Apartment is 21 year-old Japanese man named Tatsuya Namai. His charmingly raw music is influenced by the beautiful & psychedelic rock of The Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine, and The Beatles. Apartment captures the essence of spontaneity in his music but maintains a bizarre pop structure.
Finderpop / Cassette Vision Label released Apartment’s noisy debut LP, “Apantgarde”. The Japanese-based label is home to other unique artists like Lem, Mountainbook, Muffin, and Ajisaikippu-de. Independent in both business and spirit, Finderpop / Cassette Vision Label started out releasing CD-Rs. These days, they have a handful of artists, a budding following, and a catalogue of official CDs & DVDs. The label’s growth was fueled by the unique quality of the music.
In 2005, Apartment’s sophomore LP, “AFANTGYARITECH” displayed his maturity. Unlike his debut LP, “AFANTGYARITECH” (Yes, it is spelled in all caps) possesses less noise but a firm song structure. Songs like “Sparkle Marble”, “Sleeping Bird”, and “Pomroccontact” have a psychedelic vibe under a thick guitar-driven groove. In his debut LP, Apartment improvised his vocals but, he wrote lyrics to his improvisations on this new album.
From wordplay to musical adventures, Apartment is using his influences to create fresh & raw music. From Japan, he is reaching listeners of various races and countries. It does not matter if you understand his music; this is an Apartment that should never be vacant.
MVRemix: Tell us about this new album called, ‘AFANTGYARITECH’.
Apartment: A-fan-gya-ri-tekku.
MVRemix: What is the meaning behind the title?
Apartment: It is wordplay. ‘Avant-garde’ to ‘Apantgarde’. ‘Afantgarde’ is my web site's name. So, ‘AFANTGYARITECH’.
MVRemix: Do you have a favorite song on ‘AFANTGYARITECH’?
Apartment: Yes. ‘Sparkle Marble’, ‘Lost My Youth’, and ‘Song Cycle’.
MVRemix: What song on the new LP took you the longest to do? Why?
Apartment: ‘Sleeping Bird’. It was difficult recording an acoustic guitar sound.
MVRemix: The shortest? Why?
Apartment: ‘Airportment’ because that song has a little sound.
MVRemix: How is ‘AFANTGYARITECH’ different from the ‘Apantgarde’ LP?
Apartment: ‘AFANTGYARITECH’ is more melodic, more complicated, and more intelligible. It is consequent.
MVRemix: Your first album, ‘Apantgarde’ had mainly improvised lyrics. Do you use the same approach with this new album?
Apartment: No. I thought up the lyrics. This new album's vocal tracks were recorded on a double track.
MVRemix: Out of all of your songs, which one do you love the most? Why?
Apartment: ‘Dirty Swamp’, because it is outstanding.
MVRemix: Which of your songs do you like the least? Why?
Apartment: None.
MVRemix: Apartment is your first solo work. What other projects were you involved in?
Apartment: I have never been really involved in other projects. I was only guitar support. I don't have cooperation.
MVRemix: Does the name Apartment have a special meaning?
Apartment: There is no meaning, especially. I like the sound of the word.
MVRemix: Favorite guitar?
Apartment: My cousin's guitar, Fender Stratocaster.
MVRemix: Most songs are created by only you. Do you enjoy working with other musicians?
Apartment: Yes. I enjoy playing guitar with other bands. When live, I play support guitar in another band called Muffin.
MVRemix: The picture on the LP has you standing with many instruments, like a one man band. Do you really make music this way?
Apartment: Yes, but I can't play well.
MVRemix: When creating songs, do you go into the studio with pre-written lyrics / themes, or do you write to the music? What is the creative process like?
Apartment: At first, I play guitar and sing temporary words. Then, I find the words that the sound is looking for.
MVRemix: Tell us about Finderpop / Cassette Vision Label. How did you get involved with them? How are they different from other labels?
Apartment: I found this label on the Internet. I sent a demo. I think this label's music is so various.
MVRemix: Musically, who are you major influences?
Apartment: The Beatles, The Kinks, Velvet Underground, Of Montreal, and The Beat Happening.
MVRemix: Obviously, The Velvet Underground is a major influence. What songs by The Velvet Underground inspired you the most? Why?
Apartment: ‘I Heard Her Call My Name’. That song's guitar is so crazy and cute!
MVRemix: What was it like growing up in Japan? What kind of kid were you?
Apartment: It grew up very ordinarily. I was not interested in music when I kid.
MVRemix: What is your favorite part of your live show?
Apartment: When I make mistakes in a performance or a song, each time. I love mistakes.
