Ure Pia interview (04/05/2014)
Together
with MEJIBRAY’s mascot “Ruana-chan” we looked through the 3 years of activities
of the band.
MEJIBRAY - releasing single collection “SM” on 7th of May and 7 metropolis one-man tour on 16th, moreover holding memorial one-man LIVE in Zepp DiverCity on 6th of June.
I wanted to look through those 3 years with members, but since they are really busy, I will interview their stuffed bear “Ruana-chan”!
- Since members are really busy at this time, I’d like to talk with Ruana-chan, who is always performing with members….
Ruana: It’s ok. Nice to meet you.
- Thank you very much. It’s quite unexpected wish, but I think I’d like to look through past years of activities of MEJIBRAY, who are celebrating their 3rd anniversary. From your point of view, Ruana-san, what kind of band were newly formed MEJIBRAY?
Ruana: I felt “The most standing out members of other bands have gathered”. One year from the forming was really full of hard moments. Many times I also thought “It’s useless”
- Indeed it must have been hard. But in the end of 2011, around release of mini album “Slivers.exe”, the popularity kept gradually rising, am I right?
Ruana: I think that around the release of 1st full album “Emotional 【KARMA】” their situation began to change. And then, when they have released two singles “Sadisgate” and “EMILY” in September and October, they were able to show their different face, weren’t they?
- It was really amazing, how they released three works, starting from “Emotional 【KARMA】” , in such a short period of time.
But Ure Pia had this opportunity to write a review of band’s LIVE in Shinjuku BLAZE, autumn 2012. Comparing it to venues in which you previously made one-mans –Shibuya O-WEST and Ikebukuro Black Hall – BLAZE is a really big venue. It was like a gamble.
Ruana: It doesn’t matter where we play, but that we play together. Playing in Shibuya O-WEST was also a gamble, and Ikebukuro Black Hall for MEJIBRAY from that times was also a gamble – this is what I thought. But MEJIBRAY is a band, who risks the game all the time!
- Oh that is for sure. And in January and February of 2013 you also released two works in row “Avalon” and “Die Kusse”. “Avalon” is a work, which changed known so far image of MEJIBRAY.
Ruana: I am happy that we released “Avalon” at this time.
- And what do you mean by this?
Ruana: It wouldn’t be good if we released it faster at that time. Postponing release wouldn’t create good results either. But after a year from the release, we are told “Please, play ‘Avalon’ during LIVE”.
Frankly speaking, I think we can create “a violent song, which would move audience” , being a band for venues in capacity of 1000 people. But there is no option for us to play without wide range of various elements different than this (moving the audience).
- Ruana-san, you put things really frankly… (wry smile)
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking! Please, don’t take it too seriously.
- But you also played in Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. Speaking of which, it was an event, where you’ve been “collecting ideas for meto’s bear’s name”, right?
Ruana: Right right, because I wanted a name. We received about 1800 responses? I was really happy. If there are my goods, there is a name.
- You’re honest… (wry smile)
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking!
- At this time, you were also on a long tour.
Ruana: My travel during long tour was hard. I was pushed into the car, being members’ pillow…
- That…
Ruana: Sometimes when I went to fast walk, members were all in panic “There’s no Ruana!”, which was funny.
- I think I’d like to talk a bit also about single collection “SM” released on 7th of May. Please, tell my why have you decided to release “best” album?
Ruana: MEJIBRAY’s color isn’t clear and you can’t precise it easily, moreover there wasn’t even one piece, which would say “This is MEJIBRAY”. I think that “SM” will become business card of MEJIBRAY.
- And what is the meaning of “SM”?
Ruana: Amazing MEJIBRAY (Sugoi Mejibray).
- !?
Ruana: It’s a joke. In real it’s a secret. Well, in many jokes members are saying “This is how MEJIBRAY are” (Sorette Mejibray), “This is MEJIBRAY” (Sore ga MEJIBRAY), “Great MEJIBRAY” (Subarashii Mejibray).
- “Cute MEJIBRAY” (Sutekina Mejibray), “Super MEJIBRAY” are also “SM”.
Ruana: Well, it can has many meanings.
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking!
Ruana: For some time Punch-san (manager) is a vocalist! Isn’t it a bit silly? He’s like me and members!
I somehow lost motivation! Is it ok, if I go smoke?
- Eh? Please, wait a bit! I wanted to talk about Zepp DiverCity’s one-man on 6th of June…
Ruana: Write that “Ruana changes into giant and fights Daiba’s Gundam!”
- Whaat~!?
Ruana: Members are dying to play there, so stay tuned!
Mr. Ito, manager: Hey! Ruana!
