寂空 (Jack) Shamisenist with Robert Simpkins

寂空 (JACK) is a shamisen musician and frontman of the band The Shamisenists. His approach to composition is one of continuous movement across boundaries, inspired by his own travel to different parts of the world. As a result, his music often exhibits a diversity that escapes categorization. Jack performed at the Rugby World Cup official reception at the Yokohama Arena in 2019. In 2022, The Shamisenists were the sole Japanese band to perform at the celebrated MOTOCULTOR festival in France. In 2023 Jack performed at Fuji Rock, the biggest music festival in Japan. He is the recipient of multiple awards and honours, including an Indian Foreign Minister’s Award for his arrangement of the Japanese version of Gandhi’s beloved devotional song. 

https://www.instagram.com/shamisenist_jack/

Jack’s words in this episode were translated by Robert Simpkins and narrated by Oscar Wrenn. Oscar is a PhD researcher based at Kobe University in Japan, studying everyday agricultural practice in depopulated rural landscapes.

Robert Simpkins is a social anthropologist and coproducer of the Artery podcasts. His research interests focus upon the intersection of sound, space, creativity, and the production of self.

Permission obtained by Transist Records and the creators of the music for tracks featured in this podcast episode:

LOTUS / The Shamisenists [re:tokyo]
Modernized Flight / The Shamisenists [re:tokyo]
URVIBE_feat. Yokotasax / The Shamisenists [PLAY!]

Permission also granted for use of the impromptu shamisen performance recorded during the interview, and featured at the close of the episode.