boys be kko - Big Boys Don’t Cry (Gerd Janson Remix) [Atomnation]

Format: 12" in printed sleeve.
CAT: ATMV064

Eccentric Tokyo-based producer Ryunosuke Hayashi, also known as boys be kko, joins the Atomnation family with his 12” Big Boys Don’t Cry, a four-track EP that includes a massive remix by respected DJ, producer, and remixer Gerd Janson. Both artists are making their first appearance on the Dutch label.

boys be kko started producing music during high school after buying a KORG Electribe. Soon after, he enrolled in art college. His interest in techno grew listening to artists like Gui Boratto. Over the years, he forged connections within the Tokyo scene and co-founded Kids Return with Hiroki Nakamura (DJ). Kids Return is a collective that runs a record label, organizes parties, and operates as a design studio (also responsible for the artwork of this Big Boys Don't Cry EP), in collaboration with Hiroki Kato (PLUSTIC) and Mitsuru Nishimura.

Equipment plays a fundamental role in Ryunosuke's tracks. The Roland SH-101, Prophet 600, and VERMONA PERfourMER Mk2 are essential parts of his sound. That's exactly what you hear on Big Boys Don’t Cry, a beautiful and emotional track influenced by disco, house, and the current rise of melodic techno. That said, his music—and especially this lead track—wanders between all these genres simultaneously, resulting in a very unique, original, and balanced sound with soul.

All tracks were written and produced in Ryunosuke's rooftop studio in Narimasu. For those who haven't been to Tokyo, it's a small station on the Fukutoshin line. The track FUMIKIRI, composed there, has a strong tribal influence and sounds close to the style for which Keinemusik is currently known. On the other hand, By ada flirts more with indie dance and "rock"-influenced genres, showing how diverse and vibrant boys be kko's sound can be, and perhaps how it was marked in its early years by projects like The Chemical Brothers and Nine Inch Nails.

Gerd Janson's remix can be seen as a great acknowledgment of Ryunosuke's music. Having an artist with such a trajectory and caliber makes this EP a strong candidate to be one of the standout 12” releases of the summer season—if only for the cover art... Stay tuned to boys be kko's Instagram game and a final message for bookers worldwide: this man has a massive and energetic live set on his hands.