Van Paugam

Random moments from the Grammys. A very poignant start to the new lunar year. It felt like one big blur. I told myself I wouldn’t record anything, but hell, this was definitely a worthy memory for a disenchanted era. A lot of talented crew and production staff that made this event what it was. The vibe was chaotic in the best ways. People were way nicer than I’d thought. Super grateful to have experienced it. Given the circumstances, the mood was pretty light, and even somewhat optimistic. The audiences definitely connect with the presenters and it becomes a kind of etheric mood. The performances were impactful, and I think a theme of unity & respect was felt. Super talented artists, performers, and staff. Everything felt seamless and organized. LA is beautiful, but has its problems like any city. Reality can be seem dystopian at times, but with some levity and good will we can better adapt to this constantly changing world. And, yes, I sounded crazy saying hey to TT, but I wasn’t prepared for her incredible energy…it spooked me, like seeing a unicorn. She’s a goddess. I have nothing but love for the west coast. Big shout out to @alexinfiniti

I’m on the CNN! Huge thank you to CNN International, Kristie Lu Stout, Jadyn Sham, Anri, and everyone who made this video possible. It’s big honor to help bridge the East and West through music and DJing. The more we can find understanding through things like music, the more cross-cultural, and trans-generational exchange can be facilitated. The resurgence of this genre proves that music can travel time and space without needing to be any language or from any era, to effectively change the course of history forever. Watch the full video by visiting @klustout #citypop #anri #cnn

Happy New Year!✨This year I’ve been officially living in Chicago for 10 years coming from Miami in 2011, and being selected as the final ‘Chicagoan of Note’ for 2021 by @chicago_reader is an incredible honor. Big thanks to Micco Caporale for the write up. I hope to continue doing more to provide enrichment and culture to Chicago and beyond in 2022. Living here is amazing and sharing it with so many talented DJs, artists, and creatives that I’ve gotten to know is peak culture. Thanks to everyone who supported me this year and believed in me. Thanks to the venues @whistlerchicago @sl33pingvillag3 @ninebarchicago @murasakichicago @thelogantheatre @thegridchicago and organizations @japaneseartsfoundation @japanese_culture_center @reedpop @itsanimemagic @animecentralofficial @suntorywhisky Especially thankful for everyone who comes out to my events to dance and discuss the music! Also, really grateful for everyone on Instagram who sometimes I don’t interact with enough. Can’t overlook the support here too, and I appreciate it! Special shout out to @kado_bara for being so damn good at what they do, and everyone who has had a part in my life this year, large or small. Wishing the best for you all in 2022. All jokes aside, manifesting a better year for you and me ✨🙏 #chicago #citypop #citypopmusic #newyear #chicagoan #chicagoreader

Rare footage from my first year of spinning City Pop records live. It was late 2017, and I had my first DJ residency at @murasakichicago It was the oldest Japanese-owned and operated Sake bar in the city, so spinning there made me feel a bit of legitimacy. 4+ hour set every night. I had just started taking Japanese classes, so the majority of how I would mix would be based off picking up on the energy of the record, not the lyrics. Tone, key, how it would make me feel, I’d use that to guide my selections, and strangely enough it worked to a profound degree. The songs from my first mix in 2016 became the holy grail of records to own for most people. My YouTube at the time was the only City Pop channel, and it had maybe 60k subs at the time. There had never been a night dedicated to Japanese City Pop vinyl, so I think there was a lot of skepticism from bar owners. Would people respond to music in a language they didn’t understand? It turned out they did. My nights at Murasaki were well-received, because City Pop at the time was relatively new. Being able to vaguely recall a memory, from a distant time, a far away place not your own, this ability to tap into the collective consciousness and pull from it something that has resonance, all from a decades old song, in a language foreign to you… that is powerful stuff. I DJ’d at Murasaki for many years up until it closed down in ‘24. It was there I learned how to select, create a vibe, curate a mood. The space was intimate, and people would come and go like the breeze, or stay all night and then some. Too many interesting characters and conversations to count. It was peak times, with peak people. The staff always treated me too kindly, even when I’d had one too many. I remember dealing with a lot of depression at the time, so my sets were often sentimental. I would read the room, but the book would always be melancholic, bitter sweet.

New—MOOD! Saturday, May 30th at @whistlerchicago ft. @legitimategroove @tonyfeta szoul & @vanpaugam taking over to provide a night of House in all forms! Deep, electro, tech, French, new, old… anything to keep the vibe right, and the mood fresh 🌱 [set times] 8-9:30pm: SZOUL 9:30-11pm: Van Paugam 11-12:30am—Y.U.K.IKO 12:30-Late: Tony Feta In honor of @nobodyherefilm releasing recently and my small appearance in it, I styled the flyer to look very Vaporwave. Which also is a nod to my hometown in the 80s, Miami Beach. If gaudy retro futuristic neon aesthetics are your thing, You’re in for a real treat. Graphic made in Photoshop, Blender 3D, Premiere, and Sketchfab. Join us for a new mood on Saturday, May 30th 🪐 21+ Free 8PM Whistler - 2421 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago #housemusic #chicago #logansquare #whistlerchicago #cometodance

That was an amazing April. Fantastic start to another turn around the sun. Thanks to everyone who supported and made it what it was. Couldn’t have spent it with anyone better. Cheers 🍻

