voice on the verge #69: coppe’

It might seem a tad strange to introduce an artist with over a dozen albums to her name as a “voice on the verge”, but when said artist has achieved such a feat and still remained one of music’s best kept secrets, that in itself is worth noting. Coppe’ (pronounced “Co-pay”) is a Japanese visual and recording artist who, after over seventeen years spent collaborating with the crème de la crème of electronic musicians (including Plaid, The Orb, Red Snapper, Kettel, Nobukazu Takemura, DJ Vadim and Atom TM), has secured her status as something of a cult legend amongst electronica enthusiasts all over the world. Starting her career in the early ’90s as a DJ on some of Japan’s leading radio stations, Coppe’ walked away from being told what she ought to play to the masses and began to set her own agenda. Launching her own Mango + Sweetrice label in America with great success, she returned to Japan in the early 2000s, where she has continued to produce some of the most exciting and eclectic electronic music out there.

For her latest venture, Coppe’ has teamed up with UK electronic label Bit-Phalanx for a series of collaborative projects, the first of which is an album of remixes of ‘Yogurt’ from her 2010 album Artificial Insemination starring such notable names as Minotaur Shock, Kettel, Mrs Jynx and even former Sneaker Pimps singer Kelli Ali – all in name of raising money for the Red Cross 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief fund. Coppe’ will be touring the UK in September and October with a plethora of Bit-Phalanx signings to promote the release and raise even more funds for the appeal, so now seemed like a good time to pin the self-professed “Martian fruitcake” down for some hard questioning.

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Who was your first crush, and did you ever confess?

My Astroboy plastic doll, and yes, I did confess.

Are you lucky or unlucky in love?

I’m lucky in love cuz I fall in love almost every day. I’m unlucky in love cuz I haven’t encountered my prince yet.

What would you tell your teenage self if you could go back in time?

Chase Mike Patton! I just discovered him and totally fell in love. I posted about it on Facebook and my buddies were saying, “Geeeeeeeee Copes’, where have you been for the past twenty years?!” I guess he’s a very famous and established artist… I bought Mondo Cane right away! It’s one of my biggest dreams to encounter him and create music together with no boundaries all day and nite long.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever worked and what was so bad about it?

On one of the radio shows I used to do here in Japan years and years ago I had to lie and say, “I love Journey!” I was getting paid loads of money hosting various weekly shows but I didn’t like being forced into saying things that I didn’t mean and promoting the kind of music I didn’t really care for. So I quit and I moved to Arizona and started my own record label.

Do you have a tattoo?

I have two Mickey Mouses and three Astrosugars. Astrosugar is a love sperm from Mars, like me!

Name your autobiography

Straight From Mars!

What did you listen to when you were growing up?

Anything and everything. Classical music since age three, cuz I started to dance classical ballet then. That’s why my body is so flexible, like a bendable toy. Then I moved on to jazz… Billie Holiday! Then Warp and Ninja Tune and all electronica stuff.

Tell us about your favourite instrument

A silver waterphone given to me by a drummer friend in Hawaii. He had it in his studio but he never used it and didn’t know what to do with it, so he gave it to me. Also, a nail violin, which I got from Dr. Bill Wesley in San Diego. Sometimes it sounds like angel’s whispers straight from heaven! Sometimes it sounds like haunting ghosts. I love it. Both of them are amaaaaaaaaazing instruments!

Do you have an instrument you’d still like to learn? What’s stopping you?

Armonica, hang drum, harp, steel drums… loads! Greedy, greedy Coppe’ski.

What’s been the best moment of your career so far?

Maybe when I finally received the track ‘My Hard-Boiled Egg Heart’ (from my third CD, Peppermint) from the Plaid guys. It was during the Winter Music Conference and I was staying at Delano in South Beach. When the package arrived from Plaid I opened it listened to it in my room and started crying and crying. I couldn’t stop crying! It sounded, to a tee, exactly what I wanted. That was the very first track collaboration I did with them.

Also, when Bleep.com reordered my pill-shaped USB cuz it had sold out! Loads of the people who work around me here in Japan tried to convince me not to spend so much money on a USB album which you more than likely won’t get to recover from. But when I heard the news from the Bleep people that it had SOLD OUT, I let out a pure Martian scream… kyahoroooooooooooooooooi!!!!!

What’s your funniest gig or studio memory?

In Arizona, when I was in a band called OTO and we all got totally naked in the swimming pool at my old house on Orange Blossom Lane. Whenever Billy brought a bottle of Patrón tequila, we were all in trouble!

