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{{short description|Japanese music producer}}
{{Short description|Japanese music producer}}
{{Distinguish|Shinichi Yokota}}
{{Distinguish|Shinichi Yokota}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Shinichiro Yokota
| name = Shinichiro Yokota
| honorific_suffix =
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| native_name = 横田 信一郎
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt =
| caption =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| native_name = 横田真一郎<ref name = disc>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/223012-Shinichiro-Yokota|title=Shinichiro Yokota|website=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
| native_name_lang = Japanese
| native_name_lang = Japanese
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|07|12}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|07|12}}<ref name = insta>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CCiJ_ZtAsZD/|title=Today is my 51st birthday. May everybody in the world be peaceful and healthy|website=[[Instagram]]|author=Yokota, Shinichiro|date=July 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name = ban>{{cite web|url=https://banbantonton.com/2019/10/22/interview-shinichiro-yokota-far-east-recordings/|title=INTERVIEW / SHINICHIRO YOKOTA / FAR EAST RECORDINGS|website=Ban Ban Ton Ton|date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta]], [[Tokyo]], Japan
| birth_place = [[Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta]], [[Tokyo|Tōkyō-to]], Japan<ref name = ban></ref><ref name = djmag>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/longreads/driving-force-shinichiro-yokota-and-soichi-terada|title=The driving force of Shinichiro Yokota and Soichi Terada|author= Sunda, Mike|date= October 22, 2019|website=[[DJ Mag]]}}</ref><ref name = fb>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/shinichiro.yokota.10|title=Shinichiro Yokota|website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref>
| origin = [[Tokyo]], Japan
| origin = [[Tokyo]], Japan
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| genre = [[House music|House]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Downtempo]]|[[deep house]]|[[tech house]]}}
| occupation = [[Record producer|Producer]], customized car part creator<ref name = bizaarbazaar>{{cite web|url=https://bizaarbazaar.com/2018/01/20/qa-shinichiro-yokota/|title=QA: SHINICHIRO YOKOTA|date=January 20, 2018|website=Bizaarbazaar}}</ref>
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Record producer|Producer]]|customized car part creator}}
| instrument = Synthesizer · vocoder · rhodes piano
| instrument = Synthesizer · vocoder · rhodes piano
| years_active = 1987 – 1992, 2013 – present
| years_active = {{hlist|1987–1992|2016–present}}
| label = Far East Recording, Sound of Vast
| label = {{hlist|Far East Recording|Sound of Vast}}
| associated_acts = [[Soichi Terada]]
| associated_acts = [[Soichi Terada]]
| website = {{URL|night-pager.net}} <br> {{URL|shin-ryu.net}}
| website =
| module = {{Infobox person
| module = {{Infobox person
| embed = yes
| embed = yes
| children = 3<ref name = ban></ref>
| children = 3
}}
}}
| module2 =
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}}
{{nihongo|'''Shinichiro Yokota''' |横田 信一郎|Yokota Shin'ichirō|born July 12, 1969|lead=yes}} is a Japanese DJ and record producer known for his single "Do It Again," which gained significant attention due to an incorrect credit on [[YouTube]] that mistakenly attributed the track to [[Soichi Terada]]. His early exposure to music came in his childhood when he learned of the band [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], which inspired him to start pursuing music.


After discovering [[hip hop]] in the 1980s, he began producing beats and collaborating with artists in the genre. In 1990, Yokota co-founded the label Far East Recording with Terada, but it faced limited success. Despite a hiatus from music and ventures into other industries, he made a comeback in 2016 with the album ''Do It Again and Again''.
'''Shinichiro Yokota''' (横田真一郎, Yokota Shin'ichirō<ref name = disc></ref>; born July 12, 1969<ref name = insta/> in [[Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta]], [[Tokyo|Tōkyō-to]], Japan<ref name = ban></ref><ref name = djmag></ref><ref name = fb></ref>) is a Japanese [[electronic music]] producer. He is known for his single, "Do It Again." The single is often mistaken to be [[Soichi Terada]]'s work, due to an incorrect credit on [[YouTube]]. Yokota has been described as "one of Japan's unsung heroes of house."<ref name = magdj>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/music/ultimate-yokota-1991-2019|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA ULTIMATE YOKOTA 1991-2019|website=[[DJ Mag]]}}</ref>


