Underground Japan’s Unlikely Connection to Memphis, Tennessee, USA

A look inside Osaka’s buzzing electronic scene with house music legend Larry Heard

Like all the best artists, Larry Heard follows his intuition, absorbing and reacting to the sounds around him.

Osaka Meets Memphis

His journey began in Chicago, one of the twin epicenters of underground electronic music alongside Detroit. But unable to remain under the radar in the Windy City, Heard found solace in Memphis—an iconic southern city with an incredibly rich musical history of its own.

This past May, at the height of Japan’s Golden Week festivities, Heard brought his unmistakable touch to Osaka, the country’s alternative haven.

A Hundred Birds: Bridging Cultures

The city is home to a dynamic electronic music community, where international house and techno producers and DJ’s collaborate with local artists both on the stage and in the studio.

One of the driving forces behind this sturdy talent exchange is A Hundred Birds, an Osaka-based production and promotion collective. This electronic ambassador has cultivated an ecosystem that spans oceans, bringing some of America and Europe’s best names to some of Japan’s best rooms, including:

Noon, Club Daphnia, Muffin, Edenico (Osaka)
Vent, LIQUIDROOM, Contact (Tokyo)
Metro (Kyoto)
Precious Hall (Sapporo)
OPPA-LA (Enoshima)

Magic at Joule

Heard’s set at Joule, a local staple, reflected his evolution, effortlessly transitioning from smooth acid house into gritty, psychedelic pulses. As always, he stayed connected to the room, organically drawing from and directing its energy.

The night kicked off with Chanaz, a superb young DJ from Kyoto, alongside DJ Ageishi, a local legend, and YAMA, a storied master of the craft who’s known both nationally and overseas.

See more of my favorite moments from the night below: