Ginger Root @ The Roxy (10/11/24)
“Absolutely fantastic. It made me feel like I was in a city pop set in Tokyo. It felt like a live broadcast straight from the 1980s”. This is how my friend, Kite, described the unique show and production from last night at The Roxy with multi talented artist Cameron Lew, or by his project moniker Ginger Root. His tour is joined by long time friends and band members Dylan on bass and Matthew on drums. Shinbangumi is the
new album from Ginger Root.
One can describe Ginger Root’s music as city pop combined with the harmonies and color of soul. Or as he would describe it himself as “aggressive elevator soul”. You can also hear influences and inspirations from Yellow Magic Orchestra, which pioneered Japanese city pop, some cool jazz fusion like Masayoshi Takanaka, as well as more funkier elements drawn from Vulpeck. But Ginger Root has his own unique voice that
speaks volumes to create a set that’s infectiously energetic, humorous, and relatable. He records and plays everything himself as well as directs and edits his own music videos. It’s a new generation of city pop that is going to be timeless and original.
Combined with his taste for lo-fi tech and 80s aesthetic, Cameron Lew embraces his Japanese identity and culture to create a unique atmospheric set that evokes nostalgia that’s very lived in and authentic. Incorporating his bilingual abilities, Ginger Root would play between Japanese and English both in speech and texts to heighten the relationship of Japanese American culture and the audience that loved and celebrated in return. With various video clips from his music videos on the stage screen, all in that Ginger Root Productions look and feel, it all felt incredibly real and that we were all transported to a different time and place. There were moments where the stage screen videos perfectly interacted with Ginger Root live, from comedic bits to even a solo where someone sang with the band. My favorite songs of the night included “Only You”, “Loretta 2”, and “No Problems”.
With CRT tv boxes and a projection running a live feed from the band’s cameraman, David, on stage, the show had another dimension to it that added spontaneity and interactivity. Often shooting closeups on the band members and on Cameron, the cameraman also shot the audience too, with many singing along and adding to the excitement of the night. The way David moved around with the camera made him feel like an integral part of the band and strengthened the production’s lofi nature. Together, Cameron and David utilized the video camera in a way I haven’t personally experienced before, where it again made the audience feel they were in a live broadcast in the 1980s.
During the show, Ginger Root showed a preview of his original anime “OVA Meet You In the Galaxy!”, a wholly original project complete with an original score and soundtrack, with established voice actors from the industry. It played with the band performing the theme song “Everything’s Alright”. Ginger Root feels like more than just a project by Cameron Lew, but a creative soulful journey of self-discovery and growth as an artist.
The show was mixed and run by Cameron’s sound engineer, Jimmy, who did an amazing job bringing the tones and soundscape to life.
French-American band Pearl and The Oysters opened for Ginger Root. They are a perfect band touring with the headliner, as their jazzy space pop illuminated the night with beautiful and colorful textures. From the gentle voice of the frontwoman Juliette Peal Davis to the charming piano melodies led by Joachim Polack, Pearl and The Oysters form a complete soul package for the tour. I really liked their songs “Triangular
Girl” and “Flowerland” which was dedicated to Florida, as they go through their fight with hurricane Milton.
Photos by Kevin NG
Pearl and The Oysters
Ginger Root