Influenced by synthesizer-based works of [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] and [[Akiko Yano]], Yokota has been recognized as a pioneer of Japanese house music alongside Terada. His music, characterized by its electronic and house genres including [[downtempo]], [[deep house]], and [[tech house]], features a minimalist style that emphasizes beats, bass, and vocals.
== Biography ==
=== Early life and career ===
Yokota comes from the [[Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta ward]], growing up in [[Tokyo]] and its adjacent suburbs of [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]] and [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]], and attended Chidori Elementary School in south Tokyo during the early 80's, where he played [[baseball]]. Yokota liked other activities, such as [[Association football|football]] and [[swimming]], but also liked playing his father's [[electric organ]]. Yokota started listening to [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] in elementary school, and quit baseball to take [[piano]] lessons across the street from his house.<ref name = bizaarbazaar/> He studied for two years before using his [[otoshidama]] to buy a [[Casio MT-40]] in [[Akihabara]]. After a couple of years, he bought a [[Korg Poly-800]] and a [[cassette recorder]].<ref name = due>{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2017/03/06/soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota-japanese-house/|title=Soichi Terada and Shinichiro Yokota are the Japanese house geniuses finally getting their due|author=Durr, Brian|date=June 6, 2017|website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebongoclub.co.uk/tag/far-east-recording/|title=Japanese house genius Soichi Terada makes his Edinburgh debut at the Bongo for Lionoil, Fri 26th May ’17|date=May 23, 2017|author=Andy}}</ref> When computers started popping up when he was in middle school, he started recording tracks around 1982.<ref name = ransom>{{cite web|url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/interviews/artist-to-artist-soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota/|title=Artist To Artist: Shinichiro Yokota & Soichi Terada|website=Ransom Note|date=2019}}</ref> In 1983, after YMO broke up, Yokota discovered [[hip hop]] through a midnight [[radio program]], which led him to stop using synthesizers and make his own beats.<ref name = roof>{{cite web|url=https://www.roof.fm/nr-74-shinichiro-yokota-far-east-recording/|title=Shinichiro Yokota – Far East Recording|website=Roof.FM|date=2015|author=Schaeffner, Bjørn}}</ref> He became a supporting member of Puzzle Jam Rockers and was involved in the production of early hip-hop albums such as Krush Posse and East End while doing track making and [[turntablism]].<ref name = due></ref><ref name = ra3>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/shinichiroyokota/biography|title=Shinichiro Yokota|language=Japanese|website=[[Resident Advisor]]}}</ref><ref name = qetic>{{cite web|url=https://qetic.jp/music/kewl-soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota-pickup/295497/|title=【対談 Soichi Terada × Shinichiro Yokota】ハウスシーンの世界的な大事件！2人による19年ぶりのコラボライブ|language=Japanese|date=September 12, 2018|author=Funatsu, Koichiro|website=Qetic}}</ref>


=== Introduction to house music ===
== Early life and education ==
Yokota was born on July 12, 1969, in the [[Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta]] of [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. As a child, he played [[baseball]] and engaged in activities like [[association football|football]] and [[swimming]]. He also enjoyed playing his father's [[electric organ]]. While he was an elementary school student, Yokota was introduced to the band [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], which he credited as a formative musical moment because he had previously been listening to "many fake Japanese Beatles bands" before Yellow Magic Orchestra came onto the scene. After hearing them, Yokota quit playing baseball and started taking classical piano lessons. He used his [[otoshidama]] money to buy his first synthesizer, a [[Casio MT-40]].<ref name = fact>{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2017/03/06/soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota-japanese-house/|title=Soichi Terada and Shinichiro Yokota are the Japanese house geniuses finally getting their due|author=Durr, Brian|date=June 6, 2017|website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]}}</ref> After the breakup of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Yokota discovered hip hop through a midnight radio program, leading him to shift from synthesizers to creating his own beats.<ref name = vice/><ref name = roof>{{cite web|url=https://www.roof.fm/nr-74-shinichiro-yokota-far-east-recording/|title=Shinichiro Yokota – Far East Recording|website=Roof.FM|date=2015|author=Schaeffner, Bjørn}}</ref> He became a supporting member of Puzzle Jam Rockers and was involved in the production of early hip-hop albums such as Krush Posse and East End while doing track making and [[turntablism]].<ref name = qetic>{{cite web|url=https://qetic.jp/music/kewl-soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota-pickup/295497/|title=【対談 Soichi Terada × Shinichiro Yokota】ハウスシーンの世界的な大事件！2人による19年ぶりのコラボライブ|language=Japanese|date=September 12, 2018|author=Funatsu, Koichiro|website=Qetic}}</ref>
In 1987, Yokota met fellow producer [[Soichi Terada]] when participating in a [[Vestax]] DJ Contest, where Yokota won a prize.<ref name = ra2>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/37171|website=[[Resident Advisor]]|title=Do It Again And Again, from Soichi Terada's friend and production partner, drops later this month.|author=Kolada, Brian|date=November 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name = qetic></ref><ref name = skiddle>{{cite web|url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/House-music-and-video-games-why-these-Japanese-producers-remain-fresh/54204/|title=House music and video games: why these Japanese producers remain fresh|date=July 10, 2019|author=McElhone, James|website=[[Skiddle]]}}</ref> Terada introduced him to [[house music]] and [[synthesizers]], even letting him in his house to watch him perform and have Yokota use his gear during his free time.<ref name = ransom></ref><ref name = vf>{{cite web|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/shinichiro-yokota-ultimate-yokota-1991-2019-vinyl/|title=Japanese house legend Shinichiro Yokota compiles 20 year retrospective on 2xLP|author=Helfet, Gabriela|date=September 13, 2019|website=[[The Vinyl Factory]]}}</ref><ref name = ra1>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/44121|title=Ultimate Yokota 1991 - 2019 brings together 12 tracks—including a new one with Soichi Terada—by "one of Japan's unsung heroes of House."|author=Cetin, Marissa|date=July 18, 2019|website=[[Resident Advisor]]}}</ref> He began making house music, but said that it was difficult to find others like him since the dominant style of electronic music in Tokyo was [[Hi-NRG]] and [[eurobeat]].<ref name = roof></ref>


