Let’s Have Fun With Shonen Knife: A Video Interview

By Matt Keeley

I have been listening to Shonen Knife for literally half my life. I’m 30 now, so do the math! That being said, I’ve only been able to see them live twice: once on the Gokigen Tour in 2005, and recently for the new album Free Time. There’ve been line-up changes since the first time, but the sound is the same and just as good as it always was.

I was so thrilled to interview Shonen Knife before their show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle—the first stop on the new US tour. I got to talk to all of them and ask Naoko Yamano about her songwriting, finding records in Japan when she was growing up, Japanese vs. English, writing about animals and food, and more, including the band’s recent experience playing in China. She even tells a scary story, seeing as it is the Halloween issue and all!

Many many thanks to Jeremiah Aulwurm for coming up with some great questions for the band (like the New Wave Theatre one!) and for filming and editing the following amazing video interview with Shonen Knife.

Shonen Knife’s new album, Free Time, came out on August 31 from Good Charamel Records. Check out their MySpace page to listen to tracks. The band’s new DVD, Live at Mohawk Palace will be available at all retail outlets on October 19.

Shonen Knife plays Toronto ON’s Horseshoe Tavern on October 1.