Sandii Q&A 2005

This article was submitted to "Record Collector" in October 2005 and although I have been told it will be published, no date has been forthcoming. It is part of a larger piece about Japanese musicians who released music in the UK. I hope you enjoy the article and buy the print edition when it is on sale sometime in 2006.

Sandii has been a recording artist based in Japan since the mid 1970’s. She has made records under several different names, won the World Popular Song Contest (Japan’s Eurovision), released over 20 albums and had hits in Pacific, Asian and Australasian countries. With The Sunsetz she toured worldwide, appearing with David Bowie, Inxs, Blondie, Eurythmics and Japan. In 1986 she had a minor UK hit with “Something Special”, a duet with Stephen Duffy. In Japan, she remained a household name throughout the 90’s and into the present decade. Sandii is also known as a TV personality, presenting a show about health, beauty and spiritual well-being through hula dance. She also owns two Hula schools, one with an acclaimed restaurant in central Tokyo. In October 2005 Sandii graduated to become a hula master (Kumu Hula), a rank which few in the world achieve. Sandii took time out during a recent visit to Hawaii to talk to me about her career.

Paul: Hula has clearly been of great importance to you for a very long time. How did you come to learn about Hula and start down the path that has led to you becoming Kumu Hula?Sandii: I danced Japanese dance during childhood. When I moved to Hawaii, the hula grabbed my spirit and I had to learn it. I tried a couple teachers and then found Bella Richards. Her style and quality inspired me. In her class, I met my current teacher and Kumu Hula, Pattye Wright.

Paul: Can you tell me about your early life? Is it true you studied dance in Chicago?
Sandii: I performed and danced during that time, but did not study dance in Chicago.

Paul: I read recently that Kyu Sakamoto helped you to get a record deal – is that true?
Sandii: Yes, he recommended me strongly to NHK to be a singer and personality for them.

Paul: I have never heard the Sandi Ai album. I imagine its style is "easy listening" like early ABBA or Olivia Newton-John. Would that be a fair assumption? How do you feel about it now?
Sandii: It is a light pop album, all in Japanese. I liked the album at the time, but have not heard it for many, many years. Please find me one and send it to me!

Since this Q&A was conducted, I managed to find the Sandi Ai album, and a copy is on its way to Sandii. The album is interesting as it has more in common with later titles such as "Watashi" and even some of the Hawaiian material than with her later 70s work or anything with The Sunsetz.

Paul: I notice that you used several different names in the early years (Sandi Ai, Sandy O'Neil, Sandra Hohn and so on) – why was that and which is closest to your birth name?
Sandii: Like many session singers, I was not always able to use my own name on every album. I took the name of Sandra (later Sandy and Sandi) when I came to the US. Harry Hosono changed the spelling to Sandii with the double "i" for my Hawaii connections.

Paul: I think "Mystery Nile" (a 1978 album released as Sandy O’Neil which followed a hit single of the same title) is fun. I love the covers of "Dancing Queen" and "Copacabana" in particular. The album sleeve does not say who the musicians were – what were the circumstances around the recording of that album?
Sandii: Toshiba/EMI wanted an English feel and selected the English-sounding names for me and Makoto.

Paul: You have done a lot of session work, including the "Monkey" soundtrack by Godeigo, "Love Squall (Lupin 3rd)", YMO, Ippu Do and Yamamoto Sho. From your work for other artists, which hold the best memories for you, and which do you like best musically?
Sandii: I have great memories of my work with YMO and Yamamoto Sho. I brought Maria Muldaur into Sho's album and loved singing with her. I always enjoy my work.

Paul: "Eating Pleasure" is now regarded as one of the best ever albums of it's era by YMO and techno pop fans, and is highly collectable. I have a vinyl copy with a totally different cover (you are wearing an outfit made of vegetables) –why did the cover change? Were you happy with your image on the album cover?
Sandii: I was told by Alfa Records that the cover was changed to make the first issue remain special. It sold very well very quickly and this was to help maintain the great momentum.

Paul: It is well known that a lot of male artists from the 80's you worked with socialised and established friendships that have lasted decades, for example Makoto and Hosono, Steve Jansen and Takahashi, Sylvian and Sakamoto. Are you friendly with any of the other "YMO girls" – Sheena, Susan, Akiko Yano, Miharu Koshi and Jun Togawa?
Sandii: We are all still good friends, precious to each other.

Paul: What did you think of the group Japan? Do you have any anecdotes about your time on tour with them?
Sandii: I remember how David Sylvian treated us as guest artists, not just as an opening act. I remain grateful for that deep respect from him.

Paul: Out of the early Sunsetz recordings with Alfa Records, which are your favourites, or do you least like?
Sandii: I think my favorite was the album, "Immigrants." There were none that I disliked!

Paul: I am confused by the "Heat Scale" album – the CD version is a completely different mix to the vinyl LP I have. Why is that?
Sandii: I am no help on that question.

I have learned that Makoto Kubota remixed "Heat Scale" for its CD release, and is credited on the back tray insert. I hope that one day the original version I have on vinyl is made available on CD.

Paul: I enjoy the "La La La La Love" (Banzai Baby) era Sunsetz work, and found the later albums less appealing on the whole. How did you feel about the way the group went in a reggae direction?
Sandii: Makoto and I both loved and respected Jamaican music and musicians. It was a great time for us musically.

Paul: "Mercy", "Pacifica" and "Dream Catcher" in the 90's are probably my favourite albums of yours. The cover images are also very iconic and you seem to be presented as some kind of mythical figure.
Sandii: The covers are the inspiration of Pierre et Gille. They were fans and created the remarkable iconic look that you like.

Paul: You have a lot of male fans around the world, and also seem to have a bit of a gay following. However, in Japan it seems you have more female fans (particularly of the Hawaiian inspired albums). Do you agree that is the case?
Sandii: I think that you are probably right on all counts. I do have a strong gay following wherever my music is released. Perhaps Pierre et Gille helped me connect with those fans.

Paul: What is it about the music from Hawaii that appeals to you?
Sandii: It is the music that I love to dance to.

Paul: Hula is a way of communicating values, traditions and stories that have been handed down through the generations. What are your hopes for the future of Hula?
Sandii: My wish is for world peace, as always. Now I would further say that my intention is for world peace.

Paul: What are your plans for the future?
Sandii: Now I have a great new U47w microphone from Gunter Wagner of Australia and want to return to the studio soon to use it.

Paul: I believe that record company mistakes meant that you and other Japanese based artists were not as successful in the west as you could have been – in particular by deciding not to release certain albums in the mistaken belief that they were not right for the market. And then not putting enough effort into promoting what they did release.
Sandii: In many ways, I agree with you. We had to leave the politics up to the businessmen.

Paul: What sort of music do you like?
Sandii: I love many singers and many kinds of music. If I had to pull one name from that list, it would be Chet Baker. Yes, he is a jazz trumpet player. But his singing touches the deepest parts of me.

Best wishes from Sandii Manumele Laniakea (two Hawaiian names to add to the list). Manumele was given by my Kumu and means Song Bird. Laniakea is a new name that comes with my graduation and means "...whose voice will extend endlessly."

Many thanks to Rusty Wright (www.realhula.com) for making this possible.
 

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