“Deep
Beauty”
Interview with the Multi-player
Yoh Ohyama
By Sergio Vilar
To
begin Yoh, we would like to know the history of Asturias...
Yes,
in 1987 I (Multi-player Yoh Ohyama) created the original
demonstration tape by multi track recording.
I formed the project Asturias for live gig and
recording.
1988 Asturias rereased 1st album “Circle in the
Forest” from King Record Cryme Label.
1990 “Brilliant Streams” and 1993 “Cryptogam
Illusion” were released.
Haruhiko
Tsuda, Akira
Hanamoto (ex. Shingetsu)
and some guests played for these albums.
Asturias
are instrumental unit which have a lyrical & dramatic melody
(called "Japanese Mike Oldfield").
It's really original mixture progressive sound by rock band and
acoustic instruments.
But
their activities were stopped after 3rd album released. And 10
years passed...
2004
Asturias revived as acoustic ensemble unit
Acoustic Asturias.
4th album “Bird Eyes View” was released and they
played some gigs. Their music got high evaluation.
Asturias'
line up : Yoshihiro Kawagoe (Piano), Misa
Kitatsuji (Violin), Kaori Tsutsui (Clarinet) and Yoh
Ohyama (Gat Guitar)
This
formation suggests clasical quartet sound.
But their sound is very Exciting! Dramatic! Powerfull!... And of
course, very beautiful, too.
Please experience "New acoustic sound"!
Hereafter we'd like to active in parallel "Acoustic
Asturias" and "Electric Asturias".
Please attention our works.
What does it
motivate you to create your music? What things do you fascinate
and do you inspire?
I
often visualize a natural scene when I write music. I'm inspired
by a literary work and so on, too.
Could
you define the music of Asturias? What do you want to transmit?
I
had listened to a lot of progressive music since I was young.
That is a treasure in my life.
I always want to make the music that is not in others, like the
predecessors who made new music. But, it is very difficult.
Asturias’
features
1) Instrumental music with the melody constructed properly. Not
a difficult aim, it understands easily as much as possible.
There isn’t almost improvisation and isn’t avant-garde.
2) Mysterious, serious, cool and beautiful atmosphere. And there
are dramatic movements.
3) About musical instrument, feature of piano sequence, grow
together classical instrument and electric sound.
Anyway,
I would like to give the people the impression that it could get
with progressive music at golden age. It is not only for
progressive maniac but also for more general listener.
How
would you describe the progression of the group along these last
years?
1)
About recording, Multi-track recording style by Yoh Ohyama
and some guests.
2) In 1988 live formation (rock band style).
3) And 10 years passed... In 2004 Asturias revived as
acoustic ensemble unit Acoustic
Asturias.
This
formation suggests classical quartet sound. We are active by
recording and live performance. Hereafter we'd like to active in
parallel "Acoustic Asturias" and "Multi-track
Asturias".
Would
you say that with the step of the time something is in Asturias
that remains unalterable?
I
didn't change fundamentally, but I came to make it devoted more
for the composition.
After it became acoustic style, I came to stick to classical
live play.
Do
we speak of the present of Asturias, how will the next disk be?
I’m
planning to release 2 albums during 2005 years. One of them is
the second album of Acoustic
Asturias, and another one is multi-track recording style
after the blank in 11 years.
What
details can you be ahead? Do you have tentative date of edition?
We
are going to take part in BajaProg 2005!
And "Bird Eyes View" / Acoustic Asturias will
be released by Musea Records soon.
Do you believe
that there is a change of musical focus between the new
generation of Japanese progressive musicians and those belonging
to the previous generation?
I
think there are many symphonic rock style bands in the previous
generation. But, there are many jazz rock style bands in the new
generation. I hope to increase the bands that have melodic
and full of
originality,
like Kenso.
Do
you think that the public is today much more open to this type
of musical proposals?
Yes!
In Japan, The public was not open to other music(open to only
pops songs). But recently, instrumental music becomes popular
with healing music and game music. And feels a response with Asturias.
Can
you imagine a world without music? For you, how would a place be
this way?
I
think that is "can", but I dont hope it. Because
creating music is hard very much. So I want to live in the
nature freely, once in a while.
That
was all Yoh. Would you like to add something to conclude the
interview?
I
want to ask everyone. How about progressive music of the country
except for Japan of Asia? Though I don't receive
information at all.
http://www.tripmusic.net/asturias/
Nucleus
interview: 27/01/05
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