One Release Party Vol 2 Interview

HearJapan was fortunate enough to sit down with Oak after their performance for their “one” release party vol 2. Here is the following interview:

HJ: How did Oak come about being formed?

Naoki Hirai: Hmm, originally there was a designer who we mutually knew named Hirata. Hirata designed the artwork for both of our previous albums. I was in Boom Boom Satellites and he was the bassist for Walrus. Then Hirata introduced us and I guess I went to Walrus’s show next. I saw them and thought they were very cool and gradually we became closer friends. I also produced a drum instructional video in which he took part in for our band beats section.

HJ: When was that?

Naoki Hirai: Around 2000. After a few years I thought it was time to start my own band and we decided to start a group. Eventually we started playing shows.

Kaoru Miura: At first we mainly jammed and made music that we wanted to. At that time I was only playing the bass and didn’t deal with beats or programming. I conjured up the strength to learn programming a little later on. I was influenced heavily by Aphex Twin and in terms of America, the Detroit techno scene. Also, I saw Massive Attack in London around 1999 and that also had a profound influence on me.

HJ: What was teh inspiration for creating your type of music?

Kaoru Miura: At first we mainly played whatever we felt like playing. we enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces, so I suppose we like to keep people happy while they’re dancing. Mainly we want to hold big parties and play in front of big crowds to let everyone have a good time. To put it simply we’re drum & bass and dance music.

Naoki Hirai:In addition to creating the tracks, I add the emotion to the music.

Kaoru Miura: Like music everyone can have fun to, like a rave or something. We want to rise above dance music to something that hits you in the heart.

HJ: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it in a single sentance.

Naoki Hirai: I would say music that can’t be described in a single sentance (laughs)

Kaoru Miura: WWell a good place to start is the meaning of our band name. It’s about life, about the tree, the tree’s branches gradually extend outwards. Just like how people make a web of connections, people who come to our shows are the same way as well. It’s a big oak tree, a huge tree that can live for thousands of years. that is the theme of our band.

HJ: Your ban’s logo starting from your first demo CD was an “eye” on an oak tree. What does the eye signify?

Kaoru Miura: That too represent’s the eye of your heart.

Naoki Hirai: Each eye represents a different emotion, personality or soul. In other words that one oak tree, or web of connections contains all these different people, just like our music.

HJ: You had two record release parties. How was the first one?

Naoki Hirai: The first release parties bands were all incredible. To put it honestly, tonight was more wild, but maybe the first night had more taste. So we decided to go all out for the second event.

HJ: I personally like track 3 from the new album. What are your favorite tracks?

Naoki Hirai: I also like track 3, it’s got a real drum & bass vibe.

Kaoru Miura: We made that song back in 2004. Initially we layed down the drums and the beats. When we perform it live, we like to mix it up with an actual drum set and really cut things up.

Naoki Hirai: Our encore song tonight, which gradually builds up is my favorite song. It’s called 18. It’s really spacy and is a positive song that I personally like.

Kaoru Miura: I like 17-17, the last song tonight. just the melody and that tricky sound with pop influences. It’s really simple but show’s our could care less attitude.

HJ: Today there was a girl guitarist. Is she a new member?

HJ: How did Oak come about being formed?

Naoki Hirai: Hmm, originally there was a designer who we mutually knew named Hirata. Hirata designed the artwork for both of our previous albums. I was in Boom Boom Satellites and he was the bassist for Walrus. Then Hirata introduced us and I guess I went to Walrus’s show next. I saw them and thought they were very cool and gradually we became closer friends. I also produced a drum instructional video in which he took part in for our band beats section.

HJ: When was that?

Naoki Hirai: Around 2000. After a few years I thought it was time to start my own band and we decided to start a group. Eventually we started playing shows.

Kaoru Miura: At first we mainly jammed and made music that we wanted to. At that time I was only playing the bass and didn’t deal with beats or programming. I conjured up the strength to learn programming a little later on. I was influenced heavily by Aphex Twin and in terms of America, the Detroit techno scene. Also, I saw Massive Attack in London around 1999 and that also had a profound influence on me.

HJ: What was teh inspiration for creating your type of music?

Kaoru Miura: At first we mainly played whatever we felt like playing. we enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces, so I suppose we like to keep people happy while they’re dancing. Mainly we want to hold big parties and play in front of big crowds to let everyone have a good time. To put it simply we’re drum & bass and dance music.

Naoki Hirai:In addition to creating the tracks, I add the emotion to the music.

Kaoru Miura: Like music everyone can have fun to, like a rave or something. We want to rise above dance music to something that hits you in the heart.

HJ: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it in a single sentance.

Naoki Hirai: I would say music that can’t be described in a single sentance (laughs)

Kaoru Miura: WWell a good place to start is the meaning of our band name. It’s about life, about the tree, the tree’s branches gradually extend outwards. Just like how people make a web of connections, people who come to our shows are the same way as well. It’s a big oak tree, a huge tree that can live for thousands of years. that is the theme of our band.

HJ: Your ban’s logo starting from your first demo CD was an “eye” on an oak tree. What does the eye signify?

Kaoru Miura: That too represent’s the eye of your heart.

Naoki Hirai: Each eye represents a different emotion, personality or soul. In other words that one oak tree, or web of connections contains all these different people, just like our music.

HJ: You had two record release parties. How was the first one?

Naoki Hirai: The first release parties bands were all incredible. To put it honestly, tonight was more wild, but maybe the first night had more taste. So we decided to go all out for the second event.

HJ: I personally like track 3 from the new album. What are your favorite tracks?

Naoki Hirai: I also like track 3, it’s got a real drum & bass vibe.

Kaoru Miura: For now she’s just a support member.

Naoki Hirai: She’s his wife.

Kaoru Miura: She has only been playing guitar for 3 months. SHe is actually a bassist by profession. When it’s just us two (Hirai and Miura)on stage, everything is really stiff so we thought it would be more exciting to implement her into our live performances.

HJ: Will she play in future performances as well?

Kaoru Miura: We plan to but we don’t know if she will be a permanent member or not yet.

HJ: You have an upcoming concert in Sendai, anything else you two are doing in the near future?

Oak: We will be playing at Shinjuku Marz on April 11th, Yokohama Zaim on April 26-27 and in Kagoshima in May for an open air festival.