Compared to last year, this one felt more introspective, and I found myself truly grateful for the time Iโve been able to spend in private reflection.
In many ways, I feel that Iโm gradually finding a more human balance in life.
That said, something quite unexpected happened yesterday at the Luxury HAYAMA โ Adultsโ Field Trip event:
The two organizers, President Hori and President Tatsuki (and his wonderful wife), surprised me with a heartfelt birthday celebration.
It was completely unanticipatedโand I was genuinely moved.
(As usual, I failed to take any personal photosโฆ my apologies. Iโll write more about the event itself in a separate post.)
As for the inevitable โHow old are you now?โ question, I somehow managed to dodge it again this year.
But honestly, age is starting to catch up with me, so perhaps thereโs no need to keep it a secretโhaha.
This year, Iโm setting a clear resolution: to move to LA.
And I intend to keep declaring it with conviction.
While slowly replying to the many kind birthday messages Iโve received,
Iโm also focusing seriously on the work currently entrusted to me.
At the same time, I aim to complete both my self-produced short film and my long-awaited album by around summer.
Itโs been a while. Iโve been out of touch for about a week, almost as if I had an out-of-body experience. It wasnโt intentional, but after a whirlwind March filled with events and a trip to Hollywood, I found myself needing quite some time to realign both mentally and physicallyโand to figure out whatโs next.
As for the event: I dare say I was able to create quite a creative space. Thanks to having worked with the same members multiple times now, weโve developed a solid musical groove and a natural flow of improvisation. That energy definitely fueled my own performance, and I feel that the street shows I did in LA helped eliminate a lot of hesitation within me. One major highlight was working with the sound engineer introduced to me by Gaiโit was a game changer. Even though the venue was just a rehearsal studio, not a live hall, he brought in speakers and in-ear monitors to build the sound from scratch. That allowed us to finally experience how powerful and stress-free it can be to sing while truly feeling the full presence of the band. It was honestly a revelationโI never imagined I could perform with such ease while still immersed in that live energy.
And above all, I cannot express enough gratitude to those who came out despite the sudden shift from early-summer warmth to freezing winter rain. I felt that during the one-hour live performanceโwhich served as a culmination of five hours of rehearsalโsomething almost indescribable, a kind of passion I wanted to convey, truly reached the audience. That made me incredibly happy. What weighs on me now is the question: can this passion be captured and shared through recorded footage with those who werenโt there? And if not, then as a producer, can I truly gather people in the same space, at the same time, to witness it live again?
Even so, I want to keep burning with the desire to reach even greater artistic heights.
To everyone who supported and participated in this bold and challenging projectโthank you so much. I send my deepest respect for your incredible passion and relentless curiosity. I hope to find a way to give back to you all someday.
Please look forward to the official photos and videos once post-production and editing are complete!
โธป
P.S. Thank you so much for the early birthday gift! Dian&Susan
Photos by: Mr.Nobi & Mr.Maekawa
The team of โไปๅคใฏใใฃใจใชใใผใตใซ๏ผโ
Vocal, Composer & Director: Dan Mitchel Piano, Synthesizer & Sax: Hinata Ishii Bass: James Hodaka Kageta Electric Guitar: GODO Terasawa Percussion: Gai Seki Sound Engineer: Ken Yamakawa
Cinematographer: Tatsuhiko Maekawa Camera Operator: Shinichiro Sakaguchi Lighting: Kimiyoshi Kimura Makeup Artist (Dan): Wakana
Official Photographers: Paula Hool Leo Kuroyanagi
Bar Master: Karuna
Guest Composer: Aiko Yoshiba
Special Thanks for Danโs Wardrobe: Wardrobe: Tsukasa Yamaguchi Belt: ComaCo ITALIA Accessories: lalamuu With heartfelt thanks to DAISYโM for introducing ComaCo ITALIA and lalamuu
Produced by: Dramatic Frontier Co., Ltd. Special Support: Ryota KOGA & Toru Karasawa
(Scroll down for the English version) ใใชใฆใใใใๅธฐๅฝๅพใไธ็บ็ฎใฎใคใใณใใงใใ ๆฅใใ๏ผ๏ผ29(ๅ)ใซใๅไปฃๆช่ใฎใใผใใฃใ้ๅฌใใพใใ
Hollywood’s Behind MeโAnd Here Comes the First Event Back in Japan.
