Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009

Photo by Jamie Williams

From The Beatles to Kiss, Madonna to Lady Gaga, music and fashion have been intertwined for decades, spanning continents, genres and sexes. In a nation of fashionistas, one crew of Japanese musicians is taking this relationship to new heights by placing style at the center of their business. Enter a world of designer apparel and computer beats. Enter the world of Olive Oil, Popyoil and Zorzi—the three men behind Oilworks.

“We’re DJs, trackmakers, VJs and artists—a kind of creative unit and a production team,” states lanky, cigarette-smoking, iPhone-wielding DJ Zorzi at the Oilworks office in Fukuoka. Zorzi is one of the crew’s three DJs and also doubles as distribution manager. “Our main focus,” he reads from the company’s mission statement, “is to bring independent, urban, modern artwork and music to the public by publishing artworks, manufacturing DVDs/CDs, apparel, and performing live visuals/digital arts and music.”

Brothers Norifumi and Mohiro Morita, better known as Olive Oil and Popyoil, started Oilworks back in 2002 when they were just 22. Olive Oil soon amassed an impressive discography: he’s now released over 30 records, received air time on Gilles Peterson’s BBC Radio show, and worked with names like Hudson Mohawke, Flying Lotus and Pete Rock. The Amami Island native produces music with heavy, broken beats that would all seem to be created on his computer, except for the jazz-influenced acoustic elements. Think the choppiness of Domino’s Four Tet and the jazz flavor of Ninja Tune’s Bonobo.

Popyoil handles the visual side, working with in-town designers, record stores and music venues to create an onslaught of apparel, accessories, album covers, paintings and visual shows to accompany his brother’s DJ sets. Zorzi, one year younger at 28, makes sure all of the team’s hard work gets rotating on turntables, played on stereos, hung on walls, and worn on bodies.

Zorzi says supporting the community is a priority. “Back when things started with Olive Oil, the scene was strong but really fragmented, with this genre here and that genre there. With us, we have sound as well as art: we have trackmakers, artists, MCs, and DJs all together. And we take all the stuff people produce and connect it. Fukuoka’s scene is really growing because of this.”

Oilworks are also involved in events such as Sparkling Movement, which “pay special attention” to the city. “We’re in the process of putting together a line of tour T-shirts that involves Oilworks, Stussy and Futura Laboratories,” Zorzi tells me. (Futura Laboratories is a local fashion design store owned by graffiti artist Lenny Blanco, who has worked with The Clash and DJ Krush, among others. )

Upon entering the Oilworks office, visitors are greeted by dozens of paintings, posters, vinyl covers, shoes, T-shirts, stickers, buttons, screen savers and wall-paintings—all designed by Popyoil and his team of contributors.

Zorzi sips green tea out of an Oilworks mug as he sits on a burgundy couch, the office’s purple-painted walls providing the backdrop. If you ask him why Fukuoka and not Tokyo, he’ll tell you just how great the city is. “There are five electronica music stores in the Tenjin area alone, and twelve or so if you include all genres,” he replies. “Sure, you can get what Fukuoka has in Tokyo, but it’s here too… Before we even think about Tokyo, there are so many things here we want to do first.”

Spend just a few days with this team of artists in their hometown and you’ll see how far-reaching their business is. Everywhere Zorzi and I went—from record shops to clothing stores, cafes to clubs—someone would respectfully bow, nod or give a quick handshake.

“It’s because Oilworks are here that we have a scene,” says the manager of Troop Records upon our visit—a sentiment echoed at each of the record stores we stop by. “Without them, I’d be out of work.”

Whether or not the group is responsible for Fukuoka’s electronica scene is beside the point. And whether fashion and music should share a bed is another matter—one Oilworks left behind long ago.

“We’ve always worn and made what we like—it’s not about mixing fashion with music,” Zorzi explains. “Listening to music is part of people’s daily lives like wearing clothes is. It’s just natural for us to combine the two.”

“Super Dada Royale Deluxe! Vol. 4”
Prolific Fukuoka-based DJ/producer Olive Oil and others. Oct 31, 9pm, ¥1,000. SuperDeluxe, Nishi-Azabu. Tel: 03-5412-0515.

www.oilworks.jp