Koichi Shimizu
Japanese artist
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biography
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Interview: 10 question
1. When did you start making music, what is/was your motivation to do it?
I’ve been fascinating making musical/non-musical sound since I was 14. It was guitar first time then shifted to computer based stuff. My motivation is simply I like doing this,, one thing I can spend most of my life time.
2. Tell me something about your living environment and the musical education.
I’ve been living in Bangkok, Thailand for 6 years now. I studied studio engineering in NYC when I was young,, but I wasn’t devoted student thus I couldn’t finish the course.
3. Is making music your profession? What is the context in which you practice music nowadays?
Yes. I compose/produce music for commercial purpose such as music score for the film, TV commercial etc to make my living. In a same time, I do my own project include sound installations for my interest. I also help producing/mixing music for local bands/artists, I can practice many things by doing it.
4. How do you compose or create music or sound? Have you certain principles, use certain styles etc?
There are some basic principles,, most of the time I pick up same program to start working with. But I’ve been trying to add different principles of creating sound or sequence for each project. And that is one important motivation for me to start new project.
5. Tell me something about the instruments, technical equipment or tools you use?
For most of my projects,, I use Max/MSP to process sound and control sequence.
Sometimes I combine objects to trigger signals. To compose song “Chimeâ€, I used hand made wind chime which can send midi signal to computer to trigger sound.
6. What are the chances of New Media for the music production in general and you personally?
It makes things easier, faster and cheaper.
7. How about producing and financing your musical productions?
I invest on computers or gears if it’s necessary. For project like sound installation, it’d be great if I can get financial support. If not, I manage by myself.
I opened small gallery in Bangkok with my friend last year so I can use there to do my project.
8. Do you work individually as a musician/sound artist or in a group or collaborative? If you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
I do both and I enjoy both way.
9. Is there any group, composer, style or movement which has a lasting influence on making music?
I have a lot of things, idea, belief, experience or person to be influenced and they have been accumulated in me. Recently I’m influenced by the work of Thai film director Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
10. What are your future plans or dreams as a sound artist or musician?
I’d like to be more active in this area and keep continue producing.
I also would like to have a chance to introduce unique sound work from all over the world to Thai people at my gallery.