Archive for interview

[live report + interview] Speaking Music with -OZ- at A-kon 23

June 18, 2012 interview, Photo, rock, visual kei One comment

The way -OZ- walked onto the A-kon stage, one would never have guessed they were playing their first show in America.  Each member acknowledged the large chanting crowd and struck a cool pose with their trademark glowsticks (which were sold in the dealers’ room for fans to wield).  Natsuki beckoned the audience to scream louder as the lights dimmed.  His black lace blindfold conjured up images of S&M, and everyone knew that this was going to be one hot show.

At the first chords of “Reverse,” bright lights flashed over the stage.  It was like lighting and thunder striking at the same time.  Heavy riffs blended with a synthesized accompaniment while Natsuki growled ferociously.  -OZ-’s latest single, “Stigma,” had a similar electronic touch with screeching guitars.  Band and audience members alike went into a frenzy of headbanging.

The pace slowed down with “Rain Delay.”  The ballad began with slow triplets from Aki, paired with Zukki’s light tapping.  Nao strummed his bass during the first verse and Tama took over the accompaniment on the second.  Natsuki’s vocals were a bit strained in the chorus, but he was passionate and the crowd latched onto that when they were commanded to sing along.  His voice was a lot more solid in the catchy chorus of “Filmy,” a fast and ferocious piece.  He teased the fans by sliding his fur-trimmed coat off one shoulder as Nao delivered a short bass solo, and then he proclaimed, “I can’t speak English very well… but I can speak music!”

Aki and Tama traded off impressive solos throughout the night.  The entire band never seemed to tire even though it got hot enough to make Natsuki shed his coat, belt, and tank top before “Enmity.”  He then dove into the already-ecstatic crowd.  “Detox,” the last song, had everyone clapping along in the beginning.  The guitars alternated between a catchy melody that was reminiscent of 80s arena rock and heavier riffs that fit more with the death vocals of the verse.

For the encore, -OZ- traded their leather jackets and layered tank tops for T-shirts, carrying Japanese flags.  They played “Reverse” again, with more intensity.  Natsuki drew wild screams by provocatively pulling his shirt up just a tiny bit and shaking hands with some lucky fans. “Today is the best day in my life,” the frontman had said earlier.  Based on the screams and applause that continued long after the band had exited, many probably felt the same.

The next day, I briefly chatted with -OZ- before their fan Q&A session.  The band exhibited the same level of confidence that they walked on-stage with, even as their weekend was filled with new experiences.  Thank you to Babel Entertainment for making the interview possible.

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[interview] Dazzle Vision – Shocking, no. Loud? Yes!

April 24, 2012 interview, lifestyle, rock, visual kei One comment

Female fronted pop-metal band, DAZZLE VISION, is set to release their 6th studio album on May 4, 2012. After opening for Evanescence a few months earlier, recording a new album, and having Maiko’s death voice vocaloided, the band took a quick breather to answer some of our questions via email.

pSKY: John, did you change any of the guitar parts on the remixes for SHOCKING LOUD VOICE? How would you describe your particular style of guitar playing?

John: Other than the song “Kuhaku,” we just re-recorded.  In the new songs, “Second” and “Take my hand,” I didn’t change anything in the guitar parts.

About my style, I am best at emotional guitar playing with freedom of expression. The most important factor is for it to be unique, so I always look for things only I can do or sounds only I can create. When I perform live, I emphasize mainly on how it looks but this isn’t limited to during live performances. If it’s an instrument I don’t feel any attachment to, I don’t feel the urge to play whether it’s at home or at a live. Another essential thing is for the pitch to come together and the guitar to have a strong foundation.

pSKY: The album remixes/remasters have really clean production. Did you re-record any parts and if yes, how did you approach recording each song in the studio?

Maiko: “Second” and “Take my hand” were new songs, so we newly recorded them. We created them with an emphasis on the live aspect, to connect with the album concept. I have poured more emotions in than ever, screamed and sang both songs. We also recorded “Kuhaku” as a live version. To give it more of a live ambiance I sang it all out in one shot without resting in between.

pSKY: Was there a specific direction when you chose the track listing? It makes for a very energetic feeling album as a whole.

