A Project:ELEKTRA interview with...

porapora is the sound of Porapora, a solo artist based in Tokyo who creates electronic pop music self described as “fluffy + bleepy”. In a genre where cute is supreme, porapora's vocals and musical arrangements succeed where others more often fall into the pitfalls of atonality, eccentricity, and cliche. Though sometimes employing a vocoder, porapora has a voice that matches her music, predominantly uplifting and soothing, light without being airy, occasionally expressing untainted melancholy in her more emotive works. When she performs live, she often employs the use of backing performers, occasionally accompanies on bass guitar, and gets bonus points for her use of Mickey Mouse hands in her choreography! The story behind her name could supposedly fill volumes, but it would be more concise to say that it was the name she was given while performing with her first band. As the start to a series introducing Japanese artists to the English speaking community, Project:ELEKTRA chose to ask Porapora some questions about her music.

Project:ELEKTRA: When did your relationship with music first begin?
Porapora: It started when I was in my second year of high school (11th grade). I had learned to play the piano, anything from classical to pop music, and really enjoyed being able to play anything I wanted to.

Project:ELEKTRA: How did you start making the electronic music that you make now? Who were your biggest influences?
Porapora: I lived in England for a short time, and during that time I listened Real McCoy, Human League, and music like that, and that was probably when I became interested in electronic music. I think that the Komuro Family* also had a big influence on me. At that time I was interested in working in the field of music composition and digital music production.
So when I first started porapora I went back to my old music school, and there were a lot of people around me doing that kind of music and helped to push me in that direction.
At that time, I was listening to video game music, techno, and bands like Supercar (digital rock?) and Capsule (digital pop?), and topping it off with smile dk, OPUS‡V, systemF and the sounds and melodies really opened up my imagination to new dimensions.
I guess I've been most influenced by Tetsuya Komuro and Sakamoto Ryuichi.

*ProE memo: The “Komuro Family” were a group of artists and performers produced by TM Network member Tetsuya Komuro who achieved monumental success in the mid-1990s in Japan.

Project:ELEKTRA: When did you start making music as porapora?
Porapora: It could be said that porapora started in March of 2004, as that marks the first performance I did doing the style of music I'm doing now.

Project:ELEKTRA: You obviously do all the programming and vocals, and you occasionally accompany yourself on bass guitar. Do you play any other instruments?
Porapora: The first instrument I learned to play was the piano, and maybe if I practiced a little more...
And also, I played drums in my first band, so I play drums a little...really a little...that whole time period is somewhat of a blur...

Project:ELEKTRA: What have you released so far?
Porapora: I've self-released five CDs to date: PoraPora, Peace, Mizunofuwari, eau, and Life is...

Project:ELEKTRA: Could you tell us something about your song lyrics?
Porapora: The lyrics really depend on the mood of the music, and at first they weren't so serious, but recently I think much more about the meaning and what I'm trying to say when I write lyrics. Occasionally I add English lyrics as well.

Project:ELEKTRA: What's your favorite porapora song?
Porapora: That's a difficult question. I tend to be most into whatever the newest song I've created is.

Project:ELEKTRA: Are you doing any other projects?
Porapora: I'm involved in a project called Pink Pegasus with the artist Pikopiko Anzenken. In this project we are able to work on music that wouldn't be possible as a solo artist and we have fun with it. It's that kind of project.

Project:ELEKTRA: Your music is registered at number of music sites. What are your aspirations for porapora?
Porapora: If I could have my music heard by more and more people around the world, I would be happy.
I'd also be happy if I could hear my music on the streets or if it were used in a television program.
And someday I want to perform at a large venue.

Project:ELEKTRA: You've had your music remixed by a number of artists. How did that start, and do you have a favorite remix?
Porapora: Originally, I was asked to do vocals for a demo that a composer friend was putting together, and exchange for doing that, I asked the composer to assist me in arranging my songs from time to time, and I liked a certain arrangement so much that I included it on the CD. That's how it started.
After that, several people have asked to remix my songs as well, and if I like how they turn out, I just include them on the CD.
My favorite remix so far was done by Yasushi.K of Plumsonic for the song Miracle Travel*.

*ProE memo: This track is available on TECHNO4POP Vol.4)

Project:ELEKTRA: Do you enjoy performing live? And going to extremes, what are your best and worst gig experiences?
Porapora: I was never a big fan of the live medium, the atmosphere and all that. However, I've gotten used to it more, and now I feel more excitement than the anxiety I used to feel, and I've been able to meet so many people, I've come to like it. My favorite performances are when the audience participates in the movements and really seem to be getting into the music. I can't say that I've had a worst experience so to speak, but I have had gigs that could have been better in my opinion. For example, not knowing the point of an event, finishing a performance without once feeling a connection to the audience, shows that didn't flow so well, not really promoting a show properly...stuff like that.

Project:ELEKTRA: And what's with the Mickey Mouse hands?
Porapora: I started using them when I did a cover of the Main Street Electrical Parade, and I have continued using them. They make my gestures bigger too.



Project:ELEKTRA would like to thank Porapora for her cooperation and her time to answer our questions. and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.


Links (mostly Japanese)

+++porapora+++ official! porapora @ MySpace porapora @ download site Muzie porapora @ download site Next Music Pink Pegasus Buy porapora CDs @ Shop Mecano

All images and content ©Porapora and authority.four.productions and cannot be used without permission. English translation by A04.