When you think about Japanese music, the first thing that comes to your mind is calm, relaxing tune. Of course, there are plenty of other music genres that became popular in this country in the late 19th and in the 20th century, like jazz, pop, rock, hip-hop, punk, heavy metal, disco etc.
But if your journey ever takes you to the land of the Rising Sun, one thing you surely don’t expect to hear is Serbian music. Well, don’t be surprised if you do! Because a band called JapaLkan (Japan+Balkan) is now conquering the world.
A few years ago, a group of six young Japanese got together and came up with an idea to put together a band that will play music from the Balkans. Two girls and four boys, all around 30-ish and from Tokyo, in improvised Serbian national costumes are on stage playing on two guitars, electric violin, trumpet, saxophone, and drums. They incorporate elements of jazz and funk to the original Serbian songs which are sung in pure Serbian by a Japanese fellow. Their first album was released in 2015 and it is called Ajde! Ajde! Ajde! which means “Come on! Come on! Come on!” in English.
They have toured all over Japan, but a few months ago they have been to Serbia, where they had a live concert in front of hundred Serbians.