Guchon samples Japanese can factory for new INDUSTRIAL JP release

DJ, producer and painter Guchon has teamed up with a 120-year-old can factory, Sobajima Seikan, for a one-of-a-kind track titled ‘SOBAJIMA CAN(側島製罐)’.

Founded in 1906, Sobajima Seikan has produced everything from army ration containers to modern-day tins for dried foods and confections.

The machines that cut, stamp and seal metal sheets emit a symphony of mechanical rhythm, all of which Guchon recorded on-site at the factory in Aichi Prefecture and remixed, layering only a kick and bass to bring it into club-ready territory.

"I was asked to create a piece that conveys the process of can production through music and video. I started by recording various sounds of cans being manufactured in the factory, then carefully analysed and sampled them," Guchon explains to Mixmag Asia.

"Every element in this track, except for the kick and bass, is made from those factory sounds. I combined them to capture and convey the atmosphere of the factory to the listener. The result is a techno track designed not only to reflect the production process but also to function effectively when played by a DJ in a club setting," he adds.

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Guchon runs Sabacan Records and is part of the Kokushimusou collective. With a global footprint, he’s dropped releases on labels like Chiwax, Hot Haus Recs, fabric, Trekkie Trax, and STEP Recording (run by Catz 'n Dogz).

‘SOBAJIMA CAN(側島製罐)’ is released via INDUSTRIAL JP, a Japanese label that transforms real factory recordings into unique audio-visual music experiences.

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The label bridges Japan’s precision manufacturing world with its electronic scene, previously pairing artists like Gonno and DJ Nobu with “the most powerful press machine at Shin Ei Industry” and vinyl pressing factory Toyokasei, respectively.

Watch the video for ‘SOBAJIMA CAN(側島製罐)’ below and purchase the track here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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