On Saturday, March 29, weโre throwing an unprecedented party.
Itโs called:
โTonight, Just Rehearsingโฆ?โ
To put it simply:
This is an experimental event where musicians, together with a full sound crew, conduct a serious rehearsal sessionโlive. The audience gets to observe the entire process, raw and unfiltered, offering a unique opportunity for non-musicians to experience how music is actually made.
Think of it as something between a workshop and a live performance.
At its core, this project is about:
Giving people a deeper understanding of how musicians think, create, and performโbeyond the surface-level image often imposed by celebrity culture.
Highlighting theย artistic value of musicย in society by bridging the gap between artists and audiences.
Capturing it all as aย documentary film, so that even those who canโt attend can still feel part of it.
Itโs a statement. Itโs part of our STEAM education mission. And yes, itโs also a celebration of art.
Now, that might sound a little heavy-handed for an inviteโbut at the end of the day, what we want most is for you to have fun.
Thereโll be a bar corner run by a beautiful bar manager and skilled bartenders, and youโre absolutely welcome to chat and mingle during the rehearsals. And if the music moves youโplease, dance! When I performed on the streets of LA, one thing that really struck me was how naturally people let their bodies respond to the rhythm.
So come with the mindset that you are the star of this party. I wonโt be outshined so easilyโbut I welcome the challenge. ๐
Feel free to watch the rehearsals from anywhere in the studioโeven right next to the musicians. (Just a heads-up: the cameras will be rolling continuously, and footage will be used as-is, so we kindly ask for your discretion if you donโt want to appear on camera.)
We believe the physical experience of music is irreplaceableโsomething even the most advanced AI canโt replicate.
Event Schedule:
14:00ย โ Doors Open
14:30โ19:00ย โ Full Rehearsal (with DJ time breaks)
19:00ย โ Screening of my short film, which was selected for the Hollywood Film Festival (Japan Premiere)
19:30โ20:30ย โ Short Live Performance featuring the best cuts from the dayโs rehearsal
20:30โ22:00ย โ After Party
Throughout the event, Iโd love to chat with everyone who comes.
Performers:
Vocal & Composer:ย Dan Mitchel
Grand Piano, Synth & Alto Sax:ย Hinata Ishii
Bass:ย James Hodaka Kagetaย (IKILLU)
Guitar:ย GODO Terasawa
Percussion:ย Gai Sekiย (w.a.u, La seรฑas)
Sound Engineer:ย Ken Yamakawa
DJ:ย mariennu
Dancer:ย Sessey
Dancer:ย Jasmine Mazlika
Guest Pianist:ย Aiko Yoshiba
Plus, there might be a few surprise guestsโso stay tuned!
Tickets:
Please purchase your entry tickets in advance via the link below, as drinks will be stocked based on headcount.
๐ Tonight, Just Rehearsingโฆ? Price: ยฅ5 to ยฅ20,000 [Purchase Now]
Weโve set the base admission at just ยฅ5โso that anyone whoโs interested can come. We hope it leads to new connections and meaningful encounters.
Weโre also offering:
All-You-Can-Drink Plan (soft drinks, beer, highballs, wine):ย ยฅ3,000
Supporterโs Special Seat:ย ยฅ20,000ย (includes all-you-can-drink, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and a private table)
Drinks like tequila shots and soft drinks can also be ordered individually (about ยฅ1,000 per drink). Thereโs even a secret menu with premium champagnesโjust allow a little extra time for preparation.
โป Youโre welcome to bring your own food, but please refrain from bringing wine or champagne bottles.
Venue:
Studio Theory D-Room (4F) Near Yoyogi-Hachiman Station Take the elevator to the 4th floor
Address: 6-2 Motoyoyogicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Dolce Motoyoyogi 1F)
This will likely be our only hosted event around my birthday season (April 14), so Iโd be thrilled if you could come and celebrate with us.
Looking forward to seeing you there. With all my thanks, Dan
Iโll be staying in Hollywood from March 4 to March 12, bringing one photographer with me. For the parties on the 7th and 8th, Iโll be meeting up with a local interpreter.
Iโm still looking for:
โข An interpreter for the 5th
โข A makeup artist for the 5th, 7th, and 8th
โข Anyone else who seems like a great fit for the project
Iโd love for us all to make this project a success together!
Dan Mitchel 