Text & Photo: Atsuko Tanaka / Edit : B SABURO

SORANE in Omotesando

-Tell us about your style today.

This T-shirt is from CACTUS PLANT FLEA MARKET. When I saw the crowds at Fuji Rock Fest the other day, I thought it was really cool. The photo in this T-shirt reminded me of the scenery so I bought it.

-I know you like clothes, do you have a favorite brand or fashion style these days?

Rather than choosing by brand, I usually buy clothes that match my personality and have a nice color. But recently I started buying from KAPITAL. They are considerate about the current times and make their clothes sustainable and easy to wear. Also I like casual and street-wear that has a proper message. I think I unconsciously choose themes that are not too far from me as an artist and my personally. Whether it's narrow or wide, I usually wear casual style.

-Are you casual as a person too?

I think I’m friendly. I want to get along with everyone, and I enjoy interacting with them.

-You are from Amagasaki, but currently based in Tokyo?

I've been living in Tokyo since February of this year. But I have a house in Amagasaki and also have an office in Osaka, so I go back and forth.

-Do you often visit Omotesando where we did the shoot today?

Yes, when I shop I always go from Harajuku to Omotesando with my friends to look for select shops. Even if I don't buy anything, I just enjoy looking. In Harajuku I go to UNITED ARROWS & SONS, which has a lot of casual clothes I like.

-Do you buy clothes mostly in Tokyo?

Yeah, but when I buy clothes from stores in the city, there is a high possibility that I will encounter with someone who wears the same stuff, so basically I buy online.

-Where do you check out fashion?

I check out many foreign rappers on social media. I especially like Aminé, and I allude to his fashion style. Also, I like Joey Bada$$, and I look at a lot of UK drill fashions and try to incorporate the best of them. I also check the fashion style of regular people.

-Which city do you think has the most fashionable people in the world?

I think it’s New York by far. I've never been there, but when I see someone’s Vlogs I get the impression that everyone in NY has casual style and unconsciously chooses and wears clothes that match their personality. I think it’s the same with young people that enjoy fashion in Japan, but the style of New Yorkers is really cool.

-Do you feel the style of young people in Japan is changing too?

I think so. Even among junior and senior high school students, there are so many kids who spend all of their money on fashion and music. They learn style from the rappers. There are many here who are interested in fashion, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka.

-What are some essential fashion/beauty items for you?

For fashion, this bracelet and the ring. This Louis Vuitton bracelet, I wear it all the time. It goes with anything and I feel like it helps me motivate myself with the routine of putting it on, getting dressed, and getting my hair done. The ring is from Gucci. The color is nice and I like that it has marks like stars and heart on it. For Beauty it’s definitely perfume. I think people have a good image of me when I smell good. I've been using Margiela’s REPLICA for a long time.

-You have nice pop tattoos too!

I have a few tattoos and I thought I'd get the same person to do my left arm, so I always ask for Towa from the tattoo shop in Harbor Studio in Kobe. My favorite is this one, it’s the image of the law of attraction. My mother always told me to say out loud what I want to achieve so it will come true so I decided to make that into a tattoo. It’s the boy’s dreams coming out of his mouth.

-Are there any fashion styles you would like to try in the future?

Simple styles that can be recognized by the artist's individuality. Right now, I'm wearing things that have colors and messages, but I want to be able to perfectly balance fashion when I'm in my 30s. For example, white T, denim jeans and Converse sneakers. I think Taka (WILYWNKA) is good at that kind of fashion, so I want to be like that. I'm 21 now, and I wanna be like that by the time I'm 30.

-By the way, is the name Sorane(空音, Sound of sky) your real name?

That's right. My father named me. He wanted the meaning to be the sound of the sky and nature. He wants me to be in the center of the crowd and be able to be seen.

-Tell us about the new single “GIMME HPN” that was released the other day. It was produced by Shinichi Osawa. How did you come to work with him?

I've always wanted to do something new, so this time we decided to go with an electronic and funk sound. There aren't many track makers that specialize in electronic music around me and since he’s in the same division of my label, I had connections to him.

-How was it working together?

I've been dancing for a long time, so I was familiar with texture of the funk sound. I really felt the funk style of Mr. Osawa and the old-fashioned drums. He gave shape to the sound that I had always wanted to do.

-Did you learn anything from Mr. Osawa's attitude toward music?

The production was done at his studio where he has a lot of equipment and records and I was very impressed. I want to create an environment where I can do the pre-production one day.  When I got home I tried making a track, but it didn't work out at all. After all that, I realized that track makers do great work.

-When do you usually come up with your lyrics?

When I’m driving. I like driving so much that I get in the car just to listen to music. Sometimes when I come up with something I stop by the highway service area and write lyrics for about an hour. It often happens when I'm driving from Tokyo to Osaka. I think my mind relaxes when I'm headed towards an environment where I can unwind. After having serious conversations with my friends about music and future prospects, I dwell on it even after I get home. I write everything down to digest. I take notes as soon as I come up with something and I think that's why I've been able to create so many different songs.

-Where do you go for drive in Tokyo?

I go the Rainbow Bridge, so I'll go to Odaiba first. After crossing the bridge, I head toward Yokohama and get off at the exit of the Yokohama station west. And that I get back on the expressway to Tokyo, getting off at the Tama River and coming back home.

-What kind of music do you listen to when you drive?

Recently, I’ve been listening to Smino, Sunni Colón and Tyler's album "Flower Boy" on repeat. Usually I listen to foreign rappers, but sometimes I listen to Japanese artist like UNICORN. The other day, "Wonderful days" came on and I thought the theme of the song was really good. I think Tamio Okuda is very cool.

-Tell us about your new project.

I’m currently working on my fourth album, which is scheduled to be released around the end of November. In the past year or two, I've been making a lot of EPs, and I thought I'd like to make an album. It’s not something that can be done relatively easily like an EP. This time, for each song I'm doing everything I want, whether it's the theme or the sound. So I feel like I've been able to produce it in the best condition I've ever had. When it comes to making cool things, we are able to do it as a team without compromise, and that's great motivation.

-I look forward to it! Finally, what does hip hop mean to you?

I think it’s the music that stands for young people. Just like my agency BrothWork found me and made me bigger, it's a culture where we all help each other and let the young people stand in the center. The hip hop scene in Amagasaki is still in progress, so in order to make it more exciting I would like to continue working hard on my project. Other than myself, I'd like to produce someone else from my hood, even if it's just for one song. So I wanna be a bigger artist by then.

SORANE

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