An Interview with Yamazaki
We sit down with Benedek Rakovics, a.k.a. Yamazaki, a seasoned IT consultant who has seamlessly transitioned into the world of music, for an exclusive interview. With a background in composing music and a passion for Japanese culture, Benedek’s journey is both unique and inspiring. He shares his experiences of blending different musical styles, his inspirations, and the challenges he faces as an artist performing in virtual reality. Join us as we delve into the story behind his upcoming projects and the motivations that drive his creativity.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Benedek Rakovics. I’ve been working as an IT consultant for 17 years now. I composed music and studied Japanese in high school. Due to my studies and efforts to grow my company, I had to put music aside. A few years ago, I got myself a VR headset and got into VRChat. I did a song cover inspired by the music of Bang Yongguk. Just as John Legend inspired me to learn to play the piano, Yongguk helped me find my style in music. I’ve been producing music and taking vocal lessons for the past two years. I’ve created both K-Pop and Japanese synthwave+folk music. I’m currently working on an album called “Katsu,” which blends many musical styles and tells a story about my childhood in Japanese.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
I had a lot of problems in my childhood. John Legend’s song “Ordinary People” got me into playing the piano and writing music. I’ve also been inspired by The Crystal Method, which is where I get my electronic music inspiration. I use music to express and heal myself; it’s a very important part of my life now.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
I play my music live and in VR as a ‘furry’ wolf called Yamazaki. It does catch attention easily, but about 10% of my audience can be judgmental about it—usually until they actually hear my music. I’d like to extend my reach to a broader audience while keeping my integrity.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
My favorite song, which is a cover and rearrangement of a B.A.P song, is “Sexy N Special.” It has a unique vibe; the song is quite simple, but still very entertaining and interesting vocally.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
Bang Yongguk, Jung Daehyun, Fujii Kaze, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, B.A.P, Sleepy, MINHO, Frank Ocean, Mitsoura, Yonderboi, Neo, Emancipator, Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, Weeknd.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
The basic idea usually comes after a dream or watching a movie. I listen to all kinds of music and search for indie music on YouTube with very low view counts or old Japanese songs to find new styles.
When I’m in a certain mood, feeling sad or depressed, I start forming a story or writing down my thoughts. Around those, I ask myself questions and write a storyboard concept. After this, I come up with a basic beat or melody. Once I have this, I slowly build on it. I also ask session musicians to play on that basic melody and go wild. This usually fuels the creation of an arrangement. From there, it’s basically the process of professional song production.
Sometimes I find a beat, either Hip Hop, Drill, or Electro Funk style, that catches me emotionally but also has that Pop music sound. I write the lyrics, both rapping and singing. Once that is ready, I write a song based on that musical arrangement that fits the vibe of that beat and lyrical, vocal structure.
Tell me about your upcoming music and what inspired you to create it!
I’m working on finishing up a Japanese fusion (folk-synthwave-epic-pop-citypop) album, which is a diary of my childhood and a reflection of how I view life now. I’ve put almost all of my free time into working on this. It’s a musical journey through many styles but with the same instrumentation.
I’m also working on a separate single called “Unfolded,” which is a K-Pop/J-Pop style track in Japanese and English. It’s a professional production very similar to Weeknd’s “Starboy” and many K-Pop tracks you hear now. I’m planning to do a music video for this song, which would be my debut single. I’m working on this with producers from the K-Pop industry too. This is the most costly but also the most professional production. It’s very diverse vocally as well. I’m putting everything into this one.
As our conversation with Yamazaki comes to a close, it’s clear that his dedication to music is as profound as his expertise in IT. His ability to draw inspiration from various sources and translate them into captivating musical compositions is truly remarkable. With exciting projects on the horizon, including his debut single “Unfolded” and a Japanese fusion album, Yamazaki is poised to make a significant impact in the music industry. We eagerly anticipate his future releases and the continued evolution of his artistic journey. Tune in on Spotify or your favorite platform.