Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with Julian Shah-Tayler (a.k.a. The Singularity) on his new album, ‘Honne/Tatemae’, officially dropping tomorrow via Impossible Things Records.
‘Honne/Tatemae’ is beyond a concept. It is a snapshot of life itself. a set of feelings and conveyances set to music that we all find relatable yet most of us rarely speak about. That secret place that screams aloud in the silence around our hearts. As described below, the album is named for the Japanese duality of ‘honne‘ (本音) referring to one’s true feelings and outward behaviors, and ‘tatemae’ (建前) referring to the behavior and opinions one displays in public. The person we are vs the person we want you to think we are. That guttural sense of self behind the representative we created.
A sometimes gentle ride with emotional peaks and valleys, ‘Honne/Tatemae’ is a future classic set to wild extravaganzas and vivid reflections through the mind, heart, and soul of a true artist who’s lived, learned, and loved through it all. Pain can be the best muse, in hindsight, as much as serenity can make the most crippling malaise. But, what I can tell you, it can make some great music. For both the 本音 and the 建前 in all of us.
And, in this interview, we talk with Julian about ‘Honne/Tatemae’; the meaning, muses, music, and majesty of it all. As always with artists such as Julian, this is more of a conversation with old friends about the good music that is ‘Honne/Tatemae’ and much, much more.
Watch the interview above.
Check out our other features with Julian Shah-Tayler HERE.
About ‘Honne/Tatemae’
Julian’s last (2023 Grammy eligible/#4 New-Wave) album “Elysium” charted the trajectory of the “Perfect True Love of One’s Life”, and the foibles of maintaining that beautiful state. Unfortunately (to the sound of a sad trombone) the new one, “Honne/Tatemae” depicts the demise of that relationship and the soul-searching in the wake of its crash and burn. Named for the Japanese duality of “HONNE” referring to one’s true feelings and outward behaviors and “TATEMAE” referring to the behavior and opinions one displays in public, the album explores the reasons and reflections around what it means to feel true, and the distinctions between lust, love, yearning and the very public displays of these emotions that an artist must suffer under.
From the optimism of “ForEva” to the bleak and universal desolation of (Mike Garson (Bowie), David J (Bauhaus), Carmine Rojas (Bowie) assisted) “Lights Out” the album lyrics jump across the line from deeply oblique to wildly earnest declarations of both Love and Despair, perhaps most schizophrenically on the Hit Single “Fall Apart” written in a period of great sadness. (originally meant for Elysium, but entirely inappropriate for inclusion at the time) The album once again features a couple of songs co-produced with Robert Margouleff (Stevie Wonder/Devo)
Julian is also working with Danny Saber (Bowie/Rolling Stones) on some remixes and the magnificent Darwin Meiners (Night Crickets) handles mixing duties on several songs. The Japanese duality “Honne/Tatemae” is indicative of the fundamental duality of life. “Honne” is the person we really are, our true feelings and desires. “Tatemae” is the behaviors and opinions we display in public.
“Elysium” was my deep dive into the optimism of Love, and this one is my cynical debrief after that relation”ship” sunk.
Here, I explore much darker and angrier territory than I ever have before. It is the self-therapy album, the catharsis before the storm. I need to believe in Love. I need to hold hope. I need to exorcise the snakes.
This is that album.
About Julian Shah-Tayler
Born in Leeds, England, and educated at Hogwarts(truly!) all the way to a philosophy degree at York University, Julian moved to London as a singer-songwriter with classical training on piano and self taught on guitar.
After abortive record deals with Alan McGee he joined hip-electro clash outfit “Whitey” as co-writer/guitarist recording many of the songs in his nascent home studio. After a complete communication breakdown, Julian moved to Los Angeles to pursue his own project and had further success with licenses in TV and film in the USA.
Featured image by Chris Baudo.
LINKS:
https://linktr.ee/julianshahtayler
https://www.julianshahtayler.com/
https://tiktok.com/julianshahtayler
https://www.instagram.com/the_singularity_music/
https://Thesingularitymusic.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/thesingularitymusic
https://www.youtube.com/thesingularityband
https://x.com/thesingularitym
