Music
DJ Nobu selects 10 leftfield tracks he has on rotation while touring
The legendary Japanese musician has a track for every mood while travelling the world, whether he’s winding down at the hotel after a show or finding solace in the sweet sounds of Chicago soul and lovers rock
By now, DJ Nobu has mastered the touring life. It’s been three decades since he began producing and playing music in his hometown of Chiba in Japan, where he broke out as one of the most radical experimenters in techno to go global, playing hallowed clubs across the world multiple times a weekend. But in recent years, he’s become “overly sensitive” to his surroundings.
“I was finding myself strongly affected by every daily occurrence,” he says. “It was during this time that I discovered meditation. And beyond that, lay Buddhism. Through this, I was able to express myself more naturally. I decided to portray my feelings, and the scenery in Tokyo, conveying what I was experiencing in real-time, as music.”
Directing those feelings into his production process, DJ Nobu conceptualised a new record based around the virtues of Buddhist practice as he reflected on his recent spiritual journey – and five-track EP ‘Shō’, set for release on fabric Originals later this week, is the masterwork that has arisen. Its meditative cues and minimalist production mark a welcome change of approach from the legendary producer, giving insight into the sense of momentary calm he’s looking to reach amidst a non-stop touring stint.
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Ahead of the release of ‘Shō’, and just days before he sets his sights on yet another show at London’s fabric on March 28, DJ Nobu selects 10 leftfield tracks that help him to wind down after a show, or get pumped up for the next. Check them out below.
1 Jessica Pratt ‘This Time Around’
“This is a folk-inspired track with a sense of floating and melancholy, taken from the 2018 album ‘Quiet Signs’. It’s a voice that gently soothes you back to calm after a bout of play.”
2 Ketil Bjørnstad ‘Prelude 1’
“On a day when snow falls thick and fast during a tour in the harsh depths of winter, this is the sort of music you’ll want to listen to whilst keeping warm. Its simplicity allows the heart to find a simple, unpretentious warmth. A poetic and melancholic piano performance.”
3 Organum ‘Amen’
“Church-like music featuring organ drones, a choir, gongs and piano. Music from the heavens that offers a sense of self-worth when one feels on the verge of despair.”
4 Crystal Kay ‘Eternal Memories’
“The best of J-pop. This ballad captivates listeners with Crystal Kay’s overwhelming vocal talent (she was just 13 at the time), as well as its nostalgic atmosphere. A soothing song.”
5 machìna ‘your garden’
“Cutting-edge dub electronics from a South Korean musician. A superbly crafted masterpiece featuring mysterious, soaring vocals. A nostalgic track that suits any scene where the sunset is visible.”
6 asuka ando ‘see you in my dreams’
“A landmark album in the Japanese lovers rock and reggae scene of the 2010s, with vocals and lyrics that are sure to bring a smile to your face when you listen in your hotel after a night out.”
7 Swans ‘I Am A Tower’
"In this song, the singer compares themselves to inorganic, immovable entities like towers and stones. It depicts a lonely, inescapable state — one in which they simply exist, as if having lost all emotion, even as the world crumbles around them. This 20-minute track allows me to reflect on myself."
8 Jim O'Rourke ‘Bad Timing’
“Although this album consists of four tracks, it doesn’t really sound like it’s divided into four separate songs, rather that all four are one. The sound, which brings a respect for the good old days of American music made with experimental spirit, is simply divine. It’s perfect for a drive on a sunny day.”
9 Stereolab ‘French Disco’
“The theme of the lyrics on this track revolve around rebellion and action, exploring how individuals can rise up against the sense of powerlessness and social oppression that lurk in everyday life. With powerful vocals riding over a repetitive beat and minimalist chord progression, the cry of ‘la résistance!’ inspires me when I’m feeling weary.”
10 Monte Carlo 76 ‘Rowley Park’
“This one is from a psychedelic Chicago soul / Latin funk band. I often listen to them whilst driving, too. A track brimming with a sense of romance that suits any scenery, whether in the city or the countryside.”
