Our affiliates Kaze ni Jrock has recently done a fantastic interview with Daisuke, vocalist of THE SOUND BEE HD. We’d thought readers of NEUMANIA.net would also enjoy it, so make sure you guys check that out!
Kanzen ni Jrock’s Interview With Daisuke:
http://articles.kanzennijrock.net/articles/index.php/2010/08/11/interview-with-daisuke-of-the-sound-bee-hd
Source:
Kanzen ni Jrock
An Cafe grew in popularity since their formation in 2003 quickly becoming one of the most recognizable names in visual kei, especially in the sub-genre oshare kei. With multiple releases, a successful world-tour, along with a few changes to their member line-up, the band has experienced their own ups and downs over the years. However, the band has always managed to keep an up-beat and optimistic outlook. Unfortunately, after six highly successful years, the band decided to take an activity break in 2009. It was announced that after their final live on January 4th at Nippon Budokan, they would be going on an indefinite hiatus.
Since An Cafe’s hiatus, Kanon has been busy working on his own personal project, a video game entitled, “Pinky Distortion”. The theme of the game revolves around a young visual kei band named, “DIS;CODE” that is in search for a new vocalist. The player takes the part of a young girl working at a rehersal studio in Harajuku who meets the band and is enlisted to help them find the new member. After helping them find a suited vocalist named Hazuki, the members welcome her in as their personal manager.
Most recently, Kanon was a guest at the Otakon convention in Baltimore, Maryland from July 30th through August 1st. At the convention he participated in panels, autograph sessions, and was also a guest DJ for Otakon’s popular event, Otakurave. During his time at the convention, we were lucky enough to spend some time with Kanon in between his busy schedule and ask him a few questions.
Also, stay tuned for a AnCafe CD give away! We will be giving away “極魂ROCK CAFE(Gokutama Rock Cafe)” to one of our lucky readers! Details for the contest will be released on the 20th.
STEREOPONY is an up-and-coming female rock band that formed in Okinawa in 2007. The band is made up of three members, vocalist/guitarist AIMI, bassist NOHANA, and drummer SHIHO. Interestingly enough, when the band originally formed, all of the members were still in highschool. However, don’t let their young age fool you, this band has an incredibly professional sound. It’s really no wonder they were signed so quickly!
The band actually got their first break when they were featured on the Japanese rock radio program SCHOOL OF LOCK! From that point on, they released their very first single, entitled, “ヒトヒラのハナビラ” (hitohara no hanabira) on November 5th, 2008. The title track was used as the 17th ending theme for the popular anime BLEACH. The single was a huge success and ranked #25 on the Oricon weekly charts.
With one successful release now under their belts, the band set out to release their second single, “泪のムコウ” (namida no muko) on February 11th, 2009. The title track for this single was also used in a popular anime, as the second opening theme for the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. This single managed to rank even higher than their last, reaching all the way up to #2 on the Oricon weekly charts.
From this point on the band was unstoppable, they made their US debut at the “SXSW 2009″ festival held in Austin, Texas in March and gave an amazing performance. Their third single came soon after on April 22nd, entitled, “I do it”. For this single, STEREOPONY teamed up with their label mate and well-known pop-singer, YUI. Throughout the rest of the year, they released two more singles as well as their very first album, entitled, “ハイド．ランジアが咲いている” (Hydrangea ga saiteiru).
This year, however, they have already released another two singles as well as a brand new album, entitled, “Over the Border” just last month on June 9th, 2010. Also in June, the band made their second ever US appearance at the AnimeNEXT convention in New Jersey from June 18th-20th. During their stay, we had the honor to be able to spend some time with the members and ask them a few questions.
Turntable Films is a Kyoto-based, alternative folk rock band that has just recently began to draw attention from overseas fans. Made up of vocalist/guitarist Yosuke Inoue, bassist/chorus Kento Tani, drummer Natsuki Tamura, and keyboardist Nozomi Funada, the band originally formed as a hobby for their two founding members, Yosuke and Kento. However, the project eventually picked up and the band became serious in 2008 once Natsuki and Nozomi both joined their line-up.
It wasn’t long after that the band was then signed onto their current label, SECOND ROYAL LABEL. Since being signed the band has released two albums, their first was a self-titled album that was released in May of 2009 while the second, an album, entitled, “Parables of Fe-Fum” was released just earlier this year in February.
