033: ALEX FROM TOKYO
“I am a DJ at heart bringing people together with happy positive vibes. I am also a connector and a producer who loves to share and collaborate.”
Perhaps no one is more emblematic of underground dance music’s globalism than Alex Prat. A Paris born, Tokyo raised, Berlin based, world-traveling DJ, Alex has forged cultural connections between East and West since the beginning of his career spanning 30+ years. He is an artist that hops around the world while defying neat categorization.
While I won’t rehash Alex’s entire career here (a biography or memoir in three languages is probably more appropriate…?) I’d be remiss not to highlight his role connecting Tokyo and Europe’s dance music. Prior to the 1990s the influence of Western dance music was limited in Japan - though synthesizers and electronic music were steeped in Japan’s musical history.
Japanese composers used Yamaha synthesizer keyboards as early as the 30’s. Post-war investment led to experimentation and development of all types of electronics. After Sony was founded in the 1950s, the avant garde troupe Jikken Kōbō (実験工房), (“Experimental Workshop” in English), was provided full access to its audio technology. The eclectic group, which “included not just visual artists and musicians, but also a printmaker, a lighting designer, an engineer, and other” did tape deck/ acoustic experimentation to be used in radio, film, and theater (see below).
Jikken Kobo Installation: Ballet Mirai no Eve (Eve Future), March 1955
Computer sound research began as early as 1955 with the composer and sine wave researcher Toshiro Mayazumi building the NHK studio in Tokyo, which was modeled after the cutting edge NDRW studio in Cologne. By the 60’s Japan was recognized as a pioneer and the leader in early electro-mechanical drum machines and synthesizer market; the FR-1 Rhythm Ace, Korg’s Donca-Matic DC-11 & Mini Pop were sought after. Roland would become a major player for decades in the realm of drum-machines and synths. Isao Tomito was perhaps Japan’s best known synth afficianado, known as the godfather of synthesizer music. Osaka’s Matsushita (now Panasonic) developed the first direct drive turntables, and voila, Technics turntables were born. Early hip-hop turntablists and Western electronic producers owe a lot to Japan.
While Western disco, boogie, synthpop, and house all used Japanese technologies, the awareness of the sound and cultures behind these genres was not well-known in Japan. In the late 80’s, few Japanese DJ’s had experience in the dance music hot spots of New York, Berlin, London.
Enter Alex from Tokyo, a Parisian born kid who came of age in the big city in the 1970s and 80s. With an interest in music and design, and experience as a citizen of Japan and Europe, + a tri-lingual tongue, Alex was a natural liason, working as a representative for a French record label, F Connection, and tapping into the European DJ circuit in the early 90’s. Tokyo’s club scene would soon emerge as a global player in the dance music circuit after house music DJ’s made their way to Japan’s shores (see the O&O 30 blog for more on this scene from Chida). The love of dream house, E and big club experiences would never leave.
Since then, Alex has passed through multiple hemispheres and lived in a variety of cities working in the realms of fashion, sound design, music production, radio and clubbing. He’s lived in Paris, NYC and other cities, and he is now based in Berlin. Alex’s “World Famous” label recently started a bandcamp page after running mainly limited pressed vinyl releases that were very hard to find. He continues to manifest a gleeful harmony by channeling a mixtures of sounds, ideas, cultures and inspirations that he’s picked up along his lifetime journey - these sounds, aesthetics and cultural reference points remain essential to his identity as a person and his art.
Maintaining firm connections with Japanese friends and collaborators, Alex remains a member of Tokyo Black Star, a “galactic samurai” musical trio comprised of sound designer Isao Kumano, analog aficionado Kenichi Tanagi and himself. Alex helped found popular Japanese audio brand, Phonon, and now represents their products globally. And he continues to purvey dance floors around the globe with a giant smile on his face.
As for current news in Alex’s world, Tokyo Black Star’s collaboration with Quinn Lamont Luke, (formerly known as Bing Ji Ling of Phenomenal Hand Clap Band fame), “Not My Day” will be seeing a reissue on Quinn’s El Triangulo label. Gouranga recently premiered “Not My Day” here. Phonon has released a new pair of headphones called the SMB-01L - touted for their extraordinary build and sound quality. Alex continues to inspire with his constant flow state and boundless energy.
For OVER&OVER Alex tapped into his finest summer pallets to create a 2 hour global menagerie. Open the windows, let the air in, and be carried around the globe with the sounds of Alex from Tokyo.
LINKS: website | booking agent | FB | SC | MXC | Tokyo Black Star SC | World Famous Bandcamp | Phonon
INTERVIEW w/BAD LIEUTENANT
Alex, Thank you so much for joining our series… I always ask at the start of our interviews- how are you doing right now? What was your experience during lockdown and has it brought on any new ways of looking at your art and work?
