We were lucky to catch up with Riki Kubota recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Riki, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
I think I’m in a weird space creatively. First and foremost, I’m a music artist. I’ve been making music my whole life, and the entire reason why I started building an online presence on social media platforms was to share my music to potential fans and new listeners.
In recent years, I’ve been fortunate to grow a strong following, albeit with content that is irrelevant to my music. I started posting content involving Japanese language and culture, which was a lot of fun, but I feel like it has taken a life of its own. I’ve veered away from my original passion, to create music, and I’ve taken on more of the identity of a content creator or influencer. And while I am profoundly grateful to be in the situation that I am, I can’t help but feel a bit lost.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m having a lot of fun with the content I make. I’ve been able to reach a lot of amazing people and fans that I certainly wouldn’t have connected with if it weren’t for the Japanese content. It’s an avenue that I feel is unique to myself and in line with my brand/identity. I guess I’m just writing this to tell the people who only know me from my Japanese content that I am first and foremost a music artist and musician. I hope you give it a listen.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I go by Kubota, and I’m an alternative rap and indie-pop music artist. I also create content about Japanese language and culture on TikTok and Instagram.
I got into music from a really early age. I’ve been writing original music since I was 13 when I formed my own band. From heavy metal, rock, and Hip-Hop, I’ve gained a lot of experience writing different genres that have formulated my own style and music.
It’s only in recent years that I’ve gained a sizable following and fan base. I give most of the credit to the goofy Japanese videos I created on TikTok. After a few of those went viral across TikTok and Instagram, I’ve dipped my toes in different styles of content, and I hope to make it an avenue for steady income one of these days.
I think I’m given a unique opportunity to attract people with my personality that will hopefully funnel into a fan of my music. If they only enjoy the Japanese stuff, I’m totally cool with that too. At the very least, I can help represent and offer some exposure to the amazing things about my culture.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I put my focus on building an audience through social media in 2020 to share my music. Since then, I’ve gained a pretty decent following on TikTok and Instagram through goofy Japanese videos.
I think the best and scary thing about the creative journey is that one path doesn’t fit all. There’s no blueprint to this, but there’s also no limitations on what you can pursue. What’s important is that you’re enjoying the process.
Create content you enjoy creating. Get good at your craft and let the process unfold naturally. For the most of us, including me, this is a marathon. If you show up and do the work, your fans will soon follow.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Simply put, music is the driving force for not only my creative journey, but my life. I know it’s cliché, but music is quite literally my life. It’s been the one constant in my life, next to my parents, and I’ve made almost all of my biggest life decisions based on my passion for music. It’s something I can’t live without, and even if nobody listens to it, it’s something that I will continue doing for the rest of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KubotaMusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kubotamusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KubotatheRapper
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sh0_hZ4KPZFHts5Iuk8nA?sub_confirmation=1
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@kubotamusic