REPORT ｜ MIND TRAVEL 2024

“MIND TRAVEL – TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER EDITION -” was held on Saturday, October 26th at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

This festival started in 2021 at LOTTE ARAI RESORT in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, and has been set at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower since last year. Keeping with the original concept of “healing the mind and body,” the tour will utilize the two floors of Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO), the 1st floor plaza of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower (free area), and even the rooftop terrace of JAM17. This is the second year that the Kata Tower Festival has been held.

“MIND TRAVEL” has not changed its original identity, but has now become even more appealing as an urban festival. Once again, I would like to look back on the day with an after-movie and many photos.

Photo by tatsuki nakata (TRAVEL), toshimura (BLUE, HIVE, Other), Nanami Shinkai (CALM)
Text by Spincoaster

BLUE stage that played a variety of sounds in Toyoko Square

This year, “MIND TRAVEL” will open first on the BLUE stage located at the front entrance of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. In addition to the front area that is only open to ticket purchasers, the rear area is free, and it has become a common sight to see people who appear to be passersby or overseas tourists stop and be captivated by the live music and DJ performances. It has become.

The stage decoration was done by a candle artist who has been working with us since the first year.Minai Masashiis in charge. We have created a fantastic space in the middle of a downtown area where you can enjoy the change in expression over time.

The opening declaration will be made at the MC, who is also familiar with the festival.Yui Kanno. the next oneYonYonwill bring danceable yet comfortable DJ play to the Toyoko Square. In addition to being a DJ, he also sang his own original songs with a microphone, presenting a gorgeous stage performance.

Next up is SSW from Kyoto, who has just released a new EP “Blue Inside You”.luvis. Featuring Eiji’s Hiroto Sugawara on bass and Naochika Yamamoto on drums (pads), the band performed a live performance with a high level of energy, albeit with a minimalist set. At the end, a dancer with a deep progressionmicoThe crew led bymico pieceappears. It added flair to the performance.

A trio from Okinawa came in third place.HOMEcaptivates the audience with their ever-changing performance that goes back and forth between alternative sounds and catchy melodies. His punkish behavior excited not only the front area but also the rear area.

The performer came to Japan from Taiwan.Whyte (?te)Although it was a minimal band set with no drums, it brought an urban vibe to the streets of Shinjuku with stylish R&B to soul. With an MC in Japanese, the performance captured the ears and hearts of those waiting.

As the sun began to set and the smell of night began to linger in Kabukicho, the next group to appear was rapper Mori and producer Chomo.Acorns. They turned Toyoko Plaza into a dance floor with their sharp raps accompanied by bass-heavy dance music and humorous and catchy lyrics.

The BLUE stage performer was a rapper/producer from Chicago who also performed at “MIND TRAVEL” held in Myoko, Niigata in 2022, and has deep ties to Japan.Ace Hashimoto. The performance concluded with catchy and airy hip-hop music.

There will also be light snacks and snacks available in the outdoor area including the BLUE stage.“Himuka no Kuroma by Kagura Shuzo”There will also be a booth where you can get a collaboration bar with Masashi Minai, candles by Masashi Minai, and sustainable aroma products. In particular, the bar rack by “Himuka no Kuroma”, which opened for the first time, offers authentic shochu with soda and shochu on the rocks, which will please serious drinkers, with a gorgeous aroma and a refreshing taste that can be enjoyed by connoisseurs. preparation. A new experience of authentic shochu was offered, where you could feel the concept of “Himuka no Kuroma”: “A time to be honest.”

High-energy live performances/DJs are held one after another. TRAVEL stage with a surprise at the end

The TRAVEL stage, the main floor of ZeppShinjuku, offers an overwhelming live experience with its overwhelming acoustics and 360-degree LED vision. It was his first time appearing at a festival as the top batter of the day.CHIANZ. Consisting of four childhood friends, Chie, who is active in SSW’s eill, Foi, and YABI×YABI, and Rei Tsukikawa, who is also an actor in YABI×YABI, they suddenly released their 1st single “GIG” in March of this year. Started activities with the release of “. With the lineup featuring drummer Takuro, they performed a fresh live performance that included new songs.

Next, they released their first major album “AVEANTIN” in April of this year.BREIMEN. They also appeared in the 2022 edition in Myoko, Niigata, and during their MC, they mentioned about this festival, “I like how loose it is.” The audience was captivated by the gap between the hilarious MC and the groovy and skillful performance.

And in September, they released their long-awaited 1st album “WiND”Billyrromwill perform an energetic live performance with a set list centered on songs from the album. Slow and long numbers such as “SERENADE for Brahma” created a large-scale soundscape while creating a sense of slowness.

First appearance on “MIND TRAVEL”SIRUPappears in a duo set with Shin Sakiura. Shin Sakiura deftly uses the guitar and bass depending on the song, creating a rich sound and live feel that makes it hard to believe it’s just the two of them. As the general election for the House of Representatives was approaching the next day, the MC also sent a message encouraging people to go to the polls. They had the audience dancing with a solid setlist that mixed old and new.

