H'evn vol 002 - Personal Interviews
Translation: Myrkul
Tsuzuku
Personal Interview 「About Music」
— When did you start listening to music?
Eversince I was a child, I always seemed to be surrounded by music when I was in the car driving with my parents. And around my second year of middleschool, I wanted to sing myself and started buying CDs.
— What aroused your interest?
When I was watching TV… I came to like it alot.
— Around what time did you seriously start singing songs?
I must have been after my highschool graduation.
— And in the meantime?
There I sang at Karaoke level.
— Please tell us why you started thinking about singing in a band after highschool graduation.
I don’t know (laugh). I even decided to go job hunting… But somehow, I suddenly thought, “I must start a band”. The day that thought came up, I went to refuse my job offer in the evening. I didn’t talk with anyone about it, collected money via part-time jobs, left home and started a band to make a living.
— Did something unexpected happen?
I somehow felt wrong as it was. I didn’t really understand it myself. I just suddenly felt that day, that I had no other choice than having a band…
— And soon, you were looking for member?
That’s right. At my part-time workplace, there were people who were in a band, and through them I got introduced to various people. And so I linked with a band.
— So you’ve been very active. You wanted to sing at any rate?
I wanted to be on stage at any rate.
— Do you remember the first time you sang in public?
I was very tense. The best part of it was how much I enjoyed it. I still have pictures of that time, but I can’t look at them anymore. The performance and the song were too horrible… (bitter laugh). But still, it was really fun…
— Since that time, what feelings concerning music did not change?
I’m giving my all with every single song. Because I’ve always felt that I might as well die on stage. I’m not thinking, I will sing skilfully later on. Because if I now stopped giving my all with singing, wouldn’t I not be unable later on to sing well? During Live’s I’m always thinking if my feelings of that day will come out well. [Not sure about these 2 sentences]
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
The feeling of risking my life with every single song has grown stronger. During this tour, it even happened that my voice didn’t come out.
— Where did this happen?
Somewhere in the first half, my vocal chords suddenly didn’t work. I couldn’t make any sound, and even during the rehearsal, I could not sing… Even in the dressing room, my voice just won’t come out so I didn’t even want to go out on stage. But then, when I finally stood on stage, I gathered all my strength I had that day, and so my voice came back… Because of that, I think that the feeling of giving it my all for every song grew even stronger.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
It will surely be troublesome. But lately, I’ve been wanting to die every day because we did not have any Lives… That’s why I think, it will be good having Lives again, I’m looking forward to it.
— Also, with what image in mind did you write the lyrics for「A PRIORI」, which has been released during your 3 months serial release in September?
Everytime I’m writing song lyrics, my image is not to write a text matching the sound, but writing the words I want to convey.
— You straightly added the word “Love”.
That’s because I’m hungry for love (bitter laugh).
— What is your aim as a vocalist for the future?
I want to cherish every single moment. Not only in the future, but also today… Like, life consists of moment after moment. I’ve always been thinking about the next few days.
— Since you mentioned thinking about the next few days only, was there any event that caused such thinking?
Was there?… Everyday is boring… My tension only rises right before Lives. … I wonder if it’s moment after moment. Lately I’m thinking, if there are Lives, can’t I laugh?
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
I’m alive, so please do also live.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
The first time I did a wr_stc_t, was during summer.
— When did you start listening to music?
Eversince I was a child, I always seemed to be surrounded by music when I was in the car driving with my parents. And around my second year of middleschool, I wanted to sing myself and started buying CDs.
— What aroused your interest?
When I was watching TV… I came to like it alot.
— Around what time did you seriously start singing songs?
I must have been after my highschool graduation.
— And in the meantime?
There I sang at Karaoke level.
— Please tell us why you started thinking about singing in a band after highschool graduation.
I don’t know (laugh). I even decided to go job hunting… But somehow, I suddenly thought, “I must start a band”. The day that thought came up, I went to refuse my job offer in the evening. I didn’t talk with anyone about it, collected money via part-time jobs, left home and started a band to make a living.
— Did something unexpected happen?
I somehow felt wrong as it was. I didn’t really understand it myself. I just suddenly felt that day, that I had no other choice than having a band…
— And soon, you were looking for member?
That’s right. At my part-time workplace, there were people who were in a band, and through them I got introduced to various people. And so I linked with a band.
— So you’ve been very active. You wanted to sing at any rate?
