Meet "Who is Lun*na Menoh?" Additional Score Composer, Tsugumi Takashi

ADDITIONAL SCORE - Tsugumi Takashi (Twisty BonBon) tsugumitks.com

Tsugumi has lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY since 2008. She has collaborated with many different types of artists, including dancers and choreographers, fashion designers, sculptors, and musicians.
Tsugumi had been creating music with Lun*na for her fashion / art shows, and most recently she composed several pieces for this film. Although all her bands she performs with as a bassist stopped any live shows during the pandemic, her newly formed band COUPY has been using the time for writing and recording. A song by COUPY is also contributed a music for “Who is Lun*na Menoh?”

How did you meet Lun*na Menoh?

We met through Reiko, this film’s producer, who is also the owner of the label (Eenie Meenie Records) where my earlier band was signed. One year, probably around 2004, when we were touring the US, Reiko introduced me to Lun*na, to get advice about styling and outfits for the band.

What do you think about Lun*na Menoh?

I think she is an artist's artist. She is passionate about her creations.

What were some of the biggest challenges in scoring this film?

I was asked to create original music for several scenes in the film, in addition to tracks which came from earlier collaborations between Lun*na and myself, from her art / fashion shows. Some of the direction for the original pieces varied substantially from what I know to be Lun*na’s taste, however I understand Jeff’s perspective as the director, and some of these pieces were less about Lun*na’s style and more about the world of the film. The difficulty was in balancing those two as well as my image.

Do you rely on certain techniques when you compose or score music?

Whenever I am working with others in a collaborative capacity, the most important technique is communication, understanding collective goals and of course the needs of the material.

What does music mean to you?

Music is like an old friend to me. It’s actually how I've connected to most of the people in my life.

Who is Tsugumi Takashi?

That’s me. A tiny dot, among many many others, on the tiny planet Earth, in a vast universe.