#3tos

Ignore the name – dos・ing (dreaming of sleeping) are a collective you won’t want to sleep on. Formed in Tokyo with the simple aim of introducing local underground talent to the international community, dos・ing is home to a diverse range of sounds, from the slick electronics of co-founder Steffen¥oshiki to the soundclash carnage of Brazilian-Japanese beatmaker Bruno Uesugi.

The label is currently celebrating the release of its second compilation, #DOS002, a collection of tracks that capture the sound of this young scene to form a ‘soundtrack to a dystopian neo-Tokyo’. From the icy blast of Ultraviolet’s ‘Shards of the Orient’ to the immaculate jabs of KOSMO KAT’s ‘Metallic Fur’, #DOS002 cements dos・ing’s reputation as a fertile breeding ground for future beats of all varieties.

To celebrate the release of #DOS002 we asked one of dos・ing’s founders, Calum Salmond (aka electric candy sand) to give us an insight into the shifting terrain of Tokyo’s musical landscape…

In ten words or less, how would you describe where you live?

Voices everywhere (EVERYWHERE), bright lights and naps on trains.

What got you involved in the local music scene, and what is your role within it?

I came to Japan with a strong interest in the local music scene from the beginning but before I really noticed I had already become deeply involved with it. I guess I see myself as a kind of bridge between the two worlds; the international one where I came from and the local one, which I live in now.

Japan was traditionally a very insular country but now attracts people from all over the world. How do you think this increased multiculturalism has affected the music and arts scene?

It’s really easy to find people who want to collaborate, share ideas and try something fresh or cool because of the constant flow of people visiting. Tokyo is such a fast pace environment, so things have to happen quickly.

What are the dominant music styles in Japan, and are there any exciting new music trends currently emerging?

I think Japan is still very much into live music over club music (indie rock etc). EDM is still very prevalent in standard clubs too. However house and techno still does really well. In regards to exciting new music trends, there are some really cool upcoming hip-hop artists like the kiLLa crew and in the club scene, Trekkie Trax are on fire.

dos・ing is a very diverse collective, what one thing would you say unites you musically?

I think the reason it all gels together is the fact that we are diverse. We are all kind of outcasts in a way and that’s something that brings us all together. We throw events, DJ and perform together often and thanks to that we are able to understand how we can flow and complement each other. It’s like watching a movie. If all the characters had the exact same personality it wouldn’t be very interesting.

Who are the key local acts we should be listening to right now? A set of 5-10 tracks from local acts and a few words about them would be perfect.

Seiho – Taboo // Seiho is probably one of the best acts I’ve ever seen at a club. His sets are masterfully crafted and he can easily make the headliner he’s supporting look boring, and I’ve seen him open for some big names!

Masayoshi Iimori – Hello // You can’t make a list about local acts without mentioning Masayoshi Iimori. For an artist who was apparently trying to make music for arcades, only to be rejected by them in the beginning, has quickly gone on to making tracks played on club speakers around the world. He’s on fire and it’s not stopping anytime soon!

Bruno Uesugi – Red Dirt // I’m trying to avoid picking everybody from my crew haha but I have to at least mention one! Bruno is half Brazilian and half Japanese, which really shows in his music. He is doing something that is truly unique to himself and I think that’s worthy of praise!

Qrion – Beach // Born and raised in Japan, Qrion makes peaceful, progressive music with a pop edge. She’s collaborated with Ryan Hemsworth and she recently moved to California to continue expanding her music.

Submerse – Gloom // Submerse, originally from the UK, has been in Japan for a long time now, completely immersing himself in the scene here. His beats are incredibly smooth and gentle.

kiLLa – SHINE // These guys are young rappers who know how to amp up a party. They’re constantly pumping out new tunes and new music videos on their Youtube channel, and some of their members have collaborated with big artists like Baauer.

mus.hiba – Slow Snow // mus.hiba’s sound is ambient, beautiful and emotional. He’s not as famous as he should be but he’s well known in the local community.

3TOS – Days of Flat Beer and Losers // 3TOS did a very unexpected jazz remix of Desiigner’s ‘Panda’, which went completely viral. His sound is very jazz influenced. It’s clean and smooth. He’s definitely an artist to keep an eye on!

The Hair Kid – Acid Disco Homegirls // Originally from the US, he relocated to Japan, where he has gained a lot of popularity in the local scene and even released on the first popular internet label in Japan, Maltine Records. His live set is a lot of fun.

Erik Luebs – Farewells // Erik is a well respected artist based out in Osaka. He has huge attention to detail which shows in the cleanliness of his work! He’s had his music featured almost everywhere! Check him out!

What’s the live music scene/nightlife like?

The live music scene is massive, there are so many live houses I couldn’t give you a number haha. As for the nightlife scene, with the ‘No Dancing’ Law recently being phased out and the Olympics coming up, the nightlife is going to be flourishing soon. We have a nice system here, where clubs start picking up near the last train into the city, and then they finish up just as the first train home starts operating again. There are a lot of places to go out drinking / eating with friends before or after the club and we have some after-party spots to carry you well into the daytime.

For anyone visiting, what should they see and what should they eat and drink?

Tokyo is like one of those places that has something somewhere to appeal to anybody depending on their taste, however, the first place I’m going to recommend is Uobei, a hybrid “Kaiten-zushi” where instead of the normal conveyer belt system, it’s replaced with touch screen menus and a track that delivers to you directly! You can even get frosty beers (think frozen coke at the movie theatre but beer instead)…

How do most people prefer to consume music in Japan?

Japan is still somewhere that does well with physical sales. Tower Records is a big spot for people to discover and purchase music. People pay for music on iTunes etc too. No illegal downloads here!

What are the biggest challenges faced by musicians in Japan?

I think it’s very easy to become lost in the noise in Japan and it’s hard to stand out. There is a lot going on always and people are spoilt for choice. There is also a stigma that haunts musicians and artists for not taking the conventional ‘stable’ route and getting a ‘normal’ job. I think this pressure is possibly the biggest challenge for artists in Japan to overcome.

What one song, past or present, would you say sums up Japan best?

Tofubeats – 水星 (suisei).

水星(suisei) by tofubeats