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HYDE INTERVIEW
читать дальшеQ: ‘GET AWAY/THE JOLLY ROGER’ is soon to be released. It’s your firstsingle in a year and a half!
H: Really (laughs)? I had no idea it’s been that long. There’s so much Ihave to do at the moment, it hadn’t even crossed my mind.
Q: Usually, what sort of timing do you go into ‘song-writing mode’?
H: When I start planning the year’s schedule and think “this is thedeadline for song writing”. I don’t really like writing songs (laughs). I’m notthe type of person who’s like “I have some time to spare, shall I write asong?” so I need a deadline to push me.
Q: I guess your creative motivations are not only for song writing but amore total aspect of producing the band’s activities? Like you’d decide whatsort of activities the band itself wants to do and then what’s required for it?
H: Yes, I guess. I usually decide what sort of lives to play that year,what to do next, and how to achieve that. So depending on the general directionthe band takes that year, the songs we write will be affected too.
Q: Of the two tracks for your new single – “THE JOLLY ROGER” was writtenfirst? This was used as a tie-in for the Nissan vehicles advert right?
H: Yes. The offer for the tie-in came at the end of last year, so it wasquite a tight deadline. It was a bit rushed, because we needed at least thechorus part ready for the on-air timing of the advert. And then we finallymanaged to complete the song this year. We had the overall shape of the trackat the time that we had the chorus for the advert, but the initial version wasmore digital, and less suited for everyone to sing along to. When we consideredplaying it live and how we wanted the fans to sing along, we decided to ignorewhat we had and just used the basics of the chorus for the completed version ofthe song. K.A.Z still says that the first version is better (laughs). But Iwanted a song that would be exciting played live.
Q: “THE JOLLY ROGER” is the name given to the pirate flag. How did you comeup with this image?
H: I thought about a song that we’d all want to sing together during ourlives… I always want everyone to enjoy our lives as they wish, and to do whatthey want to do… not like when all the fans do the same movement – I don’tthink that’s very cool. But I think it’s a sort of cultural thing, so I thoughtin that case, how about we actually make a song that will actually make peopledo something together? In a sense that’s also exciting and gives us a unitedfeel. I thought that was pirate-like – unity under one flag, battling together.Since we often have the skull motif on-stage during our lives, It’s almost like“everyone gather! Come together under VAMPS!”. I wanted the song to portraythat.
Q: The lyrics have a line “Fight below the flag we know”. What are youfighting?
H: I think it’s more the idea of VAMPS continuing to challenge things. Atthe moment we’re trying to ‘conquer’ Europe, so maybe that’s what we’re aimingtowards?
Q: Like trying to conquer the seven seas. How about “GET AWAY” which waswritten by K.A.Z?
H: I think we finished writing each of our tracks at the same time. We wereworking on it individually, but as soon as I heard it, it was like “Wow great track!Accepted! Done!” (laughs). I like the B-melo – the bit where it goes “3, 2, 1~”.It’s a little 80s-ish. I didn’t even participate in much of the arranging ofthis track. It was pretty much complete from the beginning. I only did thelyrics and vocals.
Q: Did K.A.Z have any specific orders regarding the lyrics?
H: No. And actually, we didn’t really have anything to say about eachother’swork at all this time (laughs). I think we’re past that stage now, we trusteach other to do our thing.
Q: So you wrote the lyrics completely based on the images you yourselfderived from the song?
H: Yes. I listened to it several times and then thought carefully aboutwhat sort of image I got from it. You know the film “The Graduate”? I came upwith the image from the film where he runs off with the bride. That was thestarting point, so the title I gave it was simply “GET AWAY”, meaning escape.However, the image of escape and taking someone away was perfect, but the songdidn’t quite fit the entire image of that film, it had to have a more modernand urban feel. So I next thought of “Blade runner”, which also ends with anescape scene. But it’s more futuristic and fitted the song better. That gave me a base to build on.
Q: There are cyber-esque words in the lyrics too.
H: Yeah, words like that are scattered around in the lyrics. But in theend, it’s simply about taking a girl and escaping (laughing).
Q: (laughs) Just like that.
H: I think there are moments in life where you have to cease theopportunity. Like the lyrics when “the world CLASHes” (NB I think he means“crashes”). Small things can lead to major events these days, like moments whenyou’re whole life is turned upside down. That was what I was going for, togetherwith a cyber-esque feel.
Q: Is that a desire of yours? Do you want your world to change, or do youwant to break the conventions of the world today?
H: No. although I’m sure I used to have moments like that before. Havingsaid that, there are moments like in everyday life. For example, you’re sittingin a meeting where your one comment changes the mood of the meeting entirely. Evenif you’re worried that the mood changes, you make the comment and press on it becauseyou have a reason behind it, and you believe in what you want. I think thesong’s about having the will and courage to change something yourself.
Q: That’s quite a strong message isn’t it?
