Last Sunday heralded the conclusion of the highly successful Fete de Wasak, a two week festival dedicated to the art and pleasure of sound. The event was graced by different noise artists from various countries. One of them was Paris-based Tujiko Noriko, whose ethereal voice, coupled with her dissonant instrumentation, made for a fitting opening to the festival. Often cited as Japan’s answer to Bjork, Nuriko’s music jumps from lulling to jarring, what you get if you had an angel sing lead for a band of demons heavily into new age. Also included in the opening were performances by Kate Torralba and Malek Lopez, the latter collaborating with Chef Nino Logarta to create a symphony of cooking sound.

I got the opportunity to sit down with Nuriko, who was gracious enough to share a few things about her art, her music and her life:

How have you been?

I’ve bee good. But physically, I’ve been feeling like I’m 200 years old because I’ve been traveling a lot recently and I keep buying cheap tickets and the transit can be horrible. But I’m happy. I’m happy.

Where has work brought you?

I was in Seoul for work, I went to Shanghai, then I went to Taipei, then I went back to Paris, then I went to Belgium for work. Before that I was in Bali, then I was in Switzerland too. I left two days ago to Rome for transit, then I went to Tokyo just for transit but waiting seven hours in the airport, then I went to Taipei because of this cheap ticket that I bought, then I had to sleep in Taipei, then I came to Manila. Bravo! But I could sleep in Taipei last night so that was nice.

Is it your first time in Manila?

Yes. It’s really nice. A bit messy, which I like. It was my first time in Seoul too. It was really organized and clean. I wouldn’t say it’s a boring town but I like something with movement, though I think Manila has too many cars. And they are big, big cars.

Do the places you go to inspire your music?

I think maybe after a while because at that moment, I (tend to absorb) the places and people around me. I have to be really angsty to get really inspired, but everything that happens can be a source of inspiration.

What inspires you?

I think lights have something, (especially) when I’m in vehicle like a train or bus because the light is moving. The view is moving as well so there is a lot of visual stimulation and I also can be a bit angsty because I’m alone.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a musician?

A friend and I were making music for a major label. They told us that our music was ‘too dark.’ They said nobody would buy it. I thought ‘I can make music on my own. I don’t care about all this.’ I was about 23. I was living with my boyfriend then. He had a synthesizer in the house, which I started to use to make music.

Did you have a hard time getting people to understand your music?

I still do. My mother told me, ‘Noriko, why do you make such boring music? You make me fall asleep.’ She also said ‘Maybe you should dance during your concert.’ I completely understand all those ideas but I don’t want to do that.

What kind of music do you listen to?

(Before I got into noise music), I used to listen to Japanese folk songs because that’s what my older sister listened to. I really loved it. I wasn’t very much into American or English music.

You have a lot of fans who don’t speak Japanese.

(Language) is not necessarily a big element of my music. It’s a big motivation for me to make music but it doesn’t need to be something heavy for the listener. But it’s true, when I make music, words are important for me because I sing and that’s something really personal and something emotional.

What do you do for fun?

I don’t understand the concept of vaca[y]. French people, they are crazy about having vaca[y] -- vacation -- and this I don’t really understand.

If I go to the seaside, after a day, I start to become a bit (listless) or something.

What do you want to do that you haven’t done yet in your music?

In my music, I want to rap because it sounds so cool.

What are you working on now?

I just finished a collaboration a month ago. I think I’m coming out with a solo album next year. At the moment, I’m writing a script for my new movie, and it’s taking a long time.

It’s my third movie. It’s going to be about a silent musical. Three orphans make a film and one of them loses her voice in the middle of it all.

What do you want people who listen to your music to experience?

If they can discover something, it would be nice.