If you know me at all, you know I am mad about Japanese Electronica. I think its some of the best, most creative modern music out today, and I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know many of its top producers.

Today I am going to peep you to the king of the breakbeats and the driving force behind hugely successful (in Asia) groups like Capsule and Perfume, Mr. Yasutaka Nakata.

https://youtu.be/_P1MmBEYpJU

He started his main band Capsule at the age of 17 with vocalist Toshiko Koshijima, which he used as a platform for the development of more projects, more bands and more music.

When they first started, Capsule’s music was more typical Shibuya-Kei (read hip-groovy) than the hardcore electronica they’re associated with today… here’s an example of one of my favorites from their early days, Music Controller:

This is a really fun video, and pretty witty lyrics too.

And it’s good , but in 2004, things got raw like sushi is around 2004 when he went full-tilt into electronic music and was brought onboard as the producer of the group Perfume.

This is where Nakata-san found his voice, creating some of the most addictive, well-produced and frankly commercially-viable beats and melodies in Electronic music.  Here’s some examples:

Capsule:  World Of Fantasy –
a completely addictive melody that’s expertly produced

Capsule: Hello –
probably one of my top five favorite songs of all time

Capsule: Jumper –
live from the Tokyo Apple Store.  Better than anything I’ve seen in the SoHo store

Perfume: Natural ni Koishite –
Japan’s most popular girl band with breakbeats straight out of 1982

I could go on and on… and if you want to explore his catalogue, you can spend a day pop-locking at your desk to these phat beats. There’s a lot more hits than misses – and its worth the exploring.

Anyway, the point I’m making here is that Nakata’s the bomb, I love his music – and everyone I’ve turned on to it so far does too – so I hope you will as well.  Or at least respect the talent.

He’s to electronic music what Phil Collins was to gated drums, but in the best possible way.  He’s the originator of a sound, a hit maker and fantastically talented.

I think his music is some of the most commercially viable for sync purposes, and its my hope we’ll do out part to bring his music to the world.

Now if I could just convince him to play NYC…