== Early music career and retirement ==
He formed the label '''Far East Recording''' with Terada in 1990.<ref name = ra3></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nts.live/artists/2932-shinichiro-yokota|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA|website=[[NTS Radio]]}}</ref> He and Terada would put out their first album called ''Far East Recording'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/house-hunting/house-hunting-22-far-east-recording/|title=House Hunting #22 - Far East Recording|author=D'Araujo, Aiden|website=Ransom Note}}</ref>
[[File:Soichi Terada, “Opera Festival”, Teatro Lucio Dalla, Milo, Italy (19-08-2022) · © Danilo Samà (CROP).jpg|thumb|Yokota began a friendship with [[Soichi Terada]] in 1987, and the two founded the label Far East Recording in 1990.|upright]]
Yokota met fellow producer [[Soichi Terada]] through a mutual friend in 1987 after both attended an All Japan DJ contest. Inspired by Terada's performance of an original production, Yokota was soon introduced to house music by Terada.<ref name = djmag>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/longreads/driving-force-shinichiro-yokota-and-soichi-terada|title= The driving force of Shinichiro Yokota and Soichi Terada|website=[[DJ Mag]]|date=October 22, 2019|author=Sunda, Mike}}</ref> He began making house music, but found it challenging to connect with others who shared his musical interests, as the dominant styles of electronic music in Tokyo at the time were [[Hi-NRG]] and [[eurobeat]].<ref name = roof>{{cite web|url=https://www.roof.fm/nr-74-shinichiro-yokota-far-east-recording/|title=Shinichiro Yokota – Far East Recording|website=Roof.FM|date=2015|author=Schaeffner, Bjørn}}</ref>


In 1990, Yokota and Terada founded the label Far East Recording, which released its first album, also titled ''Far East Recording'', in 1992. The album had little success, and Terada ended up with boxes of unsold records at his home. While Terada continued to release music, Yokota lost motivation, feeling disenchanted by the rapid technological advancements. In the same year, he started a custom car parts company with his wife, Night Pager, which specialized in tuning sports cars and modifying limiters for competition racers.<ref name = mixmag1/> In 2011, another company he created that sold camera parts went bankrupt. However, he managed to restart his business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/world/asia/in-a-tokyo-workshop-district-a-sled-to-better-days.html|title=A Fading District Pins Its Hopes on a Bobsled|date=February 7, 2013|website=[[The New York Times]]|author=Fackler, Martin}}</ref>
=== Absence from music ===
Yokota has stated that he lost his motivation to create music due to the influx of new technology. He stated, “In the past, sampling time was limited so you had to be really creative when you had an idea. But with hard disk recording the possibilities were endless, and around 2000 I lost my motivation to make music.” He focused more on his custom car parts company, Night-Pager, that he launched in 1992. Also during this time, he raised his three children.<ref name = ban></ref> In 1999, Yokota and Terada played at Club Citta for a memorial event for [[Roger Troutman]], playing "[[Computer Love (Zapp song)|Computer Love]]." The event would be their last live before going on hiatus.<ref name = qetic></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wmLzgt3dPw|title=横田信一郎＆寺田創一 LIVE (1999)|author=オラフキン|date=November 17, 2009|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In 2011, another company he created that sold camera parts went [[bankrupt]], but managed to restart his company as a producer of custom-made car parts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/world/asia/in-a-tokyo-workshop-district-a-sled-to-better-days.html|title=A Fading District Pins Its Hopes on a Bobsled|date=February 7, 2013|website=[[The New York Times]]|author=Fackler, Martin}}</ref>


=== Resurgence ===
== Resurgence and return to music ==
{{Listen
In early 2013, a [[YouTube]] channel called UtopiaSpb uploaded a rip of "Do It Again," but incorrectly credited the song to Terada. While their other rips range from 1 thousand views to 9.8 thousand views, "Do It Again" garnered more than 2 million views as of June 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZNgKZMRpsM|title=Soichi Terada - Do It Again|date=February 18, 2013|author=UtopiaSpb|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Multiple users, including Terada himself, pointed out the inaccuracy, but the channel has been inactive since the upload of the song.<ref name = djmag></ref>
| type = music
| filename = Shinichiro Yokota - Do It Again.ogg
| title = "Do It Again"
| description = A 30-second sample of "Do It Again," which was incorrectly attributed to [[Soichi Terada]].
| pos = left
}}
On February 18, 2013, the YouTube channel UtopiaSpb, known for uploading various house songs, uploaded Yokota's song "Do It Again," mistakenly crediting Terada. The video gained significant views due to the platform's algorithm. Terada himself commented on the video to correct the inaccuracy, but the channel has not been active since the upload.<ref name = djmag/> In 2015, the compilation album ''Sounds from the Far East'' was released by the Dutch label Rush Hour, curated by the DJ and producer Hunee.<ref name = djmag/> In May 2016, Yokota made a return to music with a set in the Boiler Room, marking his first club performance in 25 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clubberia.com/ja/news/5775-Omodaka-Shinichiro-Yokota-MOODMAN-Boiler-Room-Tokyo/|date=May 5, 2016|author=Yamazaki, Yoshiki|language=Japanese|website=Clubberia|title=Omodaka（寺田創一）、Shinichiro Yokota 、MOODMANが「Boiler Room Tokyo」に出演}}</ref> On November 30, 2016, Yokota released ''Do It Again and Again'', his first full-length solo album featuring both unreleased 1990s tracks and new material.<ref name = fact/> Yokota described it as a compilation of his whole life as a producer, allowing him to relive his memories.<ref name = vice/>


