I (kinda) interviewed my favorite artist

Exciting news! I’m finally going on vacation at the end of the month, heading to Colorado. Of course, seeing family and friends back in my hometown will be wonderful, but first, we’re hitting Denver. It’s a bucket list moment; I’m going to see my absolute favorite musical artist, Tokyo Machine!

For those unfamiliar, Tokyo Machine is an electronic music artist known for creating tracks reminiscent of video game soundtracks. Essentially, imagine the music your kids or grandkids listen to while playing Fortnite. That’s the kind of sound he produces.

Several months prior, Tokyo Machine announced plans for a Q&A video, soliciting fan questions through a survey. Crafting them in the style I typically use when interviewing musicians for the Art and Entertainment section, I sent a series of questions his way.

I thought nothing of it until May 30, when he announced he had finally made the Q&A video. I had never clicked on a notification so fast. And he answered one of my questions, “What are your musical influences?”

His account of his early days and musical evolution was quite revealing. Naturally, in journalistic mode, I couldn’t resist crafting an Art and Entertainment feature inspired by his words. It felt like a real interview in my head, even if I didn’t talk to him personally. 

Tokyo Machine, should you ever bring your show to Middle Georgia, definitely hit me up. I’d be thrilled to collaborate on a feature in person.

Let’s jump right in! Here’s the article I put together. Enjoy!

Tokyo Machine releases new EP, embarks on tour, among many recent achievements

Having honed his craft over the past decade, electronic music sensation Tokyo Machine is embarking on an exciting new phase. This includes a U.S. tour spanning multiple cities, alongside the unveiling of a brand-new EP.

Tokyo Machine’s latest release, “FACTORY RESET,” debuted on Monstercat on May 30. The five-track EP delves into a heavier dubstep sound while still incorporating the artist’s well-known video game-inspired samples.

Tokyo Machine’s Debut Chompo Tour continues with upcoming shows in Las Vegas on June 6 and Denver on June 26. He recently performed in Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco.

His first official release was in 2016 with the chiptune-inspired “PARTY.” Since then, Tokyo Machine has released over 60 songs and traveled internationally for festivals and stand-alone shows.

He cites “way too many” musical inspirations, including Skrillex, Excision and Virtual Riot, saying his favorite album is Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” He has since formed a friendship with Virtual Riot and even went on tour with him.

“It was cool to actually come together and do something fun,” he said.

His music has found its way into pop culture, featured in numerous video games. However, Tokyo Machine said the coolest place he has heard his music was at a San Francisco Giants baseball game.

“Seeing that on the massive jumbotron was pretty surreal. F1 races also use my music, which is also surreal,” he said.

Additionally, Tokyo Machine has started a music label, Chompo, and bought another, Gwava. Chompo is named after a character created by Tokyo Machine and he has a personal connection to the character.

“Chompo is a 2D dinosaur who got teleported from a digital game world to our world. So he feels kind of lost and alone, like he doesn’t fit in, and uses music to find a home. When you think about it, his story is like my story, too,” he said.

Going back to childhood, Tokyo Machine played the drums and had an early interest in video games. He said he grew up “lonely and broke,” but his parents found a Commodore 64 to help entertain him. 

He went full circle in his career with an opportunity to remix the theme song for his favorite game, “Gradius,” which also inspired his stage name.

Early in his career, Tokyo Machine was hired to compose music for video games. Self-described as a “nobody back then,” he didn’t know what name to sign for contracts, and he saw himself as a machine, barely having time for anything else.

“I remembered thinking that all of Tokyo was like Gradius: futuristic, full of machines and stuff,” he said. “Once I did get to visit Tokyo for the first time, [I was] mind blown, so that’s kind of where the name came from.”

Tokyo Machine got his big break in 2016, signing to Monstercat, a prominent electronic music label. He was in a gaming group with some of the staff, his connections leading to the signing.

After his debut single, Tokyo Machine still preferred to remain anonymous. He said he followed artists like Marshmello, going so far as to refrain from speaking during interviews and wearing an iconic face mask and goggles. 

While the face mask and goggles are here to stay, Tokyo Machine opened up to fans by revealing his authentic voice during a recent Q&A video released on May 30.

“It makes such a difference when it comes to connecting with fans, especially the ones who come to the shows,” he said.

Tokyo Machine said he wants to release a full album, but wants to take the time to perfect it. He also plans to release more music on Gwava under the alias Dream Machine.

“I am planning to make an album,” he said. “It’s just going to take a lot of time and a lot of effort, because I really want it to be good.”

Find Tokyo Machine’s music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and follow him on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook: @tokyomachine.