Decky Hedrock, The Japanese Popstars

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Aoibheann Maguire

Let’s face it, there’s probably something missing from your life, and your CD collection, and it’s more than likely sweat- generating, floor-stomping, hedonistic fuelled, club tunes. So then, are you ready for We Just Are: Live: the latest release from Derry-based, electronic favourites – The Japanese Popstars? It’s a rapturous take on their energetic live shows, and it’s programmed to make you fall in love with clubbing all-over-again.

You can’t fake sincerity in music, and this group (Gary Curran, Decky Hedrock and Gareth Donoghue) have it in abundance. As one-third of The Japanese Popstars, Decky Hedrock, explains to Drop-d, in the mist of their soaring, dance-scene, success – “we’re just (vodka swigging) clubbers at heart”, albeit ones on a very discernible up!

Drop-d:  Firstly, I have to congratulate you on the release of We Just Are: Live; it’s a really exciting record, for electronic music, would you like to introduce it?

Decky Hedrock: Thanks!  It’s basically a direct representation of a night out with The Japanese Popstars.  We’ve really wanted to capture the energy and excitement of one of our live shows and we actually managed to bottle this perfect on this CD.  We are a live act first and foremost, so to be able to release something that identifies us as just that, as well as producers or remixers is hard to do.  We’ve been lucky to have a great year and some of the most amazing shows all over the world, that any band or DJ could wish for – so capturing a little slice of that, to give back to the people that have travelled to see us playing out on this tour, is a way to let them know that we also enjoyed it as much as they do!

Drop-d: Was it surreal getting to play on the same bill as Orbital (at Electric Picnic); you get compared to them a lot?

Decky: We’ve strangely bumped into Phil Hartnoll over the last two years quite a bit, at the likes of Glastonbury Festival,Rockness Festival and Matter (club in London) – where we’ve shared the same shows.  When they reformed we seemed to share the same bills at shows and festivals.  EP was just one of the times.  We watched Orbital from the side of the stage at Electric Picnic before we went on to our stage.

Drop-d: What did ye think of orbital’s performance at Electric Picnic?

Decky: Great. They are good at what they do.

A good record label and management is definitely a key.  It was only when we moved to Gung-Ho that we started to get noticed outside Ireland.

Drop-d: You seem to have had a hectic summer of touring.  Anything interesting to report: favourite gigs/festivals?

Decky: It’s weird because at festivals you don’t really get to see anyone because you’re travelling, sleeping or doing interviews.  So although we do make an effort to catch bands that we really like.  M83 was a highlight for me this year!  Their sound is just epic.

Drop-d:  it’s easy to feel the passion and energy from you guys when you play live. Would you say this is what sets The Japanese Popstars apart from other, modern-day, electronic acts?

Decky:We’ll we’re basically clubbers at heart, we’re used to heading out to see our favourite DJs etc and for us to do a show, we actually treat it like a night out!  So we do put effort into the show and try to have as much fun as possible, after all we are getting to play our own music to large crowds of mad ravers a lot – so it’s something to be excited about.  Hopefully, people can see that and it’s reflected in what we do.

Drop-d: You’re signed to Gung-Ho! Recordings. Do you think it’s possible for acts to achieve the same kind of success that you’ve had particularly, in electronic music, without that kind of backing?

Decky: No, a good record label and management is definitely a key. It was only when we moved to Gung-Ho that we started to get noticed outside Ireland more, we had been signed to a different label before that.  There’s a lot of great music released weekly – especially in the dance scene and even if you are making the best music on the planet, you’ll just slip into that mass and be a small fish in a big pond because of the amount that people will have to sift through to discover you.  People need to be able to hear you.

Drop-d:  You’re a trio, so do you run into musical differences? If so, any tips for ironing things out as a group?

Decky: We all come from different musical backgrounds, and I think that helps because we all have a similar musical-taste, now.  This way we can direct each other and add more ideas into tracks that we come up with.

Drop-d: If you could work with any vocalist who would you choose, and is that something The Japanese Popstars will ever do?

Decky:Yes, we have been lucky to get that opportunity and our second studio album features some amazing guests.  We are in the middle of writing that at the minute.

Drop-d: You’ve done a lot of remixes; I imagine that’s great fun. Is there anymore in the pipeline?

Decky: We get loads of remix requests all the time, so it’s a matter or our priorities.  If we are gigging, or on the road a lot and writing our own material then, if we have time we’ll take on a new remix.  If not, we just either have to say no, or ask if the artist can wait for us or allow us to remix another one of their tracks, if we really like them.  At the minute we are writing our second album and are concentrating on that….although a few remix offers are there!!

Drop-d:  What tracks get you guys in the mood to go on stage?

Decky: It’s really more vodka and red bull than music before we go on!

Drop-d: What’s next on the agenda for The Japanese Popstars?

Decky: Our live album has just dropped and BCTT is coming out on single, so we’ll be touring those over the next few months.  Our remixes of Benny Benassi feat Iggy Pop and The Editors are also hitting soon, so we are excited about those.  We’ll be doing another tour of the USA and Canada next month and trying to finish off the next album.  Who knows what then!

We Just Are: Live is out now. The Japanese Popstars play the Button Factory on Thursday 1^st October 2009.

The Japanese Popstars

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Tags: BCTT, Benny Benassi feat Iggy Pop, Decky Hedrock, electric picnic, Gareth Donoghue, Gary Curran, glastonbury, Gung Ho! Recordings, m83, Matter, Orbital, Rockness, The Editors, The Japanese Popstars, We Just Are:Live