KANAKO YAMAMOTO TALKS INTENTIONAL

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

What is this song about?

'Intentional' is about the feeling of being in limbo and struggling to find closure, it was inspired by an on-and-off relationship.

Did you have any particular people with you on it?

I produced the song with Dillan Witherow. I did guitar, beats and ambience and Dillan got some incredible musicians from Los Angeles involved to record remotely. Emiko Rochelle played strings, Josh Jacobson played piano, James Mcallister played drums and synth. We held some recording and producing sessions over Zoom and finalised in person.

Is there any reason this release is connected to last year’s single, ‘Reason’, as a two-track single?

Both songs are in my first EP, 'Unfold'. I guess they are tied in some ways because they were both written in the same chapter of my life.

What can your process writing on a song look like?

My process is mostly melodic first, usually starting with piano or guitar, then I find the words to fill in the melody. I love writing with acoustic instruments.

Are there any instruments that you don't know how to play but would love to?

Cello and harp. I really love string instruments, and something about wood makes me feel intimate.

Are there any particular artists you feel have influenced the artist you are today?

Bon Iver is my favourite all-time artist and producer. When I started playing guitar during the pandemic, I listened to a lot of Brazilian music like Luiz Bonfa, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and so on, they had a huge impact on my playing. Some of my current favourite artists are Lowswimmer, Konradsen and Maro.

How early on did you start on your musical journey?

I was classically trained in Guzheng, a Chinese zither with twenty-one strings, since five. I competed around China and won the national title by eleven, but I didn't connect with the music I played because I wasn't allowed to interpret and express the classical repertoire in my own way. It took me ten years of not playing this instrument to reconnect with it and approach it in my own way. I'm happy that I somehow found a way to integrate this Guzheng into the music I create now, with songwriting and producing.

Would you say that your relationship to music changed over the years?

Definitely, classical training taught me about dedication and discipline at an early age. As I got into songwriting and producing, I learned more about the freedom and just the pure joy of creating and experimenting.

You now live in London. Was music the main reason you decided to cross the ocean?

I moved to London for college, and music was part of the reason. I grew up between China and Japan so it took some time for me to blend in here.

Do you feel at home now?

London feels like an adventure for me, in a lot of ways this place still feels foreign, but I'm glad I have friends and music that make me feel at home here. It's always about the people for me.