DJ SiSeN at Tokyo Dance Night

Tokyo Dance Night took place at Club Gloria in Helsinki on September 23rd. The event, which focused on electronic music, gave JaME the opportunity to interview DJ SiSeN, who was relaxed and looking forward to the event that evening. He was happy to answer a few of our questions.

Hello, we're from JMusicEuropa. Thank you for your time. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

DJ SiSeN: Thank you. I mainly work as a DJ, but I also deal with day-to-day business such as practical arrangements.

How has it been participating in Tokyo Dance Night -touring and having a chance to perform all around Europe?

DJ SiSeN: We artists had collaborated with each other earlier in Japan and we respect one another. Everything's gone really well.

How did your career as a DJ start? Why did it start to interest you?

DJ SiSeN: I've been a DJ for four or five years now. I started when I noticed that there are many gothic and industrial DJs in Japan, but they mainly play overseas material. I felt bad for the Japanese artists who were just getting started with their careers and got no attention at all on the dance floor, as everyone was focused on foreign artists. I'd like new bands to also get their voices heard.

You've mentioned you'd like to introduce people to the Japanese club world and establish foreign contacts. Do you think you've succeeded with that on this European tour?

DJ SiSeN: I don't think I'm personally spreading the message abroad; I'm just a part of a large entity. It's more like we are contacted from abroad and they ask us to perform. I'm very grateful for them being interested in Japanese culture and music and it's surprising, in a positive way, that there are fans in a country like Finland.

In what ways are Japanese and European clubbing cultures different from each other?

DJ SiSeN: Compared to Europe, the Japanese club and gothic scene seems very childish, in good and bad ways. In Japan, being cute is a part of clubbing and most of the audience is female. Gothic Lolitas, in particular, are active clubbers. It's nice to notice that in Europe men also have the courage to dress up; in Japan their clothes are a lot more subdued.

You have many fans in Europe. What does it feel like being admired and is your Japanese fan base similar?

DJ SiSeN: It's of course nice to be looked up to, but I'm the most pleased when people come to my gigs. Being a fan of my appearance doesn't hurt me, but coming to clubs is a way to show bigger appreciation.

Your clothes and style is exactly what many of your fans like in you. Are you trying to express something with the way you dress?

DJ SiSeN: My style varies a lot. Sometimes it's colorful, sometimes more gothic. Today I'm wearing clothes by TAKUYA Angel. TAKUYA is a friend of mine and designs most of my club clothes. Tonight's look is 'club kid' with no special message. I just want to pass on a clubbing mood and communicate that clothes are something fun! In Japan, one sees cyber fashion in the streets quite seldom, so I want to inspire people and get them excited about it.

How do DJ SiSeN, DJ Violet and DJ 666Fox differ from one another? Are they just different stage names?

DJ SiSeN: Stage names depend on the style of my music. At the moment I only use DJ SiSeN. DJ 666Fox represented the junk-children-department; DJ Violet was for heavy industrial.

You're a member of a band called Seirenes. Is the group active at the moment and are you going to release something in the future?

DJ SiSeN: On Halloween, a collaboration will come out. It includes one song I've written for Seirenes. At the moment, the group is only beginning and works with remixes.

What are you going to do after the Tokyo Dance Night tour?

DJ SiSeN: I'll return to Europe in December to do a tour. Until then I'm going to practice playing and work up my skills.

Thanks for the interview!

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Special thanks to interpreter Niklas Nyman. Pictures by Heikki Mitikka.