On September 25, 2019, Yokota released the album, ''I Know You Like It'', which the ''[[Tokyo Weekender]]'' described as a collection of "tracks both old and new" in their top favorite Japanese albums of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/music/10-of-our-favorite-japanese-albums-of-2019/|title=10 Of Our Favorite Japanese Albums of 2019|date=December 11, 2019|website=[[Tokyo Weekender]]}}</ref> Later, on October 21, 2019, he released the compilation album ''Ultimate Yokota 1991–2019'' on Dutch label Sound of Vast. This album included songs from his previous two albums that had not been available in vinyl form before. The album included the song "Tokyo 018," featuring Terada, marking the first time they collaborated in 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/44121|title=Pioneering Japanese house producer Shinichiro Yokota reveals career retrospective|website=[[Resident Advisor]]|author=Cetin, Marissa|date=July 18, 2019}}</ref> It was rated number three on ''DJ Mag's'' list of the top 25 compilations of 2019, with the song "Bells" from the album ranked number five on ''Magnetic Magazine's'' list of the 15 best bass music tracks of October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://djmag.com/longreads/dj-mag-top-25-compilations-2019|date=December 27, 2019|website=[[DJ Mag]]|author=Kulkarni, Neil|title=DJ Mag's top 25 compilations of 2019|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200616203417/https://djmag.com/longreads/dj-mag-top-25-compilations-2019|archive-date=June 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2019/11/15-best-bass-music-tracks-october-2019/|title=15 Best Bass Music Tracks of October 2019|date=November 6, 2019|website=Magnetic Magazine|author=Ghezawi, Kareem}}</ref>
In May 2016, he appeared in [[Boiler Room (music broadcaster)|Boiler Room]] playing a live set.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clubberia.com/ja/news/5775-Omodaka-Shinichiro-Yokota-MOODMAN-Boiler-Room-Tokyo/|date=May 5, 2016|author=Yamazaki, Yoshiki|language=Japanese|website=Clubberia|title=Omodaka（寺田創一）、Shinichiro Yokota 、MOODMANが「Boiler Room Tokyo」に出演}}</ref> In November of that same year, he released his second album, ''Do It Again And Again'', which includes unreleased songs produced in the late 80's and early 90's.<ref name = ra2></ref><ref name = ra3></ref><ref name = skiddle></ref>


In 2021, Yokota collaborated with other musicians, including the minimal noise group D49 and [[J-pop]] singer Rinapon. Yokota stated that despite the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Japan]], he was still able to collaborate with both Japanese and international musicians because everyone was online. On November 22, 2021, he released the album ''Tokonoma Style'', which was described as traversing genres such as house, techno, pop, funk, and hip hop.<ref name = mixmag1/>
In September 2019, he released his third album, ''I Know You Like It'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourheadsmusic.com/shinichiro-yokota-i-know-you-like-it-sound-of-vast|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA - I KNOW YOU LIKE IT [SOUND OF VAST]|website=Fourheads Music}}</ref> and in October, released ''Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019''.<ref name = vf></ref><ref name = ra1></ref><ref name = phonica>{{cite web|url=https://www.phonicarecords.com/product/shinichiro-yokota-ultimate-yokota-1991-2019-lp-sound-of-vast/163955|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA – Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019 LP|website=Phonica Records}}</ref><ref name = ligt>{{cite web|url=https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6052-ultimate-yokota-1991-2019|title=Shinichiro Yokota – Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019|website=[[Light in the Attic Records]]}}</ref><ref name = vicious>{{cite web|url=https://viciousmagazine.com/shinichiro-yokota-presenta-ultimate-yokota-1991-2019/|title=Shinichiro Yokota presenta Ultimate Yokota 1991 - 2019|date=October 23, 2019|website=Vicious Magazine|language=Spanish}}</ref>

In March 2020, he participated in the music festival Snow Machine alongside Terada, Chida, [[Kuniyuki Takahashi]], [[FEMM (duo)|FEMM]], Mayurashka, Gonno and Kikiorix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/snow-machine-adds-soichi-terada-news/|title=SNOW MACHINE ADDS SOICHI TERADA, CHIDA AND SHINICHIRO YOKOTA|date=January 22, 2020|website=[[Mixmag]]}}</ref>