Maiko: We chose the track list by imagining a live performance set list. If you listen to this album, I think the flow of DAZZLE VISION’s live performance can be felt. We tried really hard to figure out a way to make the sound close to the sound you can hear at a live venue too. If you listen to it, I would like everyone to come to our live performance.

pSKY: You opened for Evanescence, did you get a chance to hang out? How would you describe the experience of opening for a popular foreign artist?

Maiko: As for myself, I was very moved because it was a band I really liked before I started a band. Their live performance was inspiring, but all of us were inspired by how Evanescence was backstage too, how they interacted with their fans, etc. After the live performance we talked, took photos, and got their autographs.

What I was happy about the most in the two days of performing was that on the first day we gave Amy a copy of our album “Kirari.” After the second day’s performance, it seemed as if she had listened to it, and Amy asked us to autograph the jacket cover. I was really surprised and also I was so happy she felt a positive vibe from our piece! We felt we would like to become artists who have big, warm hearts like Evanescence.

pSKY: Do you consider yourselves part of the metal scene? Tell me about the metal scene in Japan in terms of popularity. Do you think it’s similar in popularity to visual kei (more popular, less popular or just so different it doesn’t matter)?

Maiko: DAZZLE VISION is in a broad category of genres including metal, visual kei, pop, screamo, etc. The only thing is that it’s not for us to decide and we believe it’s something defined by the listeners. I think the popularity of the metal scene and visual kei scene is about the same in Japan, but the age range/gender of the main listeners are different.

pSKY: Do you ever hope to break into the metal scene in North America? Think Evanescence will invite you to tour with them outside of Japan?

Maiko: We would like many more people to know about DAZZLE VISION and like us, so we definitely would like to get ourselves into the North American market. Evanescence said to us, “See you soon!” so we would happy if they invited us. We would like to continue on our activities to grow into artists who are worthy of being invited.

pSKY: Maiko, have you ever felt discriminated against as a female vocalist in this genre? Have there been any tough decisions you’ve made based on your gender?

Maiko: I do feel this. But there are more times I feel I’m glad I am a woman. Also, up to this point, I’ve never had a experience where I had to make a difficult decision.

pSKY: Maiko and Takuro, you’re siblings. Do you ever run into sibling rivalry? Takuro, have you ever had to fend off Maiko fanboys?

Maiko & Takuro: There’s really no sibling rivalry.

Takuro: It’s not a sibling rivalry, but I believe we give each other good influences. There are times when I think Maiko’s working really hard, so I have to as well and it makes me think a lot. Also, we barely have the sense that we are siblings and we mostly interact with each other as band members. Although, there definitely is an existence of mutual understanding, for sure. I believe this definitely is a merit for siblings. And DAZZLE’s fans are well mannered, so I’ve never been put in a situation where I had to protect Maiko. If, in a situation where something like this did happen, I think not only myself but the fans would protect her too.

pSKY: Maiko, your death voice was recorded for an alter ego compatible with the Utau software. Have you listened to any tracks featuring your alter ego? What do you think of her?

Maiko: Of course I listened to it! So many people are making pieces using “Hakaine Maiko.” The voice and her image is me, so I want to love her as another part of myself. I will work hard on my activities as “Maiko of DAZZLE VISION,” so I won’t lose to “Hakaine Maiko.”

pSKY: What are your plans after the album release on May 4?

Dazzle Vision: We decided to make this year -the year of the live- after releasing “SHOCKING LOUD VOICE,” so we are thinking of performing live in all different parts of Japan. We already have many lives planned, but we would like to go perform a lot overseas, so please invite DAZZLE VISION to your country! Let’s go crazy at the venue and have fun. We would like to meet everyone soon!

