

Emma Smith and Naoko Yamano/ Photo by Dru Faulkner, embellishments by Emma.

Over the past 30 years, Osaka’s Shonen Knife have penned a mountain of cute songs centered on food, domestic animals and the cosmos. Harnessing the spirit of early New York punk and new wave, their sound captured the imaginations of K Record’s Calvin Johnson, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, and saw them tour with Nirvana.

Playing shows in New Zealand for the first time in nearly two decades, original member Naoko Yamano talks with Emma Smith about the journey so far and the power of happy songs. Kawaii!

Playlist

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song:Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album: Burning Farm

Label: K Records

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: I Wanna Eat Choco Bars

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album:Pretty Little Baka Guy

Label: Subversive Records

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: I Am A Cat

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album: Let's Knife

Label: Virgin

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: Riding On The Rocket

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album:Pretty Little Baka Guy

Label: Subversive Records

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: Twist Barbie

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album: Burning Farm

Label:K Records

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: Beat On The Brat

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album: Osaka Ramones

Label: P Vine

Artist: Shonen Knife

Song: Tortoise Brand Pot Scrubbing Cleaner

Composer: Shonen Knife

Album: Burning Farm

Label: K Records