== Albums ==
=== ''Do It Again and Again'' ===
'''''Do It Again and Again''''' was released on November 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.douban.com/subject/27186464/|title=Shinichiro Yokota Presents Do It Again And Again|language=Chinese|website=[[Douban]]}}</ref> The album had a release party at Circus Tokyo on February 25.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://circus-tokyo.jp/en/events/shinichiro-yokota-presents-do-it-again-and-again-release-party-3|url-status=dead|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA PRESENTS “DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN” RELEASE PARTY|website=Circus Tokyo|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.jp/tokyo/ja/ナイトライフ/shinichiro-yokota-presents-“do-it-again-and-again”-release-party|title=SHINICHIRO YOKOTA PRESENTS “DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN” RELEASE PARTY|website=Time Out Tokyo|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/nightlife/shinichiro-yokota?awc=16830_1594949101_8387122eece18f289fa31d85b13e8677|title=Shinichiro Yokota|date=February 21, 2017|website=Time Out Tokyo}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=835370116917309440|user=CIRCUSTOKYO|author=Circus Tokyo|date=February 24, 2017|title=！！TONIGHT！！ -2/25(SAT) SHINICHIRO YOKOTA PRESENTS “DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN” RELEASE PARTY LIVE: SHINICHIRO YOKOTA Koudai Mamazu Yo.An &more}}</ref> The album is Yokota's first full-length solo album, with Stefan Betke mastering the album.<ref name = ra2/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fnmnl.tv/2016/12/02/16185|title=寺田創一の盟友Shinichiro Yokotaのフルアルバム『Do It Again And Again』|language=Japanese|date=December 2, 2016|website=FNMNL}}</ref>

=== ''I Know You Like It'' ===
'''''I Know You Like It''''' was released on September 25, 2019, three years after ''Do It Again and Again''. The album includes covers of Yokota's previous songs "Night Drive" and "Shake Yours" and a cover of the song "Simoon" by [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]].

The album received generally positive reviews. [https://tapedeckpodcast.com/ The Tape Deck] rated it a yellow, saying that his "melange of thin high-frequency synths and rhythm fills, comes through clearly on I Know You Like It, a cheekily-titled release that will hopefully see him find a greater American audience."<ref name = tape>{{cite web|url=https://tapedeckpodcast.com/spectreview-shinichiro-yokota-i-know-you-like-it/|title=Spectreview: Shinichiro Yokota – I Know You Like It|website=The Tape Deck (tapedeckpodcast.com)}}</ref> Yellow means that it had high points in aesthetics and originality, but low points in intellect. This also means that it "stands out in both emotional evocation and in uniqueness."{{efn|[https://tapedeckpodcast.com/the-spectreview-color-rating-system/ THE SPECTREVIEW COLOR RATING SYSTEM]}} At [https://www.findingfigaro.com/ Finding Figaro], the author explains, "It’s an incredibly consistent album cover-to-cover and, to my ears, already feels like a timeless classic, definitely one of the releases of 2019."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findingfigaro.com/features-1/2019/6/16/review-i-know-you-like-it-shinichiro-yokota|title=Review: 'I Know You Like It' - Shinichiro Yokota}}</ref>

=== ''Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019'' ===
'''''Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019''''' was released in October 2019.<ref name = magdj></ref><ref name = vf></ref> All songs included in the album were previously unavailable in vinyl form. Yokota said about the compilation: "This project ‘Ultimate Yokota’ is a careful selection of tracks from the early 90’s which haven’t been released on vinyl ever. It is my 30 years chronicle."<ref name = ligt></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boomkat.com/products/ultimate-yokota-1991-2019|title=Shinichiro Yokota Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019|website=Boomkat}}</ref><ref name = phonica></ref><ref name = vicious/> The album includes six songs from ''Do It Again and Again'' and six songs from ''I Know You Like It''.

Chal Ravens of [[Resident Advisor]] said, "His ear for melody and a snappy sample provides endless variety, but the basic recipe tends to combine the bossy, velvet-lined grooves of classic New York house with a certain Japanese accent—playful earworms and plasticky organs straight from an arcade game, or notes of laidback electro-boogie that make you want to start your engine and cruise through the neon-lit bustle of south Tokyo."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/24335|title=Shinichiro Yokota - Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019 — The Japanese house master and Soichi Terada collaborator gets an overdue retrospective.|date=October 28, 2019|author=Chal Ravens}}</ref>


== Artistry ==
== Artistry ==
[[File:Yellow Magic Orchestra in 2008.jpg|thumb|Yokota cited [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] for inspiring him to take up music.]]
=== Influences ===
Yokota has cited Japanese musicians such as [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] and [[Isao Tomita]], as well as the German band [[Kraftwerk]], as his main inspirations. He was also influenced by hip hop early in his life, mentioning songs like "[[Planet Rock (song)|Planet Rock]]" by [[Afrika Bambaataa]], "[[Reckless (Chris "The Glove" Taylor & David Storrs song)|Reckless]]" by [[Chris Taylor (music producer)|Chris Taylor]] and [[Ice-T]], and "Riccochet" by the [[B. B. & Q. Band]] as having a positive impact on him.<ref name = vice>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/es/article/8x5873/thump-mx-shinichiro-yokota-un-samurai-del-house-clasico|title=Shinichiro Yokota, un samurai del house clásico|language=es|author=Chacón, Itza; Franco, Cynthia|date=October 31, 2017|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref> In an interview with ''The Glow'', Yokota mentioned that works by [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] and [[Akiko Yano]], along with the use of synthesizers, were significant inspirations during his early years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theglow.jp/selector/shinichiro-yokata|title=Shinichiro Yokota|date=January 1, 2021|author=Cunningham, Ed|website=The Glow}}</ref> He and Terada have been described as pioneers of Japanese house music. Mia Patillo of ''Mixmag'' described Yokota as "timeless" and praised his ability to create "sophisticated music with only the essential elements at hand".<ref name = mixmag1/><ref name = vice/>
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Hosono Haruomi from "No Smoking" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2019 (49013189233).jpg
| width1 = 101
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 =Ryuichi Sakamoto at the Japan Society Panel on Art & Nature 2010 cropped.jpg
| width2 =110
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Both [[Haruomi Hosono]] (left) and [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] (right) of [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], as well as others, were influences on Yokota's music
}}
Yokota has said that [[Haruomi Hosono]] of the [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] is one of his major influences, stating the he listened to YMO and [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] when he was 10 years old. From 1985 to 1995, he listened to hip hop artists from [[Sugar Hill Records (hip hop label)|Sugar Hill Records]], [[Def Jam Recordings]] and [[Tommy Boy Records]], and "was hugely impressed by the stuff [[Lil Louis]] was doing."<ref name = roof></ref>


