Shōnen knife. Photo: Akira Shibata

– I just want people to be happy when they hear our music.

Here’s what Naoko Yamano, vocalist for Shonen Knife, a pop-punk trio from Osaka in Japan, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band, and who are embarking on a tour this week, including five concerts in Norway, has to say. The first stop was Vaktbua in Kristiansand, which sold out long ago. Shonen Knife provides a captivating combination of melodious and positive songs accompanied by heavy Ramones-inspired punk riffs.

Musikknyheter.no chats with vocalist and guitarist, Naoko Yamano, who has been involved since the beginning of 1981 and is the true founder of Shonen Knife. Two weeks ago, the band released their latest album, “Our Best Place”.

– This is probably our twentieth studio album. We have released so many albums, we have several mini albums, live albums and compilation albums too. I think the new album surpasses the previous one. It has an early band style, along with a completely new expression. I am very satisfied with the songs and arrangements on this album, said Naoko.

When he started Shonen Knife in 1981, he had no idea that forty years later he would be traveling the world. Naoko is grateful to the fans and those around her for allowing her to continue with the band.

Shonen Knife has seen a number of member changes over the years, and today consists of: Naoko Yamano (vocals, guitar), Atsuko Yamano (vocals, bass) and Risa Kawano (drums).

This week the band is touring Europe and the UK, a tour that lasts into early May. With a few months on the way, we’re wondering what’s the best and worst thing about the tour? And is there anything he misses from home during this period?

– The best thing is meeting fans at our concerts, while the worst thing is driving, said Naoko, who is not a big fan of driving for hours on end.

– And then I missed my bed, he said.

Naoko Yamano. Photo: Tomoko Ota

Support band for Nirvana

Kurt Cobain was a huge Shonen Knife fan, and in November 1991 the band was invited to Nirvana’s UK tour, as a support act.

– They are very nice to us and good men, said Naoko. – Kurt wanted to play our song “Twist Barbie”, so I taught him the guitar chords for it in the locker room. She’s very skilled, and learns her songs fast, says Naoko.

After the UK tour, Nirvana came to Japan, and Naoko took them to a restaurant in Osaka. He has many fond memories of the time they spent with the band.

– They came to our concert after they had their own concert in Osaka, said Naoko. – We played a concert on the same day. Their concert started earlier than ours, and from the stage Nirvana announced to the audience that they would be going to the Shonen Knife concert after their own concert. So a group of Nirvana fans followed them and gathered outside where we were going to play. There were a lot of fans coming, and the neighbors were complaining, he recalls.

Inspiration from cakes and candies

There are several Shonen Knife songs that deal with food and sweets. “I Wanna Eat Chocobars”, “Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches” and “Banana Chips” are just a few. The new album also contains a number of food-related songs, and vocalist Naoko loves posting pictures of food and cakes on social media. So we’re wondering how much she likes cakes and sweets, and how this inspires her music?

– I’m happy when I eat delicious candy. I think it’s positive and fun. I want to write songs that are happy, fun, and positive, and cookies and candy are one of the most important themes in my songs. Otherwise, I find inspiration for lyrics in everyday life. When I write lyrics, I fill them with my imagination, he said.

It was Naoko who wrote most of the music for Shonen Knife.

– In the new album I have written everything, except the cover song “Just A Smile” by the band Pilot. I don’t have a specific message, I just want people to be happy when they hear our music, said Naoko.

Music hero

Naoko singled out The Beatles as the biggest inspiration for their music.

– I love 60s and 70s British and American music, and love discovering old bands I’ve never heard before. However, I listen to all kinds of genres, including Judas Priest, Pilot, Asian, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, and 70s American soul and funk, says Naoko.

He believed that Japanese music, such as J-Rock and J-Pop, was very different from European music.

– As a rule, Japanese bands sing in their own language, and when you compose a melody for Japanese, there is a very Japanese style of music, he said, but added that underground bands in Japan are not much different from European ones.

As for Shonen Knife fans, they are mostly the same in Japan and Europe.

– Everyone seems to appreciate our music, said Naoko.

Inspired by the Ramones

The Ramones have played a huge role for Shonen Knife, and when Naoko was still in high school, she was heavily inspired by American punk legends.

– The Ramones are my heroes, and I want to cover their songs, said Naoko.

In the 90s, Shonen Knife played a pure Ramones tribute concert in Tokyo. It only happened once, but many people remember it well. Naoko was asked to release a Ramones cover album by their American label leader, Robby Takac, who is also the bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls. The result was the 2011 tribute album “Osaka Ramones – A tribute to The Ramones”, Shonen Knife’s 16th release, containing 13 Ramones songs.

Every Band Has a Shonen Knife to Love It

Already in 1989, Shonen Knife got its own tribute album in which artists such as Sonic Youth and L7 covered Shonen Knife songs, on the album “Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them”. Bill Bartell, owner of Gasatanka Records, the band’s American label, was the one to initiate the tribute album.

– I don’t know how it will be. When I saw the album, I was surprised that there were so many cool bands playing this awesome version of Shonen Knife, says Naoko.

Visual expression

Shonen Knife is known for their matching stage outfits, and they place a heavy emphasis on visuals. Naoko says that all of the stage outfits were designed and made by Atsuko, the bassist in the band, who is the original drummer. She is also Naoko’s younger sister and previously worked as a fashion designer.

– Stage outfits match our music. I want to entertain the audience, and that’s why stage outfits are important, he explained.

After touring Europe and the UK, Shonen Knife will continue on to tour Japan in June and July, and hope to visit more countries after that. Naoko ends with the following message:

– Come to our concert and buy our new album “Our Best Place.” “Let’s have fun!”