History of GOK SOUND

 

Mr. Kondo was aiming to be a painter when he was 15 years old in 1971, but after he listened to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, he thought the sound engineer must be an important member, so he decided to enter the music world using his mixing console as an instrument.
Mr. Kondo came to Tokyo in 1975 and made all the amplifiers, speakers and mixers by his own hand. Using those equipments,he started working as a PA for a company named JUNON SOUND.
During those days he often visited Hosei University, where he saw the Hadakanorarisu (Les Rallizes Dénudés), Masayuki Takayanagi, Min Tanaka, Aburadako and Dairakudakan, and seeing them he realized the importance of the college scene.
In 1979, he rented an old apartment building in Kokubunji with a limited 1 year contract, which was scheduled to be demolished in a year. There, he opened a music store called  "GOK Co." and rented  out one of the room as a small practice studio (4 and a half tatami mats size)  2 hours a day.
GOKCo(pronouced “Gokko”) became a popular hangout space for many student bands that later became professionals.
The store was named after the coffee shop "Gokko", which Mr.Kondo used to visit against school regulations, during his third year of highschool.GoKCo gathered many ambitious creators that dreamed of becoming professionals in various fields from theatre, art, music and so on.
One day, an American student guitarist and a regular visitor asked “God Only Knows?” to Mr. Kondo.  That triggered Mr. Kondo to remodel the room and open a recording studio in 1981. This was the birth of GOK SOUND, a studio with a future that God Only Knows.It started as a rehearsal studio, and when recording, Mr.Kondo took the equipment from the PA car and carried them to the rehearsal room, then he started making demo tapes.
 At that time, we didn't have a mixer room, but we got a small 8-track recorder anyways.
I recorded Carnation's "Night Chimney"which was released by Nagomu Records runned by Keralino Sandrovich.
In 1990, we opened the second studio in Takahata Fudo.
In 1993, the main store caught on fire and we had to close it down but we reopened again in Takahata Fudo.
By then, we were supporting collage bands and many renowned artists today. Just to mention a few,  LUNA SEA, Itsuko Hashimoto, P-MODEL, Yoshihide Ootomo, Kazutoki Umezu, Fred Frith, etc.Later on, the studio was moved from Takahata Fudo to Kichijoji and was completed a few years later where it resides now in its current place.
 
Past career
1980:Engaged in the Fred Frith(England) JAPAN PROJECT.
1982:Inspected and Deepen the relationship with JBL head office.
1999:Accompanied Kazutoki Umezu's Africa tour (Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa) with the Japan Foundation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1997-2008:Participated in contemporary festivals held in 5 European countries.
2010:Exhibited tape loop works at Art Tower Mito.
2015:Accompanied "Amachan LIVE" national tour by Yoshihide Otomo who was in charge of the theme song for NHK"Amachan".
2020:Part-time lecturer of Musashino Art University, Department of Imaging.
For many years, we have been involved in small and large-scale outdoor events, and since 2004 we have also been involved in the sound of Fuji Rock.We will also participate as a PA at Fuji Rock, which is scheduled to be held in 2021.
Accompanied by tour concerts such as Rumiko Koyanagi, Rokusuke Ei, and Noriko Awaya recital. Utilizing stage cars, he is involved in the acoustic lighting of band drives at university festivals of art universities such as Tokyo University of the Arts, Tama Art University, Tokyo Joshibi University of Art and Design, and Tokyo Zokei University.Kondo has worked with many cutting-edge artists from various genres around the world.
 
Musicians:P-MODEL, Susumu Hirasawa, Hikashu, Jun Togawa, Michirou Endo, Yoshihide Otomo, Kazutoki Umezu, Akira Sakata, Stalin, Keiji Haino, SUMAC, former EX, FACES, Rod Stewart (UK) Yamauchi Tetsu
Stage works:Toshinori, Yosuke Yamashita, Eiichi Hayashi, Malwoldron (US), LUNA SEA,
 
SHEENA & THE ROKKETS.
Kondo has worked on over 40 musicals such as "Lunar Eclipse" directed by Amon Miyamoto and 20 movies such as "Brass Knuckle Boys" directed by Kankuro Miyato, "PARKS" directed by Natsuki Seta, "Iden & Tity" directed by Tomorowo Taguchi, "5 Million Dollar Life" directed by Sungho Moon and "The train ran on the plateau" starring Jun Miho.
 
<Publication>

 

Interview with a sound master (Music studio comprehensive site Studio ASP)/Sound and Life online (Interview with Musashino Art University Music Event Planning Group "Sound Glasses")/Free paper "PARKS" Vol, 3 (3rd interview with behind the scenes of Kichijoji)Sound & Recording Magazine October Issue (2020)