Since manager and Ruana went somewhere, we will end this interview right here.
MEJIBRAY - releasing single collection “SM” on 7th of May and 7 metropolis one-man tour on 16th, moreover holding memorial one-man LIVE in Zepp DiverCity on 6th of June.
I wanted to look through those 3 years with members, but since they are really busy, I will interview their stuffed bear “Ruana-chan”!
- Since members are really busy at this time, I’d like to talk with Ruana-chan, who is always performing with members….
Ruana: It’s ok. Nice to meet you.
- Thank you very much. It’s quite unexpected wish, but I think I’d like to look through past years of activities of MEJIBRAY, who are celebrating their 3rd anniversary. From your point of view, Ruana-san, what kind of band were newly formed MEJIBRAY?
Ruana: I felt “The most standing out members of other bands have gathered”. One year from the forming was really full of hard moments. Many times I also thought “It’s useless”
- Indeed it must have been hard. But in the end of 2011, around release of mini album “Slivers.exe”, the popularity kept gradually rising, am I right?
Ruana: I think that around the release of 1st full album “Emotional 【KARMA】” their situation began to change. And then, when they have released two singles “Sadisgate” and “EMILY” in September and October, they were able to show their different face, weren’t they?
- It was really amazing, how they released three works, starting from “Emotional 【KARMA】” , in such a short period of time.
But Ure Pia had this opportunity to write a review of band’s LIVE in Shinjuku BLAZE, autumn 2012. Comparing it to venues in which you previously made one-mans –Shibuya O-WEST and Ikebukuro Black Hall – BLAZE is a really big venue. It was like a gamble.
Ruana: It doesn’t matter where we play, but that we play together. Playing in Shibuya O-WEST was also a gamble, and Ikebukuro Black Hall for MEJIBRAY from that times was also a gamble – this is what I thought. But MEJIBRAY is a band, who risks the game all the time!
- Oh that is for sure. And in January and February of 2013 you also released two works in row “Avalon” and “Die Kusse”. “Avalon” is a work, which changed known so far image of MEJIBRAY.
Ruana: I am happy that we released “Avalon” at this time.
- And what do you mean by this?
Ruana: It wouldn’t be good if we released it faster at that time. Postponing release wouldn’t create good results either. But after a year from the release, we are told “Please, play ‘Avalon’ during LIVE”.
Frankly speaking, I think we can create “a violent song, which would move audience” , being a band for venues in capacity of 1000 people. But there is no option for us to play without wide range of various elements different than this (moving the audience).
- Ruana-san, you put things really frankly… (wry smile)
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking! Please, don’t take it too seriously.
- But you also played in Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. Speaking of which, it was an event, where you’ve been “collecting ideas for meto’s bear’s name”, right?
Ruana: Right right, because I wanted a name. We received about 1800 responses? I was really happy. If there are my goods, there is a name.
- You’re honest… (wry smile)
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking!
- At this time, you were also on a long tour.
Ruana: My travel during long tour was hard. I was pushed into the car, being members’ pillow…
- That…
Ruana: Sometimes when I went to fast walk, members were all in panic “There’s no Ruana!”, which was funny.
- I think I’d like to talk a bit also about single collection “SM” released on 7th of May. Please, tell my why have you decided to release “best” album?
Ruana: MEJIBRAY’s color isn’t clear and you can’t precise it easily, moreover there wasn’t even one piece, which would say “This is MEJIBRAY”. I think that “SM” will become business card of MEJIBRAY.
- And what is the meaning of “SM”?
Ruana: Amazing MEJIBRAY (Sugoi Mejibray).
- !?
Ruana: It’s a joke. In real it’s a secret. Well, in many jokes members are saying “This is how MEJIBRAY are” (Sorette Mejibray), “This is MEJIBRAY” (Sore ga MEJIBRAY), “Great MEJIBRAY” (Subarashii Mejibray).
- “Cute MEJIBRAY” (Sutekina Mejibray), “Super MEJIBRAY” are also “SM”.
Ruana: Well, it can has many meanings.
Mr. Ito, manager: Well, because it’s bear speaking!
Ruana: For some time Punch-san (manager) is a vocalist! Isn’t it a bit silly? He’s like me and members!
I somehow lost motivation! Is it ok, if I go smoke?
- Eh? Please, wait a bit! I wanted to talk about Zepp DiverCity’s one-man on 6th of June…
Ruana: Write that “Ruana changes into giant and fights Daiba’s Gundam!”
- Whaat~!?
Ruana: Members are dying to play there, so stay tuned!
Mr. Ito, manager: Hey! Ruana!
Since manager and Ruana went somewhere, we will end this interview right here.