What came to be the passion project of emerging Australian poet, singer-songwriter, DJ and model, RHYME and Japaense musician and producer Shinichi Osawa, RHYME SO is certainly making their mark on the industry. We sat down with the duo to discuss creating a new era of sound, and their latest single ‘Fashion Blogger’.
How did RHYME SO start?
RHYME: It was a cold and lonesome night… there was a treasure to be found… In the deep underground of Tokyo there was Shinichi Osawa sitting under the Sakura tree with no shoes on… and I happened to sit by the poet. A new poem would be written from this night forward.
SO: I was introduced by a friend and met Rhyme, and I was attracted to each other’s creations and naturally began to make music together. The first song was my participation in another project, MONDO GROSSO
You’ve both been in the music industry for a while now, what has been a lesson that you both have learned?
SO: Stay honest with yourself.
RHYME: Until the song makes your cry, it is not finished.
You’ve said that you’re both creating a new era of sound which you call ‘Blank Post Genre’, so can you describe what it is?
RHYME: There is a lot of futuristic approaches going on in the entertainment industry, it all looks very clean and transparent and almost blank, like everything is meshed together in this rainbowesk holographic. It might be that music will end up there too, rather than placed in genres but categorized by feelings. (already we can witness in ‘mood playlists’) Our ‘Blank Post Genre’ is the transparent in between concept where the listener is given a feeling frequency by sonic storytelling more than strict genre. There will be more to this aspect later in the year we plan to release. But first we make noise.
Where did you find the idea for “fashion blogger”?
SO: When I was watching a video being played on an iPad in the waiting room of a beauty salon, when young people from all over the world were asked about their professions, they answered that they were “fashion bloggers.” When I saw it, I was shocked by the fact that I existed as a profession, and started to write songs with the need for approval by SNS.
RHYME: Listening to what was being said and spoken around me.
The beat and rhyme of “fashion blogger” is amazing, how did it come about?
RHYME: OH! <3 thank you!!! We had so much fun and challenges during the making of it. It has been in the works for 3 years! We started it off as a hard techno beat with this Miss Kitten inspired spoken word. Naturally I am a spoken word artist so i felt comfortable to go in that direction but then SO picked up his bass guitar and we then decided, okay it’s going to be like this huh! It really came from the source and where we tapped our feet and sang along doing housework. It was a 3 year test, really. Something fun to amuse the tongue and cheek.
I’ve heard that filming Fashion Blogger, has been your biggest project. What do you feel was the biggest part and was it overwhelming to do this big project?
SO: It was my first time acting in the film, but I think I enjoyed it. In the sense of coaching, I always teach programming to Rhyme.
RHYME: Training full time again on my figure skating was exhausting but so fulfilling, at the moment while everything is closed, this video is the closest I can get to the rink. I really love Figure Ice-Skating. It has taken a bigger part of my life up and this at some points it was definitely overwhelming but so worth it.
How did it feel to work with the talented director Masashi Muto?
SO: I have done a lot of work with him over a long time, so I really trust him.
RHYME: Muto Masashi is an incredible director in the world and especially Japan. To work and learn professionally alongside him. He also seemed to really enjoy getting pushed around on the ice in a sliding chair. It was fun to chase him around.
You’ve both described “Fashion Blogger” as visually clean and structured and this mimics the Instagram grid of a fashion blogger, can you describe where this idea came from?
RHYME: ‘The Grid’ aesthetic is important ‘they’ say.
What is the key message you were both trying to convey with “fashion blogger”? : When entering ‘the game; the scroll’ We are all competing in this ‘changing’
RHYME competition that includes judges and an audience casting flowers onto the arena. The world can be so cold (ice) and it takes a warm heart and hot skate to melt through the frozen ideas and untouched fields.
I read somewhere that the concept of Fashion Blogger extends from experiences that rhyme has had, if you are comfortable talking about it, what were they?
RHYME: During my modeling experience it became about ‘following’ to get jobs, there became a lot of pressure and soon I was losing opportunities to work, in my personal life I became quite affected with self worth/esteem and where my ‘place’ was. There became a lot of focus on the wrong things which lead to plucking the right from my perspective. There was a voice telling me to be a certain way that felt very un-authentic. I did a self release two years ago titled ‘Internet Girl’ where I was talking to my version of the ‘devil’ who was trying to seduce me into this world of selling over to the ‘alternate reality’ IG extends the character narrative. So which girl is talking in Fashion Blogger? Can both be expected? Both my own and RHYME SO music will include this conceptual approach delving into psyches of good and evil forces.
Rhyme, you used to ice skate professionally. How and why did you decide to use this skill in your music video?
RHYME: Welcome to the new type of music artist… on ice. I am trying to make a career far different off the beaten track and make it work. It was an idea tactic to show some skill set that other artists might not have and expand with ways to spread music.
Let’s talk about Milk, you both looked amazing in the video. So how did you both approach Milk to get her into the video?
RHYME: Our amazing team in Japan helped reach out to MILK, we are so grateful she replied with enthusiasm towards the song and concept. Check out some of the press interviews on our page with MILK, she has a shining heart that is very geared towards making change of ‘Influence’ VOTE!
Were the costumes what you imagined them to be?
RHYME: It was! A fairy tale, for a moment I was a tinker bell Pokémon and my imagination keeps soaring because of it.
The costumes in “fashion blogger” are iconic and amazing, how did you create the outfits?
RHYME: The Japanese ʻbabymix’ was assigned the role of costume making along with his magical team. I swear they weren’t just seamstress but magicians. The white tutu was custom made and we had many fittings to get it right. It was difficult to move in it initially because the shoulders were so big! During skating it kept hitting me in the face because of quick turns and gravity. But that white butterfly tutu piece is seriously a hall of fame costume. All the other looks for the other characters and during my triple jump were also marvelous, it was a lot of sharing ideas and trials and pin jabs.
Being from different cultures, how important is it for you both to showcase each other’s heritage?
SO: Luckily we don’t have to be conscious of it as naturally we respect each other.
RHYME: Personally I am very interested in Japanese culture but not by using the cute/neon/ kawaii/anime of it, i want to spread as much as i can the deep historic religious ceremonies that were entertaining the spirits and the poetry/incense/wood and tofu makers/writers/figures/ carvers and innovators. I have been able to learn a lot with Osawa-sans knowledge and experience to visit and perform in many historic sights here.
You’ve showcased different languages in your music video, how important is it for you both to represent different cultures?
RHYME: Very. We are coming to be one world. I am working on becoming fluent in Japanese / French as well as developing my English.
“Fashion blogger” was released 3 weeks ago and it already has over 2 million views, how does that make you both feel?
SO: Happy
RHYME: Grateful! Looking at the comments all over social media, there has been so much praise for your music video.
How does it feel to know that people are connecting with your music and the video?
RHYME: Wait, I just need to refresh my feed, LIKE! Seriously I am overwhelmed with the LIKES, Totally didn’t expect it… and I can’t believe that my dream is coming true because of everyone out there thinking/feeling/relating to the song and visual, to anyone who found this interview, thank you for joining us on our way and we are definitely just getting started with sonics poetry stories and visuals. I’M (RHYME) so excited and determined!
How important is storytelling for you both in relation to your music?
SO: I didn’t put a lot of messages into my music until I met Rhyme, but this project is a bit different. Sometimes the direct sound is included in the dark and the real intention is hit.
Your previous single, “Just Used Music Again” was amazing and “fashion blogger” was iconic. So, what’s next for “RHYME SO”?]
RHYME SO: A little more IAFB. Then our BPG. You can find your own meaning by this acronym.
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