MOGRE MOGRU presents DIVE DEEP vol.15～Kaleidoscope
出演： YMANi (from LA, USA) Ilyons パンザマスト(森本在臣+遊佐春菜) MOGRE MOGRU
2025年最初のMOGRE MOGRU主催イベント『DIVE DEEP vol.15』はジャンルやスタイルの異なる出演者の共演でサブタイトル通り万華鏡（Kaleidoscope）さながらの音色と色彩豊かなイベントとなった。共通していたのはいずれも自らのスタイルを極限まで追求する信念である。それこそ音の海の深みへ潜ることを目指すDIVE DEEPの神髄なのである。月曜日の夜にも関わらず多数の方に来場いただき感謝したい。
密かにプログレエレクトロニカノイズアンビエントロックと呼んでいるイリヨンズ（ilyons=I Love You Orchestra Noise Set）。今回はドローン要素が強めでハードなバトルは押さえ目な展開で、ロバート・フリップ風のギターとスぺ―シーな電子音とベースが絡み合う映像的なサウンドスケープにどっぷり浸った。
即興アンビエントユニットMOGRE MOGRUが2022年から主催するシリーズ・イベント『DIVE DEEP』も4年目に突入し、3月24日(月)吉祥寺NEPOで開催する『DIVE DEEP vol.15～Kareidoscope』では、イベント史上初めての来日アーティスト、YMANi（イマーニ）が出演する。
きっかけはロサンゼルスで活動するドラマー／エレクトロニクス奏者のMatthew Doyleから「最高にクールなExperimental Electronic Hip Hopアーティスト」として紹介されたことだった。彼女の動画を観て、最高にスタイリッシュでオシャレでセクシーなルックスでありながら、ダウナーなエレクトロビートにスピリチュアルなヴォーカルを聴かせるパフォーマンスに新鮮な驚きを感じた。ヒップホップに疎い筆者にも刺さる実験精神と異端音楽の香りがたっぷりで、今のアメリカのオルタナティヴ＆アンダーグラウンド・ミュージックの息吹を感じさせ、「音楽の深淵に潜る」ことをテーマとするDIVE DEEPにピッタリだと確信した。もちろん日本のクラブ系やヒップホップ系のファンにもアピールするだろう。
今回はプライベートな来日のため『DIVE DEEP vol.15』が唯一のライヴ出演となる。会場のNEPOのヴィジュアルシステムに合わせて新たに制作した映像を使ってのMusic＋Visualパフォーマンスを考えているというので、ぜひライヴに足を運んでアメリカの新たな音楽の胎動を体験していただきたい。
YMANi is a musician whose sound blends hip hop, experimentation, punk, and spirituality to create something unique and one of a kind. Hailing from Riverside, California and now based in Los Angeles she draws inspiration from the world around her, nature, and the Divine. With a unique voice and captivating lyrics, YMANi has performed from Los Angeles to Thailand, and Tokyo. She continues to connect with audiences through her passionate performances inviting the audience to let their guard down and be present with her.
-あなたのミュージックビデオはとても美しく、クオリティが高いですね。海、水、森、木々への愛情がよくわかります。 ありがとうございます！私の親友でメインのコラボレーターのカタレーヤKattaleyaが素晴らしい撮影と編集をやってくれるので感謝しています。別の親しい友人たちと一緒に制作したビデオも「Let It Out」など２曲あります。ビデオのアイデアは、たいてい曲を制作している最中か、完成した直後に浮かびます。私の脳は常にそのように働き、いつも頭の中で楽曲の映像イメージを思い浮かべています。そのアイデアを書き留めて、カタレーヤに電話して意見やアイデアを聞いて、実現するための最良の方法を一緒に検討するのです。大きな予算やレーベルなどを通さずにすべてを自分の手で行っています。これまでに発表した映像はすべて、愛と純粋な創造性、コミュニティ、そして思いやりから生まれたのです。
-Please tell me your birth date and place I was born in Riverside, California on November 14th.
-Tell me about your family and your childhood My family is very beautiful. I am half African and half Vietnamese so growing up I had a very different way of viewing life and people. My childhood was filled with music, going to the library, creating, and remembering to pray before each meal.
-When and how were you interested in music / performance? My mother was the first person to really expose me to different types of music. She loves 80's music, hip hop, and different things in between. She would sing a lot and I think I got that ability from listening to her casually sing throughout her day. I've always loved musicals, plays, and watching music videos and seeing how artists expressed themselves. My grandmother and I would see a lot of local plays when I was young. I think that also inspired me to express through song and movement etc.
-Did you learn music/art in school or self-taught? I was in choir for a couple years back in school. As I grew up I took vocal lessons to strengthen and learn more about how to get the most out of my vocals. Outside of that mainly self taught and lots of repetition.
-When was your first public musical performance? My first ever performance was at an art show my close friends Akeem, Natalie, and I threw in LA. We go as Triple Dragon. We're all from Riverside and we have a similar vision and wanted to throw a really cool show to showcase artists we love. I decided that would be a great moment to finally perform with lots of love all around that night <3
-Do/did you play in bands/group? What kind of music? I've never had a band :( When I was younger I wanted to have a hardcore band so badly lol. I hope to one play in one at some point in life.
