Shonen Knife In-Studio Diary!


Here is a translation of the new Studio Diaries in english, as featured on Shonen Knife's Official Home Page, Shonen Knife Planet! Please visit their official home page - to view the cool "cameo photos" from the studio, which accompany these diary entries there! These translations are provided by Shonen Knife fan Mayuko Matsumoto, from Hiroshima, Japan. Mayuko-san has travelled to Taiwan, Korea & Singapore, and she knows English and is learning Mandarin Chinese & Taiwanese (Hoklo) languages, too! We are very thankful for her helpful contribution to the NeXuS in translating the Studio Diaries for their english-speaking fans worldwide! Song titles are "working titles" and may not be final. ("Mayuko-san, Goshinsetsu ni arigato gozaimashita!")

Mayuko has indicated that she would enjoy email with Shonen Knife Fans - so if you wish to say "Konnichiwa" to "Shonen Knife Fan Mayuko" in Hiroshima, Japan & tell her about your favorite Shonen Knife music - here is her email address!
mayuko@fureai-ch.ne.jp


Shonen Knife In-Studio Diary!


  • January 14 - First day of recording. Before then, Naoko made a demo and today we just put it into master tape. It contains 12 songs!

  • January 16 - We finished rough recording and began to take drum part. We recorded 2 songs "AAA" and "Rubber Band" on 15th and other 2 songs "Rock Sand" and "Map Master" today. Atsuko said "Recording is going well. I have Chinese food for lunch again, cos it gives me a lot of energy!"

  • January 17 - Atsuko is taking drum part and it's going very well. We recorded 2 songs: "Happy Song" and "Elephant Insect". "Happy Song" is composed by Atsuko. She said, "I played the drums for 2 songs today and recorded them. I think like a bass player these days, so playing drums is kinda hard..."

  • January 18 - Atsuko played the drums for "Mushroom Cut" and "Heavy Song". Naoko sang "Elephant Insect" for test recording. Naoko was sending emails during recording!

  • January 21 - Ron Sexsmith just visited the studio and joined the recording! Ron and his band members: Tim(g), Peter(b) and Sean (sound man) came here in the studio. Ron sang on "Elephant Insect" and Tim played guitar solo for this song, too. That was real cool! Naoko and Ron sang "Elephant Insect" together. The vocal style is different, but mixed together very well! Wait for when it'll be out!

  • January 22 - We just finished jam session with Ron. Atsuko played the drum for "Piano" and played the bass for "Map Master" and recorded both songs. After we finished recording, we all went to see Buffalo Daughter play live!

  • January 24 - Finished recording the drum part of "Rock Sand". We finished drum recording in most of the part. Good work, Atsuko! Atsuko said: "Hurrah! The songs are getting sharpened little by little." Atsuko and Naoko went to see Mr. Big final concert last night.

  • January 25 - Naoko didn't come to the studio today, 'cos she caught cold. Atsuko finished taping bass part of "Rock Sand". She said "Oh, my fingers hurt big! Please take care of yourself and cure your cold, Naoko-san!"

  • January 29 - Naoko taped the guitar for "Disco Night" and provisional vocals for every song. Naoko said "Lyrics are getting completed. Now I just try to put them to the melodies. Recording is real fun and I'll do my best tomorrow as well."

  • January 30 - Naoko did overdubs with the guitar all day and finished the main guitar parts of "A Map Master", "Mushroom Hair Cut", "Rock Sand" and so on. Naoko said: "I could tape the guitar parts a lot and that made me feel good. I was really glad to have Soba-bento for lunch - that was sold out yesterday."

    (**Mayuko: "Do you know Soba? It's one of the Japanese noodles. It taste real nice. Yummy!")

  • January 31 - Naoko-san played the guitar at full blast today as well. She uses Burnny's Les Paul guitar this time (see photo of Naoko w/guitar this date in the studio diary at Shonen Knife Planet!). Naoko said "Guitar recording is going to the end. Hurrah! I work so fast!"

  • February 1 - Began to record the vocal parts and finished Japanese versions of "Komimitobinezumi" (ex-title was "The Piano"), "Mushroom Hair Cut" and "Computer Language". Naoko said "Vocal recording for Japanese songs is going well. The lyrics are now under consideration. 4 days have already passed since I began to take a delivery from Osobayasan" (Soba-restaurant).

  • February 4 - Continue to record the vocal parts. We prepared both Japanese and English versions for most of the songs and that costs us a great deal. Mr. M, who lives in Nishi-shinjuku, Tokyo just came to visit us in the studio today. Naoko said "I can do my best after I eat an eclair which Mr. M gave us! I then concentrated on recording and could work quickly. Knife-company works so fast!"

  • February 5 - Naoko-san continues vocal recording. She recorded vocals for English versions of "Map Master", "Mushroom Hair Cut", "Rubber Band" and so on. In the afternoon, our percussionist friend Moray came here to the studio and played the African ethnic instrument UDU for "Mango Juice". Naoko said: "The sounds are improving and containing various elements. That sounds real nice!"

  • February 6 - Recorded vocals for Japanese versions of "A Boogie Monster"(ex-title was "Disco Night"), "Mushroom Haircut", and so on. Recording sometimes makes me nervous - especially vocal recording. Naoko said: "I recorded vocals today as well. Both English and Japanese versions of the songs are getting completed."

  • February 7 - Recorded vocals and taped guitar parts of the songs like "Heavy Song", "A Boogie Monster", and so on. Added some little parts which made the songs sound richer. Though I didn't finish writing lyrics for "AAA" and "Rock Sand" yet. Naoko-san is in a fine fix! She said: "The lyrics of 2 songs are not quite completed. This time, I made melodies first and then put the lyrics to them for most of the songs. Well, I have to think a lot more about rest of these lyrics!"

  • February 8 - Attchan (Atsuko) played the keyboard for "Happy Song". She also added organ solo to that song. Recorded vocal for Japanese version of "Happy Song" and maracas, tambourine etc. for "Mushroom Haircut". Atsuko said: "I recorded vocals today. It's fun to play the keyboard as well." Naoko-san is busy with writing lyrics.

    (^;^) Mayuko: "By the way, happy 6th anniversary to The NeXuS! I hope you keep this wonderful site and support SK!")

  • To Be Continued!


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