Ginger Root’s self-defined “aggressive elevator soul” is shining in all its glory on his colourful and charming new record, SHINBANGUMI, the type of œuvre that sets itself out to succeed by finding its succinct identity and exploring it with craftsmanship and patience. It’s a measured record, drenched in grooves and splashed with serenity, a short, snappy and meticulously made ode to 80s disco, synth-pop and soul told through an off-kilter y2k lens.
The man behind the music—Asian American multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and visual artist Cameron Lew, shows mastery in his amalgamation of styles and emotions, taking the listener on a rich and rewarding experience across the the 32 minute run minute. Catching up with the man himself, Lew tells Wonderland about the importance of being a polymath in the contemporary industry, and making SHINBANGUMI the “most unapologetic Ginger Root” album to date.
Listen to the LP…
Read the exclusive interview…
Hey Ginger Root! How are you? How’s your summer?
Very Busy! But good!
Talk us through your musical origins. How did you first start writing and discovering your love for music?
There was this after school program that was kinda like School of Rock. No real class or lesson, more of just a “Hey learn this Beatles song by next week. We’re playing at the school pep rally” type of thing. It was there that I started writing songs and finding an interest in music.
Talk us through your alias, where did the name first stem from?
Ginger Root is a reference to this one video on Youtube where Jack Stratton from the band “Vulfpeck” is chatting and raving about ginger root for some reason. Having watched it deep in the night, I found myself thinking it was the funniest stage benter I’ve ever heard in my life. When it was time to pick a name for the project, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ginger Root.
You’re incredible at merging styles and sounds together. Is that a natural facet of your artistry or something that is more intentional?
Thank you! I think it’s a matter of just mixing together all the things I like, and while sometimes I go into writing a song with the intention of writing a certain “type” or “style” of song, it ends up just sounding like Ginger Root haha.
You’re very much a polymath – how essential is it to be multi-faceted as an artist in the modern industry?
To be honest I think it’s very important. Whether you see it as good or bad, if you wanna do music, you kinda need to know how to do other things besides just music. Everything is so overly saturated now that, sadly, to break through the noise, you need to figure out how to grab people’s attention. And weirdly for bands and artists, JUST music ain’t enough anymore.
Congratulations on your new album! How are you feeling about the release?
Thank you! I’m feeling good! Definitely the most ambitious project for Ginger Root to date. And with the whole “Artist vs. Algorithm” problem goin’ on, it’s been quite the learning curve. Learned a lot, cried a lot, sweated a lot. But overall I’m very grateful for people to be interested in Ginger Root in the first place.
What was the process of creating the album? What were the key influences when making it?
I felt like with the previous EPs being a conscious effort to replicate or do my take on a certain style of music, SHINBANGUMI is me wanting to make the most unapologetic Ginger Root full length to date. The album is wholeheartedly, chalked full of all the things I love. It’s like Paul McCartney, Haruomi Hosono, and Mark Mothersbaugh made an 80s synth pop record.
How is the album a showcase of your artistic progression? What steps did you take to evolve with the record?
I think this time around I really focused on song-writing and the album’s story first, then instrumentation and production second. There have been more times than not where it’s the reverse. Recently, with being so attached to the “City Pop” label, I found myself trying not to make a 30min LP that’s a Tatsuro Yamashita rip-off, but something that goes deeper, and showcases the other side of Ginger Root. Now don’t get me wrong, Bubble-era Japan still holds a heavy influence on me and this record, but it also takes a dive into other nooks and crannies.
In terms of themes and messaging, where does the album sit? At the core, what are trying to say across the LP?
I think for every artist, a record is a snapshot of who they are as a person in the moment in which they make it. And so I would say this album is very “current-Cameron” haha.
What does the album mean to you? Where does it sit amongst your wider discography?
I think this album finally shows a little bit of how I have grown as a musician, as a creative, and as a human being. Ginger Root has brought me so many crazy opportunities and experiences. And while it’s not over anytime soon, this album feels like a personal celebration on how far the project has come.
You are heading out on a comprehensive US and European tour this autumn. How are you feeling about that? What are your tour essentials? Is there a show you’re particularly excited about playing?
To be honest: very nervous! I hope people will come see us play! My touring essentials are my airpod pros, melatonin, indoor flip-flops, and my hyrdoflask (not sponsored, I’ve just managed to not lose or damage it for the entire 8 years I’ve had it hahaha).
What else is to come from you, this year and beyond?
We’re also going back to Asia for some shows, and I believe some fun festivals are in our future as well. I’m also trying to live abroad in Japan for an extended period of time, so fingers crossed I can pull that off with all the touring going on!