H: I don’t think it’s a message as such. It’s more like a suggestion of“how about you try something like that?” or “what if you did something likethat?”. My words aren’t meant to tell the listener what to do, it’s simply wordsthat I come up with. So I don’t intend it as a message as such (laughs). Evenif I write something righteous it doesn’t mean I’m living up to it. A humanbeing is always conflicted between their ideas and reality. You may be able todo one thing one day and not the next. People change all the time. So even ifit’s wrong, having your own sense of reality and perspectives is what I thinkleads to the listeners embracing the song and lyrics. They can fit themselvesas the main character of the story and share the feelings with the song.
Q: What does this song mean to you?
H: It’s an invitation to our summer gig. It’s also an invitation to ouralbum (laughs).
Q: Ooh! Can we really look forward to the album this year?
H: Sure, that’s why we’re practically dying at the moment writing songs(laughs).
Q: So for you, the single is an introductory guide to the album?
H: Yes. In a way, our singles are like the top students in the class(laughs). They’re the special ones. They get different treatment, in the sensethat they get an MV, they’re featured differently, and have to be social withthe public. They don’t always have to behave though, they can be as naughty asthey want. But they have a strong personality, and are easy to introduce toothers. The singles are the ones that give the public an image of VAMPS, alongwith the MV. People who don’t know us receive the image of the band by themovies they see of them, so singles are very important.
Q: You mentioned it before, but what is the overall schedule or activitiesof the band this year?
H: We’re fighting hard for the album. And then that leads to our live shows.We’re making the album based on what we want to play live – what’s exciting. Ithink it’s too early for us to settle down.
Q: You want to keep pushing your live performances?
H: When we go abroad that’s what our main activities are. We have to havethe songs that make the audience go “WOW”. We need more and more songs likethat to become a “band that are best seen live”. On the otherhand, in Japan wehave to do our regular activities too (laughs). You know, release a goodsingle, maybe more songs in Japanese… But you know…
Q: Your thoughts tend to drift towards your overseas activities?
H: Not necessarily, we want to keep up both. There’s a Japanese sayingwhich says “those who chase two hares can catch neither” but you know… we haveto try and catch both right (laughs)?
Q: Please catch both of those hares! So this invitation to your summer gig,that’s your VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY right? It’s becoming an annual must forVAMPS.
H: Yeah it’s the third year we’ve held these events. We’d feel lost withoutit. It’s so much fun for us, it makes me think “I never liked the summer butthis is great!”. It’s also because it’s not a typical festival. It’s only forpeople who want to come and see VAMPS, everyone who comes has the same purpose.So there’s a sort of camaraderie. It’s exactly like the “everyone cometogether!” vibe of “THE JOLLY ROGER”. I’m really looking forward to it.
K.A.Z Interview
читать дальшеQ: The release of “GET AWAY/THE JOLLY ROGER” is coming up! We’ve beenwaiting a while.
K: Really? Has it been that long? Are you sure it’s not just you (laughs)?
Q: It’s been one year and a month!
K: I think traditionally it should be like that.
Q: True, many overseas artists don’t release anything for years…
К: See, we learnt after them (laughs)! But in all seriousness, I think it’sa bit too business-like to have a rule that we have to release an album peryear. Music becomes less fun when it becomes an obligation, and I think it’simpossible to keep making songs that way. Especially if we’re trying to spreadour music abroad. If we release an album, then play a Japanese tour, and then aglobal tour, it takes at least 2 years. And it also takes that long for eachtrack to sink in and become familiar. Of course there’s the internet, but onlythe people who know us will access our music. Most people in the world don’tknow who VAMPS are. I think our priority now is for people all around the worldto get to know us, and taking time to make ourselves known in each country.
Q: Taking more time to deliver each song?
K: Yes. For example, the Japanese “idol artists” in the past used to be sowell known because they had more time for their songs to reach the public, spreadand leave an impression. I know that times have changed, but for the onesmaking the music, it’s a bit sad that everything moves so fast.
Q: I understand. But I guess fans are always going to feel the desire tohear new music.
K: They’re asking for too much (laughs)! It’s only been one year and amonth right? We’ve still got plenty of time!
Q: Hahahaha! Eitherway it’s a long-awaited single! How about when you firstheard “THE JOLLY ROGER” when HYDE came up with it?
K: It’s speedy, and perfect for the advert. It’s vast and I really likedit. At the demo stage, the chorus was the same as now but the track itself wascompletely different. It’s very “rock band” now but the previous version wasmore digital sounding.
Q: HYDE-san was saying that you preferred the previous version.
K: That’s because the first time I heard the previous version, I found itrefreshing and different from our previous stuff. I like both of them now(laughs).
Q: Yes, let’s just keep it that way (laughs). How did you go about writing“GET AWAY”?
K: Um how did it go (laughs)? Process-wise, I can’t really remember. It’snot like I had a specific agenda or thoughts that it was based on. I just cameup with parts of it… and as I started to record the parts that I came up withon the computer, I developed the image and starting thinking up the otherparts. But I did have the image of the MV as the starting point. Like theflashy and vibrant first part. As the image stabilised, it sort of became whatit is now. In my case, I don’t just make something in one go. For this song, Icame up with the intro with the beats first, then the chorus. It doesn’t comein one flow for me. The parts just eventually come together.