The long multiple lockdowns (between Arizona, Ghent and Berlin) connected our family and closed friendships stronger. I also became a father for the 2nd time, with the birth of our 2nd daughter last December. My life changed 360 degrees and it has been non stop DJ Papa mode at home!
It has been a challenging complicated time in every way including of course DJing and travelling. My wife and daughters have been such great inspiration and support through these re-adjusting times. We always remind ourselves how fortunate and privileged we are. This period has been a reality-check, reassessing everything in my life and enabling me to think about my work and my art differently. I feel I am still going through some kind of a transformation.
I haven’t been able to make much music but I have listened to a lot of music.I realise how much music means to me and it gave me new perspectives and hope about my Covid activities finding a good balance while doing what I love the most. Fortunately I was able to focus on some of my non-DJ activities like our audio brand PHONON and other music/audio/Japan related projects which was a good thing. But I miss DJing at my favorite parties and travelling. I have been trying to stay positive and creative as much as possible
Congrats on your new little one! A true blessing. I recently saw a photo of you on a ranch in Wyoming. Is that right? What was happening there?
I am visiting now my wife’s family at their home in Wyoming. They live on a nice ranch with 6 horses outside Casper in beautiful nature. It is so peaceful. I love it. My father-in-law is a real rancher and cowboy, he still team-ropes every week. We went to the Rodeo Final last weekend and it was amazing! We will go after to Yellow Stone national park and California.
You are a world traveller and what I’d call a cultural ambassador… are there any memories you’d like to share with us? A colorful anecdote from your work in music, fashion or design?
The most extravagant event I think I DJed at was at this big Louis Vuitton party in the early 2000s in a huge warehouse in Tokyo Bay. The theme was “2001 Space Odyssey” and they re-created the movie decor! It really felt like you were in there in the big space-ship. Some of the staff were dressed up as astronauts floating…it was surreal and very elegant too!
You are constantly involved in new projects and events. How do you maintain energy and optimism around your mutli dimensional work as an artist?
I don’t see myself as a pure artist. I am a DJ at heart bringing people together with happy positive vibes. I am also a connector and a producer who loves to share and collaborate. Connecting Japan and Europe especially has always been part of my mission. I guess cultural ambassador is a great description. When I represented the French label F Communications in Japan in the mid to late 90s, my title was Japan Ambassador. Collaborating and working on different types of projects with different people and challenging myself keep me excited and alive every day.
Are there any artistic / career highlights for you that fall outside the realm of music? What was the project?
It is not a project I worked on, it is bigger than that, it is an unforgettable lifetime experience that opened up and changed my life, it is my 1st Blues Music road trip (followed by 2 others) with my dad (who is a huge blues fan), from Memphis, through the deep Mississippi Delta to the North Mississippi Hills. It was a truly soulful trip, the deep music heritage, the Stax Museum, the Civil Rights Museum, the african-american history, Clarksdale, the juke-joints, the musicians, the people, the North Mississippi Hill picnic, the Shack-Up Inn, the food etc, we went back to the roots and it was very inspiring!
Now onto the music… what are you working on right now that we should be excited about?
I recently took part of this great “Japan 90s Disk Guide” book in Japan in charge of the Japanese house music section which was a fun introspective exercise for me going through all these records from that era that had a great impact on me. I am currently preparing and working on a Japan-related music project I am very excited about.
On the production side, I am very much looking forward to finally get back to this Japanese gagaku music remix project some friends recorded. Let’s see where it will take me.
For my label world famous, I would like to re-introduce Tokyo Black Star to the new generation, our album for Innervisions was released more than 12 years ago and I am planning to put together a special collection of unreleased and new music.
Tell us about this mix - where and how was it recorded? You told me it’s a “summer mix” and mentioned your children were there and you were enjoying yourself - music to my ears - ….
This mix was recorded in Berlin at home one beautiful morning just before we left for the US with my daughters playing around in the living room. It was pretty special and fun. Everything flowed naturally. It is more of a selection of music of the moment, some current favorite old and new records (a few Japanese jams too) I picked up spontaneously as a laid back feel-good eclectic summer soundtrack to listen at home, in the car, in your backyard, in the park….
Any parting words of wisdom for us or your fans as we conclude the interview?
The pandemic showed us how life is fragile and special. Let’s make sure we stay healthy for our well-being. Like the Japanese say “健康第一” “Health comes first”. Life is short. Let’s make sure we embrace it and do what we like.
Thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to share this selection of music with you! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. You can catch me live every 2 months on my residency show “ta bi bi to” on Kiosk Radio in Brussels. The next one is on August 10th.
In the meantime, I wish all of you a great safe summer full of good vibrations!
Thank you so much, Alex! You are a true inspiration.
