Discerning Japanese audience spreads Unit Club located in one of Tokyo's most fashionable neighborhoods. But behind the scenes there is peace in the five Danish musicians from Lars and The Hands of Light. The band's first appearance in Japan, where they will try to get a Japanese record company on the hook. Together with their promotion manager, Jessica Tolf Vulpius from their Danish label Crunchy Frog, they have been up early to concert tonight's repertoire in a rented studio. Lydprøverne in Unit Club later in the day is unusually fast over: The Japanese soundman has exhilaration.
- There is a very high level of professionalism in the Japanese hinterlands and service levels are extremely high, says Lars wagon troupe from the group. - It gives you confidence, he says. But the band also need: More end 100 professionals from the Japanese music industry is among the 300 spectators in Unit Club. And although Japan is the world's largest market for CDs, so it requires something extra to break through for a Danish band. Indeed, interest in Western band decline.
- Young Japanese people are more conservative. Unlike previous generations, they do not fall on the tail of English and American music, says DJ and music reviewer Ken Nishikawa in Tokyo. This is a general trend in society. Young Japanese people often prefer to holiday in Japan rather than travel abroad, confirms the concert organizer Tomoyuki Ohsawa Ohsawa from Office Ltd., Which is among the audience in the Unit Club.
The vast majority of the music market is made up of Japanese bands who are totally unknown abroad. They are typically built around the idols with a very special Japanese packaging. A good example is the popular AK848 girl band or SMAP. Koreans have been extremely good to sniff the wind. Their bands are largely over how western music gives way. Koreans imitate the Japanese bands, and unlike the Japanese, they have succeeded in selling itself in the rest of Asia. - However, due to the Japanese music market size, even a tiny bite be extremely interesting, says consultant Steve McClure, who publishes an online newsletter about the Japanese music industry.
- And there is also room for niche bands, he adds. are sold around 260 million. CDs in Japan annually. It is half as many as 15 years ago. But it is still more than in the U.S., where online sales represent about 30 per cent. Foreign bands accounts for around 20 per cent. of the total record sales in Japan equivalent to 52 million. CDs. For the same reason, MXD, in collaboration with NOMEX (Nordic music export office) organized the concert with four bands in the Scandinavian Unit Club. Towards the end of the Icelandic band Kira Kira creepy performances in the adrenaline-filled Danes to come on stage. It happens with a new number: "The End Of Summer".
Among the spectators is director Johnnie Fingers from Smash Co., Among other things, arrange Fuji Rock Festival. - Japan's equivalent of the Roskilde Festival. He concedes that Finnish, Swedish and some Norwegian bands generally have a better hold of the Japanese than Danish bands. About 100 Finnish bands are active in Japan, where they are especially known for heavy metal:
- We certainly have nothing against Danish bands, says Fingers and tells us that Smash example, has booked the Danish DJ, Kid Massive, to appear at Fuji Rock Festival this year. Here, Lars has also appeared earlier when he was part of Junior Senior, who had released two CDs in Japan. They were especially known for "Move Your Feet", which among others was sung in Japan's many karaoke bars.
Crunchy Frog has already had success in getting published plates with Danish bands in Japan. Example, it is Super Heroes, Thau and The Themolo Beer Gut. Last year was the Reptile Youth with by a similar MXD and NOMEX event in Tokyo. Now it is Lars and The Hands of Light, where Lars is in front with his sister Line. The band suitor to the Japanese "pop-ears" with "Me Me Me". After the earlier more subdued bands are now gaining momentum in the audience who wriggles and beats time to the music.
As the concert progresses is in full swing in the scene. The long, lanky lead singer gives the gas line while singing and dancing in front of his microphone. - A string jumped on my guitar, says Lars turned to the audience after the end of "The Looking Glass" and is rapidly changing guitar. From scenes sliding a black-clad Japanese unnoticed in and removes the disabled instrument. When the band is ready for the next issue, stands the white guitar again on stage with a new string. Japan are still checking on things. It has also Lars. - I nupper just my own guitar again, he smiles, while the audience smiles back.
The kind of communication can the Japanese audience likes. They feel that they come close to the band. - Stage presence and charisma is extremely important if you want to succeed, says Fingers from Smash and continues: - Today, thousands of people making great music in their bedroom. But it is far from anyone who has charisma to stand on a stage. You have to deliver something special.
He expects that the physical appearance will still be important in a world of Facebook, YouTube and other social media. Japanese record companies, however, hesitated to sell their music online, and it is not yet prevalent in Japan. It is for example only a few months ago, Sony announced that it will sell its foreign bands via iTunes in Japan. Whether it will open new opportunities for western bands is uncertain. - The Japanese music industry gropes for a new direction, says McClure. There must be something new, but the Japanese record companies are cautious. Japan's demographic development also puts pressure on record sales. Today there are more Japanese people over 65 than under 20 years. The development continues. Lars and The Hands of Light ends with "Because My Body Was There" and leaves the stage to applause.
Jessica is a happy manager. - It was one of the band's best concerts ever, she says and gives a hug to Lars. From the Japanese side has also noticed the Danish band. According to Jessica, the concert organizer and promoter Creativeman, expressed that they will work to book the Danish band for next year's Japanese Summer Sonic music festival. It is one of the two main festivals in Japan. Now Jessica must spend the next week to follow up the contacts that she has gotten in Tokyo.
- the complete Nordic line-up for the event "Music Night 2012" spoke - apart from the Danish group - Husky Rescue from Finland, Iceland Kira Kira and Swedes in LO-FI-FNK.
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