Later this month, a rare opportunity exists to catch legendary Japanese avant-garde artist and musician Cornelius in concert.
Having last toured these shores in 2006 on the back of his acclaimed ‘Sensuous’ album, Cornelius returns to Australia to perform his salyu x salyu project. Cornelius’ experimental music combines cheerfully dissonant and pleasant sounds, pure electronica, samples and magic.
His most recent production of pop craftsmanship is a collaboration that features the face and voice of Salyu; the angelic girl who charmed Quentin Tarantino in ‘Kill Bill’ and whose ‘Suru Kizu Kaifuku’ was the most memorable hit from the soundtrack.
Can you tell me about the salyu x salyu project?There’s a vocalist named Salyu... and I produced a project called salyu x salyu. Compared to a Cornelius record, salyu x salyu is more focused on the vocals and harmonies.
How did you meet Salyu?
Originally Salyu was one of the Cornelius band member’s friends. Salyu usually records music that is more J-pop oriented but she wanted to make more of her own material and asked me to produce… I thought her voice was interesting and decided to collaborate.
What does her voice bring to your music?
She’s able to express well with her vocals in a wider range the expressions that I can’t express myself on vocals.
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Your music often uses the sounds from nature and from mass-culture. Would you say your music aims to explore life in the modern age?
Maybe.
What inspires you when you creating new material?
It’s not just one thing, but things that I experience in life... everything… depends on that day, feeling, temperature, environment. I’m influenced by all the things surrounding myself.
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You started off in Flipper's Guitar, a Tokyo-based rock band, before becoming Cornelius. How did you transition from rock into the experimental music that you make now?
Just like the experience of when a child becomes an adult… influences from around myself; life experiences is what I think changed myself.
What would you like your listeners to feel or experience when they listen to your music?
I don’t have a specific feeling, but rather would like to have them feel what they feel.
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Why did choose to name yourself 'Cornelius', the character from the film 'The Planet Of The Apes’?
I just happened to be watching the movie and found interest in the character.
You have also scored for the film ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs The World’ and for the popular anime ‘Ghost In The Shell’. What was that experience like?
For my own recordings, I make what I want to. But for movie soundtracks, there’s a theme and atmosphere, and making music for that kind of theme is different than making something for my own works. The inspiration that comes from something that is not within me is inspirational.
Cornelius presents salyu x salyu at Sydney Festival 23 January, Corner Hotel Melbourne 24 January and Future Beauty Up Late at GoMA 30 January.
