Hiroya Tsukamoto   "Defining His Own Direction"  by Scott Abramson

Creating a trademark sound is a common aspiration and an extremely arduous task for musicians. Shying away from banality without gratuitously avoiding intuitive inclinations is an ongoing battle for those working to develop their individuality. This pursuit has produced positive results for Hiroya Tsukamoto, the impetus behind the innovative and eclectic eight-piece ensemble Interoceanico. A native of Kyoto, Japan, Tsukamoto came to Berklee in 2000 on a scholarship and has since received such honors as the prestigious Professional Music Achievement Award and has performed numerous times with Interoceanico at the Berklee Performance Center. Interoceanico is comprised of eight musicians from three continents and five countries including Argentina, Colombia, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Their debut album, The Other Side of the World, is a ten song musical journey that showcases Tsukamoto's natural aptitude for writing lyrical melodies supported by lush harmonies. Interoceanico's music is earthy, organic, and an amalgam of elements imported from diverse genres. Each song on The Other Side of the World is executed with the utmost conviction and sensitivity by a roster of top-notch musicians. Tsukamoto recently sat down and spoke about his experiences with Interoceanico and his tenure at Berklee.

TG: How did you form your group?

HT: I am a big fan of a band that Marta Gomez and Franco Pinna play in called Los Changos. I used to go to their performances pretty regularly and I eventually asked them if they would play in a group I was putting together and they said yes. I came to know the other members of the group under a different set of circumstances. I was impressed with each person's own distinctive style and abilities so I asked them to join my band. I feel fortunate to have an outlet to perform my compositions with musicians who I enjoy working with so much.

TG: Was the idea to have a band comprised of members from a variety of different countries intentional?

HT: I didn't intend on it, it just happened to turn out that way.� Now I realize how special it is to be in a situation with musicians from different countries. Since I've been living in the United States, meeting many different kinds of people has greatly impacted me. There are so many people here from other countries to play with and learn from.

TG: From living in the United States, what events have changed or inspired you as a musician?

HT: From seeing Los Changos perform, I became really motivated to try and create my own original music. Although I love South American music, I'm not from South America so trying to write that kind of music wouldn't be authentic.� I wanted to make music that combined a variety of stylistic influences. Since I've moved to the U.S., I have been inspired by so much music that I wasn't familiar with when I was living in Japan. It's interesting because when I was living in Japan I was listening to a lot of North American music and now that I'm living in America, I'm listening to a lot of music from other countries.

TG: Can you briefly describe the other members of the group?

HT: Marta Gomez currently lives in New York and plays with her own band. She is a phenomenal singer and her band is great. The other singer Alejandra Ortiz also frequently sings with Marta's group. They both have very different voices that blend beautifully together. The trumpeter Dan Brantigan is a great player and has excellent tone. He recently released his own album. The pianist Andrew Kim has a variety of different influences and that comes across in his playing.� He is a good composer and he will be recording his first album soon. The bassist Moto Fukushima has a unique sound that really sets him apart from other electric bass players. He co-produced The Other Side of the World. The drummer and percussionist Franco Pinna's style inspires me to compose and incorporate new rhythmic ideas into my compositions. The other drummer, Brian McLaughlin, is completely different from Franco. He is very exciting to play with. I can never anticipate what he's going to do next.

TG: Who are some of your influences?

HT: In the beginning of my development, Paul Simon influenced me a great deal. Later I discovered and became influenced by a Chilean singer/songwriter named Victor Hara who was the leader of a South American musical movement called Nueva Cancion and a Brazilian composer and singer named Milton Nascimento. Lately I have been influenced by the indigenous music of several countries specifically West African and Asian music.

You can listen to Interoceanico's songs and find out additional information about the group at its web site, at www.hiroyatsukamoto.com.