-Who are your favorite artists? Favorite artists are definitely all my close friends, Alice and John Coltrane, Jeff Buckley, Minnie Riperton, Future, and Linkin Park haha. Those are the main ones that come to mind.
-Do you compose/write all songs you perform? How many songs you wrote so far? I always write all of my lyrics. As for production, sometimes I'll produce my own songs and other times I'll collaborate with others (close friends etc). My main producer / collaborator is Jordan DiDomenico (JDDD) who is an amazing producer and has a great ear. He and I have made a few songs now that I'll be playing at the show at Nepo Club. I've written many songs, some that may never see the light of day haha.
-Do you play musical instruments? What equipment do you use when composing/making your songs? I do play instruments here and there but not as much as I should. I have an acoustic guitar and a keyboard at home. For now I use Garageband to get my initial ideas out for a song / demo. Then I take that demo to a producer I am wanting to work with on it.
-You draw inspiration from the world around you and nature. What kind of circumstance/nature are you most inspired by? I love the ocean / water so much.. It's a constant theme I use and come back to. Water is everything, it's the beginning and 'end' (eternal) . I love forests and trees (also givers of life / air that we breathe) I love flowers a lot.. Soil / dirt , sand, and mud. Rocks and crystals.
-Your music videos are very beautiful and high quality. I understand your love for ocean, water, forest and trees. How do you get ideas in making videos? Thank you so much! One of my best friends / main collaborators, Kattaleya is the one to thank for the eye behind the camera and editing. I've also worked with other close friends on a couple of others like the 'Let It Out' music video. I get ideas for music videos usually during or right after completing a song. My brain works in this way constantly, I always visualize in my mind what I see for the music video. I'll usually write the idea down and then call Kat to hear her input / ideas and then we see how to execute it in the best way we can. I do all of this without a big budget, label, etc. All of the visuals I've released so far are made from love, pure creation, community, and thoughtfulness <3
-I'm impressed with your nice sense in fashion, clothing etc.. What is your motto in fashion? Do you have any favorite brand or specific style? Aw, thank you! I don't really have a favorite brand.. but I do love the mixing of styles. I grew up thrifting and I love switching it up. One day I can feel like a tomboy and wanna just wear oversized clothing to the next wanting to feel like the character, Tankgirl and wearing my combat boots with an army hat, short shorts and a tank top. Just depends on my mood for the day :)
-Tell me your thought on relationship between fashion, culture and music. I definitely think they all influence each other. What a musician wears in a photoshoot or music video can influence others on fashion taste / cultural moments etc. I feel for myself I like to look at older fashion from different time periods or parts of the world outside of the US cause a lot of those looks are timeless and still very cool to me.
-I heard you've been to Japan several times. What in Japan are you interested most? It's my 4th time, so blessed to come back. I love the energy of Japan. I feel so inspired when I go and I love all the details in everything there. I love how I feel comfortable flowing and moving once there as well.
-How would you like Japanese audience to feel from you live performace? I want people to feel inspired, empowered, and renewed.
-Message to Japanese audience. My message is to never give up on yourself, go for whatever you want in this life, take it easy on yourself, and to love and respect yourself, as well as those around you <3
YMANi is a musician whose sound blends hip hop, experimentation, punk, and spirituality to create something unique and one of a kind. Hailing from Riverside, California and now based in Los Angeles she draws inspiration from the world around her, nature, and the Divine. With a unique voice and captivating lyrics, YMANi has performed from Los Angeles to Thailand, and Tokyo. She continues to connect with audiences through her passionate performances inviting the audience to let their guard down and be present with her.
YMANi - UNDERCOVER
●ilyons
I love you Orchestraの白水悠(Ba)と中平智也(Gu)によるインプロビゼーションユニット。 完全即興による幻想的なループと美しい旋律、空間を駆け巡る無軌道なノイズをコントロールした唯一無二のサウンドを奏でる。 吉祥寺NEPOを拠点とする「TOKYO NOISE MEETING」主宰、アンダーグラウンドからサーキットイベントまで幅広く出演。
【MV】沖縄電子少女彩『リズム』Okinawa Electric Girl Saya『rhythm』
●GARUDA
GARUDA（ガルーダ）は、アイドルユニット「めろん畑a go go」のメンバーとしても知られる崎村ゆふぃのソロ・プロジェクト。ここでは、ゆふぃの素晴らしい才能と音楽的スキルを発揮する2曲を収録。「もうすぐ雪が」はインダストリアルとメタルの完璧な融合。「Silent Kill」は、アンダーグラウンドな会場から大規模なライヴまでピッタリなダークでドリーミーな曲で『デスノート』のようなロック的なアニメに使われてもおかしくない。
盤魔殿DJｓ： DJ Manticore a.k.a.剛田武 DJ Silence a.k.a.宇田川岳夫 DJ Athmodeus a.k.a.持田保 DJ Hells Hamster a.k.a. Rie Fukuda DJ Bothis a.k.a.山田遼 DJ Vaby a.k.a.大場弘規 DJ BEKATAROU a.k.a.伊藤元
Avantgarde, Noise, Industrial, Dark Ambient, Neofolk, Punk, Hardcore, Idol, Black Metal, Middle-east, Ethnic, Ritual, Medieval, UnderGround,… Everything Weirdness About Music!
