Introduction: Melody and Zizi’s Meditation on Roads

Melody Albertine's Adventures on the Serpent Walks

About me

My name is Ian (F) Martin, I live in Tokyo and write primarily about the local music scene, through my blog Clear And Refreshing and various magazines and websites. My book Quit Your Band! Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground came out in 2016 from Awai Books, with the Japanese edition バンドやめようぜ！ following in 2017 from Ele-king/P-Vine. I sometimes write about other things, if they interest me. I also run an indie/postpunk label called Call And Response Records and organise small live events and parties around Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan.

ME ON THE WEB:

BLUESKY

Where I write down thoughts within a strict character limit.

INSTAGRAM
Photos of small parks and other things that interest e while walking around Tokyo and elsewhere.

MASTODON

Not very active, but I'll post important news and stuff there.

CALL AND RESPONSE RECORDS

The best record label in Japan

CLEAR AND REFRESHING
Dead blog on new Japanese (mostly indie) music. Lives on as an annual paper zine called Last Year's Sounds.

BURN YOUR HOMETOWN

My cycle trip around Japan's local indie music scenes

PLOT SHIELD

Old blog on pop culture, anime and other things (embarrassing and sophomoric)