Q: So you were writing other songs at the same time?
K: Yes. I’d usually be writing one song, get stuck on it and then work onanother song. If I work on one song for too long, I get stuck with my own imageof the song and it becomes difficult to break through that image. I have tocome up with some part of the song and familiarise myself with it or I can’tdevelop an image of it. So I put it on hold for a while, and then work onsomething else, and the next day I’ll listen to it again and go “Oh yeah, maybeI should do that!”. Song writing is all about inspiration. It’s impossible whenI have no inspiration.
Q: It’s almost like building many houses at the same time.
K: Yes definitely. Sometimes I think “actually, I’ll use this part on thatother song” and two songs merge into one. And then I’m like “Oh no! I need tomake an extra song now!” (laughs).
Q: Did “GET AWAY” take time to complete?
K: Not so long, but we did work on the details for a while. Its as if wehad the foundation and structure of the house, but then we had to work on theinner furnishings.
Q: It’s a very cool song, even to the small details.
K: It’s like a very layered rock song. It’s not too bright, it’s not toodark. It’s different.
Q: How about HYDE’s lyrics?
K: Words have their own power. It forms a link between the music and theMV. I usually think of the lyrics in terms of the way it sounds rather than theactual words – like how you can get the feel of a foreign song even if youdon’t understand the lyrics? It’s the same with this song, the words flow verywell.
Q: The words “GET AWAY” are also very easy on the ear.
K: Yes. Words are important for the actual sound of the music.
Q: What do you feel is the main appeal of this single?
K: I think it’s another side of VAMPS. It’s increased our variety of soundas well as showing our enthusiasm and motivation for going abroad. It’s like afresh new breeze.
Q: I think it was the same for “AHEAD/REPLAY”, but the two tracks for thissingle are opposites to each other too.
K: Yes. Angel and Devil, right (laughs)?
Q: You just pointed towards HYDE’s side of the room when you said “Devil”and gestured towards yourself when you said “Angel” (laughs)!
К: Well actually, this time I think I’m the devil. I think it’s better ifthere are two different angles in one single, like light and shadow. Thereneeds to be a balance.
Q: How about the album. Were you thinking about the album as you worked onthis single?
K: Either way we knew we had to work on an album this year. We’d bothstarted writing songs around November last year, so that’s finally coming toform.
Q: What sort of images do the other album tracks have?
K: We wanted songs that would be good performed live.
Q: Tell me, do you enjoy writing songs?
K: If the writing’s going well it’s enjoyable, if not it’s a struggle. WhenI write songs, I need to put myself in that mindset to concentrate. When Istart writing I stop communicating with the outside world. If not I just can’tget into it.
Q: And you’re in the middle of that now?
K: It’s been about 6 months! I think I'm going insane (laughs).
Q: But you’ll carry on.
K: We sort of have to. It’s like having lots of homework over the summerholidays.
Q: Or homework you have to do so you can HAVE a summer holiday?
K: Ah yes, exactly (laughs)!
Q: I guess you’re wanting to play these songs soon?
K: Definitely! New songs are always necessary, since every time there’s anew song the perception of a band can change a lot.
Q: I asked HYDE the same thing, but what does this single mean to you?
K: It’s like a trailer for our album. It introduces it. Although there maybe an unexpected plot turn when you actually hear the album (laughs).
Q: First get everyone excited with the single…
K: And then they’re all disappointed with the album (laughs).
Q: Surely not! What do you want the listeners to feel from the two tracks?
K: The deep and multi-layered nature of VAMPS (laughs). But seriously, Ithink they’re musically deep songs. It’s a little different, but it deliversVAMPS’ rock style very well.
Q: You’ll be playing both of them at the VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY?
K: Yes. “THE JOLLY ROGER” will sound fantastic outdoors. Everyone will gowild. With “GET AWAY”, maybe it should be played under the stars? I think itsuits an outdoors venue too.
Q: It’ll surely be great under the night sky. What does this annual BEASTPARTY mean to you?
K: It feels almost like a festival. Like a summer party. There are lots ofpeople looking forward to it, so it should be great, if the weather’s ok. In away I think we enjoy it more than the fans (laughs)!
HYDE Q&A
читать дальшеQ: What are you looking forward to this summer?
H: Our “VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY”. Last year I missed out on eating“flowing somen” (N.B. Flowing somen is a summery way of eating somen noodles,where you set up something similar to a roller coaster track made of bamboo,have water flowing in it, and you send little clusters of somen noodles down itso it swishes by the people eating it. The person then catches it with their chopsticksand eats it. I know, sounds strange right). After the show I was like “For onceI’m going to forget my non-carbs diet!” and was going to have some, but they’dalready disassembled it (laughs). I’d like to have some this year.
Q: Are you preparing anything for the summer?
H: Well I guess song writing is sort of preparation for the summer. We haveto work hard before we can enjoy ourselves.
