Interview with Unshin in Athens

In Athens we met with Unshin, a brand new UK based band that never fails to manifest a powerful Japanese aura. From the sudden increase in interviewees from three to six, electronic failure, intriguing heart shaped glasses and a sudden rainfall in the notoriously dry Athenian summer, the interview was a memorable experience. Giving us a glimpse into their world of experimental, original sounds and heartfelt lyrics, Unshin gave us some clues on what to expect from their debut album, Waltz for Broken Dolls, which will be released in 2009.


It's very nice to meet you, thank you for your time! I hope you are enjoying your stay in Greece, despite the admittedly weird weather... Could you introduce yourselves for our readers?

Henry: Yes. So, I am Henry Readhead and I play bass.
Yupo: I am Yupo, um, hi. I play... the extras. (laughs) I play the rhythm guitar, and keyboards.
Meg: I am Meg. I play koto and I am the lead vocalist.
Tobee: Tobee. I play the lead guitar.
Thijs: Hi, I am Thijs, and I play the drums.
Sing: Hi, I am Sing and I play the keyboards.

So... How did you all end up together? There has to be an interesting story behind this...

Sing: It was bad luck! (everyone laughs)
Henry: Oh, thank you...
Thijs: Actually, it is a long story.
Henry: Meg came into my studio with some lyrics - one of the first tracks for Waltz for Broken Dolls - and then I started making ideas in my head. Then Thijs came in also with loads of ideas, so we then started to create the tracks.

So, at first it was just the three of you.

Henry: The three of us did the writing, the creating of the album. Sing was the next member to join actually.
Sing: Oh...why? (laughs)
Henry: Yes, why? (more laughter) We then started to perform the album live, so Tobee came in, and at the end of last year Yupo joined as well.

This happened after you finished recording your debut album?

Henry: Yeah, we wrote the album before, but now we are re-recording. Actually Tobee played on the album as well for the first time.

If I am not mistaken, Meg comes up with the lyrics and then the rest of you write the music, right?

Thijs: Actually the three of us (Henry, Meg and Thijs) get the ideas, and then we put them all in.
Meg: We mix it all together.
Thijs: Yeah. And then Tobee and Yupo put the pepper and the salt in (he points at them and teases them for a while).

An interesting combination. Waltz for Broken Dolls is a concept album; perhaps you can briefly explain its concept?

Meg: The story? It is about a young Japanese girl growing up in Japanese society. Since, you know, Japanese schools are really strict and you have to study hard to get into a good school and then to study even harder to get into a good company, to get loads of money. People think this is the way for you to be happy. But the girl discovers this is not the way of happiness, she wants to be herself. She wants to listen to music.

The lyrics are quite melancholic, although the music becomes quite upbeat and lively at times. Is there a specific kind of mood you were aiming to create?

Meg: The beginning is more... Sad, because the main girl of the story is a bit sad. Because of friends, the teachers, her family, her boyfriend...

Perhaps, these lyrics are a bit autobiographical in a sense?

Meg: Me?! I don't know! (laughs) It is not quite me, but I was living in Japan until I was twelve and then came to England. It was fortunate, because if I had stayed in Japan I would be her, that girl.

So moving to England makes the story turn out optimistic?

Meg: Yeah, yes, I think.

'Unshin'. What does it really mean? Actually, we have some theories... (laughter)

Meg: It is a hard word!
Thijs: It came from when Meg was playing koto. When you've been playing for so many years, you get a professional name. 'Unshin' is two parts. (turns to Meg) Correct me if I am wrong, but 'un' is her koto teacher's professional name, and 'shin' came from a fortuneteller.
Meg: Yeah, because when you get a name, you want to make sure you don't get bad luck with it. We then go to a fortune teller and ask, "What do you think I should get?". 'Un' means 'cloud', and 'shin' means 'heart'. I added the heart to my teacher's name, because it would mean good luck for me. So, 'Unshin' means 'heart of a cloud'.

I hope it does bring luck. Your band is quite unique...

Meg: Yeah...
Henry: Yeah? (he laughs and everyone joins in)

But weren't you a little worried, since you are based in the UK but sing in Japanese?

