WaqWaq Kingdom - Shigeru Ishihara (DJ Scotch Egg / Seefeel) and Kiki Hitomi (ex-King Midas Sound) - return with dizzying new EP Dokkoisho, following the runaway success of their 2019 album Essaka Hoisa.
Uniquely omnivorous in their approach, WaqWaq Kingdom’s endless range of stylistic adventures sees them draw lines between traditional Japanese and contemporary electronic, between Jamaican dancehall and 8-bit techno, between African polyrhythms and experimental music, with plenty more helping to colour a powerful, vibrant palette.
Dokkoisho is a Japanese word, an informal interjection roughly equivalent to the heavy sigh in sitting down after a long day of work. “Like telling yourself I am tired but now I relax then after I will carry on,” Kiki writes. “It is used in daily life and also for shout in Sumo match and Kabuki. It has got the meaning that you will continuously carry on. It sort of contains the encouragement meaning.” Perseverance and self-belief are common themes for WaqWaq Kingdom, and the music of Dokkoisho echoes this strain of determination and inner strength.