An Interview with HARU NEMURI ahead of her 2025 North American Tour
Intro by Rich, questions from both Rich and Jeff.
At Teppen, we’ve long considered HARU NEMURI as one of the most important voices in music. A rapper and poet, but so much more. Her music transcends genres, from pop, to shoegaze, to hardcore, to hip hop, and everything she does showcased her punk rock soul. Her live shows are as intense as they are communal. With NEMURI being a non-stop whirlwind of motion on stage, occasionally coming down into the audience to sing, crowdsurf, or just to join the chaos of the mosh. She’s also had some honest moments on stage – from being overcome with emotion at her first US headline show, to conversations with the audience about her outspoken nature. There is no wall between the audience and the stage at a HARU NEMURI show.
Related Links: “How Beautiful Life Is” – HARU NEMURI at Elsewhere thoughts / “Turning Idol Culture on its Head” – RAY x HARU NEMURI @ Attack from Livehouse
As HARU NEMURI gets ready to embark on her 2025 North American tour, the world is in a very difficult place than her last tour just a year ago. Her home country has seen a rise in xenophobic rhetoric, and notably the recent rise of a far-right party. And the United States is under the rule of a wannabe dictator with deportation quotas and fantasies of armed seizures of American cities. NEMURI has been open about these challenges, her anti-fascist stance as well as her open support for Gaza has made it questionable as to whether she’d be able to tour in the US again after her visa expires. This tour could be her last over here for a while, so if you dig her music, it’s worth checking out. Dates and tickets are available here.
We’re so grateful to have been able to have a conversation with HARU NEMURI ahead of her upcoming tour in support of her new record ekkolaptómenos. It’s a biting, intense commentary on the world, and tracks like “symposium” pull no punches. We wanted to learn more about the record, and amplify her voice in any way we could. You can read the interview below:
Teppen: On ekkolaptómenos, your sound takes a new stylistic direction with more singing. Was that a deliberate choice, or did it happen naturally as you were creating the album?
HARU NEMURI: I consciously tried singing melodies for this album, because the concept I’m dealing with here is abstract and mythical, and I felt that such themes needed melodies.
Teppen: Is that the case with your previous albums as well? You are an artist who doesn’t stay in one place too long musically. Have you always had a clear idea in your head, or do you realize it as songs and an album come together naturally?
NEMURI: Depending on the work, sometimes I had a clear vision, while other times I only had a vague vibe. For this album, I had already thought of the theme and concept before finishing the first demo.
Teppen: You took a DIY approach via producing the record yourself. Did you learn anything from the experience of being in charge in the studio? Will you be self-producing future albums?
NEMURI: It was very frustrating because I always had to ask myself whether I was just getting lazy about something. In other words: “Do I really not need this? Or am I just annoyed with continuing the work?” But at the same time, it’s comfortable for me to work on music without having to communicate with many people. Right now, I don’t know what will come next.
Teppen: What do you hope listeners get out of ‘ekkolaptómenos’? Is there any song you feel has a specific meaning you’d like to expand on, especially for those who may not understand Japanese?
NEMURI: Throughout this album, I talk about the systems that force you to obey and rewrite yourself. What I hope to bring is the awareness that you can also choose not to obey.
The last song, iconoclasm, includes the lyric: “I don’t want to rob any others of anymore.” I want to share that will with people in this world.
Teppen: Are there any books or films that you’ve enjoyed recently? Are there any that have sparked inspiration in your art, and if so, in what way?
NEMURI: I am currently reading a book called What is the Nation?. While creating this album, I also read Violence: Thinking Without Banisters by Richard J. Bernstein, which was deeply inspiring. From the perspective of “living together,” we cannot ignore the problems of violence and the nation as a system—something that came into this world in the form of occupying violence.
Teppen: Do you have creative input on your music videos? They usually have a strong visual element; for example, what does the room of cameras in your latest video for panopticon represent?
NEMURI: I think I’m not as good at coming up with visual ideas compared to making music, but I know that visuals can expand a song’s world, so I always try really hard to create them. Panopticon is a song about the workings of the gaze in society, so I incorporated cameras.
