Spotlight Artists: The Suzan

Our next spotlight artists are the Japanese female rock group, The Suzan. Their latest album, "Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat", was produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John. They recently performed at the Concert for Japan at the Japan Society, and are included in the line-up for Brooklyn ♥ Japan benefit tonight at The Bell House. Thanks to Dana Meyerson of Biz 3 for arranging the interview.

photo by Mamiko Miyakoshi

Lineup:
Rie: Keyboard
Saori : Vocal/Guitar
Ikue : Bass
NICO : Drums

How did your band's name come about?
We have sisters in the band. And their nick name is SUZAN which come from their last name.

How long have you been performing?
Almost 7 years

Musical influences:
The Beatles

Linkage:
website: TheSuzan.com
facebook: THE-SUZAN
Youtube: michelletTHESUZAN
Twitter: @thesuzan
myspace: thesuzan

Where can we buy your music?
iTunes

Blatant self-promotion: What would you like to plug?
Our new album "Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat" makes you feel happy whenever you listen to it!

How long did it take to record the new album, "Golden Week for the Poco Poco Beat"? What does the title mean?
It took almost 2 weeks. We did recording in Stockholm. As for the title, "Golden Week" is actually Japanese-English, and we Japanese have "Golden Week" in May: long holidays. And our producer Bjorn loves that word. "Poco Poco" is expressing our sounds.

How is the tour going? How are American audiences different to performing in Japan.
There's not much different to enjoy their feelings for our performance between American audiences and Japanese ones. But American audiences are good to express their excited feelings and also have attitudes to receive what they like honestly even if they don't know us. Japanese audience's passions are so strong, same as American audiences. They need enough time till they express their feelings after show is started.

Favorite venues to play:
9:30 club in D.C. and Rock Shop in Brooklyn
The Rock Shop
249 4th Ave.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 230-5740
TheRockShopNY.com

Tell us a story or anecdote about performing live.
When we finish every show, many audiences try to talk to us and shoot photos. They make lines to shoot photos. It's good for us and makes us feel like being idols. So funny!

Any advice to someone just starting out?
YOU CAN DO IT! YOU MUST DO IT!

What are your plans for the future?
We have some gigs in NYC. And, we hope to trip around the world to play gigs!

Can you recommend any other act(s) we could feature on MurphGuide?
We want to recommend "Peter Bjorn and John"!!!! Their new album "GIMME SOME" is amazing. We listen to it every morning in our home.

Upcoming gig:
The Suzan will be performing at a benefit for Japan tonight, Friday, April 15.

Friday, April 15, 2011
Bklyn ♥ Japan (Part II)
Comedy from:
Wyatt Cenac (Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
Kristen Schaal (Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Letterman, Conan, Flight of the Conchords)
Kurt Braunohler (IFC, Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!)
Tim Harrington ("Beardo"/Les Savy Fav)
Arden Myrin (MAD TV/Chelsea Lately)
and more

Music by:
Mike Doughty (formerly of Soul Coughing)
Hard Nips (from Japan)
The Suzan (from Japan)
and more

All night dance party with:
DJ Aaron Lacrate and a special celebrity DJ (t.b.a.)
7:30pm Doors / 8pm Show
$15 adv / $20 doors
at:
The Bell House
149 7th St. (between 2nd & 3rd Ave.)
Gowanus, Brooklyn, NY
718 643-6510
TheBellHouseNY.com



The Suzan will also perform on Saturday, April 30 at The Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Below is a video from Suzan TV, chronicling their first days in NYC: