Music > Audioline
Himuro Mansion
23/09/16
Meet Joe James. 24. Electronic music producer and film-maker.
Who?
When your childhood music consists of German techno and your parents’ passion for Meatloaf, it’s inevitable your first foray into music is going to be fast beats with manic vocals screamed over the top. Step up to the mic Mr Joe James. Formerly known as Mushnocandy, then CloudTrashCloud, before Himuro Mansion, Joe has always been the darling of people who love their music on the edge. It’s not just BBC Introducing in Norfolk that spotted his loud, angry teenage sound - Huw Stephens played his first ever release on BBC Radio 1.
What?
Joe may have over 200 tracks online but he spent his teenage years in a small Norfolk village – an isolation that started him creating electronic sounds in his bedroom. It’s probably that which has ensured Joe’s music continues to be inventive and different. He has no market to please or trend to follow. “There’s been an explosion of electronic music since I started. But the names come and go, there aren’t many that carry on.” Over the last eight years his music has changed, grown and broadened. Still sometimes challenging and angry, it has a warmer, sweeping cinematic feel to it now.
Live?
The story goes that in his mid-teens there was a teen night in the village hall and Joe decided to perform. His music was loud, wild and to those coming along expecting a school disco, frankly terrifying. The young ones fled to the back of the hall and Joe has never played live since. Until now. Finally Himuro Mansion has been lured out of retirement for a Re-Volt gig at this year’s Norwich Sound and Vision. “It’s time,” he told us. “It’s daunting and hard knowing people will be watching and judging me, but I’m more confident now.”
The Future?
It seems strange to end a feature which praises Himuro Mansion’s music to say that his future is film, but that’s what he studied at Kingston University and wants to pursue. Now, most film-makers add music to their film, but staying different as ever, for Joe the music comes first and drives the filming. So the future is his first proper gig, then great inventive film-making to follow. And now is a good time to fall in love with Himuro Mansion as Joe has posted many new and old tracks on Soundcloud and Bandcamp for you to experience and enjoy.
Links?
facebook.com/himuromansionmusic
Catch Himuro Mansion at Re-Volt in Café Bar Marzano on 15th October for Norwich Sound and Vision along with Muckaniks, Lucy Pearson and Jack Breeze-Lamb. Free entry, it starts at 7pm with a live BBC Introducing in Norfolk show between 8 and 9pm with Sophie Little.