I wanted to be on stage at any rate.
— Do you remember the first time you sang in public?
I was very tense. The best part of it was how much I enjoyed it. I still have pictures of that time, but I can’t look at them anymore. The performance and the song were too horrible… (bitter laugh). But still, it was really fun…
— Since that time, what feelings concerning music did not change?
I’m giving my all with every single song. Because I’ve always felt that I might as well die on stage. I’m not thinking, I will sing skilfully later on. Because if I now stopped giving my all with singing, wouldn’t I not be unable later on to sing well? During Live’s I’m always thinking if my feelings of that day will come out well. [Not sure about these 2 sentences]
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
The feeling of risking my life with every single song has grown stronger. During this tour, it even happened that my voice didn’t come out.
— Where did this happen?
Somewhere in the first half, my vocal chords suddenly didn’t work. I couldn’t make any sound, and even during the rehearsal, I could not sing… Even in the dressing room, my voice just won’t come out so I didn’t even want to go out on stage. But then, when I finally stood on stage, I gathered all my strength I had that day, and so my voice came back… Because of that, I think that the feeling of giving it my all for every song grew even stronger.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
It will surely be troublesome. But lately, I’ve been wanting to die every day because we did not have any Lives… That’s why I think, it will be good having Lives again, I’m looking forward to it.
— Also, with what image in mind did you write the lyrics for「A PRIORI」, which has been released during your 3 months serial release in September?
Everytime I’m writing song lyrics, my image is not to write a text matching the sound, but writing the words I want to convey.
— You straightly added the word “Love”.
That’s because I’m hungry for love (bitter laugh).
— What is your aim as a vocalist for the future?
I want to cherish every single moment. Not only in the future, but also today… Like, life consists of moment after moment. I’ve always been thinking about the next few days.
— Since you mentioned thinking about the next few days only, was there any event that caused such thinking?
Was there?… Everyday is boring… My tension only rises right before Lives. … I wonder if it’s moment after moment. Lately I’m thinking, if there are Lives, can’t I laugh?
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
I’m alive, so please do also live.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
The first time I did a wr_stc_t, was during summer.
MiA
Personal Interview 「About Music」
— When did you start listening to music?
That must have been around my first year in middleschool. I liked “Do As Infinity” very much, so I went with my friends to the Game Center, where there were Guitar and Drum Mania games. These also had songs of “Do As Infinity”, so I played them. Around that time, I became interested in playing the Guitar myself, and my first covers on the Guitar were songs from “Do As Infinity”.
— How was playing the guitar?
I thought, that’s impossible. But because I bought a guitar after all, I had no choice but to use it… So I practiced playing desperately.
— What were your feelings the moment you got your hand on your very first guitar?
Don’t you start by touching it? Then I thought, I can’t do this (laugh). I didn’t think I’d be able to actually play it. It wasn’t the guitar life I imagined.
— Despite all that, why did you decide to not give up and keep playing the guitar?
I was very busy with studying, grading was said to be very strict for entering high school. I thought of entering high school by recommendation, so I practiced with my guitar desperately and got an audition from the office, so I gave all my best for practising so I could enter high school by recommendation.
— In that time, did you play with a band?
In my second year of middle school, I was playing together with students from my class. At first, I was the only one playing the guitar, so my friends said, “I also want to play something!”. It felt like I was assigning the other instruments apart from the guitar (laugh).
— When you first made music all together, how was it?
I thought, wow! And in order to get more opinions, I wanted to link with the band of upperclassmen.
— When was the first time you stood on stage?
In my second year of middle school, I applied to the Yamaha Music Festival and passed the audition.
— What was it like performing in public for the first time?
My hands were shaking from tension. And before the performance, my strap came off, so I could not use my own guitar (bitter laugh). I had to use a guitar from the Yamaha staff. Moreover, I then got mentioned in a magazine called “Go! Go! Guitar”, but not with my own guitar…
— When did you start writing songs?
Around the age of 15.
— What was your motive?
With my former band, I should have made songs already, thinking about the future, it is important to be able to write songs. I was learning by myself, but then I made a detour to learn making songs efficiently. I came to think, having a person teaching me it not a waste of time. That’s because I really respected my teacher, we matched 99%, that’s why I believed in him.
— What was your goal as a guitarist after that?
More than a bandsman, I want to be a musician. I want to establish as a guitarist.