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2010/02/10 Parables of Fe-Fum1,785yen [ ORDER ] Track Listing: |
According to the biography provided on their official site, the band describes their music as a mixture of, “sensitive romantic song-writing” along with, “expressive improvisation” as well as, “the nostalgic sound influenced from American roots”. All in all, these features mix together quite well, making Turntable Films’ melodic songs both enchanting and unique. In addition to this, vocalist and song-writer, Yosuke Inoue, often writes and sings in nearly flawless English.
With two successful album releases already under their belts, the band has recently announced that they will soon have their third release on the way. The new release will be their very first “7inch album” release or is other terms, it is a 7inch, double-sided record! It has already been entitled, “2STEPS E.P.” and has been set for release sometime this July.
We were lucky enough to be allowed some time with Inoue for a chance to ask him some questions.
Miyavi is a name that many fans both easily recognize and adore. The solo artist has broken many boundaries, openly experimenting with a large variety of styles and sounds both musically and visually.
The talented guitarist’s interest in music began early on in his young teen years when he took up guitar after an injury lead to him leaving the school’s soccer team. His love for playing the guitar quickly blossomed and he formed his very first band, a small garage band named, “Loop” in his early teens. Miyavi himself has expressed that the band was hardly worth mentioning, but it didn’t take long for him to join the band that eventually helped him skyrocket to fame and establish his successful solo career.
Dué le quartz had formed in December of 1998, but had suffered the loss of their original guitarist in May of the following year. It didn’t take long for Miyavi, only 17 at the time, to join the band under the stage name, “Miyabi” on June 29th. The visual band had a successful run, performing a countless number of lives as well as a few releases. However, years later in 2002, the fateful decision had been made, Miyavi wanted to become a solo musician. The band accepted and announced their decision to disband. They later held their final live together in August of the same year.
Miyabi then took the stage name, “Miyavi” and set off to create his solo career. His first release, an album entitled, “Gagaku” was released in October of 2002, just shortly after his departure from his previous band. With the release, Miyavi debuted a completely new sense of style, more punk than his previous gothic visual style. His style of music also was completely different than what he had been making in Dué le quartz, featuring a mix of heavy guitar, catchy beats, as well as a mix of pop, rock, and punk flare.
His solo career really took off just two years later in October of 2004, when it was announced that Miyavi had been signed onto Universal Music Group and would be going major. In the following few years, Miyavi kept his growing career strong with new releases, sold out lives, and continuously evolving his sound. In 2006, the popular musician decided to take some time off from his busy career to spend some time in the USA. For six months he attended English, dancing, and other lessons during his stay. While on the weekends he had off from his training, he would do street performances at Venice Beach.
However, 2006 wasn’t a slow year for Miyavi as his absence and extensive training was leading up to a very big announcement. On December 30th, Miyavi announced that he would officially be joining a new band. However, it wasn’t until May 25th 2007 at the Jrock Revolution Festival that it was announced that the band he would be joining was the super group, called “S.K.I.N.” made up of famous musicians such as Yoshiki, Gackt, and Sugizo. The surprise announcement caused an uproar from excited fans around the world. The super group performed at the Anime Expo convention in California, but has since been inactive due to the busy schedules of the members.
Most recently, Miyavi has really seemed to have hit the ultimate peak of his extremely successful solo career, holding his first world-wide tour in 2008. The tour entitled, “This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock Tour 2008″ took him throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Following the tour, on February 16th 2009, Miyavi announced that he would be graduating from PS Company. This eventually led up to his announcement shortly after that he was opening his very own company named, “J-Glam, Inc.” and that he would be the president of the company. In the following month, there was another big announcement, Miyavi’s second world tour, entitled, “NEO TOKYO SAMURAI BLACK”. This tour took him throughout South America, Asia, and Europe again, unfortunately however, the North American side of the tour had to be postponed due to an injury Miyavi had sustained during his live in Paris, France.
