D'espairsRay Interview

HearJapan: Last month you performed at the Hide Memorial Summit at Aji no Moto Stadium. This was your first show since returning to Japan from touring abroad. Did your homecoming concert have any special meaning to you guys? How did it feel to play with X JAPAN?

Karyu: It was an unbelievably fun and exciting day.

Hizumi: We were raised on the music of X JAPAN and LUNA SEA, so it was truly an honor to share the stage with them―a tremendous experience.

Tsukasa: It had a very “welcome home!” feeling to it which made it extremely fun. Also, getting to play with X JAPAN made it a truly unforgettable day.

Zero: Playing at such a big venue with so many people who don’t know our music made me afraid that they would cast a cold eye on us, but in reality, we were blown away by how warm of a welcoming they gave us!

HearJapan: Are there any funny stories about what happened backstage at that concert you’d like to share?

Karyu: Well we appeared in all white costumes for the event, but just from warming up on guitar in the dressing room the pure white costumes had already become dirty!

Hizumi: Totally by accident, a bunch of different band’s members who were on the Taste of Chaos Tour with us kept ending up in the same areas backstage!

Tsukasa: When were doing the full dress rehearsal with all the bands that were performing, we messed the entrance timing 3 times!

Zero: MUCC and The Underneath were there together with us. It had been a long time since we last were with them in Japan so it felt like a family reunion! It was a good time.

HearJapan: To turn the questions to be about the new songs BRILLIANT and Cocoon, if you don’t mind. The fans are wondering if those songs were written while on tour overseas or while at home in Japan?

Karyu: Those two were written here in Japan.

Hizumi: Yeah, they were written before we joined the Taste of Chaos tour.

HearJapan: Both of these songs have a wonderfully deep meaning, could you tell us about the concept behind COCOON and BRILLIANT ?

Karyu: The song BRILLIANT is really a personal song about the band’s experience during its adolescence―the nervous times, the rough times, the exciting times, all of those ups and downs―and trying to hold on to those feelings even now. COCOON is about trying your hardest to make a bright future, but it not quite going as smoothly as you’d hope.

Hizumi: BRILLIANT , in a way is an ‘answer song’ to our previous song MIRROR. It is about destroying the “mirror” (you, yourself) and from there venturing forward. The song COCOON is about the feelings associated with the word cocoon― crawling out from seclusion. The song is about combining the ‘me’ of long ago and the ‘me’ of right now.

HearJapan: What city from the Taste of Chaos Tour left the most lasting impression on you, and in what way?

Karyu: Chicago. Even though it was our first time in Chicago the crowd was so into it, with everyone singing along. Definitely a lasting impression.

Hizumi: Probably San Francisco. Just one song into our set and the power of the crowd was overwhelming, pretty intense!

Tsukasa: For me, it was Miami because I could see the people in the crowd’s faces while we played. Having that kind of communication was fantastic.

Zero: Every individual place leaves a lasting impression with me!

HearJapan: What are you plans for after the “Taste of Chocolate” tour?

Karyu: Recording a new album, and such!

Hizumi: Appearing at some more events before creeping back underground to create new material!

HearJapan: The following questions are those submitted by your fans from all over the world. We’ll start with a question about each of the individual parts you guys play in the band. Are you each satisfied with the part that you play? Is there another instrument or something you would like to give a shot at playing in the band? Do you play any other instruments than what you play in the band?

Karyu: I am totally satisfied just playing guitar. I’ve been playing since forever, and I still like doing it!

Hizumi: Long ago I wanted to play the bass in the band, but I think just doing vocals is fine with me. Outside of vocals, I guess I would like playing guitar.

Tsukasa: I always have liked the drums…really I’d like to have a try at any instrument. I guess you could say I am interested in all instruments!

Zero: There are instruments I’d like to try other than bass, but now I want to keep getting better at the bass!

HearJapan: What was your original inspiration for getting into rock music?

