Fuji Rockers had the pleasure of sitting down with Salmon Pink, the Tokyo-based duo consisting of Leo and Eddy. Here’s a glimpse into their journey, experiences, and inspirations.

First Time at Fuji Rock

Leo and Eddy, who had never attended a festival before, were thrilled to make their Fuji Rock debut. “We’ve had opportunities to come before, but we wanted our first time to be when we played,” Leo shared. Their excitement was palpable as they recounted the moment they learned they’d be performing: “We applied every year, not expecting much. And then this year, we got in. It was a surprise for us for sure.”

Performing at Fuji Rock 2024

When asked about their set, both agreed it was “f**king awesome.” Eddy noted, “The crowd could have been rocking out a bit more, but it’s Japan. [The crowd] can be a bit conservative.” Despite this, their enthusiasm remained high, reflecting on the positive reception they received.

Cultural Roots and Inspirations

The duo has a rich cultural background, with Leo being English-Japanese and Eddy Brazilian-Japanese. This blend of cultures influences their music and stage presence. They draw inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including The Beatles, John Mayer, Khruangbin, Mac DeMarco, Tyler the Creator, and Glass Beams. “We love Glass Beams,” Leo mentioned, adding that they missed their set at Fuji Rock but heard it was fantastic. The duo’s music covers a range of themes, from love and heartbreak to darker topics like death. Their songwriting process is deeply personal, often stemming from emotional experiences. “When there’s emotional pain, it comes out much easier,” Leo reflected.

Tokyo Music Scene

Salmon Pink has been active in the Tokyo music scene for the past 2-3 years, frequently performing in popular areas like Shimokitazawa and Shibuya. Their favorite venues include Three in Shimokitazawa and La Mama in Shibuya. “La Mama is a place with a lot of history. A lot of old school bands played there before they were famous,” Eddy explained.

Future Plans and Message to Fans

As for future shows, Salmon Pink plans to continue playing in Tokyo, although they currently don’t have specific dates lined up. They encourage fans to follow them on Instagram at @NotPinkSalmon. “Everyone says Pink Salmon, but we’re Salmon Pink,” Leo clarified, revealing that the name was inspired by Leo’s love for mentaiko, a type of seasoned cod roe.

Reflecting on Fuji Rock

The duo thoroughly enjoyed their Fuji Rock experience, mentioning highlights like Kingfish’s performance and the vibrant festival atmosphere. They expressed a desire to return next year, aiming for a slot at the Red Marquee.

Final Thoughts

Salmon Pink’s music covers a range of themes, from love and heartbreak to darker topics like death and hardship. Their songwriting process is deeply personal, often stemming from emotional experiences. “When there’s emotional pain, it comes out much easier,” Leo reflected.

In closing, they shared a simple yet profound message: “Love is the answer. Love is the word.” A fun duo with great presence on stage and off, Salmon Pink is a band to watch out for.

Follow Salmon Pink on Instagram and YouTube.

*Photography credit varies:
1st: Salmon Pink
2nd: 安江正実 (IG credited)
3rd: Nina Cataldo

[Interview Transcript]

