Fujiko

A Peoria DIY classic; Fujiko.

Fujiko is a project based in Peoria and started by Sanny, who sings, writes music, and plays guitar. The band currently consists of James on bass and Kyle on guitar, who are 2/3s of the band Terribly Happy, and Joey on drums. Sanny and Joey were previously in a band together called Sadface Killer, which is no longer an active project. Fujiko started in 2021 and has gone through some different eras. They create a feeling of nostalgia for me, as they are one of the first bands I saw when I first joined Peoria’s music scene! It has been so cool to see them change and adapt. Sanny is such a down to earth guy, and the whole band just has fun on stage. They always know how to engage a crowd and you will always see moshing at their shows! 

Fujiko first released music on Spotify in 2021 with an EP titled Absolutely Fun. This EP has two of my favorite songs on it, “Go Outside” and “Stay Inside.” “Go Outside” always makes me want to reconnect with nature and enjoy life. It feels so upbeat and brings me hope, though that is only my personal interpretation. Their most recent release is a single, “Poniko.” This single is different than previous songs, and I really enjoy how slow and mellow it is in comparison. 

I reached out to Sanny to ask some questions about Fujiko!

What inspires you to make music?

Sanny: A lot of different things inspire me to make music. I think the biggest source of inspiration is other forms of media I take in. Typically, I’ll watch some obscure anime OVA from the 90’s or play some spooky video games and that seems to always get my process flowing. Whenever I find an aesthetic that stands out to me, I always find myself asking “how can I make something that sounds like how this looks?” That was a big factor behind our song “Poniko.” It’s referential to a game called Yume Nikki which is a game that really doesn’t look like anything before it and its creepy, liminal atmosphere is something I find myself going back to a lot for inspiration. I’ve wanted to make something that sounds like how that game looks for years now and that song was a really good glimpse into a path I’d like to continue exploring. 

How long have you been making/playing music?

Sanny: It has now been going for 4 years now and I plan for things to keep going until I can’t anymore. 

How would you describe the genre of music you make?

Sanny: Sad anime cowboy gunslinger music. The band would definitely disagree, but that’s what I think when I sit down to try and write songs. Overall, I’d say we’re an emo band with hints of shoegaze thrown in there. I want to lean more into different sounds as time goes on. 

Why did you name your band Fujiko?

Sanny: During the pandemic, my friend and I were watching the show Lupin the 3rd and I thought the character Fujiko Mine was really cool. In the movie, Fujiko had been cloned by the villains and the title Fujiko Replica seemed to stick out to me so I wrote it down in a journal I kept at the time. I looked back at what I had written down and was like “replica is too much” so I went with just ‘Fujiko’. 

Who is a band you would to open for/play with?

Sanny: Dream bands I’d love to open for would be like Oso Oso, toe, or Tricot. I’d definitely say that that band has had a major influence on how I write over the years. 

If you could turn into any animal, what would you choose?

Sanny: Probably fat 90’s Pikachu. Not an animal. I know. But in a perfect world, this would be my answer. Actually answering the question properly: I’d say I’d want to turn into a chinchilla. I think it’d be fun being a fuzzy little guy for a day.

You can find Fujiko on Instagram here! Give them a follow on Instagram to keep up with new releases and upcoming shows! You can view them performing "doppelgänger" and "rivs fight theme" at Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts in June of 2024 recorded by roses on YouTube below!