Degenerate Art Ensemble
“Nishimura evoked Mothra, Marlene Dietrich, and a live-action cartoon character, captivating and surreal, proving that she’s one of Seattle’s most gifted performers.”
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
DAE has played throughout the US, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland and Canada. Recent highlights include the amazing world music fest in Rudolstadt Germany and REDCAT theater in Los Angeles.
Your musical influences
INFLUENCES:
Too many... oh god... boredoms,symphonic orchestras, KODO, Harry Partch, Yoo-Jin Chung, Sainkho Namtchylak, Kronos Quartet, Dumb Type, Fela Kuti, Tsu shi ma mi re, guillermo gomez-pena, Charles Mingus, Refused, Inkboat, Carl Stalling, RUINS, RC Succession,Aphex Twin, Kiki Smith, Marina Abramovic, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Yubiwa Hotel, Thelonius Monk, Miranda July, Stravinsky, Wooster Group, Diamanda Galas, Animal Collective, Deerhoof, Henry Threadgill, Gamelan, John Zorn, Mike Patton, Ethiopiques, and lots of field recordings from everywhere.... well keep adding them here... this will take forever!!
What equipment do you use?
We use some traditional instruments (voilin, viola, cello) as well as modern rock stuff (guitar, drums), as well as heavy max patch programming stuff, contact mic madness, etc.
Anything else?
Think punk, classical, think jazz, think beautiful haunting melodies, think thashing passions, think horn sections, strings, wild drums, vocals that are sometimes soft and dark and sometimes terrifying, lots of gentle songs... a unified szitzopheric world... its just best to just listen. Allow some time to listen to the different albums and songs, as they walk very different territories.