Official DAZZLE VISION website – http://dazzlevision.net/top.html
Resonance Media – http://www.resonance-mms.com/

[interview] Designing Decadence – Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates

April 17, 2012 interview, lifestyle 4 comments

Tomomi Nakamura (Pirates designer), Midori Fukasawa (model), Masumi Kano (Baby designer)

Anime Matsuri’s fashion show featured the spring collections of Alice and the Pirates and Baby, the Stars Shine Bright.  Attendees were transported to a decadent past where ladies held tea parties and strolled through palace gardens.  With dresses that mixed black with rich colors, Alice and the Pirates evoked sophistication.  Its menswear was perfect for the noble rogue-type seafarer.  Baby, the Stars Shine Bright was more whimsical with its abundance of pastels and ruffles.  Models for both brands embodied various aristocratic personas: linking arms with one another, opening up parasols, and holding roses.  Official Pirates and Baby model, Midori Fukasawa, closed the show in a white Baby dress, delicately holding a matching parasol.  I had a chance to speak with Masumi Kano and Tomomi Nakamura, designers for Baby and Pirates respectively, the following day about the fashion show and their brands.

pSKY: Where did you study fashion design and business?

Masumi Kano: I studied fashion design at Bunka Women’s University. I took a class on general business, but I didn’t learn about the specifics until after joining Baby.

Tomomi Nakamura: I attended a technical school for design. I worked part-time at Baby and became a shop manager. That was where I learned business. Then I moved up to the company.

pSKY: How did you decide which outfits to include in the fashion show?

Kano: I wanted to show a vision of spring images. The dresses embody a cute princess look as well as the classic style of lolita. The industry’s focus right now is on classic style.

Nakamura: Each design has a story to tell. I wanted to show that the clothes are not just pretty; they have a dark side too. I wanted a sense of mystery so I used strong colors.

pSKY: During the fashion show, the gentleman next to me remarked that Alice and the Pirates reminded him of “Alice in Wonderland meets Pirates of the Caribbean”.

Nakamura: That is in fact the concept of our brand. I’m really glad to hear that.

pSKY: Who designed the opening animation for the fashion show?

Nakamura: A video creator named Hayashi Yasuhiro. We met at a tea party last year in Tokyo. He combined images of both companies.

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[live report + interview] Power FLOWing Through Music at Anime Matsuri

April 16, 2012 interview, pop, rock One comment

The opening to 2001: A Space Odyssey crescendoed over the chanting crowd as FLOW took the Anime Matsuri stage.  It was an unexpected yet appropriate introduction: the band had visited the NASA Johnson Space Center two days prior.  Casually picking up their instruments, FLOW proceeded to play as though it was their last performance ever.

GOT’S bass shook the room while KEIGO and KOHSHI belted their lungs out. True to the band’s name, FLOW’s vocalists traded rap lyrics as though they were finishing each other’s sentences. Sometimes their harmonies would blend into one resonant voice. TAKE milked the long guitar chords, throwing his arm in the air like an ’80s heavy metal rocker. The audience went wild over the anime theme songs, “Colors” and “Days.”

“Tabidachi Graffiti” demonstrated that the guys didn’t always crank everything up to eleven. IWASAKI’s steady rhythms prevented a total loss of moment, but TAKE’s light strumming and the stringed accompaniment did create a calming atmosphere that had the audience ready to listen to what the vocalists had to say during their MC. KEIGO talked about loving rock music and anime while KOHSHI focused on a more somber subject, the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. “I felt that music was useless because it cannot help hunger or keep people warm,” he said. “My fear from the continuing aftershocks was relieved when I listened to music. Then I realized music is power.”

Forging ahead, FLOW lifted the room’s spirits with an upbeat cover of Siam Shade’s “1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou.” Then came member introductions, where TAKE stole the spotlight by strutting to the center of the stage with light-up sunglasses. The fans followed his every command, repeating nonsense phrases and throwing their fists in the air. FLOW’s energy never waned and perennial favorite, the Naruto theme, “Go!!!,” was the perfect cap to the set. Band members jumped higher than ever, and KOHSHI led the crowd in a sing-a-long of the chorus. It left them wanting more, and one more song was what they got in the encore. FLOW really did seem to find power in their music—not just to play their hearts out from start to finish, but also to bring the worlds of anime and rock ‘n’ roll together.

FLOW’s camaraderie was evident in our interview, as one member would answer a question only to have his bandmates chime in with more details or personal opinions.  Even after a busy weekend they remained enthusiastic, with their eyes on the future.

