Deep house producer Yunosuke Senoo a.k.a. Lycoriscoris returns to The Playground (read the previous feature here) with a DJ mix today. Known for his more organic approach, this mix incorporates ambient and animalistic sounds. Making waves in his home country Japan, the producer has gained recognition around the world, playing with the likes of electronic producers like The Field and Moritz Von Oswald. Along with this exclusive mix shared today, we also asked the producer some familiar questions, as well as new ones below.
What do you love the most about creating deep house music?
One of the things that I love the most is being able to dive into the deepest part of my mind.
How has the music scene in Japan inspired you creatively?
It’s quite a difficult question, to be honest. The Japanese music scene is quite special and isolated from the rest of the world, reminding me of the Edo period in Japan. But maybe that’s what makes it unique and distinctive. I think that music genres intermingled with animation and technology are interesting – and very Japanese. I am basically influenced by western music and at the same time sad that I am not influenced by Japanese music.
But on the other hand, I always think about what Japanese music really is. Most Japanese music is mainly made to be used only in Japan, which I feel is unique, but I also feel it is too exclusive. Then I wonder what the real Japanese musicality is. Is it to push ethnicity to the fore? Not all creative music in the world is ethnic. I believe that new Japanese music is born when various genres intermingle. For example, there is the splendour of ancient Japanese music such as Gagaku, which is connected to the spirit of modern ambient music, but the ancient music of Japan has been separated from the modern world by westernisation, and its theories and aesthetics have diverged from modern Japanese music. I have not studied the theory enough to sublimate it and intersect it with my own musicality and the music of the contemporary Japanese scene, so it will take more time.
For now, I can only answer that it is the creativity that Japan has shown me has been motivation for me to keep thinking about who I am.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
On stage, everything is messy, but it can be more emotionally engaging.
Any new techniques you experiment with to get your original sound?
The courage to push through with failed ideas.
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
Air conditioner remote control.
What gets your creative juices flowing lately?
Walking and driving.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing as a career?
I would have been making screws.
Any side projects you’re working on now?
A new remix.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
I would be happy to do a tour, preferably in the UK or Europe.
Follow Lycoriscoris:
Website – Facebook – Soundcloud – Instagram – Spotify
Image credit: Miki Takahira