FR: Alright, do you want to introduce yourselves?
Leo: I’m in Salmon Pink, I’m Leo.
Eddy: I’m in Salmon Pink, I’m Eddy.
Both: We are at Fuji Rock 2024.
Eddy: Let’s go.
FR: Woo! So, have you guys been to Fuji Rock before?
Eddy: First time.
Leo: First time.
Eddy: First time playing, first time watching, yeah.
FR: Exciting. So, what were some of your expectations or thoughts you had before and how is it now?
Eddy: I had no expectations to be honest. I’ve never been to a festival.
FR: Really?
Eddy: To be honest, yeah. This is the first time. For you too, right?
Leo: Me neither, yeah.
FR: So, that’s like huge stakes then. If you’ve never been at all.
Eddy: Yeah. But we had opportunities to go before to Fuji Rock.
Leo: But we wanted to play the first time we came here.
Eddy: Save it, you know.
Leo: Save it for a good time.
FR: Awesome. So, how did you guys get to Fuji Rock this year then in terms of how did you get to Rookie A Go-Go?
Leo: We applied every year…Sort of not expecting much. And then one day this year, we got in.
FR: Amazing.
Eddy: I guess we did the right thing. We were surprised by this.
Leo: A surprise for us for sure.
Eddy: Yeah. It was surprising.
FR: And how do you feel about your guys’ set?
Leo: F**king awesome.
Eddy: It was crazy, yeah.
Leo: It was good though. I love it.
FR: And the crowd?
Eddy: It was crazy. You know, they could be, you know, rocking out a little bit more, but I mean.
FR: (laughs) It’s Japan.
Leo: What can you do?
Eddy: It’s Japan, exactly.
Leo: Japanese people are a bit conservative.
FR: Yeah. And are you guys from Japan?
Leo and Eddy: Yeah.
Leo: Eddy’s half Brazilian and I’m half English.
FR: Nice.
Eddy: Okinawa.
Leo: Ibaraki.
FR: My grandparents are from Ibaraki also. Hitachi.
Leo: Tsukuba-san. Are you half?
FR: Yeah, I’m half American.
Leo: We’re the same then, yeah.
FR: Yeah, exactly. I thought when I saw you guys up there [on stage], I was like, I bet they’re hafu [half-Japanese]. We just know each other.
Eddy: We know each other, you know. You feel the vibe.
Leo: Yeah. You feel it.
FR: So where do you guys see yourselves next? Any shows, upcoming shows you want to talk about?
Leo: Currently not.
FR: In Tokyo or anywhere?
Leo: In Tokyo, yeah. Definitely in Tokyo. We’ve been playing in Tokyo for like two, three years now.
FR: Where do you guys play?
Leo: Shimokitazawa. And Shibuya sometimes. Mostly Shimokitazawa.
FR: Which venues?
Leo and Eddy: Three.
Leo: In Shibuya we go to a place called La Mama. It’s a place with a lot of history. A lot of old school bands that – before they were famous – they played there apparently.
FR: Sick.
Leo: It’s a good venue.
FR: A lot of places in England are like that too. Like in Liverpool and London, you know? You know all the places that, like, The Beatles started out in or whoever.
Leo: We love The Beatles.
FR: Yeah? So who are your inspirations?
Eddy: Beatles for sure.
Leo: Yeah, Beatles for sure.
Eddy: John Mayer.
Leo: He likes John Mayer. He used to like John Mayer in the beginning. But now we love Khruangbin.
FR: Nice.
Leo: Shout out. (laughs)
Eddy: Mac.
Leo and Eddy: Mac DeMarco.
Eddy: For sure. And who else?
Leo: Glass Beans. We didn’t get to watch it this time.
FR: I heard their set was good.
Eddy: Who else? I don’t know. A lot of artists for sure.
Leo and Eddy: We both like Tyler [the Creator].
Eddy: Tyler’s good.
Leo: Yeah.
FR: So a lot of different genres of influences come to you guys.
Eddy: It’s a big mix.
FR: Super exciting. Would you see yourselves coming back to Fuji Rock?
Eddy: Yeah, definitely.
Leo: Next year, we’re here…hopefully Red Marquee!
FR: So, have you been able to enjoy Fuji Rock this year? What’s been the coolest part?
Leo: Kingfish, he was amazing. He was in the crowd. We were running because we were running out of time. And we got to his set. We could hear the guitar but we couldn’t see him. Like where the f**k is he? He was just five meters ahead of us! It was crazy.
Eddy: I wasn’t there though, I missed that.
Leo: Kingfish was the best, dude! Yussef was good too.
Leo and Eddy: Yussef Dayes.
Leo: He’s English too.
FR: There’ve been a lot of English bands this year.
FR: What are most of your songs about?
Eddy: It really depends…really depends on the vibe.
Leo: We have love songs the most but we also like to write dark songs.
Eddy: Yeah, we do.
Leo: A lot of shit that alludes to, like, death. Shit you don’t really want to talk about to be honest, but you know, it’s real you know.
FR: Yeah. And what’s that writing process like?
Eddy: We do by ourselves mostly
Leo: Yeah, I mean we often struggle with lyrics. But when there’s emotional pain, it comes out much easier. Whether that’s heartbreak or like, losing someone. That’s probably one of our inspirations.
FR: It makes it relatable to listeners, right?
Leo: Yeah.
FR: So, anywhere that people can follow you and keep in touch?
Leo: @NotPinkSalmon on Instagram. That’s “Not Pink Salmon.” Because we’re called Salmon Pink but everyone says,
Eddy: Oooh, Pink Salmon?!
Leo: Yeah (laughs). No no, we’re Salmon Pink.
FR: Where did you get the inspiration for the name?
Eddy: He likes mentaiko.
Leo: So, you know. My favorite food.
Eddy: I mean, I also like it, but he’s like…
FR: Obsessed with it?
Leo: I’m doing a disservice to mentaiko because, I don’t know.
FR: But, so that’s why the inspiration came from your love of mentaiko?
Leo: Yeah, pretty much.
Eddy: We don’t think about it too deep.
FR: That’s great because I saw you guys’ name on the lineup and immediately thought, what a sick name.
Leo: Really? We’ve been having second thoughts for years.
FR: Keep it.
Leo: Alright, alright, alright. Easy to remember, right?
FR: It is. Any message to your fans or future fans?
Eddy: Do we have fans? (laughs)
Leo: (laughs) Yeah, do we have fans?
FR: You guys had a good crowd.
Eddy: What’s the message though?
Leo: Love is the answer. Love is the word. That’s a Yussef Dayes reference. What else? FUJI ROCK!! I guess?
Eddy: FUJI ROCK!! (all laugh)