Q: What’s a summer ‘must’?
H: Every summer, I sleep with an iced pillow. But actually I haven’tstarted using it this year – are we having a cooler summer this year?
Q: What’s your favourite summer food?
H: I like shaved ice but I’m on a non-sugar diet, so I’m thinking of waysof having it with non-sugar syrup. I saw on the internet that they had ahand-made recipe with strawberries, but it’s probably too luxurious, and notartificial-tasting enough.
Q: What do you wear during the summer?
H: I wear a T-shirt and loose pants. It’s like cool-biz (N.B. dressing down forthe summer).
Q: What songs do you like to listen to in the summer?
H: “Shonenjidai” (by Yousui Inoue – they covered this in last year’s summerlive). Also “Jikan yo tomare” (by Eikichi Yazawa). Oh and actually, you know“Waiting For You” by a band called OXO (An American band from the 80s)? Thatwas really summery and I loved it. That song has been in my head since youstarted asking me this question (laughs)!
K.A.Z Q&A
читать дальшеQ: What are you looking forward to this summer?
K: Summer is all about lives, in our case our “VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY”.There’s nothing else – are you saying there’s anything else (laughs)!?
Q: Are you preparing anything for the summer?
K: (Immediately) Working on our album.
Q: What’s a summer ‘must’?
K: Sunblock. I have a slight sun-allergy when I’m exposed to sun, so it’s adefinite. I want to get a tan so it’s a shame. What else… drinks (laughs)?
Q: What’s your favourite summer food?
K: I like watermelons, but also like eating curry in the summer. I enjoyall the types – the soupy curry, proper Indian curry, European style curry… butI have to admit, Vermont curry (N.B. Japanese brand of curry roux) has to bebest for the summer (laughs). The curry you can make yourself at home, with fukujinpickles.
Q: What do you wear during the summer?
K: Three-quarter length shorts and a baggy T-shirt as usual. I like wearingbaggy T-shirts because you can go like this (grabs collar and airs T-shirt) andfeel cooler.
Q: What songs do you like to listen to in the summer?
K: (Sings) Harukana Oze~ (a line from traditional childrens song) No I’mjoking (laughs). Erm, I like listening to U2 in the summer. How about “WhereThe Streets Have No Name”?
Top three episodes from the Hong Kong Video shoot
HYDE
читать дальше1. I wanted a scene in “GET AWAY” where it looks like I’m flying above theskyscrapers, so we thought we could at least shoot it with the top half of mybody against the city view. So we went to the roof of a 30-storey building withno barriers or anything. Because it was so dangerous I had to wear a safetyharness, but it was like a flimsy piece of string (laughs). We had 4 adultsholding my legs but it was so scary! I couldn't trust anyone (laughs). And wedidn’t use much of that footage in the end!
2. I always wanted to use a Chinese pirate ship for “THE JOLLY ROGER”. It’snot quite like a pirate ship that one imagines, but it’s dingy and old andblack and small – just the way I like it. So it was great being able to go onone. It was like a fairground ride (laughs). I actually came up with the ideaseeing a poster at the airport in London. It was a massive poster about HongKong, and as soon as I saw it I thought “That is exactly what I want!”. It wasgreat – it’s not every day that we get to shoot things out at sea in Hong Kong!
3. K.A.Z on top of the taxi (laughs)! I came up with that, because I wanted“GET AWAY” to have a Blade Runner type video. And it turned out to be soooocool! But after the shoot we looked at the roof of the taxi and it wascompletely dented and mangled (laughs). I wonder if it was ok?
K.A.Z
читать дальше1. We started shooting the taxi scene for “GET AWAY” as soon as we arrived,so that was special. I was a bit worried about getting on top of the roof, butit was a great idea! As soon as I was up there I was jumping around andeverything……and indeed, the roof was so dented (laughs). There were loads ofpeople watching us, but that made it even more fun (laughs). The views of thecity matched the song perfectly. We’d love to do something like that again.Maybe on a bus next time (laughs).
2. It was so hot! It was so hot every day, you’d be sweating just standingthere doing nothing. So shooting was difficult. And the humidity was so hightoo – almost 100% humidity. I was so sweaty that I was worried if we could usethe footage at all (laughs). My outfit had a hat with earmuffs and everything….It was so hot!! I tried my very best (laughs).
3. Although not directly related to our video shoot, the night landscapewas excellent. It was beautiful. The pirate ship for “THE JOLLY ROGER” wasgreat, but the night view really made you think you were in Hong Kong. I alsodiscovered that Hong Kong has quite a rock atmosphere too, so it was tough butI’m glad we went. I hope everyone will agree when they see the videos.
Let's look forward to the single and album! (And what else I wonder...?)
HYDE INTERVIEW
читать дальшеQ: ‘GET AWAY/THE JOLLY ROGER’ is soon to be released. It’s your firstsingle in a year and a half!
H: Really (laughs)? I had no idea it’s been that long. There’s so much Ihave to do at the moment, it hadn’t even crossed my mind.
