Sayoko Paris Biography
Biography
At the age of 5, I started to take classical piano lesson. During the age of 12 to 15, I studied music generally in a music school. Including having a technical lessons by Hiroko Sato who was a pianist of the Kyu-kyo orchestra and also a principal of the school.
But I doubt myself going to music college as I was expected by the others.
I wanted to find my own way. When I quit classic music at 17 years old, my real quest had started. After the experiences of being art student and fashion stylist, I decided to visit New York to see something else. Actually, I’ve got shocked pretty much. It was completly another world.
It didn’take me too long to decide moving there. I really got obsessed.
Specially, the dance scene which would eventually lead me back to the music.
In 1992, my dance skill had started, with african and haitian rhythm. ( In 1999,I performed with dance company at Dance Theatre Workshop in New York. title : "under cover girls" as one of the principal dancer .)
In 1994, my first band called Pink Mushroom was formed with co- former Paul Kostabi.
In 1995, I was offered to join the recording session for an album of the band called Youth Gone Mad as a bass player.
During 1996 to 1997, I’ve worked with a couple of bands and different projects,
including dance performances, films. I learned how to express myself and harmonize with others by going through many sessions and stages. Specially, to be found as a singer was important for the process. The contradiction of my personality had to meet and that was my main concentration and interest to be united with another self of mine.
1998 had began with new recording project called Dosage. In April, Dosage found the opportunity to release the album, produced by John Zorn.
Also In July 1998, I produced a maxi single in Tokyo, made a debut as Black Rays. Collaborated with three d.j.s who brought another dimension into the music. Those different elements got rarely come together for the best.
After that, I got back on to the Dosage project in N.Y.
It’s finally released in April 2000 ( title " Empties" ).
During the Dosage recording in 1999, I was producing the monthly events called Vanilla. Including performances, visuals and screening films.
Vanilla is the concept after Dosage. It is symbolized the smell which reminds of something unfogetable or the sauce that we will arrive back after all. There are several ways to discribe.
And It’s added one more word "Futurospective" as subtitle.
However it speaks to people, that was the message in Vanilla.
I wish that future will find the direction to be where the equilibrium of technology and humanity lies.
After the last performance and recording session of the band Vanilla in August 2000, I visited Paris. And it changed my direction for ever. I felt the potencial for something that I’ve missed in the past. It could situmilate the part of myself which has never been manifested.
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Since she has installed herself in Paris, she started to experiment and collaborate with electronic musicians.
Her compositions play with contrast between organic human performance and its technological counterparts, creating a subtle harmony between the raw sounds of acoustic instruments, using the voice as instrument, abstract lyrics and synthetic electro noise. (Dosage / Sur_Electronique)
Sayoko further utilizes the symbiosis of two polar opposites to choreograph and create performances that coodinate movement with space.
Sayoko interviewed by Diane Pernet / may 2008 _