Also during this time, the surprise announcement of Miyavi’s marriage to the pop-singer Melody was announced along with the exciting news that he was expecting his first child with his new wife. On July 29th, 2009, Melody gave birth to Miyavi’s first born daughter, Lovelie Miyavi Ishihara, and Miyavi, ever the proud father, announced her birth to the world. Despite these life changing events, Miyavi’s solo career hasn’t slowed down. On January 1st, 2010, he announced that he had signed a record deal with the recording giant, EMI. Shortly after, in March of 2010, it was announced that the previously postponed North American portion of the “NEO TOKYO SAMURAI BLACK” world tour was now officially rescheduled for summer of 2010.
Currently, Miyavi is preparing for the upcoming North American tour that will kick off next month in June! Despite his hectic schedule, we were able to take a moment of his time and ask him a few questions.
HITT is what some would call a “one man band”, a vocalist, composer, and all around musician who takes the stage as a solo artist. He defines his style as, “piano rock” and has composed over 150 different songs throughout the years.He began his career as a vocalist in August of 2000, singing for the Japanese punk band BBdan. However, the band only lasted a few years and after releasing their first album, “NO.1″ in April of 2003, the band disbanded. Shortly after, HITT formed a new band in September named THE HITMAN. Unfortunately, the group only lasted a few months before they too disbanded in November 2003.
It was in the following year, in January of 2004, when HITT had decided to continue on as a solo musician. According to his biography, he performed where-ever and whenever he could, not only at venues, but also at hospitals, cafes, and restaurants. As his fanbase grew over the years, he later released his very first solo album on June 16th of 2006, entitled, “MEGA HITT”.
However, HITT hasn’t given up working alongside other musicians in bands either. In November of 2007, it was announced that he would be joining the band OTOKAGE as their bassist, all the while continuing his solo work. While still in the band, he worked hard on his solo career, releasing his first mini-album as well as first PV in February of 2009. Two months later, he performed live in the USA for the very first time while in OTOKAGE for SAKURA MATSURI in Philadelphia as part of the band’s worldwide tour. Unfortunately, however, OTOKAGE had to go on without him, as he made the decision to leave the band on May 13th, holding his final live with them in June.
From then on, HITT has given his all to his solo career and has made his debut in Europe. Working alongside the company, Ramen Events, he has recently released a European version of his new album, “I love HITTERS” on March 12th along with the Japanese version of the release. Additionally, he is currently traveling throughout Europe for his 2010 Euro Tour which has run through a multitude of countries, including Spain, France, Switzerland, Sweden, London, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Russia.
During his tour, we were lucky enough to get ahold of HITT and ask him to answer a few questions for us.
quaff recently returned to America for their third US tour which brought them through New York, Tennessee, and Texas, along with a surprise appearance at Sakura Matsuri in Washington DC. The band has now wrapped up the very end of the tour just yesterday, with an instore event in San Antonio, Texas.
For those unfamiliar with the band, quaff had formed almost a decade ago, in 2001. Over the years the band has had numerous releases, a few member changes, as well as evolved their style, sound, and theme. The first change to their original line-up came in 2006, when guitarist NEMO-CHI, withdrew from the band and was replaced by their current guitarist TAKUMA. The second change to their line-up came just one year later when drummer yoshikazu withdrew leading HAL to join the band. It is also interesting to note that quaff has become somewhat of an international band, boasting a line-up of members that have come from Japan, France, America, and in Ukisemi’s case, Tenjou-kai, or in English, a celestial realm in which gods live.
Along with member changes the band has noticeably evolved from a darker, more serious style in both music and appearance, to a much more bright and playful theme. The members have really seemed to embrace their new, wilder sense of style and have even opened their very own clothing label named “quaffizm”. In addition to opening their own label, the band has also become the official spokespersons for the unique footwear company, ONMYODO shoes.
Just hours before their performance at MTAC (Middle Tennessee Anime Convention) on May 1st we had a chance to sit down with the members of quaff and ask them a few questions.
quaff recently returned to America for their third US tour which brought them through New York, Tennessee, and Texas, along with a surprise appearance at Sakura Matsuri in Washington DC. The band has now wrapped up the very end of the tour just yesterday, with an instore event in San Antonio, Texas.
For those unfamiliar with the band, quaff had formed almost a decade ago, in 2001. Over the years the band has had numerous releases, a few member changes, as well as evolved their style, sound, and theme. The first change to their original line-up came in 2006, when guitarist NEMO-CHI, withdrew from the band and was replaced by their current guitarist TAKUMA. The second change to their line-up came just one year later when drummer yoshikazu withdrew leading HAL to join the band. It is also interesting to note that quaff has become somewhat of an international band, boasting a line-up of members that have come from Japan, France, America, and in Ukisemi’s case, Tenjou-kai, or in English, a celestial realm in which gods live.
