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Influences: Hoshina Anniversary

 
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Operating out of Tokyo, Japan – Hoshina Anniversary is an eclectic disc jockey and producer who draws influences from a wealth of music which span widely across a spectrum of genres.

He has worked prominently for many years having released an eclectic array of music across a fairly wide remit of style, his music has appeared on the likes of labels such as Boys Noize Blood Music, Twin Turbo and Octopus Black. However, it was his most recent EP for Young Marco's record label Safe Trip which caught our attention with a bang. An oddball ep with jarring melodies and jazz inspired keys which left us all a little disorientated and bewildered on the dancefloor. 

It works though. 

Anyway, this month saw the release of a new EP on MUSAR –  we asked Hoshina Anniversary to elaborate on the influences which led him to produce such an abstract take on club music – he digs deep below..

Buy HERE. 

LISTEN
Billy Joel - Zanzibar

This time, I’ll focus on harmony or chord progression influences.
My first experience of strange chord progression was Billy Joel.
“52nd Street” is the best album for me, because it gives me a New York or Phil Ramone taste and reminds me of many jazz and fusion great players like Mike Mainieri, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Grusin, Eric Gale and Ralph MacDonald etc.

  • Billy Joel - Zanzibar

    This time, I’ll focus on harmony or chord progression influences.
    My first experience of strange chord progression was Billy Joel.
    “52nd Street” is the best album for me, because it gives me a New York or Phil Ramone taste and reminds me of many jazz and fusion great players like Mike Mainieri, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Grusin, Eric Gale and Ralph MacDonald etc.

  • Miles Davis - Nefertiti

    In my high school days I listened to Jazz and Fusion so much and played the bass.
    This song is composed by Wayne Shorter – perfect melody and harmony.
    I always thought about this song when I went to school.
    The key chord is Ab maj7 (#11). You can hear Andrew Hill’s “Judgement” in it too.

  • Chick Corea - Quartet #1

    I’m very influenced by Chick Corea. When I was in university, I studied his harmony.
    This song is such a futuristic city sound… Chick’s songs are normally happy or fantasy-like, but this song is dark because Michael Brecker’s mood was added to it.
    I love the 2nd part (4:07), this chord progression always blew my mind.

  • Steely Dan - Glamour Profession

    I love Donald Fagen. His “The Nightfly” album is an all-time favourite. Of course Steely Dan is one of the best musician groups for me. This song is the most complicated chord progression…
    I love Anthony Jackson’s bassline on this track. His bassline is always very deep and thoughtful.

  • Gino Vannelli - Love Of My Life

    Gino Vannelli’s ‘70s album is another all-time favourite, so inspiring. This song changes key a lot. Yeah, it’s fantastic. Joe Vannelli’s synthesizer is fantastic.

  • Bobby Lyle - New Warrior

    I love ‘70s Bobby Lyle. “The Genie” and “New Warrior” is especially super.
    This song is like his answer to Lee Ritenour‘s “Captain Fingers”.
    His electric piano sound is fantastic, you can also hear Me’Shell NdegéOcello’s ? “Plantation Lullabies” in it.

  • Kitty Winter Gipsy Nova - New Morning

    I’m so inspired by ‘70s rare soul… You can hear its influences in some of my recent tracks.
    I love this song: the chord progression is perfect and the Jazzy II V progression is so great. The electric piano sound is also super.

  • James Mason - Funny Girl

    Yes, James Mason. I’ve always loved this record, but it’s difficult to find it. This song uses chords like Amaj7 on B. So Amaj7 on B, Fm9, Gmaj7 on A, Ebm9… I love this type of chord progression.

  • Hermeto Pascoal - Bebe

    I’m inspired by Brazilian music. Edu Lobo, Egberto Gismonti & Antonio Carlos Jobim etc…
    This Hermeto song is beautiful.

  • Milton Nascimento - Vera Cruz

    One more from Brazil, this Milton Nascimento’s track is so “saudade” (melancholic).
    I love his sense of harmony, this chord progression is fantastic… it takes me to another world…

  • The Beach Boys - God Only Knows

    Another “saudade” track from the genius Brian Wilson. This song is so good. This ‘60s California mood is the good side of America.

  • Ravel - Gaspard De La Nuit

    I’m so inspired by Ravel’s harmonies and chords.
    My favourite Ravel song is “Gaspard, and Robert Casadesus’. The piano is perfect. When I was in university, I bought Ravel scores and studied his music.

  • The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever

    So standard, but after all it’s so important to me. This simple chord, but such deep harmony.
    I think some Chick Corea tracks use simple chords like The Beatles’, but he’s also inspired by Bartok.

  • Charme Feat Luther Vandross - Georgy Porgy

    20 years ago I read one thread “I like Luther Vandross’s Georgy Porgy”.
    But I didn’t know where it is, I only knew the original Toto version. So I was very happy when I found this version. Yeah, Luther is always fantastic, “Never Too Much” has always been my favorite album. I love this chord progression.

  • Yellowjackets - Rush Hour

    This track is produced by Tommy Lipuma. Keyboardist Russell Ferrante often use chords like Amaj7 (#5) on B. Chick Corea also uses this chord sometimes, for example in his song “I Don’t Know”. Robben Ford’s guitar is good, but he rarely played this style.

  • John Scofield - Trim

    One more Jazz/ Fusion track. It was made in 1986. I love John’s Gramavision Year, because the producer was Steve Swallow. John’s chord progression is strange, his guitar is fantastic.
    When I was in university, I played the bass and I played some of his tracks.

  • Sayaka Itoh - Sukitokimekitokiss

    I feel like I must introduce some Japanese songs. I love this song: great synthesizer and composition. TBH I love ‘80s Japanese music.

  • Tm Network - Love Train

    80s Tetsuya Komuro’s composition was super. Especially this song’s chord progression is great, because the use Gm and F#m is so unique. I often listen to this song.

  • Narumi Yasuda - Kaze No Tani No Nausika

    This Haruomi Hosono’s composition is perfect… so saudade. TBH I don’t like Ghibli movies because when I was in university, a not so cool girl loved them… sorry, bad memory.
    Anyway, this song is super, it’s got a strange chord progression.

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto - 1919

    The last song is Ryuichi Sakamoto’s great composition. I often listen to this 1996 album.