What kind
of band were you playing in at the time?
After high school was over I joined a band when I was nineteen. It was me
and the vocalist playing Visual Kei together. I didn’t know a lot about Visual
Kei at the time, but I was interested in it. Rock was the main style I could
play, like really fast playing and that seemed to be a feature of Visual Kei,
so I knew this definitely wasn’t pop music. To begin with, I didn’t fit the
pattern (laugh). I thought that every part of the music had to be Visual Kei.
So we started playing in that style. Next we wanted a drummer and bassist. I
was working part time in a games centre when this guy with pink hair came in. I
recognised him from setting up and carrying cases and equipment in live houses.
I thought to myself “I have no choice but to talk to him” (laugh).This was how
I first met Ko-ki. I asked him if he plays drums really casually and out of the
blue (laugh). I invited him out to eat when I was finished work. I told him we
wanted to write our own music and showed him the type of sound we were going
for . He loved it and wanted to join us ( laugh). We found a bassist and
keyboard player soon after but we broke up after about a year and a half.
Why as
that?
We were playing seriously but we couldn’t fill Rokumeikan, which holds 80
people, when we played a one man live there.
I thought to myself and realised that this wasn’t where I wanted to be
after a year and a half of playing. I wanted to play in a band that’d make me
famous by the time I’m 25. So I thought about it and came to the conclusion
that we should disband. I played guitar as support for bands for a while and I
thought that I wouldn’t play Visual Kei anymore . I thought it was harder for Visual
Kei bands stood out more and expressed themselves. But then I heard that IV and
Ko-ki had formed a new band. At first I was sceptical about it because I didn’t
have the enthusiasm they had and all three of them – IV, Ko-ki and Ryouga
- lived together. But I eventually came
around to the idea. They’re all amazing guys who seemed to be willing to take
risks. So once again I took the challenge of a Visual Kei band. That’s how
Vivid began to take shape.
You must’ve
gotten a lot of satisfaction out of playing lives for 80 people with fans
really enjoying the music.
Yeah. Sure, having girls scream for you onstage is just part of it, but for
the most part it was improving on guitar. Around that time I’d come home and
just practice guitar. I’d completely forget about going out with friends
(laugh). Some guys in other bands who we played lives with were a lot better
than me on guitar and I couldn’t stand it. I said out loud that they were really good,
but I thought to myself that I could do better. So I kept practicing without
fail.
How
apathetic.
But then I started forgetting to go out with other people. If I had the
chance, I’d normally go out. But say I thought I had too much fun one day, the
next day I’d make up for it by staying up all night and practicing for ten
hours. I started to feel that music was starting to take over my life
completely, but now I think I’ve found a balance.
That’s a
good way to think of it. So after this, so you think that Vivid’s music was
coming together more smoothly?
We made our
major debut after two years [1], all our
oneman shows sell out completely and we’re getting ready to play Budoukan [2]. Looking
at it all, I can’t help but feel so much. I think we’re doing really well. Each
of us has his own insecurities, but by combining our strength we were able to
lead each other . Each member has their moments when they need motivation or
when they’re feeling depressed. We’ve been together for two years so we’re able
to talk to each other easily, and that helps us get through our ups and downs.
In times of
crisis, what do you all do to get past it?
There are a lot of times when one of us feels they don’t have that much
self confidence. When those times happen, we have to all get together and think
for an instant “wow, we’re a really great band!” That’s what helps us get
through it. For example, if we’re playing an event [3] with our label
mates, of course competitiveness over popularity is going to happen and
everyone will get really competitive. But all of us hate competition.
Competition over practicing, over who writes the best songs, it all gets a bit
too much. One person shifts the blame and everyone thinks we ‘re all like that.
If we create a bubble to stop thinking like that, we can overcome it.
You all
sound so positive. So how did it feel to go major in January 2010?
Vivid was formed in March 2009 and
by November we were playing oneman in
Shibuya O-WEST. Immediately after our manager brought us into the office and
told us we definitely had to go major. When we heard we weren’t completely over
the moon or ecstatic. We were all very calm about the idea. We thought that
going major meant writing more poppy songs instead of rock songs and ballads.
