After their performance at Summer Sonic 2017 in Tokyo, HONNE shares on their love for Japan and the direction of their next album.

Summer brings in a swarm of artists to perform at major music festivals all around Japan. Amongst the handful of artists that I was most excited for was UK based duo HONNE. If you’re a sucker, like me, for soulful beats and honest, romantic lyrics perfect for a stroll in the evening, then you’ll know why they’re one of my favorite artists.&nbsp;

Andy (vocalist) and James (producer) are best friends that spent the start of their musical career writing music apart- with Andy in Tokyo and James in their hometown. Their name stems from the Japanese word 本音 which means true feelings and a perfect representation of the music they create. Contrary to their deeply romantic and intimate music, Andy and James are two charming, incredibly funny and easy going people. Right after their performance at Summer Sonic 2017 in Tokyo, I was able to ask them where their love of Japan started as well as about the direction of the their next album following their most recent, and surprisingly uptempo release, “Just Dance”.&nbsp;

AMY: Hello! I really enjoyed your performance today.

JAMES: Thank you! You were able to make it out?&nbsp;

AMY: Yes! As you can see, my shoes are sandy from the Beach Stage…

---

AMY: I think it’s safe to say that Japan has made a really large imprint on you and your music. There is a Japanese version of “Warm On A Cold Night”, a constant use of Japanese on your cover art, and music videos shot in Japan.

Andy, I read that your love of Japan came from living here. Were you studying here? When did your interest in Japan start developing?&nbsp;

<img src="https://img.block.fm/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/586b4975-04c7-4c3c-9b71-72ada5081832.jpg" alt="">

ANDY: Hello~ I think it was just… I didn’t really pay too much attention to Japan before. But my friends were like, “Oh, I love Japan!” I had two friends in particular, well one friend and my girlfriend, who have both been here and told me that it was a cool place. They were both talking about it all the time. Eventually, I came here on holiday and as soon as I got here I fell in love with it. It’s an amazing place. Even now, when we come back, I just have a massive grin on my face. And I think that it has just seeped into my music.&nbsp;

AMY: James, would you say that you have a love for Japan like Andy’s?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
JAMES: Yes, of course. I was the same, but Andy came out here a long time before me. But yeah, it’s really an amazing place and it’s definitely inspired me as well. Our whole band too. &nbsp;our back vocalist was just like, “I’m so happy to be here. Just so happy.”&nbsp;

AMY: Are there any particular sounds you’ve taken from Japan or were inspired by Japan that you’ve used?&nbsp;

ANDY: I don’t know if there are any sounds in particular, but just the general feeling. For “No Place Like Home” was written between Tokyo and London. I was here, James was back in London. And it’s almost about feeling a little bit lost. Japan is amazing. Tokyo is. My girlfriend was living there at the time for about six months, and I just felt from an English person’s point of view, who doesn’t speak any Japanese, a little bit isolated. She loved it, and didn’t feel isolated. But I think maybe some people do. So I think it’s just a general vibe that we get from Tokyo. It just ends up in the songs. There’s also another one that we wrote, that may go on our next record. That was also written between London and Tokyo. Crying over you (James). (laughs)

AMY: Writing about and coming back and forth to Japan quite often, have you two learned any cool Japanese?&nbsp;

JAMES: Well, I’m awful at it. Andy teaches me stuff. He can say all sorts. For example, “The boys eat sandwiches.”&nbsp;

ANDY: Otokonoko wa Sandwich wo tabemasu.

JAMES: And, “Nice to meet you.”&nbsp;

ANDY: I think it’s “hajimemashite”.

JAMES: And there was something else that you said before the interview…&nbsp;

ANDY: “Osusume wa nan desuka？” and “Konban biru wo nomimasu”. Just a lot of random things.&nbsp;

AMY: Will you two be making any more versions of your songs in Japanese?!&nbsp;

JAMES: I would love to. There is nothing more satisfying than Andy speaking Japanese, for me. I don’t know for a Japanese person though. They might think, “This is the worst Japanese accent ever.”&nbsp;

AMY:&nbsp;After hearing it, I thought you were fluent!&nbsp;

ANDY: Someone Japanese recorded it and sent the words over. Then I copied exactly what they did. So yeah… I wish I had studied Japanese, but that’s not true.&nbsp;

JAMES: One day you’ll be fluent. I have faith.&nbsp;

―&nbsp;

AMY: Modern R&amp;B lyrics have become very rap centric, yet you guys continue to write some of the most intimate songs I’ve heard. Are the words you sing a mixture of what the two of you have experienced?&nbsp;

JAMES: Andy writes all of the music and it’s all about things that have happened to us, our close friends, our family. We like to, (laughs) I sound like I’m writing the music! But one of the songs is about going on stage and having an affinity with that, or that sort of thing. But I guess that’s it really.&nbsp;

ANDY: That’s where the name came from, as well. We had already written six, maybe more songs before we had a band name. James just found a word online, found it’s meaning, and it fit perfectly about the kind of music we’re writing about. From that point onwards, any song that we write, we like to write about something that is personal to us. Not that pop music is bad, and I think the greatest pop songs are ones that people can relate to and tell that there is honesty and that the artist is speaking from the heart. So that’s what we’re trying to add to.&nbsp;

Anything to add?&nbsp;

JAMES: Personally, a great example of a brilliant pop songs is “Fake Plastic Trees” by RADIOHEAD. Apparently, Thom Yorke did vocal take on that and that was the first vocal take he did all the way through. It’s just his vocal draft. Then he cried at the end of it.&nbsp;

ANDY: Really?&nbsp;

