DJ NORI has been an exceptional DJ for 30 years and has had great influences in the club music scene both in Tokyo and NY. He started his DJ career in Tokyo in 1979. When he moved to NY in 1986, he met Larry Levan playing at the legendary club, Paradise Garage. He has been DJing since with Larry Levan at famous clubs. Along the way he has made close friendships with David Mancuso, Walter Gibbons, Danny Krivit, Timmy Resisford, Little Louis Vega, Nick Jones, Francois K, and other notable names. He has experienced real moments of the birth of the avant-garde period of music and culture at the Paradise Garage. This moment in time created a big scene in lower Manhattan. In the film "Maestro" (by Josell Ramos, 2004), DJ NORI appears as "one of the most important DJs who built a basic of NY club culture". In 1989, DJ NORI went back to Tokyo to be a resident DJ of the legendary club Gold. He also continued his DJ activities abroad including Sound Factory Bar - Under Ground Network, Cafe Con Letche, and others.
Currently in Japan, DJ NORI has been throwing several parties such as the Smoker at Loop (ongoing for 11 years), Gallery at Cay, and a new party Voyage at Yellow. His guest DJs include Lord G, DJ Harvey, Kim Lightfoot and others. Celebrating his 30 year career as a DJ, the "DJ NORI thirty year anniversary" party was held at AgeHa in Tokyo with many of his friends in attendance including Jocelyn Brown from UK. Last month, DJ NORI came back to NY to throw a 718 Sessions party with his old friend Danny Krivit and AK.
Congratulations on your thirty year anniversary as a DJ. Please tell us about your NY era and move to Tokyo.
I lived in NY from the end of 1986 to Feb. 1990. After my DJ residency at Gold in Tokyo for over one year, I came back to NY. From there, I started splitting my DJ life between NY and Tokyo.
Around 1996, I settled in NY because we had plans to make a new club on Hudson street where we'd bring DJs from Tokyo. Eventually that plan didn't come to be which brought me down. But, I was cheered by Fransois K which led me to start over. I decided to go back to Japan. My current parties, Smoker and Gallery were started then.
Though you had your 718 party in NYC, your anniversary party series was held in Japan. Is there anything you felt different this time?
They made me realize again the greatness of cheers and the power given off from the audience. I felt an appreciation for that. Not only at the party in NY but also from the 30 hour party at AgeHa and Loop. I received positive energy from the people supporting and celebrating me. I'd thought about doing other things besides DJing during my career, but I realized I should keep doing it.
How was the 718 Sessions in NY?
NY is the city that gave me the opportunity to be a DJ for 30 years. I have realized again how great NY is. The energy I felt from the floor was fantastic. I could play in a good pace. It was so much fun.
What are you expecting in your future ?
Things are over-saturated nowadays. It's very difficult for veteran DJs like myself to be involved with both the old and the new. But I hope we can let the younger generation of DJs and party goers handle the future.
DJs can be technically skilled with the use of computers, but each DJ has their individual style to express. I try to make parties that have good communication with the crowd without an ego. Getting inspiration from the audience is one of the best experiences. That's what makes me happy and is the most valuable things to me.
Interview by Go Kiryu