June 25, 2026… Wamono: The Art of Japanese Rare Groove, returns for our 3rd event in this capsule series. Presented by @japanese_culture_center An evening where Japanese aesthetics are not simulated through a corporate lens, but lived and presented through the people, spaces, and communities that have carried them across generations in Chicago. Hosted in the historic Kamehachi in Old Town, this third installment of Wamono continues a focused exploration of Japan’s cultural touchpoints through vinyl, cuisine, and visual media. In a city where Japanese culture is often referenced, reinterpreted, and commercially repackaged, this series is rooted in something less reproducible: proximity, continuity, and community presence. We have sold out all previous events in this series for good reason. Everyone involved has been a part of Chicago’s Japanese community for many years and strive to put forward the best there is to offer outside of Japan. Limited to 50 seats. WHAT TO EXPECT: An Immersive experience under the direction of Chicago’s original City Pop DJ, Van Paugam, the evening moves through a carefully assembled archive of Japanese vinyl from the 70s and 80s. City pop, Showa-era kayo, and other rare selections are presented not as trend material, but as historical sound documents, each contextualized for cultural and sonic relevancy. A complimentary bento box and themed cocktail will be provided by Kamehachi, Chicago’s longest-standing sushi establishment, with over 40 years of continuous presence. Their regular menu will also be available. The culinary program is designed to complement the listening experience, grounded in established technique rather than reinterpretation for novelty. Vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available. This event is organized within Chicago’s local cultural ecosystem, sustained by individuals and independent contributors rather than large-scale branding exercises. It reflects a simple premise: cultural depth is not easily replicated through commercial framing, but maintained through long-term community participation. Use code JCC for a discount until 5/1. 🎟️ in bio #citypop #chicago #vinyl #japanese #wamono

City Pop vs. Future Funk with Van Paugam Japanese Culture Center presents City Pop vs Future Funk at the Hairpin Arts Center in Chicago.

Just Announced—TOKYO DISCO 🪩 @sl33pingvillag3 May 15 ft. @legitimategroove and yours truly bringing you pure, unfiltered melodies plucked direct from the aether for your soul 🫡 bringing you the best in City Pop, World Groove, Jazz Funk, House, and more on strictly vinyl. Accept no imitations. It feels like lifetimes ago, but it’s all coming back to me now. This will be the first Tokyo Disco of the year, so do come out and enjoy a very special vibe we’re setting up for you… Limited edition merch will be on sale 🪙 9-11PM Van Paugam: City Pop, Showa Kayo, J-Disco 11-1AM Y.U.K.IKO: Rare Groove, World Beat, House May 15, 2025 NO COVER 21+ #citypop #chicago #sleepingvillage #chicagoevents housemusic

Insane 2 hour performance by Takanaka Masayoshi at the Aragon in Chicago. Sold out 5k people in attendance. He’s 73! Honestly, 10 years ago when I started DJing City Pop it would have been very rare to hear about artists who weren’t the most well-known Japanese musicians touring the US. Even the most well known didn’t specifically think the US would be a target audience. After years of younger generations adopting City Pop, it’s now very viable that other artists could find success here as well. Iv never heard a crowd so enthusiastic tbh. What a treat that was. I loved his vigor and connection with the audience. He was magical. I also love that he let us record, bc in Japan they never let us and it’s a shame bc sharing the music helps it get popular. If you’re shorter do yourself a favor and wait in line to get in early bc sheesh. American venues are not friendly to anyone below 6ft 😮‍💨 #citypop #masayoshitakanaka #chicago

Shambara - Take Me Higher (1989) Shambara was a short-lived but highly influential Japanese “supergroup” formed in 1989. They are best known in the City Pop and Jazz Fusion circles for blending high-level technical musicianship with smooth, soulful vocals. The band was essentially a powerhouse collaboration between members of the legendary jazz fusion band Casiopea and two prominent female vocalists of the era. The lineup was a “who’s who” of the 80s Japanese music scene: Tetsuo Sakurai (Bass): A founding member of Casiopea, known for his incredible slap-bass technique. Akira Jimbo (Drums): Also from Casiopea, world-renowned for his precision and “one-man orchestra” drumming style. Kaoru Akimoto (Vocals): Famous for her cult-classic City Pop album Cologne and the hit “Dress Down.” Follow her here: @kaoruakimotodressdown Yurie Kokubu (Vocals): Another City Pop icon known for her powerful voice and the album Relief 72 Hours. Kunihiko Ryo (Keyboards): A prolific composer and arranger. While my monthly city pop nights are long gone after almost 8 years of playing around Chicago, you can still hear me at select events. Come this Friday for City Pop vs Future Funk. Tickets in bio #citypop #shambara

Friday, April 10! City Pop vs Future Funk featuring @tiaratastemaker & @vanpaugam at @hairpinculturalarts presented by @japanese_culture_center 🎌 Final week for Pre-sale tier! Ticket prices going up soon. Do not miss this one! Tiara is flying in for this battle royale of internet genres and showcase of Japanese pop music’s evolution throughout the decades and across the internet 💻 MC @jas.dgzmn will be on site to hype you up. Come camera ready and get your photos taken by our favorite photog in one of the most stunning venues in Chicago 📸 Experience two genres colliding with the fast paced rhythms of future funk and the groovy retro gleam of city pop in one night to remember, or not remember depending on how it goes 😮‍💨# Beer + Wine available for 21+ 🍻 🎟️ tickets in bio 8PM Doors 8:30 Start 18+ Hairpin Arts Center – 2810 N. Milwaukee Ave #citypop #futurefunk #chicago #logansquare