1. What do you do and who are you in real life?
I’m a graphic designer. I sit in front of a computer and create colorful pictures. There is no such things as “real life”. The world ends if you go outside of your room, or so I’ve heard.
2. Let’s talk about drawings and art. How do you do your pictures?
I stare at my computer for like 1 or 2 minutes, you know, like in old Western movies. I do that so he understands I am the boss. Then I start to move my arms and click buttons, somehow my computer reacts. Soon, it’s a shape and color battle on the screen. I just keep moving my arms and clicking random buttons on my keyboard. Then when I think the epitome of coolness is right before my eyes, I freeze, save the file and upload it on the internet.
3. Have you ever thought of drawing comics? You seem to have a lot of imagination and it wouldn’t be the first time you creat imaginary characters.
Yes, I would have loved to tell stories and create my very own crew of imaginary characters. I was planning to do something like this when I was younger. I had a bunch of characters in my head and started writing a story but it was too much work for me alone and I’m not so good with traditionnal drawing. I have to rely on pictures and use them as references. Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll do comics. It sure does interest me.
4. How did the idea of making a kind of bubblegum poster for Taxi Driver arrive? It looks good but it changes completely the idea of the film. You turn a tough vietnam veteran into a kind of 80s teenager.
Hahaha… It’s funny how you describe it. Hum, interesting question. First of all, I gotta say that this is one of those things I just do. I start working on the picture, not knowing what it’s gonna be when I’m done. You know? I had no concept for starters. That’s how you surprise yourself. I might add something though. Travis Bickle might be a dangerous war veteran psychopath, he’s also a confused man lost in a world he doesnt comprehend. I see him as a good guy looking for redemption after the things he did during the war. I like the idea that if you spend enough time thinking about something, you will eventually start to look at it completely differently. It drives me crazy sometimes because I dont know what to think anymore. You find this confusion in my works.
5. Any thoughts on making videos?
I own an international broadcasting company which I use to brainwash the mass with subliminal promo pictures. One of our channel is dedicated to asian meat in bikinis. Akutou TV is the best channel ever. http://akutoulovesyou.com/video15.html
6. Talking about cinema, you look like a Tarantino fan. Can we expect any Inglorious Bastards posters or drawings?
I watched it a month ago or so, I had a blast. Yes, you can expect that. I will definitely make more movie characters in the future, Tarantino movies or other stuff.
7. Don’t you think Molly Ringwald should’ve been frozen in 1990 instead of letting her age?
I froze her for Futurecop! in the form of an artwork. Digital pictures do not deteriorate.
8. Tell me you used to watch “Parker Lewis Can’t Loose” What was your favourite show?
Haha yes, yes I did! I loved it when they synchronized their watches. Parker Lewis was the coolest. I also loved Jerry with all the stuff hidden in his coat, computers, video games, VHS tapes, huge archive files. That show was awesome. Another show I loved back then is Weird Science. What kids have on TV nowadays is crap. Even the cartoons.
9. Do you know there’s a Back To The Future mod for Vice City?
Now I do, thanks. Sounds fun. I think it really shows how people love this game and movie. I am fan of both. I must have seen Back To The Future movies more than 50 times and I clocked a huge amount of hours in GTA games. It’s really cool to see things you like merge like this. I can relate because I did the art direction for a Vice City imaginary radio show. http://blog.akutoulovesyou.com/2009/06/taking-you-back-to-vice-city.html It was great to work on this.
10. Music. Are you one of those who have a music blog because they failed when trying to do music?
No. I have a music blog because I excel at making graphical art and I’m too lazy to excel at something else even though I could… Haha kidding. You’re probably right. I love music but I’m not a musician. Must be cool to be a music artist, you get a lot of feedback from fans telling you you’re awesome. A designer doesnt get this kind of attention. People will look at his work or hang it up on their walls, but most of the time the designer wont even know about it.
11. Favourite Futurecop! track?
NASA… or As Seen on TV… or Starworshipper… It’s pointless to name one because they are in my opinion one of these band where every track is good.
12. In your opinion, do you think there’s a kind of 80s revival now? Why?
Of course there is. It’s happening in music and in graphics. I guess artists which are in their 20’s or 30’s want to go back to the things they loved back when they were kids. I was born in the 80’s and I am glad for that. We’ve been blessed with great games, TV shows and movies.
13. Favourite non-electronic band or song?
One comes in mind. Nujabes. He was a japanese music producer. Some of you might know his work from the awesome anime serie Samurai Champloo. He died a month ago in a car accident, I was very sadden by this news. But it’s an opportunity for me to get back to listening to his music. Listen to his track Feather and also Think Different, great stuff. I’m a big fan of Hip Hop instrumentals as well. Otherwise, I always loved Phoenix, The Beatles or Joy Division.
14. Any new favourite bands?
My most recent crushes are Shazam, Toro y Moi and Magic Wands.
15. If you were to travel in time, where would you go?
I’d go in 1992 and convince my parents to get the “kid” me a Super Nintendo. Wait, no. I’d just offer it to myself, even more simple. What else? Nothing. Why? Because offering myself a Super Nintendo would have make me not get a Playstation but a Nintendo64 instead, causing big changes in my personality as I know mediums such as video games played a role in my growth. Going back and forth in time to fix all those changes would make a crack in the space time continuum, resulting in the implosion of the entire universe.
On 2nd thoughts, I could just go in whatever year Picasso or Van Gogh are from, and ask what dudes like them think of digital art. I’d probably get an interesting answer out of that.
16. Any upcoming works/stuff?
Yes. I’m making an EP cover at the moment and I’m making a little art remix project for fun in the next days. It’s like music artists remixing other bands’ music, except that we will be doing it with a picture instead of a song. I’ll be posting the best remix on my website in the next weeks or so stay tuned. http://akutoulovesyou.com/
17. By the way, check out Sidechains and Nighty Max, you may like those bands.
OK. I will.
18. Any thing you want to say before Cavaliers Of Fun destroy the world in 2012?
Yes. Stop caring for bullshit problems. Hug your parents and fuck your girlfriend. Have fun. Follow your fucking dreams. Giving up on dreams is giving up on yourself. Dont underestimate the power of music and art. We have roughly 3 years left to live, so quit your job and do something crazy. Well, I have an arrangement with Cavaliers so, I’m safe.
All pics by AKUTOU
