- Could you share the thoughts and ideas behind this mix?
For this mix, I decided to use only vintage 45s, which are one of my musical roots. It starts with rock ’n’ roll, moves through 1960s R&B, and ends with a doo-wop ballad. I usually play house and disco, but at INC COCKTAILS in Shibuya, I DJ exclusively with vintage 45s like this. The setup there—Garrard turntables, a UREI mixer, and Altec preamps, amps, and speakers—pairs beautifully with the bar’s analog audio system and mono sound. I rarely get to play on a setup like this outside of INC, so for this mix I wanted to capture that atmosphere and flow as faithfully as possible, almost like documenting the experience itself.
- How did you first come across this kind of music?
Influenced by my parents, I grew up loving Elvis Presley and rockabilly. Back in the day, you could often find budget oldies compilation CDs at roadside supermarkets, and my parents would buy them for me. I used to edit those tracks and make my own cassette-tape compilations. More recently, since I started selecting music at INC COCKTAILS, I’ve been reconnecting with this music and have begun building up a collection of 7-inch records again.
- Are there other DJs in their 30s, like you, who play this kind of music?
There might be, but I haven’t met anyone personally yet (laughs). At INC COCKTAILS, I’m the only one who plays in this style, and because it really suits the atmosphere of the bar, people always seem to enjoy it.
- Were all the records you played today original pressings?
Some of the songs were originally released on SP records, but as 45s, everything I played today was an original pressing. I’m particular about that and never use reproductions.
- Among the tracks you played today, is there one you feel especially attached to, or one you’d say “you really have to hear this”?
Definitely “I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos. It’s a doo-wop classic and was also featured on the American Graffiti soundtrack, but for me, it’s my all-time favorite song. At INC COCKTAILS, it’s almost like a theme song—I play it every single time. It’s no exaggeration to say that I build the entire flow of the set around playing that track (laughs).
- If you were to explain the appeal of vintage sounds to a younger generation—people in their 20s or younger—how would you describe it?
A lot of these songs are still being covered today or used in commercials, so I think it’s actually music people have heard without realizing it. The sound is simple, but the emotions come through very directly, and many of these tracks are the roots of today’s music. I’d be happy if people started by enjoying compilations or streaming playlists in a casual way. Also, most of the songs are only about two or three minutes long, so you can listen to a lot of them in one go—that’s part of the appeal. From there, I think it’s fun to discover the styles you like and dig deeper.
