В наше ненормальное время любой нормальный человек ненормален уже тем, что он нормален.
Само интервью
The most famous Japanese band in the world 's leader unveils the behind the scenes of their quick advance.
DIR EN GREY
DIR EN GREY, a band that debuted during the golden age of Visual Kei bands in the late 90s, is now popular worldwide.
They removed their loud(flashy) clothes and make-up, the reason is that they have successfully transformed to a dark violent metal sound, the leader Kaoru tells us of their daily battles overseas.
"I thought that they called us from overseas just for show"
"When we wear make-up we don't look as if we're dribbling with sweat"
--The new single "Hageshisa to, kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami" 's title is symbolic, the song has a very complex development.
Kaoru: We wanted to cram in a lot of things in the single. We did it without deciding so much on our path.
--Honestly, have you ever thought of performing this complex song in a live is hard?
Kaoru: I always think about that(Laugh). We made the song while thinking of the live atmosphere but we don't pay much attention to the performance. Sometimes I have thoughts when playing a phrase, "Will I be able to play this during lives?"(Laugh)
--Were you conscious that you were doing visual kei at the time you formed the band?
Kaoru: Even from before the word itself visual kei didn't catch on. But I thought that it a was common path for bands to wear flashy clothes and be on a flashy stage. When I was in middle school and high school, I was listening to X and the like.
--So you became free from the equation that Music=Flashiness, around what time did you turn into your current style?
Kaoru: Around 4-5 years ago. When we started thinking that we should express more of the inner aspect, I noticed that in whatever kind of feeling we performed we will still look like we're lumped along with the others. For example, even if my sweat is really dribbling, when I wear make-up it won't look like that. Also, you'd want to naturally wipe all that sweat but you can't (Laugh). I started noticing those things and doing lives became annoying. And then, even if the live starts at 6pm in the evening, but because of make-up we have to be in the venue at 10am in the morning. It felt like we have done a lot (Laughs).
--So what was the reason why you wanted to express more of the inner aspect?
Kaoru: I think the feelings in the song became richer and the flashy outfits will lose against the song. Even before our world-view is very dark but when the make-up was gone it became even more dark.
--Why did you think it turned into negative lyrics and dark sound?
Kaoru: As to why, it's because we're that kind of people (Laugh). As people, we are not the optimistic sort.(Laugh) We didn't intentionally think of making it dark but it was how it turned out naturally.
--You also have an image of a very violent band. As a symbolic thing way back before, your vocalist Kyo used to hurt(cut) his own body during lives, singing while his blood was flowing. You can see this right beside you, what do you think?
Kaoru: At first, I was surprised. But there was a time, when he cut his arm with a needle or something without much thought, there was a time that the blood gushed out. I got angry and thought that he overdid it as expected. Even the audience would begin to feel that they are not attending a live, right? (Laugh)
--But as an expression it has to be understood.
Kaoru: Yes, it is. It was really great. It's because I'm a guitarist and I don't know the sensation but it's probably the result of facing one's self.
--What was the start of your foreign advances?
Kaoru: Even before that we have went around Asia area but the first was the one-man(solo) in Germany 5 years ago. Even before that there were offers that came. It said that we have fans in Germany. But we never really looked(considered) overseas so even if they say that, we have a skeptic personality so we didn't believe it(Laugh). And then, we always turned it down(refused). When I heard the information that Japanese culture and Anime was the trend we thought they called on us just for show. But they said that they really wanted us to come but since they had to say it in that way we thought of trying to go at least once. When we did there were lots of people and even if the song was Japanese they can sing it. When I saw it, it was great and I was moved(touched). Then from then on we began releasing then, we went to Europe, and since there was an offer from America we started going there.
"If we were to continue on like this, we were eventually also destined to end in failure"
--After your one-man in Germany, did you immediately start wanting to do band activities abroad?
Kaoru: Nope, not to that extent. For the case in overseas there are a lot of uneasy elements. We had to bring our equipment and bring a number of Japanese staff. At first it was like we wanted to do it well-planned.
--Still, going to foreign countries did not become unpleasant?
Kaoru: At first, it was but now I don't mind it at all. In Japan it's common sense to arrange everything to a perfect state, if there was any trouble it will be like "What the hell?" but it's very common to have troubles overseas so we have to attend to it as soon as possible. Even for venues in the same class and made like the ones in Japan, there are times that the rhythm guitar area would be extremely narrow in stages over there. There were things we had to do ourselves and thanks to that we became stronger.
--It was necessary to communicate with the local staff right?
Kaoru: The people over there are very open right? They would come charging and pull us type so at first everyone just stayed in the bus. Even if they talk to us, we don't understand it too(Laugh) But recently, I think since we have come all the way there then we'd want to talk to different kinds of people.
The leader of the international rock band was unexpectedly a modest regular(natural) nice guy.
--The influence on you from doing foreign activities seems big.
Kaoru: "Can we just let the details be?" and "As long as we can make our stuff and have live in a venue, whatever goes right?" is the way I come to think of it. Also, when I look at artists over there, if I see this kind of person then, he will produce this kind of sound so, it's very easy to understand. So this big one will also make big sounds and the like. They really eat a lot of meat and the like (Laugh) I think that it is fine. It's because we will become original. We'll only do what we want to do.
--It's not to match your style to things abroad but it's remain Japanese right?
Kaoru: Yes.
--Amongst all the Japanese bands that have failed in their foreign advances, why do you think you succeeded?
Kaoru: No, we are not there yet. The cycle abroad is faster compared to Japan. In a year you have to have at least 3 tours or be forgotten. A while back, it's been a year since we came back and we were forgotten. Which is why I don't know what success but if we continue on like this I think it is in our destiny to fail(be frustrated). However, our beginnings were different I think we are blessed with a good management and label but being spread from here(Japan) is a hard job. I think it's no different from everybody else. It's different from just having activities only America but also in Japan and in Europe, we are at the point of thinking what to do now. It's a very crucial moment.
--And then, What do you think DIR EN GREY will be after 10 years?
Kaoru: If I am still in DIR EN GREY that would be good. I don't think too much in the future. If you create a goal and you are not able to achieve it wouldn't it become stress? Which is why while taking on the current things, we will progress at one step at a time.
@темы: Dir en Grey, интервьюшешки, Као-моны