4 the SUMMER in you
［ Special Feature ］Experience the summer festivals, 2015
Tjiros "T no Sanka (meaning T's Hymn)"
Entertainment blues from Tjiros sends stormy winds!
"We have performed a number of live concerts across Japan since the formation 5 years ago and now have an increased the number of cover songs that have become standard numbers for us. So, we decided to compile them into an album," says Taeko Ito (Guitar/Vocal).
Tjiros is a Japanese emotional blues duo of Taeko Ito and Tomohito Shinoda (bass). Their covers of Japanese songs are one of the highlights of their stormy live shows. For that reason, this unique cover album "T no Sanka (meaning T's Hymn)" can be called a sort of 'THE Entertainment' piece lining up Tjiros' highlight songs. And yet, nobody would have expected this to be such glorious fun. Ito, who fascinates us with her clear-cut singing, continues:
"Soon after we started working on the album, we got pale realizing we have a difficult road ahead. With new original songs, it already has its own world once we finish writing. But in the case of cover songs, we have to understand the feelings or the world described in the song, and then add our own touch to them. Completing a total of 12 songs in that way was a tough work."
Nevertheless, this album is filled with their 'own touch.' You'll be amazed at the roughness in "Erimo Misaki (meaning Cape Erimo)" sung in a voice several times gruffer than that of the original singer Shinichi Mori (Japanese male enka singer). The cover of Fubuki Koshiji (former Takarazuka Revue top star and chanson singer)'s "Aino Sanka (Hymne a l’amour/If You Love Me)" is even more startling, with Ito's bare-ish singing standing out. "We were telling each other that chanson fans around the world would get pissed listening to this song saying, 'they don't know what chanson is about at all!' But this is our own version of chanson," Ito says with a smile, though the beautiful muddling world relentlessly shocks your mind. Featuring the nostalgic fiddle melody played by guest musician Ryosei Sato (of Japanese music duo Humbert Humbert), the brilliant covers of Japanese jazz and blues singer Maki Asakawa's "Shonen (meaning A Boy)" or "Yugure (meaning Dusk)" of the Japanese punk rock band The Blue Hearts will wrench your heart with the tender cries.
"With a lot of favorite songs to cover this time, I tried to change the way of singing depending on the atmosphere of each track, thinking ‘this part should be sung in a rather low voice like growling’ and so on. But after completing the album, I found they were not so different from each other. After all, I sang in full blast throughout the album for good or ill as if 'my singing meter went off the scale.' I guess I’m that kind of a ‘heavy-handed’ singer."
Reflecting manly and chivalrous air just like what the Japanese actor Ken Takakura had when he used to appear in Toei Studios movies, "T no Sanka " is highly satisfactory. Bringing along this album, they will perform at 'Fuji Rock Festival' and 'RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL' this summer.
"These are valuable opportunities for us to reach many people, whether or not they know us and whether or not they intend to listen to us. We have to be well-prepared to throw a live show in full swing."
Their performance in full swing is way beyond cool. No doubt you'll be totally hooked on it.
