Emma Smith and Naoko Yamano/ Photo by Dru Faulkner, embellishments by Emma.
Over the past 30 years, Osaka’s Shonen Knife have penned a mountain of cute songs centered on food, domestic animals and the cosmos. Harnessing the spirit of early New York punk and new wave, their sound captured the imaginations of K Record’s Calvin Johnson, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, and saw them tour with Nirvana.
Playing shows in New Zealand for the first time in nearly two decades, original member Naoko Yamano talks with Emma Smith about the journey so far and the power of happy songs. Kawaii!
Playlist
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song:Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album: Burning Farm
Label: K Records
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: I Wanna Eat Choco Bars
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album:Pretty Little Baka Guy
Label: Subversive Records
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: I Am A Cat
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album: Let's Knife
Label: Virgin
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: Riding On The Rocket
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album:Pretty Little Baka Guy
Label: Subversive Records
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: Twist Barbie
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album: Burning Farm
Label:K Records
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: Beat On The Brat
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album: Osaka Ramones
Label: P Vine
Artist: Shonen Knife
Song: Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner
Composer: Shonen Knife
Album: Burning Farm
Label: K Records