With a name like Emufucka, you're already making some kind of splash in the music scene, perhaps even securing your place, too. Of course, a name all depends on the music that follows it (if, that is, you see or hear the name first), and it seems that the music that this guy makes is quite reflective of his moniker.
His real name is Takafumi Sakurai and he is a music-maker from Tokyo, Japan. As a participant of the globetrotting Red Bull Music Academy 2013, he was kind enough to answer my questions when the festivities slowed down a little at the end of last week. Spreading his brand of video-game inspired sometimes-dark-edged hip hop (see his track 'Clown' that I wrote about the other week) around the world must have been a lot of fun, and certainly beneficial for such an interesting producer as Mr Emufucka.
Here it is.
Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?
My real name is Takafumi Sakurai. Stage name is Emufucka. I'm from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. But I'm currently living in Tokyo, since I was 20 years old. I make beat music.
Why did you decide to start creating music?
I'm not sure about it. But I always got some inspiration from my mother, who is a music teacher.
How would you describe your sound? What makes you and your style stand out?
Beat Music or Beats.
Is there a perfect time and place for listening to your music?
Almost - in my bedroom studio. And also I listen to music on my iPod when I'm walking or on the train.
What inspires you most when writing a song?
When I make music, I am always detonated by contact with video games and animation. I always think that I want to make an OST of a game and animated feature film.
What is your most memorable musical experience?
Red Bull Music Academy 2013.
What are your favourite three songs at the moment?
Slugabed - Bombok
Blue Daisy x Unknown Shapes - 5's Up
Who do you most admire in the music world?
I have a lot of people I want to praise. So, it's difficult to pick that one person.
In your opinion, what is the future of music?
I'm not sure about it.
What's the future of your music - what do you hope to do next?
First of all, I want a successful performance of in Russia in the summer. After that, I have to target the release of next EP by the end of the year.
What, aside from music, is most important to you?
Imagination.
Damn right imagination is important! Without imagination there would be no music, that's for sure. Anyway, judging from the answer to what his most memorable musical experience was, it seems that he rather enjoyed RMBA and may now even have the travel bug. From Tokyo-based domestic studio to playing clubs in New York as part of RMBA, it's been a long way and he is now home after a 2 weeks that was "sooo good", says Sakurai.
Having now graduated from RBMA 2013, the world is his oyster. Working on a new EP seems the logical next step. But, a quote from the man himself in the Japan Times sums it up quite nicely: "I feel like I’m just standing at the start-line of the global ‘beats’ scene". RBMA, then, was just the first step.
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