Next to appear on the TRAVEL stage was a four-piece Korean band who were performing in Japan for the first time in about five years.ADOY. Although they are often referred to as a “synth pop band,” their live performances are so powerful that you might want to describe them as stadium rock. They rocked Zepp Shinjuku with their iron-clad band ensemble and large-scale sound. Detailed live reports are available on K-MUSIC, a portal site that supports the Korean music scene, so be sure to check it out as well.

■A dreamy world created by ADOY Mind Travel performance live report (K-MUSIC)

The winner of this day was the one who has appeared every year since the first time.SHINICHI OSAWA. Although he was the only DJ act on the TRAVEL stage, he performed aggressive DJ play with stoic song selection and connections. Coupled with the aggressive VJ projected on the 360-degree LED vision, the space has been repainted into a tranquil space. Also, towards the end of the show, OSAWA himself climbed onto the DJ stand and challenged him, saying, “You guys don’t have the courage to come up on stage.” As a result, the performance was not only surrounded by an audience that flooded into the stage area, but also members of Dongurizu, who have collaborated with DONGROSSO, also joined in. They performed songs such as “SUKIYAKI” released under the name DONGROSSO, and broke their previous peak of the day.

The CALM stage was full of collaborations. The HIVE stage produced a euphoric closing scene.

The CALM stage, located on the B3 floor of Zepp Shinjuku, on the upper floor of the main floor, brings together acts that lean toward club music, from R&B to hip-hop, taking advantage of the stage’s unique characteristics. The first event of the day was a music distribution service.〈FRIENDSHIP.〉R&B singer selected in a joint audition withFLEURis.

A three-piece performance featuring KKJ (Ba. Manip.) and Takahiro Oi (Gt. / Deep Sea Diving Club). A large audience gathered from the sound check, and even though it was early, hands-on activities and sensibilities were exchanged. In the middle of the performance, her ally Sala made a guest appearance and sang “(Not)friends”. They rocked the venue with their smooth R&B.

Also appeared on the FLUER stageSalaperformed with a DJ set backed by Ami from the four-piece band Simmer Pine. In addition to being a DJ, Ami also played the saxophone at key points, adding a touch of glamor to the performance. Guests include Foi from CHIANZ, who just appeared on the TRAVEL stage, and of course FLUER. They each sang songs they co-wrote, giving a sense of solidarity/connection across the scene.

Next on the scene was an up-and-coming creative collective/label.wau. This time, producers such as Kota Matsukawa, Ryuju Tanoue, Reo Anzai, and 01sail will appear in a DJ set, warming up the floor with DJ play centered on house and garage, and midway through,MÖSHI,MK woopThere will also be a shot live performance by two rappers. The atmosphere of the venue was repainted to resemble a club atmosphere.

Continuing from last year, the CALM stage not only featured live music and a DJ, but also a dance session. This year he also appeared on the luvis stage.mico pieceIt is a showcase for the artists, who use part of the stage and floor to perform thrilling performances. The DJ will be Dr. Pay from Shachi. Luvis also appeared as a guest vocalist, and the performance was as exciting as any live show.

R&B singer will headline the CALM stage.VivaOla. Based on R&B, she performs a collection of songs with a variety of expressions, sometimes danceable, sometimes mellow, with a graceful falsetto. The live DJ was wau’s Kota Matsukawa. The show ended in style with a set list centered on songs from the 2nd album “APORIE VIVANT” that was created with him.

And, what doesn’t end here is “MIND TRAVEL – TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER EDITION -“. The stage moved to the HIVE stage located on the 17th floor of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, far above Zepp Shinjuku, and this is also an indispensable part of “MIND TRAVEL”.YOSA & TAARDJed for 2 hours straight. The catchy song selection created a vivid festival finale, and there was also a scene where singer FLEUR suddenly grabbed the microphone midway through. We ended a long day on the floor full of euphoria.

“MIND TRAVEL” was held for the second time at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. Packed with elements of an outdoor festival, a live house, and a club, the event’s individuality has become even stronger, and the content is highly original. Please look forward to what the lineup will be like next year.

[Event information]

“MIND TRAVEL 2024 – TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER EDITION -”
Date and time: Saturday, October 26, 2024 12:00-23:00
Venue: Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo (B2F – B4F ZEPP SHINJUKU, 1F Outdoor Area, 17F SPACE WEST)
Cast:
ADOY (from Korea)
Ace Hashimoto (from US)
?te (from Taiwan)
Billyrrom
BREIMEN
CHIANZ
FLUER
Acorns
HOME
luvis
mico piece (DANCE SESSION)
Sala
SIRUP
SHINICHI OSAWA (MONDO GROSSO)
VivaOla
wau (DJ set) feat. MÖSHI & MK woop
YonYon
YOSA&TAAR