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[interview] Nenna Yvonne – More Than a Human Vocaloid

January 6, 2012 interview, pop One comment

Place all your My Little Ponies, Lisa Frank stationary, and Barbie shoes in a blender, add a dash of MikuHatsune the vocaloid, and puree. What do you get? Something only half as cute and colorful as Nenna Yvonne, the Nigerian-American singer-songwriter who came to Tokyo in October for an uber-trendy performance. Donning a wig that would make Marie Antoinette flush with jealousy, Nenna sat down with me after her brief but bouncy live. Just the typical girl talk: clothes, hair, and how it was impertinent to get up early on Saturday mornings for a dose of Sailor Moon when we were kids.

pSKY: How did you get into this kind of style of fashion and music?

Nenna Yvonne: Well, I grew up pretty much admiring a lot of anime cosplay artists. And I also kind of was into anime characters in general. Like Sailor Moon. I was watching that from when I was very little. So that was the thing to do after school and on weekends. My brother would sketch out the characters for me. He’s kind of a visual artist and I’m a musician, so it kind of runs in the family in a way. I took a lot of Japanese influence as far as music and culture and just fashion sense, and I combine it with kind of American, kind of urban style, just in the music side of it. For the image side of it, I wanted it to be completely kawaii. It’s the contrast that I’m looking for. I just kind of fell in love with it.

pSKY: A lot of people seem to want to do what you do. How did you make it in the industry?

Nenna Yvonne: I think making fashion your own, you kind of have to already have it in you. People always say that no one can take something that’s already yours. So if it’s something that you have naturally, it’s something that just comes out naturally. You don’t really have to force it or explain how to do it for you. So as an artist it kind of became an image and identity for me because it’s just natural.

pSKY: Have you gotten a chance to go around Tokyo at all?

Nenna Yvonne: We went to Harajuku, we went to Kiddy Land, we went to the shrine. We went to a couple different places, more like monumental places. A lot of it has been me just kind of getting adjusted to the time difference.

pSKY: What did you think of Kiddy Land?

Nenna Yvonne: Kiddy Land is like magic land. I thought they redid the place. I heard they kind of re-structured it from what it used to look like. A lot of celebrities like Michael Jackson used to go there and collect because there are a lot of collectibles and cosplay characters. I saw the Miku character. I’ve been following vocaloid music on YouTube of all places. Vocaloids are cool though because it’s like this anime character that’s just got so much energy and personality. It’s like, wow, is this human or is it a hologram, but it’s cool because it gives you kind of a visual representation of what you want to be yourself. So I took a lot out of that place.

pSKY: Do you make or design your own clothes?

Nenna Yvonne: Some of the pieces are actually mine. It’s a whole team of people in hair and makeup that came together. We visualized it and we said, “OK this is what we’re going to do.” I added my own kind of personal style and taste to it, and it just came to life!

pSKY: Is your hair heavy?

Nenna Yvonne: Not so much, but I can feel it when I tilt my head. Dancing on stage with it, it was a little scary!

pSKY: Who is your audience for your music?

Nenna Yvonne: It’s just about putting out music that I love, and hoping that people in general will just gravitate to it and take something away from it. A lot of people throw around the words “marketing” or “niche” or “what’s your fanbase?” But the world is your fanbase. Creativity starts from who you are and nobody can come in and say, “I’m going to market you this way.” The gimmick starts and stops, but the artistry never ends. It just keeps going.

pSKY: Who are your inspirations musically?

Nenna Yvonne: Musically, I pull from everything. I would even say anime characters inspire me. Conversations with friends and family inspire me. I write all my own music, so I really take inspiration from just about anything. Like I could be creating a piece for myself for a live show and just like, “Oh! I have a great idea for a song!” and just kind of note it on my cell phone or something. Then I go home and record the melodies and go back and kind of revise it a little bit, and then start structuring a full song. So I’ve been writing for a long time, but inspiration for me comes from characters as well as Janet Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Grace Jones even.

pSKY: I saw that you’ve done modeling that’s not exactly the same style as your music persona.

