LIVE with Fujiya & Miyagi, PJPJ

Photos by Chad Hinson

Mid-point through their 2009 US tour of the South and West Coast, Theme caught up with the boys from Fujiya and Miyagi and Project Jenny, Project Jan for a quick, lightning-round session of 10 Questions.

True to form, both bands gave insightful and yes, sometimes cheeky, answers but all in the spirit of entertainment. Fujiya & Miyagi’s Lightbulbs is out now! Project Jenny, Project Jan’s EP, The Colors, is out on April 14 on Might.

10 Questions for Fujiya & Miyagi

Theme: You are currently on tour supporting your latest release Light Bulbs. How has your music changed since Electro Karaoke In The Negative Style?

Steve Lewis: Massively! We have drums now for example. (laughs) Initially it was just the two of us (Steve and co-founder David Best). We were more about production than anything. With Transparent Things we became more of a band. With the next album we will be “fully live.”

How has the live show changed since the early days?
Lewis: What, besides the drums? (laughs) Just kidding. We have a lot more confidence now, as a band especially. We’re not just hiding behind laptops. That’s shit! It’s like with Dave singing—at first I just asked him to whisper on a track. Now we have full-on vocals.

Do you find a major difference between touring in the states versus Europe?
Matthew Hainsby: They don’t really like us in Europe. (laughs) I take that back, we’re good in France.
Lewis:: A big difference is that in the UK especially, you have to have a “big hit” to get people to come out to see you. We found people in the States are really interested in the whole album instead of just the single.
Hainsby: Yeah, we love the States. (laughs)

How important is the live show versus the recording process?
Lewis: I personally love the recording process! But the touring is good. Especially now, we’re a lot more confident in the band now live.
Hainsby: They’re completely different. This tour has been really good for us so far.

What were the major inspirations behind the new record?
Lewis: We were intentionally trying to get a way from the dancefloor a bit. I had been listening to a ton of Northern Soul and stuff like that. I’m really obsessed with this track by Elliott Small right now called “Stay In My Heart.” I can’t get it out of my head!
Hainsby: I had been listening to a lot of ‘50s music. I don’t know really. We still have things to work out I think.

Everything you guys have done to date has been met with both musical and creative accolades. Is one more important than the other?
Lewis: We try not to believe everything we hear. Regardless, I think you have to be willing to read the good and the bad.
Hainsby: Bottom line though, it’s just someone’s opinion isn’t it? If you reacted to everything you read or heard you wouldn’t be you anymore…you can’t always react, otherwise you’d end up changing everything.

I just saw the video for “Sore Thumb.” It seems like with every release you guys are trying to push the envelope. Is that strategic or just who you are inherently?
Hainsby: You’ve got to look at the whole picture these days. A great song has to have a great video.
Lewis: We’re very ambitious. I guess it’s who we are. We don’t do anything “just to make a hit.”

I saw that you worked with Wade Shotter again on this video. How important is his collaboration to the creative process, or do you guys drive the content?
Lewis: He was brilliant! I guess at the time, he was the new kid on the block or something like that. He had a lot to prove maybe and we loved everything he was saying.
Hainsby: Yeah, and he made us look cool! (both laugh)

“Sore Thumbs” by Fujiya & Miyagi

You guys have been together for almost a decade now. A long time by “electronic” music standards. What’s the secret to staying relevant, especially in today’s market?
Lewis: Are we relevant? (laughs) To be honest, it’s only been since Transparent Things that we’ve felt much “success.” We’ve all had shit jobs, so we’re just really grateful for what we have now. You have to be true to yourself I guess. Was that corny? (both laugh)

What does the future hold for Fujiya and Miyagi?
Lewis: We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re really optimistic about the new record we’re working on right now. I’d say in general, we’re all happy right now.
Hainsby: I think this new record will be a culmination of everything. It will be the best of what Fujiya and Miyagi have to offer!
Lewis: Well said Matthew. (both laugh)

10 Questions for Project Jenny, Project Jan

Theme: The new EP is killer. Tell me how all of the collaborations came together.
Sammy Rubin: It started out as just one song –“You Said” with So Percussion. We had toured with them a couple of times. Then someone said, “why don’t you just make a whole remix record?” All of these guys on the record are either friends of ours or friends of friends. It was pretty natural actually.

I know a portion of the proceeds from this EP is going to the 826NYC Organization. Who are they and how did you guys hook up?
Rubin: 826 is an organization started by a guy named Dave Eggers. It was founded at 826 Valencia in San Francisco, but has been in New York for a while now. It really focuses on helping kids develop their creative writing skills. That’s really important to us and is missing in a lot of schools today.

You guys have garnered some amazing press since the first EP. How important is the recognition for you as artists?
Jeremy Haines: It’s important because more people listen to us now! (laughs) Yeah, we’ve been pretty lucky with the press…it’s the bloggers that hate us! (both laugh)
Rubin: I can’t read any of it…good or bad. It’s too personal.

I know you’re in the works on the second LP. How has the recording process changed for you guys since the beginning?
Haines: We don’t record the vocals in his closet anymore! (both laugh)
Rubin: There’s a lot more “real” stuff on this one. It’s not all just computers and sounds any more.

What was inspiring you guys while recording the new album?
Haines: For The Colors EP, it was all of the people we were working with. Fujiya & Miyagi, So Percussion, Mixel Pixel, etc. Everyone was inspiring.

Is there more pressure now to deliver something overtly “commercial” now that you have gained more media exposure?
Rubin: I feel like we’re really accessible now. We don’t feel the pressure to do anything more commercial. I think first, me and Haines need to be happy with the music we’re making.

Your song “Negative” was featured on the Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist soundtrack. In fact, you guys were in the movie. How did you land that? Any more movie aspirations?
Haines: I wouldn’t mind doing more movies! (both laugh) Actually, the director (Peter Sollett) saw us on The Burg (http://www.theburg.tv) and thought we’d be good in his “little indie movie” as he described it. We didn’t know it was going to be so big. It really freaked me out to see myself on the big screen. I remember being at the premier and I mean I knew when my part was, but it was still really weird.

Billboard has called your live show “shockingly dynamic, danceable and a hilarious affair.” How much of that is planned and how much is spontaneous?
Rubin: I am planned. He is spontaneous! (both laugh uncontrollably. I am definitely missing an inside joke here)

What makes Project Jenny, Project Jan unique?
Haines: Our live show for sure. We’re always having a ton of fun on stage. The crowd vibes off us and we feed off that energy.
Rubin: Our music has everything for the senses. The music has depth. And Haines’ energy is incredible. It makes you move. It makes you think.

What does the future hold for Project Jenny, Project Jan?
Rubin: We’re working on our next full-length album right now that will be out at the end of the year. Beyond that, who knows?
Haines: Things seem pretty open for us right now. It’s a cool place to be in.

“Pins and Needles” by Project Jenny, Project Jan featuring Fujiya & Miyagi