It is nothing short of overwhelming how much unbridled energy there is in the performance of Haru Nemuri, the musically elusive "poetry rapper" from Yokohama, Japan. No brakes, no rest, but track after track an endless state of ecstasy - in the evening on stage, with a frenzied crowd at her feet time and time again, but also apparently in the early afternoon in an empty beer specialty store in Rotterdam. Front's video team filmed a session there.
So elusive, because try putting a label on it: the music of Haru Nemuri, real name Haruna Kimishima, is not J-Pop, not punk, not hip-hop, not noise pop, not post-hardcore - and at the same time it is all that, in a musical mixture that will make your head spin.
Haru to Shura(after a collection of poems by Kenji Miyazawa) is her most impressive achievement to date - with lyrics that have won her many Japanese fans and a blistering sound that has made her famous in the blogosphere far beyond. Very fitting for an artist who earlier this year asked haphazardly on Facebook if someone in Europe would like to book her and googled all the necessary skills for Haru to Shura. From that record she played for Front 'Night Swimming' and 'Underground'.
Photo's: Sara Amroussi-Gilissen
Production and edit: Peter Marcus
Cinematography: Cheong Park & Peter Marcus
Recording, mix & master: Jasper Boogaard
Written by: Ruben van Dijk
Thanks to: Jim Luijten & Bierenzo.nl