Yokota's music primarily spans electronic and house genres, including [[downtempo]], [[deep house]], and [[tech house]]. His style bears resemblance to that of his collaborator Soichi Terada, as well as artists like [[Galaxy 2 Galaxy]], [[Los Microwaves]], and [[Larry Heard]]. Yokota favors a simpler musical style, emphasizing "beats and bass from the rhythm machine and vocals on top."<ref name = ransom>{{cite web|url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/interviews/artist-to-artist-soichi-terada-shinichiro-yokota/|title=Artist To Artist: Shinichiro Yokota & Soichi Terada|website=Ransom Note|date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yeahnahyeahgroup.com/posts/getting-to-know-shinchiro-yokota|title=Getting to Know: Shinichiro Yokota|website=Yeah Nah Yeah|date=June 20, 2019}}</ref> As Yokota couldn't understand English, he selected samples based on their musical quality. In an interview with ''[[Mixmag]]'', he said, "What I do understand and listen for is the ‘hibiki’." The song "Do It Again" used a sample from [[Derek B]]'s "Good Groove", with ''Mixmag'' noting that he "[warped] the refrain from alluring to enchanting to mingle with the track’s evocative melody and chords."<ref name = mixmag1>{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/shinichiro-yokota-interview-japan-japanese-house-dj-producer|title=Shinichiro Yokota is a revitalised hero of Japanese house music|date=October 25, 2022|website=[[Mixmag]]|author=Pattillo, Mia}}</ref>
=== Musical style ===
Yokota's music focuses on [[electronic music|electronic]] and [[house music]], including [[downtempo]], [[deep house]], and [[tech house]]. His style is similar to collaborator [[Soichi Terada]], as well as [[Galaxy 2 Galaxy]], Ata Kak, [[Los Microwaves]], and [[Larry Heard]]. Yokota prefers a simpler style of music where "it’s basically made up of beats and bass from the rhythm machine and vocals on top."<ref name = ransom></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yeahnahyeahgroup.com/posts/getting-to-know-shinchiro-yokota|title=Getting to Know: Shinichiro Yokota|website=Yeah Nah Yeah|date=June 20, 2019}}</ref>


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
=== Singles and EPs ===
|+ List of studio albums
*1991: "Twin Base Vol. 1" (with [[Soichi Terada]])
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Title
*1991: "Tokyo XXX" (with Terada) [BPM]
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Album details
*1991: "Got To Be Real" (with Terada) [Far East]
|-
*1991: "Let's Groove' (with Terada) [Far East]
!scope=row|''Far East Recording''
*2014: "The Far East Transcripts" (with Terada) [Hhatri]
|
*2015: 'The Far East Transcripts II" (with Terada) [Hhatri]
*Released: 1992
*2016: "The Far East Transcripts III" (with Terada) [Hhatri]
*Label: Far East Recording
*2018: "Tokyo Horoki Part 1' ‎(with Pleasure Cruiser & Smoke Thief) [High Hoops]
*Format: LP, CD
*2020: "Detectors" [Far East]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.163.com/#/album?id=91014081|title=Detectors|website=[[NetEase Music]]}}</ref>
|-
*????: "Believe The House / Purpul Haze" [Far East]
!scope=row|''Do It Again And Again''

|
=== Studio albums ===
*Released: November 30, 2016
*1992: ''Far East Recording'' (with Terada) [Far East]
*2016: ''Do It Again And Again'' [Far East]
*Label: Far East Recording
*Format: CD, streaming
*2019: ''I Know You Like It'' [Far East]
|-

!scope=row|''Ultimate Yokota 1991–2019''
=== Compilations ===
|
*2019: ''Sound Of Vast - 5 Years Anniversary Series 02'' (with The Mole) [Sound Of Vast]
*Released: October 21, 2019
*2019: ''Ultimate Yokota 1991-2019'' [Sound Of Vast]
*Label: Sound of Vast

