NONCHELEEE Releases Signature Song “Namazakana”, Sung for 15 Years, on 7‑Inch Vinyl
Intro Recorded by Joe Lick Shot in Jamaica
Fukuoka based illustrator and musician NONCHELEEE is releasing his long‑standing live staple, “Namazakana”, on 7‑inch vinyl.
Background of the Song
The origins of this track date back to around 2010. At the time, NONCHELEEE was studying reggae through 1980s dancehall videos and became fascinated by the role of the “intro man”, particularly the distinctive interjections of Joe Lick Shot—best known for his unique vocal phrases such as “plun plun biyon”.
During live performances, NONCHELEEE would imitate these calls and repeatedly loop short phrases in a persistent “comegin” (replay) style. Out of this performance practice, “Namazakana” was created together with manga artist ESDRO. Since then, the song has been continuously sung in various performance settings for over 15 years.
Recording in Jamaica
For this release, NONCHELEEE traveled to Jamaica to collaborate directly with Joe Lick Shot, who had once been a subject of his study. Joe Lick Shot was invited to contribute as the intro man, and the introduction was recorded on location.
Known for its memorable phrase “grabbing a live fish with bare hands”, the song is finally being released as a recorded track, now featuring an authentic intro performed by Joe Lick Shot himself bringing the concept full circle after 15 years.
Artwork
While “Namazakana” is rooted in the post‑digital evolution of late 1980s dancehall, the artwork also draws from a parallel era. NONCHELEEE personally illustrated the cover, inspired by the comedic style used in Japanese promotional posters for late 1980s Hong Kong comedy films.
Beyond Hong Kong cinema, the artwork pays homage to the distinctive traits of Japanese posters for 1980s comedy films characterized by their charming brushwork and exaggerated sense of energy—reinterpreted through NONCHELEEE’s own visual language.
