DexSessions: This&That Café Vol.40 “Sounds of Winter”

Open 19:30 | Start 20:00 | Entry ¥1,000

In February of 2011, This&That Café Vol.1 welcomed about 30 people to sit at candle-lit tables in an atmosphere that resembled, well, a café. Fast forward seven years and 40 shows later, and these days #TnTCafe sees crowds of 200+ in a space that has been described as an “indoor festival.” But despite the change in scale, our 40th show will largely resemble all those that came before it in the eclectic and excellent mix of artistry that has come to define the event. For Vol. 40, we have assembled a cast that again spans multiple genres, from the dreamy trip-hop stylings of UKICO to the R&B-infused sounds of the chart-topping CIRRRCLE, just to name a few. So bring your good vibes and an open mind to help us welcome the winter as we celebrate the 40th installment of this very special gathering.

Featuring:

■ CIRRRCLE 

CIRRRCLE is an international Hiphop crew based in Tokyo/LA. Started performing in 2017, consisting of three people. Amiide is originally from Kobe Japan and spent her student life in LA. She is a singer and also a rapper who has mellow whisper voice. Jyodan, his performing style revokes Goldlink, is from USA and now performing in LA after his activities in Tokyo. A.G.O, from Niigata, is a skillful modern hiphop & beatscene beat-maker. Their single “Watch” released in April took 1st place at Spotify Japan Viral and their previous single “Talk Too Much” also appears on Spotify Official Playlist in worldwide. In this June, CIRRRCLE performed at “BANANAS”, which is the historical hiphop event in LA where many famous artists like Anderson Paak, Syd, Doja Cat also performed. Their track from the latest EP “Fast Car” appears on Spotyfy’s global playlist “New Music Friday” and their name is to be known in the world. 
https://www.instagram.com/cirrrclemusic/

■ UKICO

Born to a Japanese mother and a French father UKICO is a singer/songwriter and producer based in Tokyo. Influenced by 90s Triphop her music can be described as alternative, dark pop, merging sample drums sounds and textures, dreamy or dark synth, traditional japanese instruments with sultery vocals. UKICO spent her childhood in Paris, studying at the University La Sorbonne while traveling internationally for her modeling career. She only started writing music later, after moving to Tokyo. To pursue her musical career more seriously she entered a music engineering school in NYC, the Institute of Audio Research. After graduating salutatorian, she interned at a recording studio “Strange Weather” based in Brooklyn where she participated in the writing and recording of “36 seasons” by Ghosface Killah, and at the well-known jazz club Birdland, live mixing for the Grammy Award winning band The Afro Latin Jazz orchestra among other jazz acts; all while writing and performing her own music. Having engineering knowledge she starts producing, mixing and engineering her own tracks. She is greatly influenced by the Brooklyn Indie pop culture as well as Trip hop music. Now she is collaborating with the producer Justyn Pilbrow (The neighborhood, Halsey…) for her first Album incorporating some traditional Japanese instruments.
https://m.facebook.com/ukicomusic/

■ Kev Gray & The Gravy Train

Kev Gray & The Gravy Train celebrate their 10th anniversary at the iconic ‘This&That Café’ night at Superdeluxe on Nov. 9. An award-winning blend of jazz, lounge, folk gospel, blues and bossa nova, the international outfit mashes up old genres with modern themes, such as Facebook, yoga, Tinder, and comas, fronted with a velveteen vocal. A whirlwind world tour of Asia, Europe and N. America in 2017 included notable performances in Greenwich Village, NY; Printers Alley, Nashville; and the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis. The band has since focused on recording and hopes to release two more albums in 2019 but is ready to pop This and That on November 9. Come join the ride! 
https://hemlockmusic.com/

■ EVERGREEN

Organized in 2014 in New York. EVERGREEN is a creative collective that loves art and dance. The group mainly consists of four people. Shin is an artist, graphic designer and currently works for TokyoDex. Honomi is a performer who is a member of world famous “Cirque du Soleil” and “Fuerza Bruta”. Chaki is a funky guy who recently lost his new drone at his very first flight. Yoshino, a photographer is now based in Sapporo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdtjHikURBg

■ rinnai (Spicy Sunday)

Realized the depth of the music listening to Nobukazu Takemura, electronica artist at the age of 20. Rinnai started listening to various kinds of music such as ambient, post rock, electronica, hip hop etc. When her music interests changed to techno / house, she started DJ-ing in Tokyo. Later she moved back to her hometown Osaka in 2012, starting her own party called ‘Nocturne.’ Also, she organized parties in unordinary locations such as on boats or in warehouses. In 2015 she changed her HQ to Tokyo again, continuing her career as DJ this time being more into aesthetic feeling techno and house, kind of dreamy but dancy type of music. Apart from that she is a regular DJ in party called “Konran” (meaning “confusion” in Japanese) as well as she organizes conceptual events such as “Spicy Sunday” in Knock Koenji.
https://www.mixcloud.com/ayanomorisaka/ 

■ Yeka Haski: “Doodle Tattoo Salon”

Yeka Haski is a mixed-media artist from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Her artwork focuses on detailed imaginary characters painted in bright colors to depict a world full of fun. She works across multiple genres including fine art, illustration, street art, fashion and design. 
http://yekahaski.com/ 

■ Maeda Mameko (Live Painting)

Born in 1993. As a member of “Kakumeikurabu,” she has performed and exhibited both in Japan and overseas since 2012. Currently she is working for TokyoDex as an art coordinator while she continues to explore her own expression through illustration and collage.
https://www.instagram.com/maeda_mameko

■ Hirotaka Russell Shimoyama

Filmmaker / VJ Born and raised in the states, now Tokyo-based. Always open and into good visuals. With a professional video production background, I work on commercial/music/fashion films, also projection mapping, interactive, and visual arts. Travel and party lover.
https://russellshimoyama.myportfolio.com/

■ VJ CHIHIRÖ 

CHIHIRÖ’s interest in VJing came from a desire to mix her skills as a graphic designer with her interest in music. With the help with other VJs and friends, she began performing at clubs like ageha, WOMB, and UNIT to gain experience and she continues to perform at various venues that hold cutting-edge events. In the past two years, she has been organizing VJ sessions that provide an opportunity for both beginners and seasoned veterans to practice and get to know other people in the community.
https://www.facebook.com/chihiro.saito.792

 

■ VJ Joy Ding

Joy Ding is a multimedia artist and photographer primarily based in San Francisco, CA. Born in Shanghai, she grew up with her grandparents, who began teaching her traditional Chinese calligraphy & ink painting at an early age. She received her Bachelors in Arts from Harvard University, studying photography with Chris Killip, whose approach to remains a strong influence. Joy’s work combines traditional techniques in unexpected ways and attempts to embody the intimacy & preciousness of being anything at all.
http://joyding.com/