Interview:

First, a quote from a conversation I heard recently. When asked the question “Where does God exist?” an answer was given, “God exists in the space between people!” If we consider this perspective, the most spiritually significant moments of our existence must be those in which we create a connection and bond with others whether it be through love, music, play, friendship, work or even rivalry. Now it so happens that the music I perform has it’s roots in Northern Japan. My instrument, the Tsugaru Shamisen, is even named after the “Tsugaru” regioin of Northern Honshu, Japan’s main island. The folk arts of Tsugaru have for centuries drawn influence from ancient Edo, and other cultural centers, while retaining the certain style and flavour that can only be cultivated in rural folk settings. Over one-hundred years ago a wandering minstrel took a popular melody from Edo and began to change it, infusing in it the “scent” of Tsugaru and adopting it to the three stringed Shamisen. This tune would become known as “Jonkara Bushi”, a sad melody that caused listeners to weep with emotion and thus experience a type of relief from the pressures and stress of their daily life. In this way Tsugaru’s Jonkara Bushi became more than just a song. It has now become a symbol of that region; it’s people, their feelings, their joys, sorrows, regrets, and victories and of the breaktaking nature that surrounds them. So how does this answer the question of the spiritual significance of music? Simple. Today I perform Jonkara Bushi for people in America.

“The most spiritually significant moments of our existence must be those in which we create a connection and bond with others whether it be through love, music, play, friendship, work or even rivalry.”
– Kevin Kmetz, Tsugaru Shamisen musician in Estradasphere