Shoko Igarashi - CASH OK (Official Video)
Please let us introduce you to Shoko Igarashi !
This is CASH OK, the 2nd extract of her first album "Simple Sentences" to be out on Tigersushi Records in a few weeks !
A lot of early hip-hop influences went into this song and Shoko added a bit of a jazzy vibe to it by recording her brand new soprano saxophone for the first time. “CASH OK” is the name Casimir and Shoko combined, Casimir Liberski and Shoko used to play a lot of jazz duo gigs in New York and made a bit of cash that way (especially at this Japanese bar in midtown Manhattan called Tomi Jazz). When they play this song live, it is reminiscent of those New York years.
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Bosbubble #11
"Cash Ok" by Shoko Igarashi
Video by Maxim Hectors
Scenography by Sietske Van Aerde
Ceramics by Anne-Catherine Kenis
Make up by Sigrid Volders
Technics by Bram Vanhoutte and Sam Vandenhoeck
Colour grading by Thijs Paijmans
Production by Het Bos, Robin Hectors
with thanks to Emely Van Impe and Agnes & Maurice
And now some words about Shoko and her debut album :
It's a record that, not unlike a piece of luggage checking in from city to city, has managed to absorb vital influences from each place it has landed. Shoko grew up in rural Japan, she studied in the US and is currently living in the most quintessential European city, Brussels. Shining in its diversity 'Simple Sentences' carries elements from each one of those stops in her life. Her native Japan and her love for anime that she watched as a kid, the rigorousness of her Boston Berklee jazz education (Shoko is a saxophonist), European bleep techno and Warp, and even euro disco psych kitsch, since Shoko names Dan Lacksman (Telex) as one of her heroes.
The influences from Far East are more than evident and funnily enough, even unconscious, which makes them integrate in a beguiling childish and naive way that adds even more to the originality of the sound. Take for example the title track ‘’AppleBanana’’ - Echoes of Chiemi Manabe, Hosono and even overtones of Akiko Yano are all seamlessly there. 'Sand Dungeon' is a little gem reminiscent of Yellow Magic Orchestra at the heights of their powers and the aptly titled 'Anime Song' could be an unreleased track from Testpattern’s infamous and sought after LP. 'Lovely Song' in its electronic pastoral vibe could have been produced by Seigen Ono, but is entirely the work of Shoko's expansive creative world. 'Cash OK' harks back to New York’s 90’s Jazz Street scene, paying tribute to her Brooklyn live gigs, and album closer 'Tsuki No Yama' goes back to her roots with a meditative folk sound quite different from the rounded pop edges that the rest of her album carries.
'Simple Sentences' is like its title implies : straightforward in its brilliance and simplicity, yet carefully measured with a maturity that almost makes us wonder - how did Shoko manage to absorb all these influences and bring them together into a vibrant sound collage which ultimately is fresh and timeless.