Q: Usually, what sort of timing do you go into ‘song-writing mode’?
H: When I start planning the year’s schedule and think “this is thedeadline for song writing”. I don’t really like writing songs (laughs). I’m notthe type of person who’s like “I have some time to spare, shall I write asong?” so I need a deadline to push me.
Q: I guess your creative motivations are not only for song writing but amore total aspect of producing the band’s activities? Like you’d decide whatsort of activities the band itself wants to do and then what’s required for it?
H: Yes, I guess. I usually decide what sort of lives to play that year,what to do next, and how to achieve that. So depending on the general directionthe band takes that year, the songs we write will be affected too.
Q: Of the two tracks for your new single – “THE JOLLY ROGER” was writtenfirst? This was used as a tie-in for the Nissan vehicles advert right?
H: Yes. The offer for the tie-in came at the end of last year, so it wasquite a tight deadline. It was a bit rushed, because we needed at least thechorus part ready for the on-air timing of the advert. And then we finallymanaged to complete the song this year. We had the overall shape of the trackat the time that we had the chorus for the advert, but the initial version wasmore digital, and less suited for everyone to sing along to. When we consideredplaying it live and how we wanted the fans to sing along, we decided to ignorewhat we had and just used the basics of the chorus for the completed version ofthe song. K.A.Z still says that the first version is better (laughs). But Iwanted a song that would be exciting played live.
Q: “THE JOLLY ROGER” is the name given to the pirate flag. How did you comeup with this image?
H: I thought about a song that we’d all want to sing together during ourlives… I always want everyone to enjoy our lives as they wish, and to do whatthey want to do… not like when all the fans do the same movement – I don’tthink that’s very cool. But I think it’s a sort of cultural thing, so I thoughtin that case, how about we actually make a song that will actually make peopledo something together? In a sense that’s also exciting and gives us a unitedfeel. I thought that was pirate-like – unity under one flag, battling together.Since we often have the skull motif on-stage during our lives, It’s almost like“everyone gather! Come together under VAMPS!”. I wanted the song to portraythat.
Q: The lyrics have a line “Fight below the flag we know”. What are youfighting?
H: I think it’s more the idea of VAMPS continuing to challenge things. Atthe moment we’re trying to ‘conquer’ Europe, so maybe that’s what we’re aimingtowards?
Q: Like trying to conquer the seven seas. How about “GET AWAY” which waswritten by K.A.Z?
H: I think we finished writing each of our tracks at the same time. We wereworking on it individually, but as soon as I heard it, it was like “Wow great track!Accepted! Done!” (laughs). I like the B-melo – the bit where it goes “3, 2, 1~”.It’s a little 80s-ish. I didn’t even participate in much of the arranging ofthis track. It was pretty much complete from the beginning. I only did thelyrics and vocals.
Q: Did K.A.Z have any specific orders regarding the lyrics?
H: No. And actually, we didn’t really have anything to say about eachother’swork at all this time (laughs). I think we’re past that stage now, we trusteach other to do our thing.
Q: So you wrote the lyrics completely based on the images you yourselfderived from the song?
H: Yes. I listened to it several times and then thought carefully aboutwhat sort of image I got from it. You know the film “The Graduate”? I came upwith the image from the film where he runs off with the bride. That was thestarting point, so the title I gave it was simply “GET AWAY”, meaning escape.However, the image of escape and taking someone away was perfect, but the songdidn’t quite fit the entire image of that film, it had to have a more modernand urban feel. So I next thought of “Blade runner”, which also ends with anescape scene. But it’s more futuristic and fitted the song better. That gave me a base to build on.
Q: There are cyber-esque words in the lyrics too.
H: Yeah, words like that are scattered around in the lyrics. But in theend, it’s simply about taking a girl and escaping (laughing).
Q: (laughs) Just like that.
H: I think there are moments in life where you have to cease theopportunity. Like the lyrics when “the world CLASHes” (NB I think he means“crashes”). Small things can lead to major events these days, like moments whenyou’re whole life is turned upside down. That was what I was going for, togetherwith a cyber-esque feel.
Q: Is that a desire of yours? Do you want your world to change, or do youwant to break the conventions of the world today?
H: No. although I’m sure I used to have moments like that before. Havingsaid that, there are moments like in everyday life. For example, you’re sittingin a meeting where your one comment changes the mood of the meeting entirely. Evenif you’re worried that the mood changes, you make the comment and press on it becauseyou have a reason behind it, and you believe in what you want. I think thesong’s about having the will and courage to change something yourself.
Q: That’s quite a strong message isn’t it?
H: I don’t think it’s a message as such. It’s more like a suggestion of“how about you try something like that?” or “what if you did something likethat?”. My words aren’t meant to tell the listener what to do, it’s simply wordsthat I come up with. So I don’t intend it as a message as such (laughs). Evenif I write something righteous it doesn’t mean I’m living up to it. A humanbeing is always conflicted between their ideas and reality. You may be able todo one thing one day and not the next. People change all the time. So even ifit’s wrong, having your own sense of reality and perspectives is what I thinkleads to the listeners embracing the song and lyrics. They can fit themselvesas the main character of the story and share the feelings with the song.
