It’s been a small while since we last heard from the multi-national Shinsight Trio, but thankfully, they are back in full force. Consisting of rapper Insight, producer Shin-Ski, and DJ Ryo, Shinsight Trio returns this year with their latest offering, Somewhere Beyond The Moon. It’s an album that encompasses everything that this group has come to stand for – jazzy yet danceable beats, intelligent and thoughtful lyrics, and an altogether cohesiveness missing in many of today’s releases.
We got a chance to catch up with Insight and Shin-Ski to discuss the new album, hip-hop in Japan, and their collective music philosophy. Hit the skip to read what they had to say.
Potholes In My Blog: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. How is everything going?
Insight: I’m fine, thanks.
Shin-Ski: Pretty well. I have been swamped from many other projects but I’m trying to stay as creative as possible.
PIMB: I’ve been quite a fan of Shinsight Trio for quite some time now. It’s incredible how your styles all mesh so well, despite being from different countries. How is it that you all came together in the first place?
Insight: I met Ryo through Shin-Ski, who I worked with on past solo projects including Targeting Zones and an album with a five man group, Electric (Myself, Dagha, Moe Pope, Anonymous, and Radio Raheem). Shin was a member of Martian Gang with DJ Real, who introduced me to the group when I was touring the US back in 2004.
Shin-Ski: It is exactly how Sight said it above, but I think it was 2002 that we met for the first time. Well, it doesn’t really matter.
PIMB: One for Insight: You’ve bounced around from one group to another, and always maintained a distinct persona in your raps and productions. Do you think you tend to gravitate towards like-minded artists? What sorts of qualities do you look for when collaborating with different artists?
Insight: I wouldn’t call it bouncing around, since there was never any break ups, and most of the groups were formed for specific projects. In any case, before any project was completed, there is a specific sound in mind, or theme. Collaborating takes teamwork. I prefer to work with artists who enjoy what they do, are sincere, open-minded, and have an ability to be part of a team. What I don’t look for is how popular the artist is. Instead of looking for artists, I cross paths with passionate artists in the natural flow of life.
PIMB: Talk a bit about the hip-hop scene in Japan. How are live shows there? Do fans show support to acts both local and international?
Insight: I suppose they show support for International acts. Shin and Ryo can answer this one better.
Shin-Ski: I wouldn’t say it is very lively, but people are doing live shows. There are many newly talented artists rising up in the scene right now, so it will be very fun within a few years from now. Also for about five or six years we have been having a lot of legendary artists like Primo, Pete Rock, CL Smooth, coming to Japan and doing shows. It is definitely fantastic to see them on stage. So it’s good.
PIMB: Having artists from different home countries, is it difficult to find a local market or to break into new regions of the world with your music?
Insight: While having artists from multiple countries in one group makes it impossible to claim only one local home, there are benefits to having members in different places. As long as a group can be somehow be productive, they can represent their team in different places simultaneously, potentially gaining listeners very efficiently. Since most new age marketing shifted to the web, I believe that a strong digital presence is a more important than location when trying to break into new markets. Therefore, our location does not make things more difficult.
Shin-Ski: I never really thought about that kind of stuff. Since I have been moving around a lot, I don’t even know where my local “home” is. We just do what we want to do, and it seems like the way we do it is working, so I don’t find it difficult. More importantly music should be universal, and shouldn’t be directed to certain people in a certain region.
PIMB: Many people, myself included, view Shallow Nights Blurry Moon as a classic album in the modern era of hip-hop. How does it feel to have an album of that caliber under your belt?
Insight: I like to be able to listen to an album and enjoy it, whether I was part of the album or not. I would stop doing music if no longer enjoyed what I was doing.
Shin-Ski: That put me in a situation of some pressure, but I like it because we work very hard to exceed the quality of the previous LP when we work on new albums.
PIMB: The new album, Somewhere Beyond the Moon, shows that Shinsight Trio hasn’t lost one step. Did you all look back to your prior work as a point of influence for the sound of the new album?
Insight: This is an interesting question because I do! I videotape my performances and rehearsals for later review, and listen to previously released works, monitoring consistency, and quality. I remember when some of my favorite artists would release a new album that I considered less appealing. Also, I think it would be obvious, and disrespectful to listeners if I usually deliver a complex rhyme swiftly, later sounding sloppy on follow-up albums. I don’t try to compete with anyone other than my previous self.
Shin-Ski: I do too. Personally I like various kinds of music, and music definitely influences me. I have a bunch of non-hip-hop beats on my hard drive, but I wouldn’t send Sight a techno beat to rap over. There is a bridge between what we have been doing and what we are going to do. It’s like I set certain rules as to how our music sounds, and those rules have big influence from our previous works.
PIMB: Many of the songs provide uplifting messages of peace and unity. This has been a prevailing theme throughout Shinsight Trio’s music for years. Why do you think these uplifting messages are so necessary in hip-hop, as opposed to tales of misogyny, violence and criminal behavior?
Insight: It’s necessary because I feel that there is a lack of balance between alternative hip-hop and hip-hop marketed with violent messages. The buzzword “conscious” is over-used to separate albums such as this one from many mainstream releases.
Shin-Ski: Because I am a peaceful person, and I (as well as many others, I believe) don’t go around shooting people or punching somebody to death, those negative topics simply don’t fit my profile. I’d rather stick with peace and unity, which I can associate with my life more than violence.
PIMB: What happens next with Shinsight Trio? Will there be more music in the future? Perhaps a promotional tour?
Insight: Shin already gave me an album of beats that I am working on for SST3. We spoke about touring early next year.
Shin-Ski: A new album is coming to your stereo soon! And we want go on tour as well.
PIMB: Any last words for the fans out there?
Insight: Please don’t hesitate to contact Shin, Ryo or myself. We want to know how you feel about what we create, where we should perform, and how we can improve. If you love our music, spread the word, and stay tuned for more.
Shin-Ski: Enjoy the album and feel free to contact me. I’d appreciate it if you tell us what you think of the LP.
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