Hey guys! Here is the next r.c interview, with Japanese-American singer/voice actress Shanti Synder! Enjoy!
Shanti Snyder aka Shanti (born June 4, 1981 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese-American singer, songwriter, lyricist, and music show host in Japan. She performs frequently in some of Tokyo's big jazz clubs and venues, and has also appeared with many big artists. She is also well known for her collaborations as a voice actress with Yoko Kanno. Shanti also records jingles and songs for commericials, as well as voice overs sometimes. In 2008, she teamed up with long-time friend Hajime Yoshizawa on a song called 'Home', which garnered a lot of attention for her - during its pre-release, it was #1 on iTunes for a short time. Last year she also released her debut album 'Share My Air', and recorded it in Paris with some of France's top musicians. Aside from music, she is the co-host along with fellow singer May J. for the English-language NHK music show 'J-Melo', and in her spare time, she paints and has done a few exhibitions for her work already. Now Shanti sits down with me to give you guys her take on things!How long have you been doing music professionally for?12 years.
What style of music is your forte, and which musicians provide inspiration for your tracks?Style...sweet, smooth, emotional ballads. For my album? Sade and Joni Mitchell but more than that the guy I was in love with then whom I wrote most of the songs about. And nature.. nature is a big part of my inspiration.
In August last year, you worked on a song with singer Yoshizawa Hajime called ‘Home’, and you also wrote lyrics for 5 songs for singer TOKU’s album ‘Love Again’ which was released in November last year as well. How were both of those experiences, and how did you hookup with those particular artists?I knew Hajime from when I was a baby. He's my childhood friend's cousin.... but we met/reunited as musicians about 5 years ago. It was funny cuz Toku was there too. It was at a club-jazz venue in Shibuya. We always wanted to do some kind of collaboration together and last year the opportunity presented itself. We wrote "Home" for a tv jingle for a product called Mt. Rainier Cafe Latte. I was able to write freely/or what I wanted. Hajime's beautiful melody inspired me to write something that had a universal message. The recording ambiance was great! We recorded all together with the musicians at a recording studio across the street from Tokyo Tower.
Toku I met for the first time about 8 years ago at a jazz venue in Roppongi, Tokyo called Alfie, when I went to see Kenji Hino play. We've been writing music together ever since. The album "Love Again" is not our first collaboration but it was an interesting one. We flew to Atlanta, Georgia in the US to stay with the co-producer of the album, piano player and composer, Takana Miyamoto. The song "Again " was written there at her home, where we listened and played music every day. We recorded at Doppler Studio where Mariah Carey, TLC, and Boyz II Men recorded their hit albums. It was really exciting to be part of something quite special.
Are you working on any new material yourself, for your music career, aside from doing jingles for commercials and lyrics for other musicians?I'm writing new songs all the time....they just haven't been released yet. Preparing some live show excerpts on video for the net....then you can hear some of my new songs. I also played new material for the J-Melo Natsu Fesu 2009 so you can look forward to that when it gets aired.
Are you doing any projects and/or campaigning for anything right now aside from your music career?No not currently.
You’re also a painter I hear. How are things going on that end?Slow...haven't been painting much since I started J-Melo. Got a bit too much on my plate now....but I am working on a mural for a recording studio 2 to 3 hours outside of Tokyo. And I am trying to plan a cafe exhibition in the fall.
In late October last year, you were inducted as one of two new VJs for English-language NHK show ‘J-Melo’, which features a variety of music from all across Japan. Alongside singer May J., you two have been continuing to introduce more Japanese musicians to the world; how has the experience been so far, and how did it all go down in terms of being asked to host the show?It was a new door for me....a mutual friend who is a TV commentator recommended me to the producer of the program....we had a meeting and I said yes. J-Melo is a learning experience for me. It's inspiring to meet all sorts of artists and to hear them play live. Connecting with people who write to us is also very special....it's something otherwise close to impossible.
Do you and May J. have anything big planned later on in the summer or the year for the show?Well we just finished the Natsu Fesu 2009....stay tuned with the show...
I imagine you have a lot of music tastes; what do you normally play on your iPod and/or when you’re at home?Recently I play Marvin Gaye, Esperanza Spalding, Amel Larrieux, akiko, Ray Charles and Bonnie Raitt.
Is there ANY musician that you would like to do a collaboration with in the future?Joe Sample and Esperanza Spalding.
Where’s the one place where you can go and get your creative flow going in order to write/create music?The ocean/ beach, or to a great live show.
You’ve been active as a professional musician for 12 years, give or take. How does it feel so far? Do you feel you have more to accomplish? Is there anything you still want to do, both in your music career and outside of it?Being a musician is a constant learning experience; you just never stop growing. I feel confident for the work I've done so far, and I cherish everyone who supports this musical journey. I have a lot more to accomplish.....I want to record my second album.... I want to do collaborative recordings and live shows...want to perform more...want to write more....I just can't stop being creative! I want to perform in and outside of Japan to all kinds of audiences...different cultures, different nationalities. I do want to have children too when I find the right guy (smile)
What do you do in your spare time when you’re not recording or touring?I play with my dogs. Take walks, go window shopping.. Lately I've been driving with my friend to be more a part of nature. Drive outside of the city to the ocean or to the mountains and spend time there by the river; I also enjoy going to the onsen/hot springs.
Who is your closest musician friend, and how did you two meet?Fumio Nishiyama my guitar player. He goes by the nickname Hank. He was a supporting musician for my mentor, singer-songwriter Mickey-T.
To the critical question now. You’ve been a key player in music for some time now, and music tastes and styles are changing quickly in this day and age. Where do you see music in Japan going in the future, in the sense of changing tastes, and will this allow you continued creativity down the road?Well, personally I think that the world is rushing to get nowhere....there is no time to enjoy the music when the cycle is so fast. I definitely say that the music is becoming like fast food a bit....I just want to be one of the musicians who can present an opportunity for people to "feel" music by singing live and recording with live musicians.....I will always be creative no matter what is going on around me....the funny thing about being a host on J-Melo and being a musician is that the program keeps me aware of what's "in" but it not necessarily means that I would follow the trend. Sometimes I appear to be a rebel but know I just continue to do what I believe in because I know I can touch peoples' hearts through music and singing.
Do you feel you’ve contributed to the advancement of music in Japan as a jazz singer? And is there anything you’d like to see done in this whole genre of music in Japan?Well to tell you the truth, I don't consider myself a jazz singer. If my music was placed in the United States or elsewhere I would probably not fall under that category.... it's just that my first album was jazzy and that I play in venues that are jazz oriented. I think I haven't contributed enough as a singer; maybe as a writer. I would like more people to come out and hear live music because LPs have turned into CDs. CDs into MDs and now mp3. People are unaware that the sound quality is very low in the daily music we hear.... maybe it's enough for now but live music is in the moment.... it's the essence of what we do and to be a part of it as an audience is a beautiful experience. We are here to make you "feel good".
On a final note, since you’re also English-fluent, do you plan on playing any shows or hope to play shows in North America in the future?Of course!! Would love to!! I'd love to play to an audience that understands the english lyrics I write first hand.
C'est fini! Thanks to Shanti herself for this lovely interview and retrospect on music. Until next time, signing out for now!
J~
Shanti Snyder
