Shogo Misumi from Bounjour Records journeys through the sonic plane

The art of listening is a lot like drawing a map. A knowing ear can translate a song into a vehicle, serpentining its way across the sonic plane and finding its way through. Shogo Misumi of Bonjour Records — the Tokyo-born cultural and lifestyle retailer — took us on an auditory expedition with some of his favorite threads, magazines and sounds, below.

Great ears think alike — Bonjour Records prepares to open a new shop in Kyoto, Japan as we gird ourselves for our soon-to-be new home in the city, too. As a follow-up to a two-hour Kyoto-inspired playlist that was created exclusively for the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch Lobby, Shogo’s answers, plus the track list for our new favorite ear-worms, can be found below.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

SM:
My name is Shogo Misumi, born in 1988, working for Bonjour Records in Japan for 8 years as well as 2 years for Maison Kitsuné.

What is your favourite thing about London?

SM:
General liberal attitude towards cultural values as there are artists’ work like Banksy’s on London streets and they are kept as they are, being protected. On the contrary, they would be erased and put away in Japan.

Let’s play some word association. Let us know the first three things that pop into your head when we say — music from London?

SM:
The Smiths, Depeche Mode, New Order

Books set in London?

SM:
A Scene In Between, Lisson Gallery, Winkreative Design Stories

Films set in London?

SM:
Trainspotting, The King’s Speech, A Clockwork Orange

Fashion from London?

SM:
Savile Row, Mackintosh, Palace Skateboards

Food in London?

SM:
English Breakfast, Trifle, Camden Market

Magazines from London?

SM:
BEAT Magazine, Record Culture Magazine, NME (New Musical Express)

Galleries in London?

SM:
Tate Modern, Newport Street Gallery, Gagosian

Drinks in London?

SM:
Flat White, Gin, Merrydown Cider

Things in your home from London

SM:
Marshall headphones, Sade CD, vintage Burberry check overcoat

Track List (Artist, Album, Song Title)

Minoru Muraoka, Bamboo — “Take Five” 

Hitomi Tohyama, Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 – “Exotic Yokogao”

Homeshake, Helium — “Like Mariah”

Michael Miglio, Various Artists: Searfaring Strangers: Private Yacht — “Never Gonna Let You Go”

Tomoko Aran, Fuyu Kukan — “I’m In Love”

Chromatics, Closer to Grey — “You’re No Good”

Yasuko Agawa, Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 — “L.A. Night”

Serge Delisle, Various Artists: French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 4 — “Germaine (Remix)”

Acayouman, Various Artists: French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 4 — “Funk Around”

F.O.E., Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 — “In My Jungle”

Sorry Girls, Deborah — “H.O.N.E.S.T.Y.”

Tomoko Aran, Fuyu Kukan — “Midnight Pretenders”

Steve Hiett, Girls In The Glass — “Are These My Memories?”

M83, DSVⅡ — “Feelings”

Minoru Muraoka, Bamboo – “Soul Bamboo”

Kevin Krauter, Toss Up — “Keep Falling in Love”

Dwight Druick, Tanger — “Tanger”

Shen Et Les Shendys, Various Artists: French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 4 — “Je Ne Suis Que Musique”

Haruomi Hosono, Takahiko Ishikawa, Masataka Matsutoya, Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 — “Bride of Mykonos”

Steps, Various Artists: Searfaring Strangers: Private Yacht — “Your Burning Love”

Sorry Girls, Deborah — “One That You Want”

Dwight Druick, Tanger — “Georgy Porgy”

Djeneba, Various Artists: French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol. 4 — “Better Day (Hard Soul Mix)”

Minako Yoshida, Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 — “Midnight Driver”

Haruomi Hosono, Various Artists: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986 — “Sports Men”

Hozan Yamamoto With Sharps & Flats, Beautiful Bamboo-Flute — “Soma Bon-Uta”

Erika de Casier, Essentials — “The Flow”

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