Nenna Yvonne: My look and my fashion sense is so versatile, I really can just transform depending on the visual and just the direction of who I’m working with and who I’m collaborating with. I have a lot of photographers come up to me and say, “Hey, what do you think about dressing up in like a dominatrix crazy catsuit with heels up to here?” And I’m like, “Let’s do it!” I’m all about experimenting and having fun.

pSKY: What do your parents think of all this?

Nenna Yvonne: Right before I came on the plane to come here, my dad was the last person I spoke to and he was just so excited for me because he’s so professional and strict. My dad’s a diplomat, so he’s really stern and kind of like business-oriented. I grew up with a sense of political understanding, not just on a national level, but on an international level because we traveled a lot. So he kind of saw me doing this in the long run because he saw how much I love doing music from the time I was a little girl. He kind of saw it coming.

pSKY: Is he musical at all?

Nenna Yvonne: No, no one else in my family. I think the only person that’s into music that way is my uncle, but I’m the only one that’s pursuing it.

Official Nenna Yvonne website – http://nennayvonne.com/

[interview] YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz Won’t Forget

December 15, 2011 interview, rock, visual kei 5 comments

Pop quiz: What are YELLOW FRIED CHICKENZ?

a) The Colonel’s new yet somehow original recipe.
b) Mega-triple threat GACKT’s slightly satirical project.
c) A surprisingly sensitive band that just wants to instill some charitable thoughts in their audience’s brains.

If you answered b) and c), you’re correct. When I sat down with GACKT and the gang on October 23, 2011 during V-ROCK FESTIVAL, I expected a conversation to match the  showy live performance I had seen just an hour earlier. I was wrong. After a slightly rocky start, YFC opened their hearts to talk about an experience they hope their whole audience can learn from.

pS: First of all, what’s the origin of your band name?

GACKT: We were really moved by Kentucky Fried Chicken. It appealed to us, so we thought, “Let’s give it the name YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz.” That’s it. We’re YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz.

pS: But why “yellow”? Where I come from, it kind of has a bad meaning.

Jon: Discriminatory?

pS: Right, discriminatory meaning.

GACKT: The reason for that is our confidence is yellow. It’s a sense of pride. I’m proud of us. So I can say, “We are yellow.”

pS: But what about Jon? Haha!

Jon: I don’t know! I’m kind of an egg. Just my outside is white. I don’t know if that’s accurate.

GACKT: What I meant about the band name is we started this project as my solo last year. I found new ideas in this style, so I tried to make a new band. I called Jon and Shinya, U-zo. We started this band to make a man-band.

Jon: A more manly band.

GACKT: Also we are performing for a much different audience.

Jon: Yeah, like the victims of the earthquake and tidal waves. So a big part of our mission and message is to help, but also so that people don’t forget what’s going on there, what happened there. And not just what happened, but what’s still going on there. Recently, we had the great honor to go to Sendai on our tour and before we played two days at Zepp Sendai, we went to Ground Zero. One of the places all along the coast that was just destroyed by the tidal wave. And it was just an incredible experience.  We got to meet the people there, talk with the people there, and see what the current situation was. And that’s why a big part of our message is, “It will not be forgotten.” because it’s six months after the fact, but it’s still leveled. The whole city is gone. All of it is garbage now. So for us, it was a really amazing experience. We actually went back again to a different area to see what the difference was, like is it the same, etc. You know, it’s going to take years and years and years for that area to return to any approximation of what it used to be. And it’s going to take a lot of people’s concentrated effort to make that happen. And not just locals, but everywhere in Japan. Hopefully around the world too. We’re trying to spread our message, not so much in a soap box kind of way. Read more

[review + interview] From Scientist to Songstress: In Mio Soul's Skin

November 17, 2011 interview, r&b, review 5 comments

Tokyo-born songwriter Mio Soul makes her debut with In My Skin.  The EP contains the heavy drum beats and smooth melodies of contemporary R&B with flavors of pop, dance, and jazz.  Simple yet candid, the lyrics are in English, except for the rap in “Let’s Party” where Mio effortlessly flows in and out of her native language.  “Promise” chronicles Mio’s pursuit of her dreams in New York City and features sensual vocals complemented by airy piano trills.  The final track, “Out of My Life”, takes a complete 180 from the sweetness of “I Wish” in the beginning.  Mio engages an ex-lover in a showdown with passionate vocals and sexy Spanish guitars.  Even though she sings that her “story’s ended” for that person, it has only just begun in the music world.