Henry: I think it was especially difficult, because our local area is unsure of Japanese culture. But I think at the same time, the influence that Thijs and myself have brought into the music, the dynamics of the album, is very interesting. The music has a lot of English influence.
Thijs: We come from very different musical backgrounds, that's why, I think.

So exactly which music scene did each of you belong to, before Unshin?

Thijs: I did a little bit of everything, really. I started with classical music, so yeah...
Henry: My background? Oh I actually started in drum and bass, you know? DJ-ing, drum and bass. That's when I started, and then I went to hip hop and scratching. So that's my start in music.

You are using Japanese lyrics to describe parts of Japanese culture. Naturally, one might wonder if you were aware of the Japanese music scene, even before creating the band, and to what extent it influenced you, if at all? Your music sounds significantly different from any J-rock influenced band.

Henry: Well, we were mainly influenced by artists like Shina Ringo and Cocco.
Meg: These are my favorites...
Henry: Well, I think they are not necessarily J-rock. They mix and match, and are not afraid of doing different things. They change a lot.

Yeah, and it's obvious that you too don't limit yourselves to a single genre. Is there a particular style that you are trying to create through this band?

Thijs: Well, we did a mixture...
Meg: But this was because of the story. We needed to create the tracks to fit to the story.

What comes first, music or lyrics?

Meg: Sometimes they created the music first, and there were times I just stood like this, because I couldn't write it, their music...
Thijs: Sorry. (laughter)

And now, let's get a little patriotic here! How do you like Greece? (everyone laughs) Did you have the chance to wander around the city of Athens yet?

Thijs: We are heading towards it!
(They jokingly argue for a while about their sight seeing plans)
Meg: Oh! We already saw those people...
Henry: At Syntagma square, with the silly walking!

Oh yes, tsoliades! Every culture must have these kind of... sights (laughter)

Henry: Absolutely! I find Greece, the people, very friendly and into having a good time. Just, you know, very friendly.

Party people!

Henry: Very friendly!

You just performed at the Schoolwave Festival. What are your impressions from this experience?

Henry: Generally?
Meg: Crazy! (everyone laughs)

Well, as you probably know, Schoolwave was created originally for students and teenagers to play their own music at, but it has progressed a lot over time. Now, it offers a young audience the chance to listen to things that are very different from what the mainstream has to offer.

Henry: Well, you know, it is bringing the world closer, isn't it? I think they are doing a great thing. Entrance is free and they treat the bands like professionals. Most of the bands weren't really professionals, but I liked the fact that their sound was. And when you look at them, oh, I think it is a fantastic thing. And I think the audience too, they love it.

I see... And what about your visuals? You have uploaded some very interesting photographs on your website. Is there any particular theme behind your images and videos?

(Sudden laughter)
Henry: Theme? Sure! Sing takes the pictures..
Sing: They are... out of luck!
Meg: Sometimes she takes pictures while playing on stage.

Talk about multi tasking! So, before wrapping this up: What do you think about the Ordre de Ciel and their event?

Henry: Oh!
Meg: Very cool!
Henry: Absolutely!
Meg: I never expected, you know, to listen to J-rock in Greece...
Yupo: I love it all the way!
Henry: (looking at Yupo) And if he had his guitar, he would be covering Miyavi...
Thijs: He is J-rock actually...

So, Unshin, the unique band with that little bit of J-rock...

Henry: That little bit of Taiwanese J-rock!
(everyone laughs)

Yes, you are full of surprises, indeed! (more laughter) And finally, any last messages for our readers?

Henry: I guess, keep looking out, and...(pause)

You are creating new stuff, right?

Henry: Yes, we will be finishing the album and we want to make sure that everyone is going to come out and buy it.
Everyone: Yes, yes! (laughter)
Sing: (pointing sternly towards the readers) Buy the album!
Henry: Also, come and visit us at myspace. We always check it, we want to know what people think about us and get new ideas.

Thank you for your time! I hope you enjoyed your time here.

Unshin: Of course, thank you too.

Special thanks go to Ordre de Ciel for making this possible, Speedgrapher and the band for providing the photographs.