Along with member changes the band has noticably evolved from a darker, more serious style in both music and appearance, to a much more bright and playful theme. The members have really seemed to embrace their new, wilder sense of style and have even opened their very own clothing label named “quaffizm”. In addition to opening their own label, the band has also become the official spokespersons for the unique footwear company, ONMYODO shoes.
Just hours before their performance at MTAC (Middle Tennesee Anime Convention) on May 1st we had a chance to sit down with the members of quaff and ask them a few questions.
NEUMANIA: Well, first, if you could each introduce yourselves.
Makito: I am Makito on guitar. Please take care of us… Yay!
(everyone laughs and applauds)
Seiya: I’m Seiya on vocal. Thank you very much.
(everyone claps)
Ukisemi: I am Ukisemi on M.C.
Shingo: I’m Shingo on bass guitar.
(everyone laughs and applauds)
Takuma: I’m Takuma on guitar.
(everyone laughs and applauds)
Hal: I’m Hal—
(bandmates applaud before he can finish, then everyone laughs)
Hal: I’m Hal on drums!
(everyone laughs and applauds again)
NEUMANIA: So, how have you all been enjoying your tour so far?
Makito: It’s been really exciting and fun from the beginning.. And it’s just.. keep on going!
NEUMANIA: While you are in America, do you have any plans to sight-see and if so, what would you like to see the most?
Makito: At the moment.. we’ve actually done some sight-seeing in New York, but the fact that we are in this area, experiencing this itself is like sight-seeing for us. So, its really exciting.
NEUMANIA: Is there a certain country you have not been to yet that you would like to perform in?
Makito: If it’s possible, we would like to go to France and Germany, which are the ones we really want to go to the most.
Seiya: I would like to go anywhere in Europe because I really want to go to all of Europe.
Ukisemi: I’m a God, so I have been everywhere in the world, because I am an explorer. I could see everything from Tenjokai.
(stands up and acts like he is up on a high place, looking over everything)
(everyone laughs)
Shingo: I want to go everywhere in the world, but espcially [from the places] we know there’s fans in, through MySpace [such as] France, Germany, England, Brazil. So, we definitly want to go to all those places that there are fans of ours.
Takuma: I definitly want to go to everywhere else that we haven’t been to yet in American and also [to] Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Australia.
Hal: For me, it’s anywhere I can spread [the word] about Quaff. Anywhere is good for me.
NEUMANIA: Do you guys have any nicknames for eachother that we might not know about?
(band members stir and start to mumble amongst themselves while laughing)
Makito: There’s a lot.
Seiya: “Yankun”
(Seiya and Makito repeat the word over and over while smiling)
Shingo: For Takuma, the recent nickname is “ouji”, which means “Prince” in Japanese.
(Makito and Seiya repeat the word while looking at Takuma)
Takuma: No, no. (serious tone)
(everyone laughs)
Makito: We can’t really tell the other ones because it would become a little bit of.. perverted jokes. We are way too perverted so…
(everyone laughs)
NEUMANIA: How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?
Makito: It’s actually different depending on the album. For the most recent one we used a lot of synthesizer sounds, but at the live shows we don’t actually use the synthesizers— we make more of a live sound out of it without the synthesizers. To describe the sound, it could be [metaphorically] compared to a fruits basket; very colorful, you could enjoy a lot of different flavors
NEUMANIA: What was the last CD that each one of you purchased?
Makito & Seiya: Boom Boom Satellites. The most recent Best-of album.
Ukisemi: (mumbles) …Sesame Street.
(everyone laughs)
Makito & Seiya: What?
Ukisemi: (starts singing a tune from the Sesame Street TV show theme song)
Seiya: It’s true!
(more laughter)
Shingo: I think it was… PERFUME or James Brown.
Translator: (looks at Takuma for him to answer next) Ouji.
Takuma: The prince is..
(everyone laughs)
Takuma: Jay Z’s “Blue Print 3″.
Hal: Jay Z’s “Kingdom Come”.
NEUMANIA: The band has recently started a fashion label. What inspired [the band] to want to go into designing clothes?