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I wonder if I grasp the main point. The distribution for various things is… It became clear where to put effort into and where not.
— During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
It’s like I said before. Because we have been together for the last 2 years now, there are things you can feel even without talking about it, and I think we grew together more concerning the band.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
For our bodies, I think it will be very tough. And to make this tour a success, we will have to support each other.
— And for the 3 months serial release starting in September, what is the concept?
With the release of「A PRIORI」in September, we’re attacking with a MEJIBRAY-ish song, which also turned out to be a very deep work.
— The in September released song「A PRIORI」is a thrilling and catchy song, which seems to blend with your works up to this point. For me personally,「XV-」did throughly resound in my heart.
The athmosphere of「XV-」is darker than「Shuuei」or「DECADANCE - Counting Goats…if I can’t be yours-」.
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
This year, we seem to be spurting alot, but I would like you to look forward to our works and realeases, and also towards the next year.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
There are no summer memories in particular apart from having alot of Lives.
— When did you start listening to music?
That must have been around my first year in middleschool. I liked “Do As Infinity” very much, so I went with my friends to the Game Center, where there were Guitar and Drum Mania games. These also had songs of “Do As Infinity”, so I played them. Around that time, I became interested in playing the Guitar myself, and my first covers on the Guitar were songs from “Do As Infinity”.
— How was playing the guitar?
I thought, that’s impossible. But because I bought a guitar after all, I had no choice but to use it… So I practiced playing desperately.
— What were your feelings the moment you got your hand on your very first guitar?
Don’t you start by touching it? Then I thought, I can’t do this (laugh). I didn’t think I’d be able to actually play it. It wasn’t the guitar life I imagined.
— Despite all that, why did you decide to not give up and keep playing the guitar?
I was very busy with studying, grading was said to be very strict for entering high school. I thought of entering high school by recommendation, so I practiced with my guitar desperately and got an audition from the office, so I gave all my best for practising so I could enter high school by recommendation.
— In that time, did you play with a band?
In my second year of middle school, I was playing together with students from my class. At first, I was the only one playing the guitar, so my friends said, “I also want to play something!”. It felt like I was assigning the other instruments apart from the guitar (laugh).
— When you first made music all together, how was it?
I thought, wow! And in order to get more opinions, I wanted to link with the band of upperclassmen.
— When was the first time you stood on stage?
In my second year of middle school, I applied to the Yamaha Music Festival and passed the audition.
— What was it like performing in public for the first time?
My hands were shaking from tension. And before the performance, my strap came off, so I could not use my own guitar (bitter laugh). I had to use a guitar from the Yamaha staff. Moreover, I then got mentioned in a magazine called “Go! Go! Guitar”, but not with my own guitar…
— When did you start writing songs?
Around the age of 15.
— What was your motive?
With my former band, I should have made songs already, thinking about the future, it is important to be able to write songs. I was learning by myself, but then I made a detour to learn making songs efficiently. I came to think, having a person teaching me it not a waste of time. That’s because I really respected my teacher, we matched 99%, that’s why I believed in him.
— What was your goal as a guitarist after that?
More than a bandsman, I want to be a musician. I want to establish as a guitarist.
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I wonder if I grasp the main point. The distribution for various things is… It became clear where to put effort into and where not.
— During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
It’s like I said before. Because we have been together for the last 2 years now, there are things you can feel even without talking about it, and I think we grew together more concerning the band.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
For our bodies, I think it will be very tough. And to make this tour a success, we will have to support each other.
— And for the 3 months serial release starting in September, what is the concept?
With the release of「A PRIORI」in September, we’re attacking with a MEJIBRAY-ish song, which also turned out to be a very deep work.
— The in September released song「A PRIORI」is a thrilling and catchy song, which seems to blend with your works up to this point. For me personally,「XV-」did throughly resound in my heart.
The athmosphere of「XV-」is darker than「Shuuei」or「DECADANCE - Counting Goats…if I can’t be yours-」.
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
This year, we seem to be spurting alot, but I would like you to look forward to our works and realeases, and also towards the next year.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
There are no summer memories in particular apart from having alot of Lives.
Koichi
Personal Interview「About Music」
— When did you start listening to music?
I’ve always been surrounded by music when driving in the car with my parents, also did my father really love music, played the guitar and bass himself. So eversince I was little and before I could really come aware of it, music was always there. And because my father played the guitar, I always thought of guitarplaying as something amazing, and we just had all the necessary equipment at home.