JAMES: Yeah. I was there at the time! (laughs)

---

AMY: I heard that you’re both big rap fans. For the next album, can we anticipate verses from rap artists?&nbsp;

ANDY: We do.&nbsp;

JAMES: Well, I hope so.&nbsp;

ANDY: There are lots of plans. We’re just finishing up our album at the moment, as in, we’re doing our jobs of writing it. We’re going to approach people. There’s already a few. We can’t really name any right now, but we have a few people lined up. And we love working with artists that we admire. If we could just get some more that we admire, more than we have now, that would be great. I’ll be super happy.&nbsp;

JAMES: I want it to be a more global thing, as well. Not just British, but in America or Asia as well. A great voice is a great voice and we want to get that on our album.&nbsp;

AMY: Are there any Japanese artists that you’d like to collaborate with?&nbsp;

JAMES: There’s… I can’t remember her name! Our friend explained to us today that she was the female Michael Jackson.&nbsp;

ANDY: (to me) Who’s that?&nbsp;

AMY: I’m not sure…&nbsp;

JAMES: Our friend from the UK who’s a Jazz pianist, Ruben, he has played on a couple of tracks and he recently was in the studio with her in the UK. It begins with an “H”! She’s massive here.&nbsp;

ANDY: I think we’ll have to get back to you..&nbsp;

AMY: As you said, you’re currently working on your next album. What sort of direction will you be going in for it? Please share as much as you can!!

JAMES: Tell me everything!! (laughs) Well, over the past couple of years we’ve been definitely listening to more hip-hop and have been inspired by a lot of things. We love Chance the Rapper. His music and the production of that, as well. Such as the Gospel influence. I think the next album will be beat orientated, maybe a bit more summery. Our previous album was very quiet and “night time”. The next one will probably be more open. Like being out in the open with sunglasses on.&nbsp;

AMY: Like “Just Dance”?&nbsp;
<center><div class="iframe-wrap"><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U4sVmu-XXpk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></center>
ANDY: “Just Dance” is one of the most upbeat songs that we’ve written. The idea behind it was to slightly shock people.&nbsp;

JAMES: Yes. I think there will be a big variety and we're really looking forward to it.&nbsp;

ANDY: In terms, lyrically, it’s still the same. It will still be truthful and personal. Since our first album, we’ve done a lot of touring and a lot of it is, “I miss you baby!” Well, kind of joking, but just talking about how long distance has worked and things like that. Also, we explored more about stuff that are not written around a relationship. The first album, was very lovey, this one is not quite lovey. But still lovey.&nbsp;

JAMES: We have a song which is kind of about a first car? My first car. And we have the same car now. It’s a rubbish car. But it’s just about the freedom it gives you and even though you’ve got a shit car, the freedom and life experiences of being able to drive anyway you want. And also the good memories that come out of it.

AMY: When did you get the car?

JAMES: My car is nearly as old as me. I’ve had this car for about 8 years? But it’s from 1997. It’s awful. According to the internet, it’s worth 75 pounds which is about 10,000 yen.&nbsp;

ANDY: Yeah…. Just over 10,000 yen. (laughs)&nbsp;

JAMES: If I sold it to the internet such as “Webuyanycar.com” … (To Andy) Thanks for that. Great branding right there. I think it would probably get that much. But it works! And that’s all that matters.&nbsp;

AMY: It doesn’t break down?&nbsp;

JAMES: No, but sometimes the windscreen wipers don’t work for a few days.&nbsp;

ANDY: Which is definitely illegal.&nbsp;

JAMES: If the English police are listening, we’re just messing around here!&nbsp;

AMY: I saw that you’ll be doing a second solo show next week. Is there anything different we can expect?&nbsp;

ANDY: I guess just doing as much as we can in the time that we have. It’ll be different. It’ll be a little bit longer. And we’ll be playing all of our.. classics! The greatest hits! But yes. Everything from the album and the EPs leading up to the album as well.&nbsp;

JAMES: And a lot more intimate as well as I think it’s quite a small venue. I think 500 people.&nbsp;

AMY: And lastly, aside from your performances, what is something that you always do when you come to Japan?&nbsp;

JAMES: Walking around a lot and we love eating. I love Japanese food. Just eating at as many places as we can and not getting sick from it.&nbsp;

ANDY: Daikanyama is my favorite place. In the world. In fact, how do you say this? Tsu- Tsu-&nbsp;

AMY: TSUTAYA
 <center><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYAO32DDJb7/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=7&amp;wp=1316#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1033611.8000000002%7D" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="758" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); margin: 1px 1px 12px; max-width: 658px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; box-shadow: none; display: block; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></center> &nbsp;
ANDY: And that’s where we had Gyoza in Harajuku last night. There’s always a que for it! I saw this in a back alley. And that’s where we’re staying, by the Shibuya Crossing. And JBS. Have you been there?&nbsp;

AMY: I love JBS! But it’s getting very popular these days and crowded quickly.&nbsp;

ANDY: And then the Mario Kart things. Those are the things we’ve been up to! What have you been up to?!&nbsp;

JAMES: What do you recommend?

The interview concluded with me sharing with them a few recommendations around Tokyo. Who else is excited for their next album?
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2uFw9VFcoj6TwxSFPj8ZYI" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>
 
Written by Amy
Japanese version <a href="https://block.fm/news/HONNE_japanese" target="blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

block.fm

HONNE on their new, uptempo song “Just Dance”

この記事をシェア

NEWS

RADIO

新着エピソード

block.fm

NEWS / ARTICLES

RADIO PROGRAMS

FOLLOW US

SEARCH

注目のキーワード

この記事をシェア