Makito: We wanted to start our own brand. Obviously, doing it ourselves, we could make more money off of it. But, we didn’t want to be tied down to a label, because we wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things freely.
NEUMANIA: Overall, do you have a unique sense of style (your look as well as your music)?
Makito: Our unique style is more of doing something thats very positive and forward. Because this day and age, there are a lot of bands that are doing really dark stuff and actually the age itself is concentrating on going a darker direction. So actually, just like PERFUME, brighter/happier things, There’s more energy that’s put into doing something like that. Our staging is one of the most unique parts of that, so we really want the audience to see our staging because it’s very unique and positive. It draws more attention that way and the energy is different.
NEUMANIA: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Makito: Ow. (prentends to look a bit hurt)
(everyone laughs)
Makito: I would like to be born as an American.
NEUMANIA: Why?
Makito: Everything I like is actually in America. There really isn’t much I like in Japan.
Seiya: It’s kind of similar, but I would like to have been born as a girl.
(everyone starts to laugh)
Seiya: Why, everyone, why?
(more laughter)
Ukisemi: I would like to become taller. (stands up and holds his hand up above his head, raising it about a foot) Just on Earth, though.
[Note: He is the shortest in Quaff]
(more laugher)
Shingo: I would like to fix my problem of not waking up on time and being late to things.
(more laughter)
Takuma: I would like to know what would happen if I play something other than guitar [such as] piano, bass, drums. Something else I could have concentrated on.
Hal: I was born in America, but I would to change it so that I grew up over here in American.
NEUMANIA: Are you guys excited for the live today? Are you tired or anything at all?
Makito & Seiya: What? What are you talking about? We are really excited of course!
(all the band members errupt into cheers and excited movements)
(everyone laughs)
NEUMANIA: If fans were to give you a gift, what would you like [to recieve] the most?
Makito: (mumbles quickly) Money.
(laughter)
Seiya: (turns to Makito and playfully hits him) Hey…! Bad boy.
(more laughter)
Makito: (more serious tone) Everything that anyone gives me, I am happy about. The armwarms I’m wearing right now, I actually got as a gift during the tour. Anything makes me happy.
Seiya: I actually had a fan that gave me a jacket, in New York. I was excited thinking that the person who gave it to me was looking at it and thinking I would look really good in it. [They] did major customing on it, so I’m really excited about that jacket and have been wearing it a lot.
Translator: Also, they have fans that draw their faces and stuff for them. And because they don’t know english, [the fans] try really hard to write it in Japanese and everything. All the effort that [the fans] put into it is really really nice. They really love that.
Ukisemi: In my mailbox, back in Tenjokai, I get about 60,000 letters a day. Unfortunately, I am not able to read all of them, so I would be really happy if [fans] could give me flowers so that I can put it in the yard.
NEUMANIA: Aww.
Makito & Seiya: (smiling and mimicing the tone) Aww.
(everyone laughs)
Shingo: Hmm.. a present.. (looks like he is thinking)
Ukisemi: Coffee!
(everyone laughs)
[Note: Shingo really enjoys his black coffee.]
Shingo: I’m really happy about [getting] comments on our blogs that we write.
Takuma: I like perfumes and accessories. Anything.
Hal: The fact that we are getting something makes me really happy. Especially when its food or beer.
NEUMANIA: If each of you were not musicians now, what do you think would be your career?
Hal: Me? …Snowboarder.
Takuma: A chef. (makes a stir frying motion with his hand)
Shingo: A web designer. (laughs lightly)
Ukisemi: Definitly an anime cosplayer, just because I want to transform into things.
(everyone laughs)
Seiya: A doctor.
Makito: On a normal level, I wanted to become an astronaut. I would have gone to a really good school and gone into NASA and went to space.
NEUMANIA: Is there a message you would like to give your American fans?
Makito: The fact that we are able to be here is thanks to everyone who is our fan and also everyone thats supported us. Being able to come to MTAC and other places is all because everyone is supporting us in different ways. So, please keep on rooting of us and keep on going. Thank you so much.
NEUMANIA: I would like to thank all of you, because you are the first interview we have ever done [for] the site. And we are very proud to have the opportunity to talk with you.
Makito & Seiya: Oooooh! Yay, yay!
(everyone smiles and laughs, while saying many thank yous)
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