I had the opportunity to ask my fellow biologist via email about her career change, the “I Wish” PV, and her involvement with music-related charities.

What made you change from being a biologist to a musician?

When it comes to biology, I had a huge influence from my father. My mom, however, is a pianist, so music was always around me as a child.  In college I was so curious about the connection of brain function and soul (heart)…I enjoyed all of the field work. I did, however, want to do music more than anything else.  I started performing more and attending singer and dancer showcases, and these live performances just really fueled me to continue pursuing music.

Science is a real academic thing.  You use instruments and theories to find the truth.  When it comes to music, singing or making beats is the art of using your own instrument (your body and soul) to express your truth.

Did you have any formal vocal training?

Yes, I had two amazing vocal coaches since moving to NYC: Stacey Penson and Jamelle Jones.  The best vocal training was…wait, should I mention this secret?  I can give a hint: it has to do with going to church on Sunday.

How did you overcome the challenges you faced when you moved to New York City?

All my determination has made me stronger and stronger I think.  I talk to God often.  I still have a lot to learn but I have kept going and now I have got some great people around me.  Meeting great people and being around people with good energy is so inspiring.

Why did you decide to rap in Japanese in “Let’s Party”?

I was planning to do something else during the song’s break down, but I started fooling around with actually rapping in Japanese…and it fit perfectly, in my opinion, so I just recorded it!

What did you want to convey through having female vampires in the “I Wish” PV?

I wanted to give people a totally different visual image for how “I Wish” sounds.   MeccaGodZilla helped me create the idea and write the script for something that just challenges the mind and what people normally would go with.   We were inspired by The Lost Boys, but we made this into a love story.

Do you have any favorite vampire stories or movies?

Oh yes!  I’ve watched Bram Stoker’s Dracula recently.  I also really like Queen of the Damned since I’m a huge fan of Aaliyah.

Your songs and your blog posts are very honest.  Are you ever afraid of revealing too much about yourself?

Thank you for noticing that.  I actually don’t mind doing it because it’s me, it’s my life, I don’t really have anything to hide.  As the title of my EP expresses, my songs are a part of me.  I just want people to have dreams and share good times as much as possible…just like me.

How did you get involved in the Domo Arigato Festival and Music 4 Orphans?

My friends from New York came up with the idea first because they toured Japan together a few months prior.  They really appreciate my country so they wanted to do something for Japan in return.  I wanted to assist them and be part of the show, and they let me help.

I joined the Music 4 Orphans project shortly after a business contact introduced me to the organizer of the project.  Music 4 Orphans helps to give the youth an opportunity to learn music education so I am really excited to assist them.

What’s next for Mio Soul?

This is just, just, just the beginning.  I am working on the next videos so those might be coming soon.  I will make more music, more videos, and I want to do more live performances…you know, visit way more cities and connect with people.  That’s very important to me and my focus at the moment.

Purple SKY, thank you so much for this.

Mio Soul’s official website – http://www.iammiosoul.com/

[interview] BORN to Rock Nekocon 2011

October 24, 2011 indie, interview, rock, visual kei 2 comments

Almost three years after they first performed at Onicon in Texas, BORN is back in North America for Virginia’s Nekocon. With a new single, “Psycho Diva,” BORN continues to mix up pop choruses with thrashy metal riffs and growling counter vocals. Nekocon 2011 will take place on November 4th-6th at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia.

pSKY: It’s been two years since you last performed in America, how have you grown since then?

RYOGA: Our music has gained more depth and our live performances are significantly crazier than two years ago.
K: Each member has a definitive role in the band now.
Ray: A single mind.
KIFUMI: The atmosphere surrounding us is stronger.
TOMO: We are more closely united.

pSKY: You just released an album in June and a new single in September. Are you working on a new album already? Can you give us some insight on what we can expect from a new album?

