One part Twin Peaks, two parts Cocteau Twins...
One minute all Karen Carpenter and the next the second coming off all Jesus and Mary Chain, to say Tashaki Miyaki are mysterious doesn't do them any justice at all. Causing a bit of a stir last summer with their quite ingenious cover of the Everly Brothers' 'All I Have to do is Dream', they should have been the new Ravonettes by now. Except they don’t actually seem that bothered about being ‘popular’, so they're not.
A two piece who actively encourage a cloak of mystery and obscurity to surround their music, the known facts about Tashaki Miyaki are these: They’re from LA; they ‘accidently’ became a band after a late night jam session in 2011, they love wearing black, they’ve got one EP out on the always excellent Sounds of Sweet Nothing and have another single coming out on new label Luv Luv Luv. Live shows have been pretty thin on the ground so far, but reports are they were amazing when they played the 100 Club last year, and they were well received at this year’s SXSW but I can’t tell you any more than that, as they’ve only had two proper gigs! I may have made up that wearing black bit as well.
Due to hit Birthdays alongside fellow newbies Splashh later this month, I caught up with them (and their dog) for a bit of a Skype chat. Turns out, they’re trying to steal Morrissey.
How does it feel to be out on Luv Luv Luv? Isn’t it a bit weird to have only put stuff out on British labels so far?
Miyaki: We don’t actually know yet, we’ve only talked to them on the internet. Ask us after August 6th!
Do you guys feel more popular in the UK than in the States?
M: It’s hard to say. We just did our first proper show in LA last week, and we’ve only played one show in London at the moment, so it’s kind of hard to judge.
Tashaki: Living in Los Angeles doesn’t really give you a great perspective on how popular you are or how your band is doing, mainly because no one cares. I mean, you could be the biggest band in the world and not even know it; almost everyone here is doing music, making films or being an actor so it’s not a big deal.
So it almost feels like you’re living in a bubble?
T: Yeah it’s weird. We’re not really involved in the music scene in LA, not because we don’t want to be, it’s more because we’re just not – we’ve got a couple friends who play in bands and that’s about it. Unfortunately, I feel like there hasn’t been anything that exciting happening in LA for quite a while.
Hmm, so moving on, I’ve seen you guys compared to everyone from My Bloody Valentine to Morrissey, would you say that you guys had a bit of a British sound?
M: Well, I always thought that Morrissey was from LA; he’s lived in LA for as long as I can remember.
Whoa! I think the people of Manchester would have something to say about that!
M: I’ve always thought Morrissey was a Mexican American gentleman. I wouldn’t know what a British sound was per se, just as I wouldn’t know what an American sound was, so it’s a bit difficult for me to comment. I think at the point in history that we’re living in at the moment, it’s so easy to access other country’s music of our cultures are mixed together in a strange way.
Like an Anglo-American stew?
T: Yeah! We love Morrissey, I mean who wouldn’t be flattered by such an awesome comparison, but people are always going to compare your band to something else, and while some of them can be quite flattering, we don’t take them that seriously.
The thing that’s funny is that we like so many different types of music, like things that people would never expect us to listen to, it’s just that when the two of us get together, the crossover of our tastes is what creates our sound.
OK – last question; when can we see an album?
M: We’ve got this 7” with Luv Luv Luv, and we’re currently in the studio working on a full length EP. Not sure how we’re going to release it as yet.
Cool, well that’s all I’ve got written down; I’ll see you in London I suppose.
T: Yeah! We could use some food tips...
Where are you playing? Birthdays – there’s some really nice Turkish restaurants round there...
T: Amazing – we love Turkish food!
Tashaki Miyaki play Birthdays on the 26th July
http://tashakimiyaki.bandcamp.com/
Add an event
Micky Flanagan, The Lumberjacks & Kevin Eldon: Editor's Choice - Comedy
Tuesday 28th-Wednesday 29th MayMicky Flanagan: Back in the Game @ New Wimbledon TheatreExtra Wimbledon T...