Tokyo Artist/Producer Fox Spirit Unveils His Brand New Album "Kegare"
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Belonging to the "lost generation" of Hip Hop, Atsu Nakayama began recording music as Fox Spirit in 2020 during his studies in Liverpool. Born in Philadelphia, and raised in Tokyo, Fox Spirit wandered the earth as a foreigner to all lands, trying to find peace in an ever-changing environment. Being the same age as the late XXXTENTACION and Juice WRLD, two voices of his generation, Fox Spirit carries their legacy by embodying the angst mood and depressive tendencies of said lost generation.
Influenced by the messages of Nas and Kendrick Lamar, Fox Spirit spills the struggles of living in Tokyo, a spiritual metropolis, and the anxious future that awaits.
Fox Spirit’s motto has two folds: “Embrace and Endorse all Emotions” and “i am here for u.” Fox’s music is an attempt to save humanity from the tiring, confusing, and unfair world, hoping his music can save those in desperation. However, Fox Spirit’s purpose is not to drag people out of the real world to find momentary peace in fantasy, rather it is to provide solid ground for people within the harsh reality.
Embracing the lack of national identity, the alienation Atsu feels amongst all countries is like a shape-shifting fox pretending to be human. But through interactions with people from all over the world, Atsu ultimately sees no difference between nations. “We are all unique, but all one in the same. The ultimate goal is to unite all people across the world and welcome the surface-level differences with his music.”
A total of 13 songs were written in the span of two years after Fox’s return to Japan. Kegare is an unfiltered view of Tokyo from a bicultural individual who sees the city from within and from the west. Speaking about his background Atsu says,
“Originally born in Philadelphia, US, I first came to Tokyo early in my life due to family circumstances. I spend my entire childhood there. Despite being Japanese, I always struggled to fit in with Japan. It was always a mystery for me as well to know why that was the case. There was a sense of awkwardness when talking honestly or kindly to others. There was a hint of not fitting in with others for caring for another. All these positive attributes seemed to fall flat.
After graduating high school, I spent the next four years in Liverpool to immerse myself in the city where the Beatles are from. For the first time, I found true comfort, where all aforementioned qualities of myself were felt appreciated.
Though there were struggles that come with being a foreigner — cultural dissonance and racism — I found true friendship and true love during the years spent in the west.
The lingering mystery of why my positive attributes felt unappreciated started to become clearer:
1) People in Japan prioritize society first. Individuality second.
2) Therefore, conforming is the basis. Standing out (negatively or positively) is a disturbance.
Though it did not matter anymore for I was no longer in Japan. That was until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All plans being back to blank, there was not much choice but to return “home,” while being fully aware that it was somewhere I never wished to be. Hating everything and everyone, I became a hikikomori. A hermit withdrawing from all social interactions. Never leaving home and doing nothing.
That was until I finally started reading. One of which was Kojiki, an old sacred text from Shinto. The deities Susano, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi were born while Izanagi cleansed himself from kegare. The term intrigued me and after reading more, I found that “kegare” is a Japanese concept that translates to defilement, similar to the concept of sin. Death, disease, sex, are examples that contribute to kegare. After reading about the discrimination towards Burakumin due to “kegare,” I was appalled by how much this value system holds weight in this society.
The whole concept infuriated me. Throughout my life in this city, I have been defiled for being myself. In fact, I claim this whole city is defiled for being disingenuous. In reality, Japan does not prioritize society at all. Like anywhere in the world, all it comes down to is themselves and standing on a higher pedestal.
My ambition is to be a disturbance in hopes for the city to break down and rebuild itself for real kindness to prevail.”
Listen to “Kegare” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Fox Spirit on his social media.