Interview by Mark Bayross
How did you come to work with each other?
Yukari: Meant to be. When I was playing tennis for a circle in Wimbledon, and I saw this guy playing so funky on the other court, his racket looked as if it was a guitar. At the time I didn’t know it was Andy Cox, but I chatted to him on the day and I found out. Jebus.
Andy: Yuka was in the UK working with someone else. We met by accident and really hit it off. We tried a few things on the last weekend before she went back to Tokyo and we both liked the results so much we decided to continue to work together.
Were you a fan of each other’s previous music?
Andy: To be honest I hadn¹t heard any when we first met. But I like what I¹ve heard since
Yukari: I quite like FYC’s “She Drives Me Crazy” which has been a TV commercial song for HONDA (wicked coupling, isn’t it?) in Japan. The guitar riff is so memorable!
From where do you draw your inspiration when writing music?
Andy: Can be anywhere. I guess that everything you hear feeds into it in some way. Even stuff you don¹t like shows you what not to do!
Yukari: Phrases that could be the key of the song. Or the basic groove, say, like the rhythm patterns or the guitar riff. Add more imagination to make it complete.
How long did VOLUME take to record and were you both involved in all the stages?
Yukari: It took about 3 years. Right, Andy?
Andy: Well maybe more like 2. But we should point out that we weren¹t working on it every day! Yuka was still living in Tokyo so we did a lot of it by e-mail and sending various sound files and tapes backwards and forwards between the UK. and Japan. So we were both involved with everything really except not always at the same time or on the same continent
Do you have a favourite song on VOLUME?
Andy: BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE is a good one. I also like SOMEBODY TO LOVE. But it¹s hard to choose a favourite. If we didn¹t like them we wouldn¹t put them on.
Yukari: YESTERDAY ONCE MORE. I know it sounds a bit funny to say this here ‘cuz it’s the only non-original in the album (laugh). But you know, cover versions are sometimes so disturbing or just retouching originals, and I’d say Cribabi’s YESTERDAY – is totally new digital rock approach, still remains the respect for the original.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Andy: The best is yet to come.
Yukari: When I got the big prize from BMG Victor for one of my song in Japan. My mom was crying.
What other bands or artists do you admire?
Andy: Marcel Duchamp.
Yukari: The Kinks, Lew Lewis (is my blues harp master) and Ramones.
Any other musicians / singers you’d like to work with?
Andy: Unfortunately there either all dead or past it now.
Yukari: Robbie Williams. Does he have a girl friend?
How do your songs translate live?
Yukari: Punk’s not dead.
Andy: She¹s not wrong.
Do you prefer playing live or producing in the studio?
Yukari: Oranges and apples. Studio work is like a place to bear, could take time and try any possibility until you’ve reached over the moon. Live goes by far the faster. Can make everybody’s time happier or just suck. I really like that feeling dealing with the direct reaction from the audience, from the members as well, so I might like live better.
Andy: I like both equally. Although there¹s a lot less heavy lifting involved in the studio.
What are your future plans?
Andy: Planning has never been my strong point. I like to wait and see what happens.
Yukari: Mmm. I want Cribabi to be known more in the states. Maybe it’s not the plan, but the closest desire.
If you produce another album, what can we expect of it?
Yukari: Crazier. With a bunch of love.
Andy: I couldn¹t have put it better.
Thank you for talking to PHASE9 Entertainment
And thank you for talking to Cribabi
