hawaii. We have our own culture and language. It’s a very spiritual island.
E: How did you get involved with Prologue?
I: Prologue sent me a message to release via Myspace. I’m very lucky!
E: Do you use live instruments when you make music or is most of it done on the computer?
I: Most of my music is made on computers. I also use synthesizers. Eventually, I want to turn to all hardware..
E: When are you coming to NYC to play?
I: I’m always want to go to NYC!!!! I hope to come and play soon.
E: What do you have planned for the rest of 2011?
I: Working on a lot of cool projects now… For the rest, producing music and DJ :-)
About Bentwave, Mondays 10:30pm-1:00am on WNYU-FM, NYC
Bentwave brings the experimental side of electronic music to radio in a format you can dance to. Bentwave keeps you stepping to beats you won’t hear in most other dance contexts, with tunes ranging from smart electronics, mash-ups, diverted minimal techno, clickhouse, minimal techno, microsound, 8-bit goodness, and other bumping tunes of the ‘bent’ variety. Tune in and expand your wavelength!
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