Teppen: Over the years you’ve had numerous collaborations, pushing boundaries with each one; I (Rich) was lucky to catch your collaborative show with RAY in June, how did working with Yua Uchiyama of RAY come about? While RAY are an idol group, they defy expectations (much like yourself), it was still unique to you in the idol world. Are there any artists in particular you wish to work with in the future?
NEMURI: I went to a café with Uchiyama-san, and we had a long talk. She even made a document reflecting on herself, and I also read her blog posts. I could really feel her desire to try something new, so I wrote her song as if I were writing my own.
Someday, I’d love to make songs with AURORA, JPEGMAFIA, KNEECAP, Quadeca, IDLES, and downy…!
Teppen: You recently mentioned that your work is meant to be enjoyed for a long time. Has music or other art become more devalued or seen as more disposable these days?
NEMURI: Yeah, it’s often said that in modern society, human beings consume only symbols, not the essence, and that our desires are inflated and manufactured by a system built on mass production and consumption. I think that’s true. There are many musicians who offer their songs to people as if appliance stores were selling electronics, changing the models every season. But I didn’t create something like that.
Teppen: Feminism and misogyny in Japan (or the world in general): How is it living in Japan as a woman? Are strong feminine voices encouraged in Japanese culture? Compared to when you were growing up, is Japan improving in its treatment of women?
NEMURI: I’m sorry that I have to say no to this question. When I was young, I didn’t really understand the strong misogyny in Japan, because I grew up in a private girls’ school that placed importance on education. But after entering college and becoming a musician, I really came to understand it—partly because the people around me also started working in society. I think things are getting a little better, but it’s still far from enough.
Teppen: What would you say to artists who may want to speak up on issues, but may shy away from outwardly expressing support out of fear?
NEMURI: Imagine being an artist who stayed silent while genocide was happening in the future. Especially if you had power, like money and fame, it would be a source of shame. It’s just horrible. For me, the fear of that is much stronger than the fear of being seen as someone who speaks up and gets into trouble right now because such an attitude will absolutely make my music much less convincing.
Teppen: After this upcoming tour, you announced that you are unsure of when you will be returning to America, with potential visa issues due to the current political regime. Have your outspoken social and political stances been a problem before with the US or even other countries?
NEMURI: NEVER!! I really feel like I’m living in a dystopian story now.
Teppen: With your North American tour coming up, do you approach shows differently than if you were in Japan? Do you feel a difference between audiences overseas?
NEMURI: Yeah, audiences overseas tend to enjoy dancing more compared to Japanese audiences. I’ll do my best to stay healthy.
Teppen: What are some of your impressions from visiting other countries? Do you have a favorite country or one you want to visit in the future?
NEMURI: Compared to Japanese people, people in many other countries tend to speak more easily to strangers, maybe? I would like to visit Dublin, Ireland, because I’m interested in its culture and history and have even started learning about them.
Teppen: What are your impressions of SNS and its effects on a person—the good and the bad from having constant online access? Do you spend much time online, or do you limit your interactions?
NEMURI: I try to be careful about not spending too much time online, but sometimes I can’t stop scrolling through posts, lol. The internet has given me the opportunity to bring my music overseas, but sometimes, when I see too many posts, I feel like no one really cares about my music.
Teppen: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists? Do fans reach out to you after shows or online for guidance? A young person might be excited after watching one of your videos or playing your albums. What would you tell them as they make their first steps into the music world?
NEMURI: I sometimes get messages like that. I really hope people don’t lose the joy of creating, and that they make the music they truly want to listen to. That’s what I’ve been trying to do throughout my whole musical life as well.
Once again, we’d like to thank HARU NEMURI for chatting with us. Links to tickets for the ekkolaptómenos North American tour can be found here. Both typical general admission tickets as well as VIP tickets, which include early access, meet & greet, and a gift are available for this tour.
September 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
September 14 – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
September 18 – Vancouver, BC, Canada @ The Fox Cabaret
September 19 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
September 21 – Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop
September 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere (Hall)
September 25 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Horseshoe Tavern
September 27 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East (Upstairs)
September 29 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Connect with HARU NEMURI:
insta / x / site / facebook / north american tour tickets / patreon