RYOGA: Yes, we’re working on a new album already. It will be BORN`s hard music, more evolved from the last one.
K: you can expect a keen music sense of BORN. Ray: It is hard to explain in the words. You’ll just have to listen and feel.
KIFUMI: Don`t think, just listen to my bass.
TOMO: Our range will be wider.

pSKY: When do you have time to relax? What do you do with your free time (if you have any free time at all)?

RYOGA: I sleep or go out for a walk.
K: I watch movies.
Ray: Shopping!
KIFUMI: I go out and look for excitement.
TOMO: Watch movies.

pSKY: What’s your favorite alcoholic beverage?

RYOGA: Plum liquor or beer.
K: Shochu.
Ray: Beer.
KIFUMI: Cocktail.
TOMO: Red wine.

pSKY: You’re performing at an anime convention. How do you think your music ties into anime?

RYOGA: I think there is a great similarity between the fantastic world that animation creates and the unreal world which visual kei lives in.
K: The gorgeous look and style.
Ray: They both have created their own world.
KIFUMI: The amazing characteristics an anime character has can be similar to what a band player has to create on stage and in the music.
TOMO: Both have a story.

PSKY: Do you have a favorite anime/manga?

RYOGA:　DRAGONBALL
K:　SLAM DUNK.
Ray:　SAINT SEIYA (聖闘士星矢).
KIFUMI: YU YU HAKUSHO (幽遊白書).
TOMO: ONE PIECE.

pSKY: You’ll be sharing a stage with some big name acts at V-rock Festival 2011. Have you performed at festivals before? Do you hang around to listen to the other acts? If yes, who are you most perform?

RYOGA: We’ve never performed for a stage like V-rock Festival before. I listen to other artists. I’m excited to see ALI PROJECT.
K: Yes, I’m excited to see SOPHIA.
Ray: I’m excited to see MUCC.
KIFUMI: BLACK VEIL BRIDES.
TOMO: I’m excited to see YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz.

PSKY: Who are some of your musical influences?

RYOGA: Marilyn Manson, Rammstein.
K: LUNA SEA, Guns N’ Roses.
Ray: LUNA SEA, BUCK-TICK.
KIFUMI: L’Arc～en～Ciel.
TOMO: LUNA SEA, Nirvana, Slipknot, and Marilyn Manson.

PSKY: What can fans expect from your upcoming performance? Will you be performing your new single, “Psycho Diva?”

RYOGA: You can expect BORN to give the most aggressive performance of any band from Japan. Whether we’ll perform “Psycho Diva”, I don`t know. You’ll have to come and see.
K: Our performance will be powerful.
Ray: We will show you our performance, it`s one and only.
KIFUMI: Come see BORN at the venue!
TOMO: Come experience our US performance.

pSKY: Do you have any pre-performance rituals?

RYOGA: We become fussy and make noise.
K: I breathe deeply and put spirit into myself.
Ray: I go off alone and listen to music.
KIFUMI: we tease each other.
TOMO: I just smoke cigarettes.

pSKY: Leave a message for your fans.

RYOGA: This time we’re coming to see you, so next time you come to Japan for us too!
K: Listen to our CD and enjoy the LIVE performance.
Ray: I want to keep exceeding fan expectations.
KIFUMI: I love you!
TOMO: Please keep your eye on BORN.

Nekocon Website – http://www.nekocon.com/
Tainted Reality Website – http://www.taintedreality.net/
Official BORN Website – http://www.indie-psc.com/born/

[interview] Mix Speaker's Incorporated

October 23, 2011 interview, visual kei No comments

Not all dogs go to heaven. Sometimes they come back after a particularly sad death. In Mix Land they come back as zombies and are hired by Manager X to perform in the circus. Since 2007, Mix Speaker’s Inc. has brought together music, costume and an engaging stage performance to create a unique experience in the visual kei genre of music. More Broadway stage production than music band, their elaborate costumes can be so large that they couldn’t bring the newest creations to their USA debut performance at Animenext in Somerset, NJ. While some of the members are performing in North America for the first time, there are two who are veterans of the anime concert circuit. Seek and Aya performed in the US under their previous band, Psycho le Cemu, and started the introductions as we delved into the latest series from Mix Speaker’s Inc.

pSKY: Tell us about the back story behind your zombie animals? How did each of them die?

