Takaakira Taka Goto of Mono Classical Punk & Echoes Under Beauty

Takaakira "Taka" Goto is a composer based in Tokyo, Japan, who is also known as the lead guitarist and composer for Japanese instrumental rock band MONO. MONO was originally formed in 1999 and has released a total of 9 albums since, including a live album of a performance with the New York Symphony Orchestra. Their intense and dynamic live performances have stunned audiences across the globe, from North America to Europe, Asia and Oceania, and the band continues to expand their loyal following every year. After 16 years of leading MONO, Taka feels it is now the right time to start his solo career. His debut album "Classical Punk and Echoes Under the Beauty" was originally written and recorded in 2003, but never finished or released at the time. Taka's approach to music is undoubtedly original. Much like the album title insinuates, his music carries the dignity and grandeur of classical music, with its big orchestrations of piano and strings... yet at the same time, there is the rawness and the high-energy impact of punk rock, with wails of electric guitars and shrouds of noise. There is also a strong filmscore feel to all of his work – and Taka is, of course, no newby to the world of soundtracks. He took part in scoring such films as Snow Angels (2007 / Director: David Gordon Green), Kami No Kodomotachi Wa Mina Odoru / All God's Children Can Dance (2010 / Writer: Haruki Murakami; Director: Robert Logevall) and the WOWOW TV Drama Kanata No Ko (2013 / Director: Tatsushi Omori). MONO have collaborated with the legendary Japanese animator Koji Morimoto (Akira, The Animatrix) for a video trailer, and have recently contributed the soundtrack to the short film Where We Begin, which was named after a MONO song. The song was also used in a video blog featuring Japanese mountaineer, Nobukazu Kurik, while he attempted to climb Broad Peak mountain on the Pakistan/China border. "Classical Punk and Echoes Under the Beauty" was also strongly inspired by Danish film producer Lars von Trier, and especially by his movie 'Breaking the Waves' from 1996. violins, violas and cellos in my head.“ Taka's vision for his solo career and future compositions is ambitious, and he has plans to be involved in more cinematic arts from movies to TV shows.