It sounds
like an ideal way to go major. So what do you have planned for Vivid now?
It’s hard to say. Do we really want to be a flattering type of band? To me,
we have a young, pretty boy type of image going for us. That’s good but I think
we’ve failed at being a manlier band, which is where I want us to go. Are we
essentially a rock band? Vivid is a band that changes direction and attacks the
core of what we are as a band. We are a rock band with Shin fronting us and we
will continue like that until we don’t get along with each other anymore. I
want us to keep going, writing great songs.
Surely you
can change your image bit by bit?
Yeah. We’re changing our stage costumes and things like that to fit the
idea. We’re trying to break away from the stereotype of having the guitarist
who plays on the right side of the stage showing thigh like we used to do. We
don’t want to be known for that. Lately I’ve over half of the compliments I’ve
been getting from fans have been about my guitar playing. In the future I hope
that no matter where I stand on stage, I don’t have to show my thighs off
(laugh). I want to put reliable sounds
and emotions into the music and I want to play real technical stuff too but I
have to get rid of any hindrances like that that stop people from hearing that.
By deciding to copy costumes and go for the androgynous look you’re focusing
more on the look than the music. A typical example is during a live when you’re
sweating and your hair’s a mess. I don’t want to have to bother about than when
I’m concentrating on playing. I’m focusing on the essence of the music but I
don’t think that’s what it’s about now. I have respect for guitarists who
genuinely focus on guitar, who let out their emotions through playing and
facial expression. That’s what I want to be like. From now on I want to work on
playing like that.
That sounds
fun. Now, to find out a little bit more about your personality, what do you do
on days off?
What, apart from playing guitar?
Yes.
Drinking (laugh).
What?
That’s it?!
Yeah. I’m sorry, but it really is just that (laugh). I used to play
videogames but I stopped a while ago. But seriously, all I do is play guitar
and drink (laugh). Beer, whiskey, wine, sake… anything’s good really. When I go
out drinking I always start with beer, then I switch to double whiskey on the
rocks. I like red wine and I usually drink around one bottle. But I drink that
at home (laugh). I stay at home alone drinking and listening to music, then
when I’m in the right mood I’ll take up my guitar and play bitchin’ music when
I’m drunk (laugh). That’s what I do
daily (laugh).
That’s
brilliant (laugh). So, if you had a week off what would you do?
I want to go to a hot spring. I want to
go to Hakone and soak in the water (laugh). If I had a week off I’d want to
play guitar so of course I’d take that with me. But I don’t want a long holiday
right now. Maybe if I did have one, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I
always do the same things in the end; drinking and playing guitar. It’s all I
know what to do (laugh).
Oh, really?
(Laugh) You said today that you want to contend with the imagery towards Vivid.
Given that your personal life wasn’t that quiet, do you think that’d the way to
go?
Yeah. There were a lot of frustrations with the whole drama when I transferred in high
schools, but I think it was a good experience. It was a load of shit but it
helped form my personality and who I am today as well as influence how I
perform musically. I want someone in the general public to hear Vivid in their
living room and have us inspire them into
forming a band like us. I want to work towards Vivid being that kind of
band. I don’t want to change the meaning of the motto “guitar = life” at all.
For me, guitar is my destiny and it will be that way throughout my life. Guitar
is my life, and I want to keep pouring my love and passion into playing.
Translator's notes:
[1]Their major
debut was this year with the release of , [Yume] ~mugen no kanata~ with Epic Records on
19/01/2010
[2] “TAKE OFF~
Birth to the NEW WORLD~” which took part on 07/01/2012
[3] A
live event where several bands play together, usually of the same label but not always. Fans tell the person at the ticket desk which band they are going to see and at the end of the event the numbers are added up to see who has accumulated the most tickets or votes. Whoever has the most votes wins the taiban.
Thank you so much for translating this <3
ReplyDeleteAnd btw their major debut was in 2011 :)
Thanks a lot for the 2nd part of the interview!!! ;)
ReplyDelete