Q: What does this song mean to you?
H: It’s an invitation to our summer gig. It’s also an invitation to ouralbum (laughs).
Q: Ooh! Can we really look forward to the album this year?
H: Sure, that’s why we’re practically dying at the moment writing songs(laughs).
Q: So for you, the single is an introductory guide to the album?
H: Yes. In a way, our singles are like the top students in the class(laughs). They’re the special ones. They get different treatment, in the sensethat they get an MV, they’re featured differently, and have to be social withthe public. They don’t always have to behave though, they can be as naughty asthey want. But they have a strong personality, and are easy to introduce toothers. The singles are the ones that give the public an image of VAMPS, alongwith the MV. People who don’t know us receive the image of the band by themovies they see of them, so singles are very important.
Q: You mentioned it before, but what is the overall schedule or activitiesof the band this year?
H: We’re fighting hard for the album. And then that leads to our live shows.We’re making the album based on what we want to play live – what’s exciting. Ithink it’s too early for us to settle down.
Q: You want to keep pushing your live performances?
H: When we go abroad that’s what our main activities are. We have to havethe songs that make the audience go “WOW”. We need more and more songs likethat to become a “band that are best seen live”. On the otherhand, in Japan wehave to do our regular activities too (laughs). You know, release a goodsingle, maybe more songs in Japanese… But you know…
Q: Your thoughts tend to drift towards your overseas activities?
H: Not necessarily, we want to keep up both. There’s a Japanese sayingwhich says “those who chase two hares can catch neither” but you know… we haveto try and catch both right (laughs)?
Q: Please catch both of those hares! So this invitation to your summer gig,that’s your VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY right? It’s becoming an annual must forVAMPS.
H: Yeah it’s the third year we’ve held these events. We’d feel lost withoutit. It’s so much fun for us, it makes me think “I never liked the summer butthis is great!”. It’s also because it’s not a typical festival. It’s only forpeople who want to come and see VAMPS, everyone who comes has the same purpose.So there’s a sort of camaraderie. It’s exactly like the “everyone cometogether!” vibe of “THE JOLLY ROGER”. I’m really looking forward to it.
K.A.Z Interview
читать дальшеQ: The release of “GET AWAY/THE JOLLY ROGER” is coming up! We’ve beenwaiting a while.
K: Really? Has it been that long? Are you sure it’s not just you (laughs)?
Q: It’s been one year and a month!
K: I think traditionally it should be like that.
Q: True, many overseas artists don’t release anything for years…
К: See, we learnt after them (laughs)! But in all seriousness, I think it’sa bit too business-like to have a rule that we have to release an album peryear. Music becomes less fun when it becomes an obligation, and I think it’simpossible to keep making songs that way. Especially if we’re trying to spreadour music abroad. If we release an album, then play a Japanese tour, and then aglobal tour, it takes at least 2 years. And it also takes that long for eachtrack to sink in and become familiar. Of course there’s the internet, but onlythe people who know us will access our music. Most people in the world don’tknow who VAMPS are. I think our priority now is for people all around the worldto get to know us, and taking time to make ourselves known in each country.
Q: Taking more time to deliver each song?
K: Yes. For example, the Japanese “idol artists” in the past used to be sowell known because they had more time for their songs to reach the public, spreadand leave an impression. I know that times have changed, but for the onesmaking the music, it’s a bit sad that everything moves so fast.
Q: I understand. But I guess fans are always going to feel the desire tohear new music.
K: They’re asking for too much (laughs)! It’s only been one year and amonth right? We’ve still got plenty of time!
Q: Hahahaha! Eitherway it’s a long-awaited single! How about when you firstheard “THE JOLLY ROGER” when HYDE came up with it?
K: It’s speedy, and perfect for the advert. It’s vast and I really likedit. At the demo stage, the chorus was the same as now but the track itself wascompletely different. It’s very “rock band” now but the previous version wasmore digital sounding.
Q: HYDE-san was saying that you preferred the previous version.
K: That’s because the first time I heard the previous version, I found itrefreshing and different from our previous stuff. I like both of them now(laughs).
Q: Yes, let’s just keep it that way (laughs). How did you go about writing“GET AWAY”?
K: Um how did it go (laughs)? Process-wise, I can’t really remember. It’snot like I had a specific agenda or thoughts that it was based on. I just cameup with parts of it… and as I started to record the parts that I came up withon the computer, I developed the image and starting thinking up the otherparts. But I did have the image of the MV as the starting point. Like theflashy and vibrant first part. As the image stabilised, it sort of became whatit is now. In my case, I don’t just make something in one go. For this song, Icame up with the intro with the beats first, then the chorus. It doesn’t comein one flow for me. The parts just eventually come together.
Q: So you were writing other songs at the same time?
