Meet electronic music artist from Tokyo, Cuushe

 

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am Cuushe. I use analog synthesizers and guitars to make music and sing songs.
Eating sweets, drinking coffee, watching movies, and reading comics are my most relaxing times.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I grew up in the countryside in Kyoto, and when I first moved to Tokyo, everything was convenient, exciting and surprising. I’ve also lived in Osaka, London and Berlin.
Tokyo is like a collection of many cities. Each area has its own character, it could be a big city or downtown. If you change the station a little, you’ll see a different face of the city. I don’t know if I’m getting to know Tokyo these days because of Covid-19, I’m mostly at home, but I feel like the most advanced things are happening here, and I meet a lot of interesting people, so it’s stimulating and above all, it’s freeing.

 

I don’t know if I’m getting to know Tokyo these days because of Covid-19, I’m mostly at home, but I feel like the most advanced things are happening here, and I meet a lot of interesting people, so it’s stimulating and above all, it’s freeing.

 

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

Best:
I’ve met people with different ways of life, so there’s less of a ‘this is how it has to be’. There are a lot of cultural events that are stimulating and expand my horizons.

Worst:
It’s the lack of space for all sorts of things. I haven’t been able to get on a crowded train since I had a panic attack. I no longer know why I was able to ride. The house is small anyway and the walls are thin, so the music production is also very sensitive to the neighbors. Since I can’t sing loudly, I naturally have a whisper voice.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Reflection
Connection
Enjoy

 

How did you start your career in music?

I’ve been learning to play the piano since I was a child, and I started to improvise naturally.  However, for a long time, I had never completed a single song. It wasn’t until I got a software that I was able to do multiple recordings that I was finally able to complete a song. The first song I wrote was called Laundry, which is on my first album.

 

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

My family is very conservative and they didn’t feel comfortable with me doing music. I was heartbroken about that for a long time. But I have a partner and friends who are creators and they inspire me and push me to keep doing music. Now I am confident that making music is part of my life and is inseparable.

 

Now I am confident that making music is part of my life and is inseparable.

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

My songwriting is really slow-paced, so I’m hoping now that I can release at least two songs a year as singles. I’ve been unable to perform in public since I was a victim of sexual harassment three years ago, so I’m hoping to get over it and be able to sing like I used to again.

 

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

There are a lot of artists I like.

 

Sapphire Slows
Not to mention the amazing music she makes, her words about sexism and social issues are always a reminder. I respect her because I know how difficult it is to speak up. Her lifestyle, her sounds and her words are always an inspiration to me.

 

Shizuru Takada
She did the costumes for my most recent artist photos. She is also a dancer. The clothes she wears and the clothes she chooses for me all have a story to them as if they embody her thoughtfulness, kindness and mystery.

 

Rin Takashima

When I was victimized, I was uncomfortable with the relationship between the artist and their work and the bizarre entrapment of fandom. I was struck by the way she expressed that sense of discomfort in one of her columns in her own words. I’ve always had the sense that I’m really living on the edge, but the earnestness and sincerity of the words she writes has saved me. I’d like to name the last person I admire and respect.

 

Fortunately, I was able to get my talented friends, Yoko Kuno and Tao Tajima, to join my upcoming album project.  I hope to continue to produce something together, not just in music, but with people close to me that I respect.

 

Many women around me are creative. They know what they like and they enjoy being honest about it. They have strengths and weaknesses, and I respect them for being able to share both.

 

How would you describe the women around you?

Many women around me are creative. They know what they like and they enjoy being honest about it. They have strengths and weaknesses, and I respect them for being able to share both.

There is still a lot of gender discrimination in Japan. (If anything, our rankings on the Gender Gap Index are dropping every year.)  While I often feel suffocated after realizing this, we share, solidarity, and inspire each other about those things.  I feel like I can still continue to do what I love to do, and I feel like I can gradually smash the layer that makes it hard to speak out about gender discrimination, especially offline.

I love spending time with them.

 

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

My cousin’s sister taught me about Jeff Buckley and other interesting music when I was a teenager.  She is a teacher and picture book author.  I had spent my days in an environment where conservative ideas were the right thing to do, and her life showed me that it was okay to be more free, and I felt like I could breathe a little more.

 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

I think the number of female artists is gradually increasing but still, the music industry in Japan is a male-dominated society.   While overseas, there is a movement to correct the gender ratio at festivals, there is no such movement at festivals in Japan, and there is an atmosphere where people are afraid to even speak out about it.

Also, as I get older, it becomes harder and harder to maintain an environment where I can continue to be creative and create. I hope that by me continuing, other female artists will feel that it’s okay to continue.

 

I think the hardest thing to do is to keep going. So, keep going.

 

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

I think the hardest thing to do is to keep going. So, keep going.

It’s okay to be confident, it’s okay to be unconfident, it’s okay to be strong and it’s okay to be weak.  If you continue to express yourself in all of these ways, it will become a source of further expression.

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Cuushe