Takahiro Yoshihira opens up about his origins, Kid Massive collaboration and Japan

Still making the quite significant leap of faith in terms of a completely developed dance music industry, Japan’s potential as another hot-spot of the EDM industry has always been a topic of discussion. But what will perhaps make the jump much more quicker than Japan achieving these expectations, are the Japanese artists who make the cut among the production stalwarts world over. One such artist who has been plying the trade along those lines is Tokyo based producer and DJ Takahiro Yoshihira.

As a Japanese producer who prides himself in being influenced in equal measures by the likes of Röyksopp, KSHMR, New Order, Blasterjaxx, The Chemical Brothers and W&W among others, Takahiro Yoshihira is not one to shy away from admitting that music to him means innovation in each track. Hot on the heels from his latest release ‘Getting Started‘ with Kid Massive and featuring C Todd Nielsen on the vocals, we took the opportunity to sit down with him and have a conversation about his origins, the release and what potential plans he has for 2018!

Tell us about the origin of your music. How did you discover your sound?

At the age of 15 I’ve met Trance music for the first time and I still remember the shockwaves I’ve had in my body from that night. Following that I’ve started learning music producing to pursue the dream created in that very special moment. Music is an integral part of my body and soul and my productions are always influenced by trance since the very first start, I remember the first things I’ve aimed to learn as an aspiring producer is how to make fat bass and crunchy kicks which are the lowers in the classic trance tracks.

Congratulations on your enormous new collaboration with Kid Massive. How did the track come to life and what were your inspirations behind it?

When Kid Massive came to my country Japan I’ve met him and we’ve started discussing on a possible collaboration. I’ve already had releases on his label ‘Get Down Recordings’ so he was well familiar with my productions and sound already. Firstly, I’ve made a groovy idea in the studio and Kid said he likes it and asked if I can work slightly more on the idea and gave some directions until the point it was solid enough for him to jump and put his own signature sound on it. I’m a massive techno fan and hence I always try to bring some inspirations from things I love listening to, into my own productions. Once we’ve finalized the instrumental we’ve sent it to C Todd Nielsen to do the vocals and the rest is history! I’m really satisfied with this record and the amount of support it received.

Speaking about your music, your tracks have been backed by huge names such as David Guetta, Blasterjaxx, Ummet Ozcan & Dannic – How does it feel to get support from artists like that? Also, what’s the best piece of advice you’d give to aspiring producers?

This is an unbelievable feeling when you sit and put so much hard work into the production, days and nights and eventually after the hard work you want to receive some ‘approval’ from the bigger artists. For me this is a motivation, I love all these guys’ music and I was thrilled to see my own creation being played by these great producers. I hope that someday I’ll get the chance to collaborate with Blasterjaxx and Ummet Ozcan, they have been an inspiration for me as an artist. Both of them are always delivering new stuff and diverse sounds, pushing innovation forward and that’s what I love about them, and that’s what I’m trying to do aswell with my own stuff. The biggest advise I’ll give to aspiring producers is certainly to be original with your own sound and don’t follow others, try to make something of your own and it will get the attention it deserves.

Every country has its own distinguishing features and you hail from Japan. What’s the difference between Japan in EDM and the rest of the world?

Most of the people here in Japan saying EDM but they still don’t know much the industry, compared to different regions in the world. If it doesn’t come from the popular Top 100 DJ’s they’re not really familiar with them unfortunately. From the production side I think that there are loads of talented artists here in Japan but they aim for the local bubble and they’re not aiming for an international recognition, they produce music for the Japanese crowd mainly and that’s a shame, I think we as a country has a lot to offer.

So many of your records have such differing sounds. How do you create such varying sounding tracks while maintaining your signature sound?

I’m always trying to create things that will slightly fit the trend but with my own signature sounds, and I’m always up for emotional melodies and big sounds, as I said music for me is something very special so I always try to bring emotions into my own creations.

What are some of your plans for 2018? Any follow-ups? Upcoming singles?

I’m really busy with music and swamped with projects right now. Definitely the biggest release this year was my collaboration with Kid Massive, but I’m aiming to push forward this year with new sounds combined with beautiful melodies. I’ve been trying some pretty cool disco-inspired ideas / 80’s style in my recent stuff and I’m also planning to win 2018’s Miller SoundClash.

Check out more of his releases on his Soundcloud here.