author

 
Menu
Search
 
November 22, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Shawn Despres

Meta

Twitter

@s_despres

Shawn Despres
Shawn Despres has been contributing to the Japan Times’ music page since 2005, and he has a passion for writing about the independent music scene in East Asia. He spent several years living in Yokohama and currently resides in Seoul.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 30, 2007
Lady Sov looks to scare the heavies at Def Jam
It's not surprising that Lady Sovereign draws comparisons to Eminem. Despite the 21-year-old British MC having a vastly different sound, being a foul-mouthed Caucasian rapper who likes to stir up trouble does bring Slim Shady to mind.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 23, 2007
Ms. Lauryn Hill and Lupe Fiasco
The second Springroove, promoter Creativeman's hip-hop and R&B festival, boasts homegrown talent such as AI along with international superstars Kayne West, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and up-and-comers Lupe Fiasco and Lady Sovereign.
CULTURE / Music
Mar 2, 2007
Tokyo Police Club "A Lesson In Crime"
Barely out of their teens, Tokyo Police Club have already learned a vital rock 'n' roll lesson -- keep it short and fast. The original version of the Toronto quartet's debut indie release, "A Lesson In Crime," released in Canada in April 2006, clocked in at a mere 16 minutes (the Japanese release is...
CULTURE / Music
Feb 23, 2007
Explosions in The Sky "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone"
Similar to like-minded artists such as Mogwai or Japanese label mates Mono, Texas quartet Explosions In The Sky create lush instrumental music brimming with waves of gorgeous guitar noise. "All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone," their fourth album, is an emotionally gripping listen that will greatly appeal...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 16, 2007
Rappers Jurassic 5 happy with where they're at?
'My favorite cut is 'Where We At,' because it's literally about where we are at as a band at this stage in the world of hip-hop," says Jurassic 5's DJ Nu-Mark on the phone from Los Angeles while playing miniature golf with his son.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Feb 2, 2007
A sensuous 'V-Day' shimmy
With men around the country eagerly anticipating their Valentine's Day treats, a Tokyo-based collective of bellydancers is aiming to shift some of that day's focus back to the female populace by presenting "V-Day" on Feb. 11 at Cozmos Cafe in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 26, 2007
The punks descend
How much impact do surroundings have on a group? According to guitarist Lindsay McDougall of the Australian band Frenzal Rhomb, plenty.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 19, 2007
Isis and Boris
In the age of digital downloading, it's still possible to get people to buy CDs and records. You've just got to be smart about it.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 5, 2007
Rancid
It's been said many a time that all good things must come to an end. In the case of punk mainstays Rancid, 2006 saw two chapters in the band's career coming to a close.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 15, 2006
Sufjan Stevens "Songs for Christmas"
Looking to provide the underground loving hipsters with a large dose of yuletide cheer, Sufjan Stevens releases "Songs For Christmas," a box set of five festive-themed EPs. In 2001, the singer and multi-instrumentalist began recording Christmas songs for friends and family. With many fans eagerly awaiting...
CULTURE / Music
Dec 8, 2006
Tom Waits "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards"
Although his trademark raspy growl and love for schizophrenic concoctions of sound aren't for everyone, visitors to the whacked-out, downtrodden world of Tom Waits are rightfully mesmerized by its beauty and brilliance. With a persona that's equal parts grizzled farmhand, ringmaster and mad scientist,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 24, 2006
Foo Fighters
Seriously, what's left for Dave Grohl to do in the world of rock 'n' roll? After playing in tiny, dilapidated clubs with hardcore punk act Scream in the late 1980s, he kicked off the '90s by drumming for one of the decade's most influential groups, Nirvana. Then, in the mid-'90s, Grohl formed his current...
CULTURE / Music
Nov 17, 2006
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes "Love Their Country"
Cover bands usually get scant respect, but leave it up to a few punks to screw with the natural order of things. Comprised of members of Lagwagon, NOFX, Swingin' Utters and Foo Fighters, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes have spent a decade reworking famous pop, R&B and show tunes. Their sixth release, "Love...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 10, 2006
Zoobombs redefine borderline pop
There's a story behind every song -- but like all tales, some are more compelling than others.
CULTURE / Music
Nov 3, 2006
DJ Shadow "The Outsider"
Whereas DJ Shadow's two previous full-lengths, "Endtroducing" (1996) and 2002's "Private Press," were largely instrumental affairs, mishmashing an array of obscure samples into electronic and hip-hop minisymphonies, "The Outsider" is his first stab at making a more conventional rap and pop album.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 27, 2006
Bloc Party
Like Franz Ferdinand the year before, in 2005 Bloc Party were pegged by the British press to be the breakout act of the year. A solid prediction, the London quartet's first full length, "Silent Alarm," was met with worldwide acclaim, turning BP into bona fide stars at home and establishing sizeable fan...
CULTURE / Music
Oct 20, 2006
Isis "In The Absence of Truth"
Where does a band go after stretching the boundaries of its genre as far as possible? Well, if you're Isis, you virtually abandon it. Since their inception as a sludge-metal act in 1997, each of the American quintet's expansive releases have experimented with, and further removed them from, their hardcore...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 13, 2006
G. Love and Special Sauce
Comprising guitarist Garret Dutton (Mr. G. Love himself), upright bassist Jimmie Prescott (Jimi Jazz) and drummer Jeffrey Clemens (Houseman), Philadelphia's G. Love & Special Sauce first began turning heads with the release of their nearly gold-certified, 1994 self-titled debut. Incorporating a mish-mash...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 6, 2006
Old school rappers look to new schools
Since hip-hop emerged in the late 1970s, it's been closely linked with basketball. But just as the United States is no longer the dominant force in international hoops, its dominance in the world of beats and rhymes is also waning.
CULTURE / Music
Sep 22, 2006
Ni-hao! "New-hao!"
Originally comprising two bassists and a drummer, all-female Kyoto three-piece Ni-hao! have traded their basses for a keyboard and sampler, giving their expansive noise-pop a greater electronic edge on their second album proper. Take "Ni-Hao! Makes New Sound," which has the three female members doing...
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’
SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER