For millions of people the distinctive chirp and bleep of the Nintendo Game Boy® will instantly recall their junior button-pushing days, but for musician and blogger Ale the almost 20-year-old hardware has a creative potential that’s more than just nostalgia. Ale and his wife Ai’s band “Pepino” uses nothing the unmistakable sound of the original Game Boy®, but they don’t just recreate old game tunes. “When it comes to creativity, limitation is inspiration”, says Ale. “I’ve played the Game Boy® since I was nine. It has a particular sound with some irregularities which you can recognize, and can come to like.” Ale and Ai also make Japanese-learning podcasts for Spanish speakers. Check out Pepino’s music at www.pepinismo.net, or catch them performing at Fukuoka Now’s 10th Anniversary and Valentine’s Party, Feb 13th!
In Japan: 3 years
Hometown: Alicante, Spain
Identity: Musician/web designer/blogger
Originally published in Fukuoka Now magazine (fn122, Feb. 2009)
