Intuitive Music

Masami Akita aka Merzbow

Born Masami Akita in Tokyo in 1956, Merzbow has been named the king of noise.

Merzbow started his career as a guitarist in different Japanese progressive rock bands. This influence would show up later in the albums “Aqua Necromancer” (1998) and “Doors Open at 8AM” (2000), where he used drum samplings from this genre.

Akita’s earliest electronic works were produced in 1979 and were self-released on cassettes. In 1980, he founded the label ZSF Produkt and started releasing works on numerous labels, including Mego and Tzadik. The Merzbow project was created by Masami Akita in Tokyo in 1981, becoming the very first Japanese noise group to use the term noise composition.

Merzbow’s affection for erotic themes -which is where he got the name Merzbow- is apparent not only in his music but also in his artwork and much of his influence was taken from the Dadaist and Surrealism movements, and the Italian artist Luigi Lussolo.

Masami Akita founded the very first noise label, Lowest Music & Arts, in 1982, and has worked under numerous monikers such as True Romance, Bustmonster, Flying Testicle, and Right Brain Audile. His album “Merzbeat” in 2002 supposed a significant change in his abstract style to a more beat-oriented music.

Akita has also collaborated with other artists such as Asmus Tietchens, Achim Wollscheid, Emil Beaulieu, Kapotte Muziek, and Discordance Axis, and written critically acclaimed books about the culture of sex. He has released over 200+ albums since before 1979, including his 50 CDs “Merzbox” limited edition.