OWN INTERVIEW CONTENTS Vol.13 CE$ (DJ / Music Director / she luv it)
OWN (hereinafter O): First, please introduce yourself, Sugio-san!
CE$ (hereinafter referred to as C) I DJ and play in a band under the name CE$.
The O band is she luv it.
C : Yes. She Luv It has been around for about 10 years, and the original members were myself and the vocalist Shohei. The members who joined later are also people I've been hanging out with for a long time. We were in the studio yesterday, and we spent a lot of time hanging out (laughs). When I was a kid, I admired the bad-boy nature of hardcore punk, but now I'm in a band to make my life more fun.
You also manage artists, right?
C I am the director and manager of tofubeats. He founded a company called HIHATT seven years ago, and I've been involved in it on a contract basis.
So Sugio is a freelance director and manager of tofubeats.
C: That's right. He didn't intend to start a company either, but when he left his previous agency, he wanted to stay under contract with Warner. Warner had a rule that only corporations could sign contracts, so that's how we created it. I'm in charge of managing tofubeats, but we're both actually doing the management. That's my main job, and since just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I've been helping out other artists little by little.
Do you assist other artists as part of your job?
C : It depends on the case, but when it comes to young artists, I talk to them about their concerns as if they were just a normal conversation with a friend. When it comes to projects that require funding, I take the stance that I'll get my share from the record company or label, not the artist. It's still not that many (laughs). I also act as an intermediary when artists communicate with people at record companies. I guess I act like an agent.
O Agents actually play an important role.
C I feel like this isn't widely accepted in Japan, but I think it's important.
When it comes to discussions, things can get messy, so I thought it would be good if I could intervene, given my age.
OWhat made you decide to become an agent like that?
C: COVID-19 has meant that most of my work has disappeared and I have more free time, but it's also because I've been able to connect with more young people at that time. I've often heard stories of people in their early twenties saying things like, "I tried to work with a label, but it didn't work out," so I thought, "I'll help you out then." It's like an extension of a friendship. My basic stance is, "If you can, it's better to do everything yourself." It's a lot of hard work, but you get all the benefits. But I feel like a lot of people are rushing through life these days. Like, "I want to go viral right away" (laughs).
That's a very modern way of thinking. What advice would you give in a situation like that?
C: If you just want to become famous, you can do something like flame marketing, but if you just want to get rich, there are plenty of other ways, I tell them. I can only help with things related to music. I might be able to help you make good music, but I don't know if that will turn into money right away. That's why I tell them it's better to continue working a regular job. I told tofu the same thing when he was a student. 
O Your stance hasn't changed since the time of tofubeats.
C When tofu graduated from university, we both naturally felt it would be best for him to get a job. He did indeed receive a job offer, but he fell ill and the offer was dropped, so we decided to make an album called "Lost Decade" on our own and then think about it. I met tofu when he was 17 and I was working at Sony, so we've been friends for about 15 years. The real stories of young people I meet in my various jobs are inspiring and interesting. However, I feel like there are a lot of people who are really anxious.
O Sugio-san, why do you think that is?
C: There are actually stories of friends who were hanging out at the club with you yesterday suddenly going viral on social media and getting a million views. When it's quantified and visualized, it's inevitable that people will get anxious. Nowadays, it's common for people to share the watches and cars they've bought on social media, so I think it's understandable that young people would get anxious if they saw something like that.
We live in an age where you never know what 's going to be a hit, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's good music.
C: Of course, if they end up selling well, that's a good thing, but I'd like them to continue for a long time. Rather than hitting it big once and being forgotten five years later, I'd like to help them continue to produce good stuff for a long time. Basically, what I like is youth culture, so I'm happy when young people get excited about it, and I have no intention of interfering with that. I don't think that something is uncool just because it's popular or has a buzz.
Flexible thinking like Sugio -san's is very important.
When I worked at the record store CISCO, I learned to like all genres of music. There were seniors who specialized in each genre, and we would all play records together after the store closed around 10pm and they taught me all kinds of music. They also took me to all kinds of events, so I guess you could say I developed an omnivorous appetite there. CISCO was in Amemura, and there were lots of record stores and clubs. It was a good time to hang out and absorb a lot of things. I was young, so the adults around me were very kind to me. So I hope to treat young people as kindly as possible.
O Were you at CISCO until the time of its bankruptcy?
C: That's right. It was just a part-time job, so I didn't get any severance pay. So I was doing day labor while looking for a job related to music. I had no intention of working in Tokyo, so I wondered if there was something in Osaka. That's when I happened to come across Sony's talent scouting department. I was 25 years old. Sony is a company that specializes in rock and idol music, but they were looking for someone with experience in club music, so I got the job at the perfect time. The time between 25 and 30 after joining Sony was the busiest I've ever been in my life. I was working 362 days out of 365 (laughs). But I didn't hate it that much. I would go to Tokyo two or three times a month for meetings and artist-related work, and that's when I started hanging out with TRASMUUNDO and my senior colleagues in Tokyo, who I still hang out with today. Imazato-san (from struggle for pride) even joked with me, saying, "You actually live around Shimotakaido, don't you?" (laughs). It was a business trip, but since I can't drink alcohol, I didn't show up to the work party, and instead went out to eat with Marcy (WDsounds) and Masuda-san from Summit. It was a great experience to be able to go to various places for work at Sony, including other events that interested me. In the end, I was able to leave the company on good terms (laughs).
Now , I'd like to talk about fashion from here on, so I'd like to know about your fashion history.
