There's no way of telling what you will get next from Japanese trio Helsinki Lambda Club.

When you put the Chiba natives' music on shuffle, you might yourself grooving to the funky 'Happy Blue Monday' one moment and unwinding to the laidback '引っ越し (Moving)' the next. Then, before you know it, you're bobbing your head to the fiery rap verses of their collaboration with Wez Atlas, 'Mystery Train'.

The diverse nature of the Helsinki Lambda Club's releases stems from their unwillingness to restrict themselves to certain sounds. Led by vocalist Kaoru Hashimoto, the band are believers that "being natural" is the way to go when they are expressing themselves through their music.

And just as their music is not confined within the boundaries of a particular genre, Helsinki Lambda Club have also been bringing their creations to listeners outside of Japan. Coming after performances in cities such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, the outfit's next overseas show will take place at Singapore's AXEAN Festival 2023 this October. 

In an interview with Bandwagon, Helsinki Lambda Club talk about their eclectic musical releases, their proudest achievement over the last decade, and what fans can expect from their live performances.

Your music blends influences from genres such as garage punk, new wave, and psychedelic music. Is bringing together different sounds something that you make a conscious effort to do or does it always come naturally to you?

意識的な時と無意識な時どちらの場合もあります。これとこれを合わせたら面白いかもしれないという発想からスタートすることもあれば、表現したい感情などに耳を傾けた結果そうなる場合もあります。一つ言えることは、自分たちをジャンルなどでカテゴライズせずにその時々のマインドに寄り添って自然体であることを大事にしています。

There are times of conscious and unconscious moments. Sometimes, it starts with the idea that combining this and that might be interesting, while other times it results from listening to the emotions one wants to express. One thing that can be said is that we value being true to the moment's mindset — without categorizing ourselves by genres or such — and being natural.

You’re celebrating your 10th anniversary as a band this year. What are some things you’ve achieved so far that you’re most proud of?

出たかったフェスに出たことなど結果としてわかりやすいものもたくさんありますが、新しいアルバムを完成することができたことが自分の中では誇りであり自信になりました。音楽に対するとても純度の高い情熱が込められていると思います。

There are many visible outcomes, like performing at the festival we wanted to attend, but completing a new album is something we take pride in and gives us confidence. We believe it reflects a very pure passion for music.

Credit: Helsinki Lambda Club, Facebook

In one sentence, tell us how you want people to feel when they experience your music and performances.

僕たちがライブで大事にしていることは気持ちよくなることです。それぞれの楽しみ方、踊り方で気持ちよくなって欲しいです。そして音楽を通じてコミュニケーションができている瞬間がとても好きなので、一緒に遊びましょう。

What we value during our live performances is making people feel good. We want everyone to enjoy themselves in their own way, dancing, and having a good time. We also love those moments when we can communicate through music, so let's have fun together.

You’ve performed at music festivals and toured cities such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Taiwan. What’s different about performing in Singapore as part of the AXEAN Music Festival?

今回は今まで以上にアジアの一員として参加するという気持ちが強いです。変わらないのはワクワクする気持ちとベストを尽くすことだけです。

This time, we feel a stronger sense of being part of Asia than ever before. What remains unchanged are the feelings of excitement and giving our best.

AXEAN Festival 2023 will be held at the Goodman Arts Centre on 28 and 29 October. Tickets are available here on a pay-as-you-wish basis.

Stream Welcome to Helsinki Lambda Club here: