LUCIDMEDIA

Japanther Pounces at NxNE

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Wednesday, 17 June 2009 10:24

One story goes that Ian Vanek and Matt Reilly met at the Pratt Institute in New York and began making their unique brand pop-punk-hip-hop out of Brooklyn in 2001. The other story goes as follows: “We were found up in the woods. It was rumoured that our father was a panther but our mother was a Japanese lay person, you know? Like a peasant. And then she immigrated to the United States.”

It’s clear from Vanek’s tone over the phone from Denver that Japanther’s quick wit and irreverence translates to all aspects of their artistic lives, and is not just saved for their music. Vanek was 19 when he and Reilly met up and decided to play music together. Their goal was simple: they just wanted to make something authentic and create their own sound.

“That’s why we were so successful,” explains Vanek. “It’s still not a career; this is a hobby by far. This is a hobby we happen to do all the time. Neither of us had preconceived notions before hand or had been in other bands. We try not to have preconceived notions about what would be good and what would be bad, we just try to have fun.”

Like most modern bands, Japanther brings a series of eccentric influences such as The Ramones, Van Halen, Wu Tang Clan, Tom Petty, Iron Maiden, Digable Planets, Dionne Warwick and especially Sam Cooke. “We’re both record collectors and we sit around in our room listening to vinyl we got at the thrift store,” says Vanek. “We listen to anything and everything.”

Vanek’s job in the band is to play drums, work the cassettes and sing, while Reilly plays bass, a Casio SK-1, and contributes to the vocals. The old-fashioned cassette player runs the band’s samples and other beats, and if that sounds unusual there’s also the band’s numerous other odd touches like the use of telephone mics, for example. Vanek says that he and Reilly aren’t “luddites,” they just like tangibility of tape over something more malleable liked digital. “A see a lot of beauty and magic in tapes,” says Vanek. “We like playing with magic. We’re old school in that sense, but we’re new school in the sense that nothing is taboo, nothing is out of bounds.”

Additionally, the Japanthers see themselves as more than just musicians, but as true multimedia artists. They draw the cartoons that adorn their MySpace page, they still create their own posters and promotional material, and they build musical shows around visual and performance art pieces. “We just work as artists […] it’s just an expression of human spirit,” says Vanek. “Every performance is different, normally we just go as hard as we can and make a fool of ourselves and be serious and passionate as well as funny and loving.”

Amongst some of their unusual works include participating in a show where each of the 18 holes of a miniature golf course where used as a gallery space for an artist. They played at a gallery opening for Swoon in Soho, and when the gallery’s owner feared of the ruckus caused by the band, Swoon rented a U-Haul and a generator for the band to play outside.

Another famous example of the Japanther’s unique approach to musical performance, include working with Aquadoom, a synchronized swimming group at New York University, to create a show called “Dangerous When Wet.” They also did a show featuring 11-foot puppets called “Dump the Body in Ricky Lake.”

In between they’ve made and released over 18 albums, both EPs and full-length discs. “We’re just constantly trying to amaze ourselves and re-evaluating what a band, a group, a gang, can do,” says Vanek. “We can do anything in this world.”

And while this will be the first time Japanther has played North By Northeast, they are by no means strangers to the city. “Playing in Toronto was really amazing experience with Ninjasonik in the Wrongbar,” Vanek says of a recent gig in the city. “Telli from Ninjasonik was on stage with us, really hyping us up. He had a lightsaber and he was getting us really excited. Of course, Toronto is one of our favourite places to play and the kids there are really, super receptive of our music. We feel so blessed.”

Blessed they are because what started out as an experiment in self-expression has become a full-fledged musical and artistic movement. For Vanek, it’s about keeping expectations in check and taking opportunities as they come. “I think when you’ve set yourself up as someone that can do kind of anything across the board, or does unexpected things, then you can live a more fulfilled life and be more excited about your own life,” he explains. “Sure there are things we wouldn’t do and there are things that we’re open to that we haven’t thought about. We try to keep a positive mental attitude.”