No.9 is the musical works of multi-instrumentalist “sound designer” Takayuki Joe.  Growing up in Tokyo, Joe was interested in a wide range of music including Chicago blues, the jazz of Eric Dolphy and Thelonious Monk and the Japanese modern classical composer Toru Takemitsu. He also dug into Japanese Group Sounds, spy music, animation, funk and psychedelic rock, with one of his all-time favorite albums being the Beatles White Album (which includes the Beatles weirdest...

No.9 is the musical works of multi-instrumentalist “sound designer” Takayuki Joe.  Growing up in Tokyo, Joe was interested in a wide range of music including Chicago blues, the jazz of Eric Dolphy and Thelonious Monk and the Japanese modern classical composer Toru Takemitsu. He also dug into Japanese Group Sounds, spy music, animation, funk and psychedelic rock, with one of his all-time favorite albums being the Beatles White Album (which includes the Beatles weirdest ever song “Revolution 9”, with the repeated refrain “No.9, No.9, No.9..”). He began playing music himself as a teenager, utilizing guitar, piano, harmonica and computer. He played and recorded as an indies musician, and started doing commercial songwriting for advertising, eventually working with big clients like J-Wave and NHK.  For his personal music he developed a melodic instrumental sound that has many influences, including jazz, ambient, electronica and pop music, but Does not sit still in any one category.  In 1997 he officially launched himself as No.9. While enjoying playing with an sizable band, over time he found that it was not always easy to round-up all his desired players, and so developed the concept of his solo and small group shows being billed as No.9, and his more infrequent nine member full band gigs, being billed as the No.9 Orchestra. Both at times featured visual effects. He released his first album calm and ecstatic in 1999, originally self-released and later re-issued by Cubic Music. While the album was released on a tiny indie, it was well received by Japanese music fans, and even found a bit of an international audience. No.9’s second album Mushi-No-Ne was in fact licensed by an American indie label, as was his third, Micro Films. From 2004, No.9 began playing more often, usually at clubs in the Tokyo area, but also a solo show at the Apple store in Ginza, and then from time to time, festivals. No. 9 Orchestra performances remain relatively few, but have become highly anticipated events.  In 2007 No.9 signed to the Osaka based indie label Liquid Note, and released Good Morning, and then in 2008 Usual Revolution and Nine.  No.9/Takayuki Joe has also became in demand as a remixer, and worked with many domestic and some foreign artists. His Usual Revolution and Nine album was released in a remix version, which featured work by I Am Robot and Proud, Aus, Kettel and miaou, among others. Meanwhile No.9 also continues his sound design work, and creates a wide range of musical environments, including for airlines and video games.  In addition, his relaxing yet engaging tracks have also been picked up for domestic and foreign CD compilations.  No.9’s newest album, 9-9-9-9-9, was released September 9, 2009, and is being supported by No.9 Orchestra shows nationwide.  Depending on the shop his music might be filed under pop or under ambient.