Directions in Sound: Notes from the Asian American Underground
March 16, 2007
What do hip-hop and indie-pop have in common? These two distinct genres will once again be featured at the annual Directions in Sound: Notes from the Asian American Underground all-star music showcase, hosted by the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
The two-night event kicks off with hip hop, featuring performances by New York City’s legendary mixtape master Neil Armstrong and 5th Platoon — turntable crew mate Vin Roc.
Daly City Records head Mochipet, turntablist Mike Boo and drummer Mike Reed, Japanese American MC Estairy and DJ Zita with visuals on display by Daniel Hai.
Armstrong made Rolling Stone’s “Top 10 Mixtape DJ’s” in 2005, and has shared the stage with many hip-hop artists, including LL Cool J, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Wyclef Jean.
DJ Zita, who is one of the four founding members of Hawai‘i’s first all-female DJ collective, Sisters in Sound, will be spinning hip hop, reggae and R&B. She has spun alongside internationally known artists including Q-Bert, Shortkut, Sake 1, Mr. E and Jennifer Johns.
MC Estairy will be performing songs from his new album Obsidian Times.
Directions in Sound has served as the musical counterpart to the world-class films showcased at the SFIAAFF for the past few years. Past artists featured include Dengue Fever, Dhamaal and Triple Threat.
“Our mission is to showcase the cutting-edge Asians and APA musicians that are rocking the world,” said Directions in Sound coordinator Brent Quan Hall. “Much as the films we feature in the festival reflect the world-class talent and diversity emerging from Asian America, the musicians we’re showcasing at Directions in Sound are their equals.”
For the second portion of Directions in Sound, guests can experience an evening of indie-pop rock, featuring Japanese rock band Kiiiiiii, Oakland’s Dreamdate, San Francisco’s own Scrabbel and DJ Pickpocket.
Kiiiiiii, based in Tokyo, will be performing their own songs as well as covers of Michael Jackson, The Chipmunks and The Wiggles.
“I have conservative Taiwanese parents that reject the idea of me being in a band,” said Yea-Ming Chen of Dreamdate, who will be playing 10 songs at the event. “It feels really good to play for and be accepted by the Asian American community. It sort of makes up for the sadness that I feel when I can’t share something Dreamdate-related with my parents.”
“Directions in Sound is a unique chance to enjoy all-star music, hobnob with festival-goers and filmmakers in town, and to celebrate the talent resident in our communities,” said Hall. “And all these guys and gals flat out rock.”
www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/2007/films-events/directions-in-sound
DJ Neil Armstrong
Fun Fact: He was a member of the critically acclaimed two-time Grammy award nominated jazz band Russell Gunn and Ethnomusicology.
Dreamdate
Fun Fact: The indie pop band made up of Yea-Ming Chen and Anna Hillburg both graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in music. They bonded through their mutual awkward understanding of classical music and their rejection to large chunks of it.
DJ Zita
Fun Fact: Her very first turntable was a brown plastic Fisher-Price record player. She spins everything from hip hop to classic soul and funk to smooth house.
Kiiiiiii
Fun Fact: The Japanese rock/hip hop/techno duo Reiko Tada and Utako Tayama first met in junior high school in 1989, and since then “have been best friends like D.J. and Kimmy” on the ‘80s sitcom Full House.
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