Karyu: When I was in middle school I realized how fun the guitar we had in the house could be!

Hizumi: Because it is has an edge. (haha)

Tsukasa: When I started my first band while in High School, that’s when I got into Rock music.

Zero: I always liked music so, before I knew it I liked Rock music as well!

HearJapan: If you had to describe D’espairsRay’s music’s main theme in one sentence, what kind of words would you use?

Karyu: The light and dark that humanity holds.

Hizumi: A small glimmer of light.

Tsukasa: Conveying all kinds of messages for humanity having to do with despair and brilliance.

HearJapan: Can you tell us what brought the band together initially and what your first impressions of the other members were at the time you met?

Karyu: We were all in different bands so in regards to the other guys, it was kinda like “oh yeah, THAT guy” (haha).

Hizumi: We joined together after the other bands we were in all broke up. Not a very good impression of each other, I guess.

Tsukasa: Karyu was really the one that brought us together. He took control of the whole thing.

HearJapan: Is there a country you want to hit on your next overseas tour?

Karyu: I want to go to Australia.

Hizumi: Yep, definitely Australia.

Tsukasa: The North Pole.

Zero: For me it’s Canada and Australia.

HearJapan: Can you tell us the origins each of your names?

Karyu: The characters I use for my name are not normally pronounced Karyu, so I like it, and also because it is a name I rarely ever hear.

Hizumi: I like it because the name Hizumi means distorted voice, and I have a distorted personality!

Tsukasa: My name in the band is the same as my real name, so, no special meaning, I guess.

Zero: I easily lose interest in many things. Since Zero also can mean a starting point, I try to relive the moments of when I had just started to play and how new everything seemed.

HearJapan: Is there things you want to experience outside of music? What are your interests outside of music?

Karyu: I want to get a pilot’s license!

Hizumi: I am interested in fashion, so I’d like to do fashion design.

Tsukasa: I love to paint.

Zero: I love doing things with design.

HearJapan: Do you think these non-musical interests have an effect on what you do as a band?

Karyu: Well, I have yet to fly a plane, but I imagine it will be very stimulating!

Hizumi: I could use my design skills toward designing goods and costumes for the band!

Zero: Somehow or another, everything effects what we do as a band.

HearJapan: When you guys were in school, what kind of students were you? Were you dedicated students or always messing around?

Karyu: I was a musical kid. So I was always with friends doing things like playing music, really just having fun.

Hizumi: I was able to study but thought it was rather boring. Can’t say I liked it.

Tsukasa: Through middle school I was very studious, but in high school I became a Rock and Roller!

Zero: I wasn’t a very good student for the most part.

HearJapan: Do any members of the band have any interesting quirks?

Karyu: Everybody has them… I’d rather leave it unsaid…

Hizumi: Tsukasa’s accent!

HearJapan: A question for Karyu, if you don’t mind. You seem to appear frequently wearing crosses, or being near crosses. Does this have some sort of religious significance? Or do you just like the motif?

Karyu: You really think crosses show up that often? Well, it has a variety of meanings, so I think that is why I like it.

HearJapan: What is the most relaxing scent to you?

Karyu: The smell of the ocean near my hometown.

Hizumi: The scent of nice soap.

Tsukasa: Anna Sui’s line of perfumes.

Zero: Bvlgari Blue Pour Homme.

HearJapan: What do you dream about at night?

Hizumi: Scary things, erotic things (haha).

Tsukasa: I dream I am flying.

Zero: I dream when I am awake.

Before you start dreaming away, make sure to check out some of the other interviews HearJapan features on our site. If you haven’t already heard their new single BRILLIANT , the full release in mp3 plus translated lyrics for only 380 Yen ($3.66, €2.35 at the time of this posting). Come back to HearJapan and check out the samples to KAMIKAZE and preorder your release before it comes out! Check back in the coming weeks to see an explosion of Visual-Kei artists, just browse the visual kei selection on HearJapan