*Format: CD, streaming
=== Appearances ===
|-
*2015: Soichi Terada - ''Sounds From The Far East'' [Rush Hour]<ref name = skiddle></ref>
!scope=row|''Tokonoma Style''
|
*Released: November 22, 2021
*Label: Far East Recording
*Format: LP, CD, streaming
|}


== References ==
== References ==
<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. -->
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
[https://www.facebook.com/shinichiroyokotamusic/ Official Facebook] and [https://www.facebook.com/shinichiro.yokota.10 personal Facebook] <br>
* [https://www.facebook.com/shinichiroyokotamusic/ Official Facebook] and [https://www.facebook.com/shinichiro.yokota.10 personal Facebook]
[https://soundcloud.com/shinichiro-yokota Shinichiro Yokota] on [[SoundCloud]]
* [https://soundcloud.com/shinichiro-yokota Shinichiro Yokota] on [[SoundCloud]]


{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yokota, Shinichiro}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Japanese electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Japanese electronic musicians]]

[[Category:20th-century Japanese musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese musicians]]

[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Japanese electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Japanese house musicians]]
[[Category:Japanese house musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese musicians]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yokota, Shinichiro}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Latest revision as of 23:37, 22 August 2024

Not to be confused with Shinichi Yokota.
Shinichiro Yokota
横田 信一郎
Born (1969-07-12) July 12, 1969 (age 55)
Ōta, Tokyo, Japan
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Occupations
InstrumentSynthesizer · vocoder · rhodes piano
Years active
  • 1987–1992
  • 2016–present
Labels
  • Far East Recording
  • Sound of Vast
Children3

Shinichiro Yokota (Japanese: 横田 信一郎, Hepburn: Yokota Shin'ichirō, born July 12, 1969) is a Japanese DJ and record producer known for his single "Do It Again," which gained significant attention due to an incorrect credit on YouTube that mistakenly attributed the track to Soichi Terada. His early exposure to music came in his childhood when he learned of the band Yellow Magic Orchestra, which inspired him to start pursuing music.

After discovering hip hop in the 1980s, he began producing beats and collaborating with artists in the genre. In 1990, Yokota co-founded the label Far East Recording with Terada, but it faced limited success. Despite a hiatus from music and ventures into other industries, he made a comeback in 2016 with the album Do It Again and Again.

Influenced by synthesizer-based works of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Akiko Yano, Yokota has been recognized as a pioneer of Japanese house music alongside Terada. His music, characterized by its electronic and house genres including downtempo, deep house, and tech house, features a minimalist style that emphasizes beats, bass, and vocals.

Early life and education

[edit]

Yokota was born on July 12, 1969, in the Ōta of Tokyo, Japan. As a child, he played baseball and engaged in activities like football and swimming. He also enjoyed playing his father's electric organ. While he was an elementary school student, Yokota was introduced to the band Yellow Magic Orchestra, which he credited as a formative musical moment because he had previously been listening to "many fake Japanese Beatles bands" before Yellow Magic Orchestra came onto the scene. After hearing them, Yokota quit playing baseball and started taking classical piano lessons. He used his otoshidama money to buy his first synthesizer, a Casio MT-40.[1] After the breakup of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Yokota discovered hip hop through a midnight radio program, leading him to shift from synthesizers to creating his own beats.[2][3] He became a supporting member of Puzzle Jam Rockers and was involved in the production of early hip-hop albums such as Krush Posse and East End while doing track making and turntablism.[4]

Early music career and retirement

[edit]
Yokota began a friendship with Soichi Terada in 1987, and the two founded the label Far East Recording in 1990.

Yokota met fellow producer Soichi Terada through a mutual friend in 1987 after both attended an All Japan DJ contest. Inspired by Terada's performance of an original production, Yokota was soon introduced to house music by Terada.[5] He began making house music, but found it challenging to connect with others who shared his musical interests, as the dominant styles of electronic music in Tokyo at the time were Hi-NRG and eurobeat.[3]

In 1990, Yokota and Terada founded the label Far East Recording, which released its first album, also titled Far East Recording, in 1992. The album had little success, and Terada ended up with boxes of unsold records at his home. While Terada continued to release music, Yokota lost motivation, feeling disenchanted by the rapid technological advancements. In the same year, he started a custom car parts company with his wife, Night Pager, which specialized in tuning sports cars and modifying limiters for competition racers.[6] In 2011, another company he created that sold camera parts went bankrupt. However, he managed to restart his business.[7]

Resurgence and return to music

[edit]
"Do It Again"
A 30-second sample of "Do It Again," which was incorrectly attributed to Soichi Terada.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

On February 18, 2013, the YouTube channel UtopiaSpb, known for uploading various house songs, uploaded Yokota's song "Do It Again," mistakenly crediting Terada. The video gained significant views due to the platform's algorithm. Terada himself commented on the video to correct the inaccuracy, but the channel has not been active since the upload.[5] In 2015, the compilation album Sounds from the Far East was released by the Dutch label Rush Hour, curated by the DJ and producer Hunee.[5] In May 2016, Yokota made a return to music with a set in the Boiler Room, marking his first club performance in 25 years.[8] On November 30, 2016, Yokota released Do It Again and Again, his first full-length solo album featuring both unreleased 1990s tracks and new material.[1] Yokota described it as a compilation of his whole life as a producer, allowing him to relive his memories.[2]