— When did you start getting interested in making music yourself?
When I was 17 years old, I had a traffic accident, which made me stop riding my bike and so I layed my hand on the bass instead. I wanted to lead a life by bothering as little people as possible, and I thought about what I wanted to do. I always tried to stand out, and so I wanted to join a Visual Kei band, playing the bass. My father told me eversince I was little, “The bass is the most delicate instrument”, so I really had no other chance than to start playing the bass.
— Why did you come to like Visual Kei?
There were always alot of Visual Kei bands on the TV and I thought, “Visual Kei is really amazing!” You can easily tell by looking, but I wanted to have long, pink hair and alot of piercings. I considered, “How can I show the outer appearence of myself that I like?”, and that’s why I finally decided on Visual Kei.
— You always liked the color pink, didn’t you?
It has been my favourite color eversince I was a little child.
— The moment you put your hands on a bass, did you immediately want to join a band?
A friend simply invited me arbitrarily. And it feels like that’s how I’ve come up to this point, arbitrarily.
— When you played music together for the first time, what did it feel like?
I somehow thought, I’m different from the others (laugh). Because they didn’t do their make-up or dye their hair, nor did the illumination kick in. In that phase I felt different, but when we stood on stage, I thought, “That’s it!”.
— Do you remember the first time you ever stood on stage?
When my make was done, I had a strong feeling of “This is how I want to spent my life”. But I wasn’t really that nervous, I just wanted to quickly start with our performance.
— What is your goal as a bassist for the future?
My life motto is to live the utmost avant-garde, which applies to my outer appearence, lifestyle and being on stage. I want to be an avant-garde bassist in every way.
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I want to refine every single Live, want to get better and better. Being on stage of Akasaka BLITZ last time was like the utmost avant-garde. The tour was packed with a huge amount of Lives, which all lead up to this Finale performance. And I think with an eye toward the Finale, we were able to do a good step towards amazing Lives.
— During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
I think this thing called sense of unity, which we are told to lack, was definitely present. This strong sense of unity among the four of us made me wonder if some kind of rebirth for us happened. Though everyone of us is acting out of egoism, we are producing one sound as one band, all the more we should not concentrate on our egoism. But the sense of unity among us is building up little by little, making me feel like we were reborn.
— That sounds just like the way you are.
That’s right. I think we built up a sense of unity among us that’s different from any other band.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
The Live at Shibuya O-EAST will be terrific (laugh).
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
I don’t know in what way I will change someday, so I want you to always look at the present. To say it exaggeratedly, I don’t know if I will be dead tomorrow, so please look at me today.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
Koichi VS UV (ultra-violet rays)
— When did you start listening to music?
I’ve always been surrounded by music when driving in the car with my parents, also did my father really love music, played the guitar and bass himself. So eversince I was little and before I could really come aware of it, music was always there. And because my father played the guitar, I always thought of guitarplaying as something amazing, and we just had all the necessary equipment at home.
— When did you start getting interested in making music yourself?
When I was 17 years old, I had a traffic accident, which made me stop riding my bike and so I layed my hand on the bass instead. I wanted to lead a life by bothering as little people as possible, and I thought about what I wanted to do. I always tried to stand out, and so I wanted to join a Visual Kei band, playing the bass. My father told me eversince I was little, “The bass is the most delicate instrument”, so I really had no other chance than to start playing the bass.
— Why did you come to like Visual Kei?
There were always alot of Visual Kei bands on the TV and I thought, “Visual Kei is really amazing!” You can easily tell by looking, but I wanted to have long, pink hair and alot of piercings. I considered, “How can I show the outer appearence of myself that I like?”, and that’s why I finally decided on Visual Kei.
— You always liked the color pink, didn’t you?
It has been my favourite color eversince I was a little child.
— The moment you put your hands on a bass, did you immediately want to join a band?
A friend simply invited me arbitrarily. And it feels like that’s how I’ve come up to this point, arbitrarily.
— When you played music together for the first time, what did it feel like?
I somehow thought, I’m different from the others (laugh). Because they didn’t do their make-up or dye their hair, nor did the illumination kick in. In that phase I felt different, but when we stood on stage, I thought, “That’s it!”.
— Do you remember the first time you ever stood on stage?
