Tangled is an expansion on the chapbook started by Patrick Shiroishi, aiming to explore Asian American musicians in the experimental and avant-garde scene.

On this month’s episode, Patrick is joined by guest Kyoko Takenaka.

Kyoko Takenaka is a vocalist, composer, butoh dancer, photographer, filmmaker, actor, performance artist, teacher, and director based between Turtle Island and Japan. Their name means “vibrations of sound child” in Japanese. They create work around diasporic longing as it relates to cycles found in nature, Japanese mythology, and the ethereal realm.

Kyoko weaves butoh, improvisational music, acting, theatre, and video art in their multi-media and collaborative performances. They are passionate about bringing artists and community together of all genres and disciplines, and constantly explores unbinary ways of thinking, moving, and creating.

They’ve released two collaborative albums, Planet Q, with Tomoki Sanders on In Sheep’s Clothing Hi-Fi and Pure Person Press; and Wastewomxn, centering themes of queer liberation and Afro-Asia unity with artists of the African and Asian diaspora. Their work has been featured on Apple TV, Hulu, Nowness, HBO, the LA Times, BOMB Magazine, and Far-Near; and performed at venues around the world.