K: Yes. I’d usually be writing one song, get stuck on it and then work onanother song. If I work on one song for too long, I get stuck with my own imageof the song and it becomes difficult to break through that image. I have tocome up with some part of the song and familiarise myself with it or I can’tdevelop an image of it. So I put it on hold for a while, and then work onsomething else, and the next day I’ll listen to it again and go “Oh yeah, maybeI should do that!”. Song writing is all about inspiration. It’s impossible whenI have no inspiration.
Q: It’s almost like building many houses at the same time.
K: Yes definitely. Sometimes I think “actually, I’ll use this part on thatother song” and two songs merge into one. And then I’m like “Oh no! I need tomake an extra song now!” (laughs).
Q: Did “GET AWAY” take time to complete?
K: Not so long, but we did work on the details for a while. Its as if wehad the foundation and structure of the house, but then we had to work on theinner furnishings.
Q: It’s a very cool song, even to the small details.
K: It’s like a very layered rock song. It’s not too bright, it’s not toodark. It’s different.
Q: How about HYDE’s lyrics?
K: Words have their own power. It forms a link between the music and theMV. I usually think of the lyrics in terms of the way it sounds rather than theactual words – like how you can get the feel of a foreign song even if youdon’t understand the lyrics? It’s the same with this song, the words flow verywell.
Q: The words “GET AWAY” are also very easy on the ear.
K: Yes. Words are important for the actual sound of the music.
Q: What do you feel is the main appeal of this single?
K: I think it’s another side of VAMPS. It’s increased our variety of soundas well as showing our enthusiasm and motivation for going abroad. It’s like afresh new breeze.
Q: I think it was the same for “AHEAD/REPLAY”, but the two tracks for thissingle are opposites to each other too.
K: Yes. Angel and Devil, right (laughs)?
Q: You just pointed towards HYDE’s side of the room when you said “Devil”and gestured towards yourself when you said “Angel” (laughs)!
К: Well actually, this time I think I’m the devil. I think it’s better ifthere are two different angles in one single, like light and shadow. Thereneeds to be a balance.
Q: How about the album. Were you thinking about the album as you worked onthis single?
K: Either way we knew we had to work on an album this year. We’d bothstarted writing songs around November last year, so that’s finally coming toform.
Q: What sort of images do the other album tracks have?
K: We wanted songs that would be good performed live.
Q: Tell me, do you enjoy writing songs?
K: If the writing’s going well it’s enjoyable, if not it’s a struggle. WhenI write songs, I need to put myself in that mindset to concentrate. When Istart writing I stop communicating with the outside world. If not I just can’tget into it.
Q: And you’re in the middle of that now?
K: It’s been about 6 months! I think I'm going insane (laughs).
Q: But you’ll carry on.
K: We sort of have to. It’s like having lots of homework over the summerholidays.
Q: Or homework you have to do so you can HAVE a summer holiday?
K: Ah yes, exactly (laughs)!
Q: I guess you’re wanting to play these songs soon?
K: Definitely! New songs are always necessary, since every time there’s anew song the perception of a band can change a lot.
Q: I asked HYDE the same thing, but what does this single mean to you?
K: It’s like a trailer for our album. It introduces it. Although there maybe an unexpected plot turn when you actually hear the album (laughs).
Q: First get everyone excited with the single…
K: And then they’re all disappointed with the album (laughs).
Q: Surely not! What do you want the listeners to feel from the two tracks?
K: The deep and multi-layered nature of VAMPS (laughs). But seriously, Ithink they’re musically deep songs. It’s a little different, but it deliversVAMPS’ rock style very well.
Q: You’ll be playing both of them at the VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY?
K: Yes. “THE JOLLY ROGER” will sound fantastic outdoors. Everyone will gowild. With “GET AWAY”, maybe it should be played under the stars? I think itsuits an outdoors venue too.
Q: It’ll surely be great under the night sky. What does this annual BEASTPARTY mean to you?
K: It feels almost like a festival. Like a summer party. There are lots ofpeople looking forward to it, so it should be great, if the weather’s ok. In away I think we enjoy it more than the fans (laughs)!
HYDE Q&A
читать дальшеQ: What are you looking forward to this summer?
H: Our “VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY”. Last year I missed out on eating“flowing somen” (N.B. Flowing somen is a summery way of eating somen noodles,where you set up something similar to a roller coaster track made of bamboo,have water flowing in it, and you send little clusters of somen noodles down itso it swishes by the people eating it. The person then catches it with their chopsticksand eats it. I know, sounds strange right). After the show I was like “For onceI’m going to forget my non-carbs diet!” and was going to have some, but they’dalready disassembled it (laughs). I’d like to have some this year.
Q: Are you preparing anything for the summer?
H: Well I guess song writing is sort of preparation for the summer. We haveto work hard before we can enjoy ourselves.
Q: What’s a summer ‘must’?
H: Every summer, I sleep with an iced pillow. But actually I haven’tstarted using it this year – are we having a cooler summer this year?
Q: What’s your favourite summer food?