C: I like clothes. I first got interested in them in my first year of junior high school because the guy sitting in front of me was a bit of a delinquent. His older brother listened to punk and stuff, and he introduced me to flannel shirts and 501s. There weren't any second-hand clothing stores in my hometown, so I would go to Osaka to buy them. Back then, 501s were still cheap, costing around 3,000 yen, and there were lots of good flannel shirts. I just loved second-hand clothes. When I was in high school, "Smart" was at its height, and fashion was all the rage around me. Even though I was in the countryside, there were guys carrying bat-shaped bags (laughs). By that time, I was into punk and hardcore, so I was looking for cheap wide jeans and wanted AIRWALK sneakers. I bought "DOLL" and "EAT MAGAZINE," and fashion magazines like "Boon" and "Warp magazine." I thought Isaac from Crown of Thornz looked cool, but then I thought to myself that he doesn't really suit that kind of outfit.
OIf you dressed like that in Japan, you'd stand out (laughs).
C: That's true (laughs). After I came to Osaka at 18, I started hanging out at hip-hop clubs more often, so I would wear things like a plain PRO CLUB T-shirt and jeans. I wanted a white AIR FORCE 1, but I didn't have the money, so I wore Nike shoes that looked similar to the AIR FORCE 1 but weren't AIR FORCE 1s (laughs).
Even back then, you preferred fashion that was closer to hip-hop than punk or hardcore.
C: That's right. I always thought the fashion of the band members was badass but cool, but the clothes that suited me were more hip-hop. I also checked out fashion on MTV and stuff. I thought maybe I should buy a white Air Force 1 (laughs).
O (laughs).
After graduating from C University, I got a part-time job at a record store, and I had even less money. I spent more than half my salary on records. That's why I wore the same clothes every day during that time. After that, I joined Sony, and as I interacted with young artists and met their parents, I started to choose clothes that were a little more stylish.
O I see. So, what kind of fashion and clothes do you like these days?
I 'm also interested in vintage clothing. I feel like I've come full circle, so I often go to vintage clothing stores and check auction sites. I also have a vague affinity for UK-inspired clothing. I love UK music, and I like the look of all-black Nike tech gear and black Air Max. I also admire Stone Island because their clothing is close to that culture. But it doesn't really suit me, so I only buy their clothes occasionally (laughs). In the past few years, I've made some friends in the fashion industry. This has led to a stronger desire to buy and wear things made by my acquaintances and friends. I also like CE; it's a brand run by people who are well-versed in culture and music. It was CE that first invited me to a major event as a grime DJ in 2013. SK8THING and Ishiguro-san reached out to me. That's when I first met Nishimoto-san, who now runs NISHIMOTO IS THE MOUTH. While valuing those connections, when I go shopping, I try to buy from my friends' stores whenever possible. The same goes for records. If it's 3,500 yen at a major store and 4,000 yen at a store run by a friend, I'll try to make an effort and pay 4,000 yen.
O I want to spend money on people whose faces I know.
C: That's exactly right. I want to spend my money on people I like, people I'm interested in, people who I can live with and support. Also, it's great to be able to explain when someone asks, "What brand is that?" It makes me feel better wearing it. That's why I'm so happy that there's an eyewear brand called OWN.
OI'm glad to hear that!
C I think glasses are a part of your face, and in my case, if I didn't wear glasses my friends wouldn't even notice (laughs).
How many pairs of glasses do you have now?
C: I think of glasses as a consumable item, so I've ruined quite a few of them, about eight pairs in total, including sunglasses. I get bored of wearing the same pair all the time. 
Glasses are something you wear every day, so what are some points to consider when choosing them?
C: Since I wear them so often, the first thing is the comfort. Then there's the design. I wear OWN's #08 and #04 , and I like the nose pad type. I can fine-tune them. Brow type glasses like #08 and #04 look mature, don't they? They also give off an intellectual impression.
Getting your favorite frames and having your glasses made feels like a very grown-up thing to do.
It's C. It's something I need more than an iPhone in my life. Whenever I go on a business trip, I always take two pairs of glasses with me. My eyes are so bad that if I break one, I won't be able to go back to Osaka (laughs). Anyway, I honestly love OWN's #08 and #04 because they're so comfortable to wear. I've fitted the new #08 with photochromic lenses (lenses that change color intensity depending on the amount of UV rays), and I'm wearing them all the time.
Thank you very much! If you have any information, please let me know.
C tofubeats' first album in four years, "REFLECTION," will be released on May 18th, so be sure to check it out. At the same time, his diary-like book will also be released. I'm also involved with a unit called PC Music Club, and I think they'll have some new developments. I'm also planning to help with the release of hyunis1000, who recently released a solo album on RC SLUM, and my partner Ratiff's unit, Neibiss. I have a lot of other plans, but I hope that all of their works will reach not only the underground but also the general music lovers.
O hyunis1000's solo album was also really good, so this is a development that is very exciting.
C Neibiss is very fresh and talented, so I want to create something interesting. That's why I want to continue working in the music industry for as long as possible and enjoy it, and if I can help create something that has strength and isn't simply consumed, I think that would be a kind of success.
[INFO]
tofubeats' fifth full album, "REFLECTION," will be released on May 18th.
tofubeats' first book, "Tofubeats' Hearing Loss Diary," will be released at the same time as the album!
CE$ DJ Participation Events
May 21st
OPEN 13:00 / START 13:30
Advance tickets: ¥3,500 / Same-day tickets: ¥4,500 (¥600 drink fee required upon entry)
Cast: SAND / NUMB / second to none / DEAD REFORCE / FIGHT IT OUT / payback boys / FACECARZ / NO DAYS OFF / SUPER STRUCTURE / nervous light of sunday / universe last a ward / CRUNK / zetton / DIKTATOR / Temple / DEMISE / wrong state / DJ SHIGA CHANG / DJ YOYO-T / DJ CE$