Takahide Higuchi is a Japanese electronic producer, disc jockey and painter who works under the pseudonym Foodman.[2] He has been releasing music since 2011 and is based in Yokohama.[3] His work first gained traction in the early 2010s when he was recognised as a leading name in Japan's footwork and juke scene; the producer has continued to see his work as rooted in footwork.[4] According to Resident Advisor, the musician's work blends different electronic genres, including juke and footwork but also ambient, techno, house and noise music, yet dissecting these styles and morphing them together "then driven to extreme without giving you a second to come up with a definitive genre."[2] The Vinyl Factory consider him to be an experimental musician.[5]

Foodman
Birth nameTakahide Higuchi
Also known asShokuhin Maturi, 食品まつり[1]
BornJapan
OriginNagoya, Japan
GenresElectronic, footwork, juke, experimental music
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer, disc jockey, painter
Years active2011–present
LabelsOrange Milk, Palto Flats, Hyperdub

An article for The Japan Times revealed more influences on Foodman's music. From spending a year on Ishigaki as a child — where his mother is from — he believes "the smell, the temperature, the tone of the sanshin (a three-stringed Okinawan instrument) played by my grandpa and grandma" may have resulted in his "tropical or soft, bright tone".[6] The same article also states Foodman's first experience of making electronic music was via the 1996 PlayStation title Fluid (video game).

The musician has released albums on Orange Milk with artwork designed by owner Giant Claw.[7] Foodman's 2016 album Ez Minzoku features off-kilter footwork rhythms and electronic horns, woodwinds and flutes.[8] It was named one of "The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016" by Pitchfork.[9] The 2017 single "Nanika" was hailed by Pitchfork for its erratic yet dance-based structure.[10] That same year, the producer recorded a DJ mix for i-D.[11] In November 2018, he released Moriyama, his first album for the Palto Flats label.[5]

Discography edit

  • Shokuhin (2012)
  • 「IROIRO」 (2013)
  • Drum Desu (2014)
  • Ez Minzoku (2016)
  • Aru Otoko No Densetsu (2018)
  • ODOODO (2019)
  • Dokutsu (2020)
  • Yasuragi Land (2021)

References edit

  1. ^ "Foodman". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "DJ/Trackmaker/Painter based in Nagoya, Japan". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  3. ^ Keeling, Ryan. "食品まつり a.k.a foodman: A user's guide". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  4. ^ Hadfield, James (2 October 2018). "'Music progresses when people make mistakes': Foodman favors taking risks on new album". Japan Times. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b Helfet, Gabriela (9 November 2018). "Japanese experimental producer Foodman makes Palto Flats debut". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  6. ^ Thomas, Russell (1 July 2021). "Music Foodman escapes the city for 'Yasuragi Land'". Japan Times. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  7. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Artist Biography by Paul Simpson". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  8. ^ Hayes, Bryon (26 August 2016). "食品まつり a.k.a. foodman Ez Minzoku". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  9. ^ "The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016". Pitchfork. December 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  10. ^ Lozanzo, Kevin (14 August 2017). "Foodman "Nanika"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  11. ^ Dunn, Frankie (9 June 2017). "i-dj: 食品まつり aka foodman". Vice. Retrieved 9 February 2019.