In this, The Tartarus Times’s first interview, my friend diigitae and I had the opportunity to ask noise artist Yasuyuki Uesugi a few questions. My friend and I formulated the questions, sent them to him, and we received his answers. Here they are:
Q: Hello, where do you live?
I live in Hokkaido, Japan.
Q: How long have you been making noise? How’d you get into noise?
I started creating pure noise music about three months ago. Until then, I was creating more experimental music. I started music activities because I wanted to create music by sampling. I wanted to sample noise sound, so I purchased an analogue synthesizer called DNVO-1a from JMT SYNTH (a Japanese handmade synthesizer maker).
However, playing the DNVO-1a is more fun than sampling the noise sound, so I decided to create a track with an analogue synthesizer.
After a lot of trial and error, I thought that if I had a custom-made analogue synthesizer made, I could create a track with originality and ordered it. Since those instruments were good at creating interesting noise, I was initially creating music that combined noise with something.
However, as a result of thinking to make the most of the advantages of these instruments, it has become the style of noise music today. My musical history is death metal, post rock, techno, ambient, etc. I have never listened to noise music. So I’m not very familiar with the noise music scene.
Q: Your song titles have made an impression for their honest portrayal of mental illness and spiritual crisis. I have heard them described as “genius” by someone. If you would like to talk about this, could you explain how you came to make these, and how you view the title in relation to the sound art within each track?
I have a mental illness.
I chose music as one of the ways to express my mental illness.
The spiritual thoughts that came out when recording the noise are used as the track names.
There is no deeper connection between noise and track title.
I find it difficult to convey my thoughts directly to only noise music.
So, I decided to create the title as direct meanings as possible.
That’s why many of my tracks have long titles.
Since the track title is often influenced by the daily my mental state, it may be possible to say that noise is causing me to my thoughts.
Q: I have heard you only use analog equipment. If this is true, could you explain this decision?
My current instruments is as follows.
Instruments:
Analogue synthesizer: NDSQ (JMT SYNTH)
Spring reverb: LRV-1 (JMT SYNTH)
Mixer: LM-8ST (TASCAM)
Compressor: DL241 (DRAWMER)
Preamplifier / Compressor: 1960 (DRAWMER)
Parametric equalizer: 1961 (DRAWMER)
Multi track recorder: DP-24SD (TASCAM)
Headphone amplifier: MH-8 (TASCAM)
Monitor earphone: UM PRO 50 (WESTONE)
Cable: 8412 (BELDEN)
Power distributor: AV-P250 (TASCAM)
Connection:
NDSQ→LRV-1→LM-8ST→DL241→1961→1960→DP-24SD→MH-8→UM PRO 50
NDSQ and LRV-1 are custom-made instruments.
Strictly speaking, DP-24SD is a digital instruments.
Since the DP-24SD creates WAV files and adjusts the volume, it contains digital processing. The reason why I was particular about analog was that I was obsessed with the charm of JMT SYNTH’s analogue synthesizer, and I wanted to make the most of that sound. That’s statemant cool, but there’s also another reason. That’s because I couldn’t master the PC-related instruments. I can say that the fact that digital insturments couldn’t handle it well is what contributed to the birth of noise music today.
Q: What is your basic gear for making your sound, in general?
NDSQ and LRV-1.
NDSQ is a custom-made analogue synthesizer.
2VCO analogue synthesizer with some sub-oscillators, delay effector, phaser effector and 16 step sequencer.
This synthesizer produces originalty noise sound.
LRV-1 is a custom-made spring reverb.
This creates subtle changes in the noise sound.
I am very grateful to the creator, Tetsuji Masuda.
Q: I’ve seen your chain of equipment, and you have said something like that you let your machine live their life, you really don’t touch them…that you planned before recording your song the basic settings to your machines?
Basically, tracks are improvised.
I create a track by finding the settings that match my mental state and recording it.
Q: If you were to collaborate, what process would you use to work with other people (if you were inclined to?)
Basically I don’t think about collaboration.
The reason is that I have to come to my home studio to collaborate.
I can send you my noise and have it processed, but I think it will no longer be a representation of my spiritual world.
So if you are collaborating, I don’t want to do anything other than record in real time.
However, split releases are welcome.
I want to have relationships with many experimental artists.
Q: I really enjoy your sound. It’s quite peaceful. Is this a goal you want to reach (for yourself and/or others)?
Thank you very much.
I have a strong appetite for approval, so I want many noise music listeners to hear my noise.
My Bandcamp is a paid download (because I’m afraid it’s downloaded unnecessarily), but all streaming is possible, so please listen there.
As for my future goal, I hope that I can do live activities.
Of course, it will be after COVID-19 calms down.
Furthermore, I don’t have any instrument for live performances, so I have to have that as well.
Q: How do you feel living in a world that is increasingly under quarantine for COVID-19?
To be honest, I am full of my mental state. Now my mental condition is getting worse.
COVID-19 may have some effects of my mental condition.
So I want the pandemic to end soon.
And I want you to become a world where we can live activities.
Q: If you could be any being, real or imaginary, what would it be?
I create music as a real being.
The reason is that I am performing music under my real name.
Q: How is life in Japan?
I think Japanese life is good.
I can freely create my favorite music.
It would be better if I had the opportunity to experience English a little more.
Q: You told me about spirituality, is this something important for you? How about in Japanese culture?
Regarding my expression of the spiritual world, I’m not particularly including in Japanese culture.
However, it is the Japanese culture that has shaped me today.
Therefore, I think that Japanese culture have entered my spiritual world.
I can’t tell what effect that particular Japanese culture has on my noise music.
I personally like Japanese culture.
Best regards.
Yasuyuki Uesugi