H: I like shaved ice but I’m on a non-sugar diet, so I’m thinking of waysof having it with non-sugar syrup. I saw on the internet that they had ahand-made recipe with strawberries, but it’s probably too luxurious, and notartificial-tasting enough.
Q: What do you wear during the summer?
H: I wear a T-shirt and loose pants. It’s like cool-biz (N.B. dressing down forthe summer).
Q: What songs do you like to listen to in the summer?
H: “Shonenjidai” (by Yousui Inoue – they covered this in last year’s summerlive). Also “Jikan yo tomare” (by Eikichi Yazawa). Oh and actually, you know“Waiting For You” by a band called OXO (An American band from the 80s)? Thatwas really summery and I loved it. That song has been in my head since youstarted asking me this question (laughs)!
K.A.Z Q&A
читать дальшеQ: What are you looking forward to this summer?
K: Summer is all about lives, in our case our “VAMPS LIVE 2014 BEAST PARTY”.There’s nothing else – are you saying there’s anything else (laughs)!?
Q: Are you preparing anything for the summer?
K: (Immediately) Working on our album.
Q: What’s a summer ‘must’?
K: Sunblock. I have a slight sun-allergy when I’m exposed to sun, so it’s adefinite. I want to get a tan so it’s a shame. What else… drinks (laughs)?
Q: What’s your favourite summer food?
K: I like watermelons, but also like eating curry in the summer. I enjoyall the types – the soupy curry, proper Indian curry, European style curry… butI have to admit, Vermont curry (N.B. Japanese brand of curry roux) has to bebest for the summer (laughs). The curry you can make yourself at home, with fukujinpickles.
Q: What do you wear during the summer?
K: Three-quarter length shorts and a baggy T-shirt as usual. I like wearingbaggy T-shirts because you can go like this (grabs collar and airs T-shirt) andfeel cooler.
Q: What songs do you like to listen to in the summer?
K: (Sings) Harukana Oze~ (a line from traditional childrens song) No I’mjoking (laughs). Erm, I like listening to U2 in the summer. How about “WhereThe Streets Have No Name”?
Top three episodes from the Hong Kong Video shoot
HYDE
читать дальше1. I wanted a scene in “GET AWAY” where it looks like I’m flying above theskyscrapers, so we thought we could at least shoot it with the top half of mybody against the city view. So we went to the roof of a 30-storey building withno barriers or anything. Because it was so dangerous I had to wear a safetyharness, but it was like a flimsy piece of string (laughs). We had 4 adultsholding my legs but it was so scary! I couldn't trust anyone (laughs). And wedidn’t use much of that footage in the end!
2. I always wanted to use a Chinese pirate ship for “THE JOLLY ROGER”. It’snot quite like a pirate ship that one imagines, but it’s dingy and old andblack and small – just the way I like it. So it was great being able to go onone. It was like a fairground ride (laughs). I actually came up with the ideaseeing a poster at the airport in London. It was a massive poster about HongKong, and as soon as I saw it I thought “That is exactly what I want!”. It wasgreat – it’s not every day that we get to shoot things out at sea in Hong Kong!
3. K.A.Z on top of the taxi (laughs)! I came up with that, because I wanted“GET AWAY” to have a Blade Runner type video. And it turned out to be soooocool! But after the shoot we looked at the roof of the taxi and it wascompletely dented and mangled (laughs). I wonder if it was ok?
K.A.Z
читать дальше1. We started shooting the taxi scene for “GET AWAY” as soon as we arrived,so that was special. I was a bit worried about getting on top of the roof, butit was a great idea! As soon as I was up there I was jumping around andeverything……and indeed, the roof was so dented (laughs). There were loads ofpeople watching us, but that made it even more fun (laughs). The views of thecity matched the song perfectly. We’d love to do something like that again.Maybe on a bus next time (laughs).
2. It was so hot! It was so hot every day, you’d be sweating just standingthere doing nothing. So shooting was difficult. And the humidity was so hightoo – almost 100% humidity. I was so sweaty that I was worried if we could usethe footage at all (laughs). My outfit had a hat with earmuffs and everything….It was so hot!! I tried my very best (laughs).
3. Although not directly related to our video shoot, the night landscapewas excellent. It was beautiful. The pirate ship for “THE JOLLY ROGER” wasgreat, but the night view really made you think you were in Hong Kong. I alsodiscovered that Hong Kong has quite a rock atmosphere too, so it was tough butI’m glad we went. I hope everyone will agree when they see the videos.
Let's look forward to the single and album! (And what else I wonder...?)
@темы: interview
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18.08.2014 в 13:04Спасибо!! Надеюсь, что кто-нибудь сможет перевести!
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18.08.2014 в 13:07-
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18.08.2014 в 13:25Здорово!!
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18.08.2014 в 13:45Akira Linn, Ждем ^_^
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18.08.2014 в 14:16-
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18.08.2014 в 15:26Он там реально на высоте висел?? Я думала, его на зеленом фоне снимали Х_х
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18.08.2014 в 16:44-
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18.08.2014 в 18:24-
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19.08.2014 в 12:37