Guy Perryman Interviews

A conversation with Soness Stevens - voice actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who has been the voice of anime character Hello Kitty, written for TEDx talks, and made her debut appearance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024. Stevens shares stories from her creative journey, how living in a car as a child with her mother shaped her writing and performing, the sense of community at a beachside town in Japan, and her love of skateboarding and surfing.

A conversation with Matthew Halsall - trumpeter and founder of Gondwana Records label who creates beautiful, dreamy ambient music and was in Japan for live shows at Peter Barakan's Live Magic and Blue Note Tokyo in October 2024. Halsall discusses being inspired by the spiritual side of Japan, recording  the sounds of nature for his music, the power of silence in music, and some recommended music and food spots in his hometown Manchester.

A conversation with Lisle Wilkerson - AKA Lisle Weapon, Blonde Geisha - former Tokyo and now Los Angeles based radio DJ, voice actor, game & animation convention MC, and red-carpet reporter. Wilkerson shares the time we first met as in-store DJ's in Tokyo back in the 90’s, plus moments as a pioneering bi-lingual radio broadcaster, showbiz moments with Prince, Shaggy, Glenn Close, Christopher Cross, and how being brought-up in Japan has moulded her character.

A conversation with Chris Mosdell – poet and lyricist who has written for a vast array of musicians including Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael Jackson, Sarah Brightman, Tatsuro Yamashita and many more, and in 2023 was honoured with Japan's Classics Day Cultural Foundation Prize, presented by a member of the Imperial family. Mosdell shares the process of writing words for music, the story of why one of his most famous pieces was locked in Michael Jackson’s vaults for decades, being inspired by Kyoto's 10th century "social media", and how the hum of cities has an impact on his words.

A conversation with Plush – all female rock group from the US on a mission to bring rock back to the forefront of the music industry, who were in Japan for the first time for live shows in October 2024. All four members talk about the joy of being in a band and getting inspiration from each other, supporting some legends in rock including KISS and Slash, and what from Japan they want to take back home with them.

A conversation with Timmy Byrne – dance music lover, DJ and owner of dance music radio station Kiss FM in Melbourne Australia who was in Japan in July 2024 to talk, walk, go clubbing and dance. Byrne expresses his love for the shared communal experience of listening to radio and being on a dance floor, and delight of being in Japan for the first time after studying the language and culture back in his school days.

A conversation with Jimmy Mullins – music loving teen student at the School of Rock in Portugal who is discovering the joys of becoming a future rock star and was in Japan for summer break in August 2024 together with his parents eating their way around the world. Mullins talks about why music is such a powerful way to make teen life and the world happier and healthier and spontaneously sings a bassline for us.

A conversation with Maisy Kay – singer inspired by fantasy worlds, the oceans of our real world, and emotions of the heart including challenging teen years moving from rural England to the hub of showbiz Los Angeles, who was in Japan for live shows in August 2024. Kay shares her thoughts on why adults need a little more whimsy, why we all need to take care of our oceans, and enjoying a spicy bowl of ramen in Tokyo.

A conversation with Jordan Dobson – stage / screen actor and musician whose Broadway debut was as the standby in the role of Tony in West Side Story, and movie debut was in Maestro the story of Leonard Bernstein West Side Story’s composer, and was in Japan in August/September 2024 starring in the role of Angel in the Broadway and Japanese production of the stage musical Rent. Dobson shares serendipitous and painful showbiz moments, why musical theatre and music is so important for life, plus there's even an unscripted backstage moment minutes before Dobson is due on stage.

A conversation with Mikah - singer born and raised in Hawaii who moved to Japan after being scouted for boyband Intersection, then to China for audition reality show and joining the group Into1, now pursuing a solo career and was in Japan to perform live at Summer Sonic music festival in August 2024. Mikah shares thoughts on his musical journey so far including facing a stadium audience when being extremely shy, why he closes his eyes when singing, why music is therapy, and living life as a true internationalist.