Seek (condor): I was mistaken for a turkey and cooked for dinner.

Aya (rabbit): There’s an old Japanese folk tale about the rabbit in the moon. I had heard about this tale and decided I wanted to BE that rabbit in the moon. I jumped and jumped and eventually reached outer-space where I suffocated from lack of oxygen.

S (sheep): I was a sheep who had my fur shaved off in winter, so I froze to death.

Keiji (lion): I was a lion in the Savannah and decided to become a vegetarian. So you can probably guess that I starved to death.

YUKI (dog): I was an expert dog paddler and was so good I tried to swim across the Pacific. I didn’t make it.

MIKI (cat): I loved fish so much that I ate it all the time. I ate a fish bone that cut me and I bled to death.

And ultimately this is how Mix Speaker’s Inc. approaches each new chapter in their production. The story comes first, creating a solid base around which the music, costumes and performance are built. So it’s not odd that their last album, It’s a Dream World, was released several months into their tour. The zombie animals they debuted in America are just the first set of characters in this current production. In Japan they’ve already begun to introduce the second set of characters, animal pierrot. In animal pierrot, our friends at Mix Speaker’s have created their own circus away from Manager X. Their inspiration a mix of American carnival and cirque du soleil.  Even outside of the stage world, each band member has a role that sometimes influences the character he’ll play.  For fans familiar with Psycho le Cemu, everyone’s favorite cross-dressing guitarist, Aya, is still doing choreography.  MIKI designs most of the artwork, helping with artistic decisions on sets, costumes and marketing materials.  Seek works as the bands spokesperson, putting on a friendly, cheerful face despite the numerous metal studs and piercings.  And S, the sheep, is the gopher.

When asked about what they expected from their North American fans, the universal answer was to continue listening to Mix Speaker’s Inc.,  so they could perform in the USA again.

Official Mix Speaker’s Inc. website – http://www.mixspeakersinc.com/pc/index.html
Animenext website – http://www.animenext.org/

CHEMISTRY 101: Intro to Japanese R&B Science

July 21, 2011 interview, lifestyle, pop, r&b 3 comments

R&B is a fickle genre. For the past few decades it’s been a chimera of all things popular music needs to be:  technical skill, voice, good looks, attitude, and just plain luck.

Now the kings of Japanese R&B are about to show convention-goers at Otakon how they not only rule the charts, but bring their own flavor to this tricky style of music.

CHEMISTRY sat down with me in Tokyo for a conversation on the genre that exploded them to stardom.

pSKY: In English, the word ‘chemistry’ has two meanings: chemistry the science and some kind of relationship. Which one does it mean to you?

Kaname Kawabata: Chemistry the science. Our producer wanted it to be “a voice to voice chemical reaction.”

pSKY: Americans have a TV show called American Idol. Americans generally understand the audition process you went through with the TV show Asayan, but can you tell us a little about it? How was your audition different from the American Idol auditions?

Kaname Kawabata: There are a lot of seasons of American Idol, right? Our audition didn’t really have that time frame. One difference is that our audition only had male singers. First we had to sing solo. Then the audition changed to duo performances. The whole process took about a year. Our audition wasn’t like American Idol in the sense that everything was so exciting and quick. Rather, ours was like, “Let’s start the men’s audition!” and from there it gradually built up. It was a big audition for all of Japan.

pSKY: What do you think of American Idol?

Kaname Kawabata: Compared to us, the talent level is higher. It’s the American dream. Like Ruben  Studdard, there’s no one else quite like him.

pSKY: Ruben Studdard isn’t really that famous nowadays. People who win American Idol aren’t necessarily guaranteed to become popular, you know? There are people like Kelly Clarkson, but then Jennifer Hudson, who didn’t even win, is more successful than those who did win.

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