Who would be your dream collaboration?

Vladimir Cosma, Brian Eno, René Laloux (‘Fantastic Planet’) and Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

If you were to be remembered by just one of your songs, which would it be?

Today it would be ‘Hadaly’s Waltz’. It’s not released just yet… it’ll be included on my next USB!

How important is image to your music, on a personal level?

Images are super important to me. That’s why I love working with graphic designers and VJs. My dream stage setup would be me singing in a clear bubble in a mirrored round space with peppermint scents all over.

What are your biggest obstacles as a musician?

That I don’t have enough time to paint.

Have you ever had any bizarre comparisons to other musicians? How do you feel about that?

She’s not a musician but there’s this polka dot artist in Japan called Ms. Yayoi Kusama. People often come up to me asking for her autograph and stuff. One of these days I’m going to make a t-shirt saying, “I’m not Yayoi Kusama!”

What’s the first material possession you would rescue in a fire?

My Astroboy!

Are you a dog or a cat person?

Neither. I prefer androids as pets.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever seen on YouTube?

It changes every day but I really like the mini-movies and videos Nikakoi produces. We are collaborating together right now for my next USB. His creations and music takes me to some strange spaces that I’ve never ever been to, so I’m super excited to see where he takes me with this project. He’s a very very special artist / director / producer, and I just can’t get enough of working with him.

What music is exciting you in 2011?

The construction noise across the street from my studio here in Tokyo… this drilling noise combined with crows singing.

Which women have most inspired you?

My mama.

What are your views on feminism?

We are all equally important individuals in Mars. The difference between ding dongs and titties are like the +/- of Philips screwdrivers I think. We need both of them, and just cuz it’s sticking out that doesn’t mean it’s superior.

What is your most loved item of clothing and why is it so treasured?

My birthday suit. Cuz it’s c-thru and you get to see my cutest titties.

What’s your biggest fear?

Earthquakes and nuclear meltdown at the mo!!!

What makes you angry?

Living in Japan sometimes, dealing with loads of passionless zombies who don’t seem to use their own organs when they listen to music or when they encounter some art pieces. If it’s #1 on some phony chart, or if you wear, say, Versace suits or such and such celebrity likes it, then it’s cool. Start feeling! Use your own organs! Listen to music with your own ears. Look at these paintings and objects with your own eyes! That’s what I want to say to them.

Describe your vision of the afterlife.

I will become a black and turquoise coloured butterfly.

What’s the biggest problem facing the world today? Do you have any thoughts on how to fix it?

Stop destroying nature. About five to six months of the year I live in Tokyo and I notice that more buildings, more convenient stores and more of everything just keeps on coming every day. It’s so not necessary! I really think that the reason we pissed the Mother Nature goddess off and had that massive attack of the earthquakes and tsunamis in March is cuz we just keep on taking beautiful nature for granted. Humanoids need to start understanding that making money is not the most important thing in life and realise that they need to start living with respect for trees and birds and lakes and air and natures, and realise that it’s wrong to think that you control everything.

What gives music its worth?

To me, everything about creating music is the most important thing in my martian life. The colours of music, the scent of music, the passions, emotions, atmospheres… the feelings and the universe that music gives me is like no other. I do the silliest things for  music and love. I am a music junkie for sure.

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Packaged rice…???

How are you most likely to die? What would you want written on your headstone?

Making love to my dream prince android. “My life was the puuuuuurest xtc!!!”

What’s in your pockets right now?

お#$た#ま♬じゃ％％く！し… it’s a secret!

If we gave you an elephant, where would you hide it?

On the island of Bora Bora so I can swim together with my Dumbo every day.

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

I went to Zojoji Temple where my papa’s sleeping with my mama and family. It’s my papa’s birthday! Can’t believe that it’s been ten years since my papa passed away… he was such a special buddha.

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The Coppe’ vs. Bit-Phalanx remix album will be released digitally and on CD in September. Coppe’ will also feature on the upcoming Bit-Phalanx compilation, Associates. She also guests on a new EP from Bit-Phalanx veteran Jilk, release TBA. For the full list of live dates and special guests on Coppe’s upcoming tour, visit the Facebook event page.

Written by: Alan Pedder

Tags: artificial insemination, associates, bit-phalanx, coppe', hadaly's waltz, kelli ali peppermint, my hard-boiled egg heart, OTO

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 1:27 pm and is filed under feature, voices on the verge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.