When my make was done, I had a strong feeling of “This is how I want to spent my life”. But I wasn’t really that nervous, I just wanted to quickly start with our performance.
— What is your goal as a bassist for the future?
My life motto is to live the utmost avant-garde, which applies to my outer appearence, lifestyle and being on stage. I want to be an avant-garde bassist in every way.
— Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I want to refine every single Live, want to get better and better. Being on stage of Akasaka BLITZ last time was like the utmost avant-garde. The tour was packed with a huge amount of Lives, which all lead up to this Finale performance. And I think with an eye toward the Finale, we were able to do a good step towards amazing Lives.
— During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
I think this thing called sense of unity, which we are told to lack, was definitely present. This strong sense of unity among the four of us made me wonder if some kind of rebirth for us happened. Though everyone of us is acting out of egoism, we are producing one sound as one band, all the more we should not concentrate on our egoism. But the sense of unity among us is building up little by little, making me feel like we were reborn.
— That sounds just like the way you are.
That’s right. I think we built up a sense of unity among us that’s different from any other band.
— Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
The Live at Shibuya O-EAST will be terrific (laugh).
— Finally, please leave a message for the readers.
I don’t know in what way I will change someday, so I want you to always look at the present. To say it exaggeratedly, I don’t know if I will be dead tomorrow, so please look at me today.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
Koichi VS UV (ultra-violet rays)
Meto
Personal Interview「About Music」
-- Could you please tell us how you joined MEJIBRAY?
Tsuzuku approached me, who had nothing.
-- And after that, what was your aim as a drummer?
It’s not about being drummer Meto, it’s about being MEJIBRAY’s drummer Meto. But my aim is to be known as MEJIBRAY’s cool drummer.
-- Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I definitely want to get better and be a musician, but also, after this tour, my answer is, I don’t want to be drummer for any other band than MEJIBRAY. And for the sake of MEJIBRAY, I want to play the drums well. I understand, that I can exist because I am Meto of MEJIBRAY, and I also understand, that it now doesn’t apply to the private person Meto. [Don’t understand what he means here.]
-- During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
With only this tour, there have been various things to become aware of and to think about each other I guess, butespecially with the Finale at Akasaka BLITZ, I came to think, is this alright? When watching the others from behind, I see them getting better and better each day passing, watching their cool shape, I want to give my best as well and compete with them.
-- You are each other’s rival, aren’t you?
I’ve always been thinking about that as something like our theme.
-- Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
Because I want MEJIBRAY to grow, I also want the private person Meto to grow. To be able to stand firmly when being shown in public, I want to work hard. Concerning the tour, whatever live house we play in, I want us to keep getting better.
-- Finally, please give a message to the readers.
We are who we are, uncomparable to other bands.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
There are none in particular.
-- Could you please tell us how you joined MEJIBRAY?
Tsuzuku approached me, who had nothing.
-- And after that, what was your aim as a drummer?
It’s not about being drummer Meto, it’s about being MEJIBRAY’s drummer Meto. But my aim is to be known as MEJIBRAY’s cool drummer.
-- Have there been any changes or achievements with your latest「BLITZ of MESSIAH」tour Finale in Akasaka BLITZ?
I definitely want to get better and be a musician, but also, after this tour, my answer is, I don’t want to be drummer for any other band than MEJIBRAY. And for the sake of MEJIBRAY, I want to play the drums well. I understand, that I can exist because I am Meto of MEJIBRAY, and I also understand, that it now doesn’t apply to the private person Meto. [Don’t understand what he means here.]
-- During the tour, have you seen changes or such concerning the other members?
With only this tour, there have been various things to become aware of and to think about each other I guess, butespecially with the Finale at Akasaka BLITZ, I came to think, is this alright? When watching the others from behind, I see them getting better and better each day passing, watching their cool shape, I want to give my best as well and compete with them.
-- You are each other’s rival, aren’t you?
I’ve always been thinking about that as something like our theme.
-- Furthermore, what will the upcoming countrywide tour「A PRIORI poem - prologue-Counting Goats-」with 30 performances, starting in October, be like?
Because I want MEJIBRAY to grow, I also want the private person Meto to grow. To be able to stand firmly when being shown in public, I want to work hard. Concerning the tour, whatever live house we play in, I want us to keep getting better.
-- Finally, please give a message to the readers.
We are who we are, uncomparable to other bands.
<Extra Question> What are your summer memories?
There are none in particular.