On September 25, 2019, Yokota released the album, I Know You Like It, which the Tokyo Weekender described as a collection of "tracks both old and new" in their top favorite Japanese albums of that year.[9] Later, on October 21, 2019, he released the compilation album Ultimate Yokota 1991–2019 on Dutch label Sound of Vast. This album included songs from his previous two albums that had not been available in vinyl form before. The album included the song "Tokyo 018," featuring Terada, marking the first time they collaborated in 15 years.[10] It was rated number three on DJ Mag's list of the top 25 compilations of 2019, with the song "Bells" from the album ranked number five on Magnetic Magazine's list of the 15 best bass music tracks of October 2019.[11][12]

In 2021, Yokota collaborated with other musicians, including the minimal noise group D49 and J-pop singer Rinapon. Yokota stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, he was still able to collaborate with both Japanese and international musicians because everyone was online. On November 22, 2021, he released the album Tokonoma Style, which was described as traversing genres such as house, techno, pop, funk, and hip hop.[6]

Artistry

[edit]
Yokota cited Yellow Magic Orchestra for inspiring him to take up music.

Yokota has cited Japanese musicians such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Isao Tomita, as well as the German band Kraftwerk, as his main inspirations. He was also influenced by hip hop early in his life, mentioning songs like "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa, "Reckless" by Chris Taylor and Ice-T, and "Riccochet" by the B. B. & Q. Band as having a positive impact on him.[2] In an interview with The Glow, Yokota mentioned that works by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Akiko Yano, along with the use of synthesizers, were significant inspirations during his early years.[13] He and Terada have been described as pioneers of Japanese house music. Mia Patillo of Mixmag described Yokota as "timeless" and praised his ability to create "sophisticated music with only the essential elements at hand".[6][2]

Yokota's music primarily spans electronic and house genres, including downtempo, deep house, and tech house. His style bears resemblance to that of his collaborator Soichi Terada, as well as artists like Galaxy 2 Galaxy, Los Microwaves, and Larry Heard. Yokota favors a simpler musical style, emphasizing "beats and bass from the rhythm machine and vocals on top."[14][15] As Yokota couldn't understand English, he selected samples based on their musical quality. In an interview with Mixmag, he said, "What I do understand and listen for is the ‘hibiki’." The song "Do It Again" used a sample from Derek B's "Good Groove", with Mixmag noting that he "[warped] the refrain from alluring to enchanting to mingle with the track’s evocative melody and chords."[6]

Discography

[edit]
List of studio albums
Title Album details
Far East Recording
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Far East Recording
  • Format: LP, CD
Do It Again And Again
  • Released: November 30, 2016
  • Label: Far East Recording
  • Format: CD, streaming
Ultimate Yokota 1991–2019
  • Released: October 21, 2019
  • Label: Sound of Vast
  • Format: CD, streaming
Tokonoma Style
  • Released: November 22, 2021
  • Label: Far East Recording
  • Format: LP, CD, streaming

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Durr, Brian (June 6, 2017). "Soichi Terada and Shinichiro Yokota are the Japanese house geniuses finally getting their due". Fact.
  2. ^ a b c d Chacón, Itza; Franco, Cynthia (October 31, 2017). "Shinichiro Yokota, un samurai del house clásico". Vice (in Spanish).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Schaeffner, Bjørn (2015). "Shinichiro Yokota – Far East Recording". Roof.FM.
  4. ^ Funatsu, Koichiro (September 12, 2018). "【対談 Soichi Terada × Shinichiro Yokota】ハウスシーンの世界的な大事件！2人による19年ぶりのコラボライブ". Qetic (in Japanese).
  5. ^ a b c Sunda, Mike (October 22, 2019). "The driving force of Shinichiro Yokota and Soichi Terada". DJ Mag.
  6. ^ a b c d Pattillo, Mia (October 25, 2022). "Shinichiro Yokota is a revitalised hero of Japanese house music". Mixmag.
  7. ^ Fackler, Martin (February 7, 2013). "A Fading District Pins Its Hopes on a Bobsled". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Yamazaki, Yoshiki (May 5, 2016). "Omodaka（寺田創一）、Shinichiro Yokota 、MOODMANが「Boiler Room Tokyo」に出演". Clubberia (in Japanese).
  9. ^ "10 Of Our Favorite Japanese Albums of 2019". Tokyo Weekender. December 11, 2019.
  10. ^ Cetin, Marissa (July 18, 2019). "Pioneering Japanese house producer Shinichiro Yokota reveals career retrospective". Resident Advisor.
  11. ^ Kulkarni, Neil (December 27, 2019). "DJ Mag's top 25 compilations of 2019". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Ghezawi, Kareem (November 6, 2019). "15 Best Bass Music Tracks of October 2019". Magnetic Magazine.
  13. ^ Cunningham, Ed (January 1, 2021). "Shinichiro Yokota". The Glow.
  14. ^ "Artist To Artist: Shinichiro Yokota & Soichi Terada". Ransom Note. 2019.
  15. ^ "Getting to Know: Shinichiro Yokota". Yeah Nah Yeah. June 20, 2019.
[edit]
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