PLAYLIST 23. Tokyo’s Dos Monos on international success, Stravinsky, and Dos Siki
interview
Boris Ageev
22 august 2020
Dos Monos is a Japanese hip-hop trio that creates avant-garde jazz hip-hop. In 2019 their debut album Dos City was featured in Deep Cuts’ Top Albums of 2019.
Dos City album cover
On July, 24 the group released their second full-length in Dos Siki. Deep Cuts reached out to the guys for a playlist full of each members’ current favorite songs tied to a single concept, as well as a short interview:
Dos Monos
Since Dos City came out, it feels like a lot of things have changed for you: your success is now international and brought more fans, you are now in a Deathbomb Arc roster, who released music from JPEGMAFIA, clipping, Death Grips, etc. Do you think it affected the process or your approach to the music after the debut?
I don't know how much of a success it is, but we are [definitely] under the influence of international marketing. I mean, without that, we would not have been able to collaborate with Injury Reserve. But at the same time, when we approach [the] music itself, it's just [the] same as before. If you felt something new, it's just our new direction and the shift of the relationship among us three has had a much bigger influence on the album in my opinion.
01
In one of your interviews we could see that the entire process is happening in Zo Zhit’s home studio. There are egg cartons on walls, stacks of vinyl and audio equipment, and I figure this is where Dos City was born. I remember in my review of the project I was so stunned by that video it was the very first thing that I started describing to our readers before even going into the album. Did you record the new album at the same location?
Haha, thanks for digging. Yes, still [at] the same Zo's home/studio, same old equipment. Zo's got a nice couch now. But the way we recorded is pretty much the same. We gather there, do nothing for a while, then write and record.
02
Botsu:
オタク IN THA HOOD : Dos Monos
«Each of us picked 4 songs for 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter»
[according to the group, the 4 tracks from Dos Siki represent the same concept, symbolizing all seasons of the debut’s Dos City]
荘子it (Zo Zhit, Dos Monos producer) picks:
Zo Zhit. Photo: Yosuke Demukai
Comment: The Spring one refers to the title obviously. The others are simply because of the musical similarities.
Photo: Kazumi Watanabe
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring, Part 1: Augurs of Spring
spring
Playlist:
Terrace Martin
Turkey Taco (feat. The Emotions & Wayne Vaughn)
summer
34:11
04:03
Young Fathers
Old Rock N Roll
autumn
03:12
Childish Gambino
This Is America
winter
04:04
TaiTan (Dos Monos rapper) picks:
Comment: They each represent the Beginning of lives, Fictional love/city, Hollowness, and Mercilessness.
TaiTan (on the left)
TaiTan. Photo: Yosuke Demukai
The Beatles
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
spring
Playlist:
Battles
Atlas
summer
03:08
04:07
King Crimson
Elephant Talk
autumn
04:42
54-71
beyond
winter
03:40
没 (Botsu, Dos Monos rapper) picks:
Comment: Either in its nature or in the context of how it's consumed, these songs are oxymorons to me, as the Dos Siki songs are.
Botsu (in front)
Kobukuro × Ayaka
Winding Road
spring
Playlist:
The Beach Boys
Surf's Up
summer
04:59
04:12
Goodie Mob
Soul Food
autumn
03:57
Tom Zé
São São Paulo
winter
03:43
TEXT
SOUND
DEEP CUTS
Tyler, the Creator is in full bloom
Article
I like getting lost, I like that s**t. Exploring, makin’ a left turn
24
october
・ 2018
Section 8
Jungle
02
december
・ 2019