Tokyo-based Maori musician Ben Kemp brings his unique 'Polyn-Asian' sound to the shores of Aotearoa

Finding calm and solitude in the beauty of the un-cut apple

Life as a young Maori man in the heart of Tokyo, a bustling metropolis of 12 million souls, can have its moments. However musician Ben Kemp draws on his life in New Zealand for a sense of creative calm amidst the hustle and bustle.

Manufacturing his own calm has led to inspiration for his upcoming tour and the release of his third studio album – The Un-Cut Apple – in New Zealand in March 2008. Travelling with his band Uminari, Kemp will be returning to his roots with his unique blend of ‘PolynAsian’ music.

Joined by three Japanese musicians Koyu Suzuki, Taro and Mitsuru Ogata, the sound of Ben Kemp & Uminari feeds from a blend and absorption of traditional Japanese music. With a distinct world music vibe, Uminari create an exceptional dissonance - a big part of the Japanese way, blending sweet harmonies, while throwing in elements of surprise.

Described as an attempt to transcend culture, stereotypes and differences, Kemp attempts to locate the essence of what it means to be human. As a poet and musician these ideas are central to Kemp’s philosophy and attitude.

“I find a genuine sense of peace of mind within my own writing. In the maelstrom of Tokyo, doing anything creative helps release the beautiful parts of New Zealand inside me – cruising along the coast in Raglan or swimming in Lake Taupo. Now I’m able to tune into that nature-infused background, that essence, and create my own peace of mind from my roots.”

“The whole idea of the album comes from divinity and purity; where we come from and where we go. We’re trying to capture that place of no limitations and no walls. We’d like to take people back to that place, and one of the biggest revelations I’ve discovered as a minority in a dominant culture, is that when you pare it all back – our essence is the same.”

Kemp has lived in Japan for the past six years and intends to stay on, following “the natural course of my inspiration from this country’s culture, particularly its traditional artistic beauty.” With a strong desire to work with people from different backgrounds and blend everything together, Kemp finds his Maori ethnicity a constant source of fascination among Japanese.

“People here don’t really know much about Maori culture. They’re intrigued and extremely interested. I generally draw a parallel with Hawai’ian culture as they can relate more to that. But it’s an interesting experience I find that many Westerners in Japan have – they are the minority for the first time in their lives and it’s a humbling process.” As a foreigner Kemp embraces the mix of races among his peers. “It really is great to have a diverse group of friends and a constant mix of cultures from Mexican to Norwegian-Japanese to Filipino.”

Kemp was “discovered” busking on the streets of Tokyo by now-Uminari band member Koyu. “I was playing on the street, writing scripts at night as I was planning on going to film school. Then I met Koyu and that was it – I was introduced to a massive community of musicians in Tokyo and I haven’t looked back.”

With his upcoming tour Kemp gets to return these favours to the Japanese members of his band by taking them ‘home’ to friends and whanau around the country. They have been to New Zealand before and Kemp notices a distinct change during their touring days here.

“It’s great to see them come to New Zealand and have a good time. We always stay with family and there’s a close bond that’s formed between everyone. All of them display a noticeable change in New Zealand. Even in the way they look – the stress lines fade, their stage personas even change slightly and I see these beautiful moments of liberation.”

“It’s funny, the more I stay away from New Zealand, the closer I feel to it and the more I yearn for it.” Ben Kemp will be on the road in March 2008 fulfilling his desire to feed his soul with late summer in New Zealand.

http://www.benkemp.co.nz
http://www.myspace.com/benkempuminari