Suika live in Paris

The venue where Suika was going to play, was the stylish Azian bar, a chic and warm place to enjoy a concert. We ordered a drink to wait the hour for the two musicians to arrive on stage.

ATOM was obviously very nervous, even before going on the improvised stage of the Azian for their short four-song set. This was a baptism by fire for the two MCs since it was their first concert in France.

However these musicians, both far from novices, succeeded in performing a great show with only a bass, a cajon and a hyperactive, talkative rapper (Sae, the translator, had to stop him many times during his monologues to catch up with everything he was saying). The audience was spellbound by the performance. They danced and rapped along with the MCs and in songs like Mushroom Mathematics, the rhythm made the audience move.

Even if we didn't understand a word of what was said during the evening, the two members were so enthusiastic and had such fantastic musical ability that it was hardly important. Music had definitely become a universal language and a passport for the two rappers of Suika.

'When I went to India for one year, I only had my poor English and my music but somehow, I could make myself understood. Body and music languages are wonderful means to communicate' explained ATOM.

Fortunately, Sae from Soundlicious was there to translate and we learned throughout the speeches of the jumping MC all the respect they have for the strong character of French people, how the Japanese habit to 'follow the American directives' is dismaying them and how happy they were to play here in Paris. To witness their smiles was explanation enough.

The showcase was very short but few cared. Takatsuki and ATOM gave their all to their French audience and an improvised photoshoot followed. The two artists also participated in an autograph session with bright smiles while giving handshakes and even insisted on taking pictures with their fans.
Where did the legendary shyness of the Japanese people go? We have no idea, nor do we care; we leave this question to others.

The evening ended like it began, with the calm atmosphere of a bar. It was a very good debut - even if it was short - of a band without pretensions and assuredly down to earth.