TEKE::TEKE may call Montreal their home now, but the septet is still deeply connected to their upbringing in Kyoto. While their songs all run the gamut of psych-rock and avant-prog, their lyrics are all still sung in Japanese, while elements of eleki—a strain of surf rock native to Japan which was popularized in the 1960s—and other more traditional instrumentation keep their sound fully rooted in the country they originally called home.
But even beyond that, band members Maya Kuroki and Sei Nakauchi Pelletier still have familial connections to Japan’s former capital, with Pelletier’s family formerly living in the city and Kuroki’s family currently inhabiting the urban center. “Our moms are the exact same age, they are both widows, and both our dads were cameramen,” Pelletier shares of the many similarities between their families, noting that his brother was even born in a hospital a block away from where Kuroki’s mother currently lives.
“They both walked along the Kamogawa River that runs in the middle of the city—just like we did on our last trip with our camera, getting footage for our next video” he continues. “We feel a strong connection to this city—more so than Tokyo, where most of my family is and where Maya lived for the most part of when she was in Japan. On the back of TEKE::TEKE’s first EP Jikaku, there’s a picture of my dad that was taken in Kyoto in the mid-’70s. That image is very strong to me and is directly related to why and how this band exists.”
Having recently announced their sophomore album Hagata, which lands June 9 on Kill Rock Stars, Kuroki and Pelletier took us through an ideal day in their hometown, with stops for snacks, spices, and antiques, as well as visits to temples and shrines.
THE HOUSE
We’re super jetlagged, so leaving the house early in the morning. This is an old traditional family house that was passed down from Maya’s great grandmother to her mum, in the Shogoin Kawahara-cho area of Kyoto.
KYOTO GYOEN
A few minutes from the house, we stop at the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden where we sit outside despite the chilly temperature to enjoy the peaceful scenery.
TOYODA
We keep walking close to Teramachi, an area with antique shops. We stop at this tiny place called Toyoda, where Maya bought her first guitar years ago, just before moving to Canada.
KIYOMIZU-DERA
After paying our respects to deceased family members at the Toribeyama cemetery, we walk by Kiyomizu-dera (temple) and around the Yasaka tower.
SHICHIMI-YA
We make a quick but essential stop at a famous spice shop to buy different flavours of Shichimi (a Japanese spice mixture consisting of seven ingredients, including red pepper). This place is known for making a special kind of Shichimi that’s not too spicy, but extra tasty!
DANGO
Yes, we love snacks! We can’t just walk by a Mitarashi dango counter and pretend it’s not there! These delicious rice paste balls on a stick, grilled and dipped in a sweet soya sauce, are a classic.
SHIMOGAMO-JINJA
A little visit at Shimogamo-Jinja (shrine) where we honor this year’s sign, the rabbit, wishing for all-year-long safe travels for the band.
TYROL
This Kissaten (a Showa-era café restaurant with a European vibe) is owned by Maya’s family members and is most popular for their tasty Japanese curry, Neapolitan spaghetti, and hand-drip coffee.
SUNSET AND PLUM TREES
At sunset, on the way back home, we walk along a small canal in an older part of the city where we find a beautiful plumtree. Its fragrance is very delicate and precious—we hadn’t smelled this smell in a decade!
BACK HOME
Back home, relaxing with a nice cold beer in the cozy house. In the background, you can see an art piece by Maya’s mum—they are all over the place and are gorgeous. FL
