Foodman Explained

Foodman
Birth Name:Takahide Higuchi
Alias:Shokuhin Maturi, 食品まつり[1]
Birth Place:Japan
Origin:Nagoya, Japan
Genre:Electronic, footwork, juke, experimental music
Occupation:Musician, record producer, disc jockey, painter
Years Active:2011–present
Label:Orange Milk, Palto Flats, Hyperdub

Takahide Higuchi is a Japanese electronic producer, disc jockey and painter who works under the pseudonym Foodman. He has been releasing music since 2011 and is based in Yokohama.[2] His work first gained traction in the early 2010s when he was recognised as a leading name in Japan's footwork and juke scene; the producer has continued to see his work as rooted in footwork.[3] According to Resident Advisor, the musician's work blends different electronic genres, including juke and footwork but also ambient, techno, house and noise music, yet dissecting these styles and morphing them together "then driven to extreme without giving you a second to come up with a definitive genre."[4] The Vinyl Factory consider him to be an experimental musician.[5]

An article for The Japan Times revealed more influences on Foodman's music. From spending a year on Ishigaki as a child — where his mother is from — he believes "the smell, the temperature, the tone of the sanshin (a three-stringed Okinawan instrument) played by my grandpa and grandma" may have resulted in his "tropical or soft, bright tone".[6] The same article also states Foodman's first experience of making electronic music was via the 1996 PlayStation title Fluid (video game).

The musician has released albums on Orange Milk with artwork designed by owner Giant Claw.[7] Foodman's 2016 album Ez Minzoku features off-kilter footwork rhythms and electronic horns, woodwinds and flutes.[8] It was named one of "The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016" by Pitchfork.[9] The 2017 single "Nanika" was hailed by Pitchfork for its erratic yet dance-based structure.[10] That same year, the producer recorded a DJ mix for i-D.[11] In November 2018, he released Moriyama, his first album for the Palto Flats label.

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foodman . Resident Advisor . 9 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Keeling . Ryan . 食品まつり a.k.a foodman: A user's guide . Resident Advisor . 9 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Hadfield . James . 'Music progresses when people make mistakes': Foodman favors taking risks on new album . Japan Times . 9 February 2019 . 2 October 2018.
  4. Web site: DJ/Trackmaker/Painter based in Nagoya, Japan . Resident Advisor . 9 February 2019.
  5. Web site: Helfet . Gabriela . Japanese experimental producer Foodman makes Palto Flats debut . The Vinyl Factory . 9 February 2019 . 9 November 2018.
  6. Web site: Thomas . Russell . Music Foodman escapes the city for 'Yasuragi Land' . Japan Times . 1 July 2021 . 1 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Simpson . Paul . Artist Biography by Paul Simpson . AllMusic . 9 February 2019.
  8. Web site: Hayes . Bryon . 食品まつり a.k.a. foodman Ez Minzoku . Exclaim! . 9 February 2019 . 26 August 2016.
  9. Web site: The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016 . Pitchfork . 9 February 2019 . December 2016.
  10. Web site: Lozanzo . Kevin . Foodman "Nanika" . Pitchfork . 9 February 2019 . 14 August 2017.
  11. Web site: Dunn . Frankie . i-dj: 食品まつり aka foodman . Vice . 9 February 2019 . 9 June 2017.