Interview ~ Back-On: November 18 2007
Anime USA Arlington, VA
The morning after their performance at Anime USA in Arlington, VA, Back-On met with us in the rooftop restaurant of the Hyatt hotel. With the backdrop of Washington DC in the distance, we asked them a little about their music and their experiences in America.
Please introduce yourselves and what part you play.
Kenji: Kenji, vocals and guitar.
Teeda: Teeda, MC.
Shu: Shu, guitar.
Icchan: Icchan, drums.
Gori: Gori, bass.
How are you guys doing today?
Back-On: Good.
Ok. This isn’t your first time in America, right? You also performed at Anime Matsuri, where you also filmed your PV “a day dreaming.” Can you tell us a little more about this experience?
Teeda: Anime Matsuri was our first live in America, and it was actually the first time we had been to America. So there were lots of impressions, especially about how big everything was. And in terms of our location shoot, at first, the weather wasn’t so good, so we had planned to have a black and white video. But then all of the sudden, right when we were about to shoot, the sun came out. Even though we were planning a black and white shoot, the sun came out. It changed everything, and we got a really good video about it.
Why did you guys decide to shoot this PV in America?
Teeda: Well, at the time, we weren’t sure when we’d be able to come to America next, so we wanted to use the opportunity, since we were coming to the convention anyway, to do the location shoot. Especially because we knew that the visuals, the atmosphere, everything would be different than if we had shot it in Japan. So it was the perfect opportunity.
Have you considered shooting another PV in America?
Teeda: There’s nothing planned right now, but we’d definitely love to, absolutely.
How does the American audience compare to the Japanese audience during a live show?
Teeda: Most of our Japanese fans are kind of shy. Japanese people just tend to be a little more restrained. It’s not that they don’t enjoy it, because we can see in their eyes, both the Japanese fans’ eyes and the American fans’ eyes, that they’re enjoying it and that they’re really into our music. Here in America, they’re just more outwardly expressive, more lively and very powerful.
Yes, you guys looked like you were having a lot of fun, too!
Back-On: (nods)
What do you like best about America?
Teeda: For myself, I would have to say that America is just so different from Japan, that everything seems bright and new and fresh. And that’s what I would say is the best thing about America. Just because we live in Japan, it’s the change of scenery.
Is there anything you guys miss about Japan while you’re here?
Teeda: Probably Japanese home food, like miso soup and natto (fermented soy beans) but on the other hand, we also think that while we’re here, we really should eat food that we can’t get in Japan. So it’s not like we want to go out and eat Japanese food, either.
Is this the same for all of you?
Kenji: But yesterday we actually did have some rice….just kidding! (band laughs)
What’s something you’ve found really crazy or interesting while here in America?
Teeda: The most interesting thing is coming to a place where so many people who have an avid interest in Japanese culture get together. It’s really exciting, whether in Texas or here, it’s really great to meet and see all these fans.
Traveling back and forth from between America and Japan must really take its toll. How do you deal with the long flights?
Teeda: We keep watching the in-flight movies; that’s how we pass the time. Also, getting up and going to the bathroom a lot, and taking naps. And doing stretching exercises.
What movies did you watch on the way here?
Back-On: Transformers.
Gori: Die Hard 4.
Icchan: Remi no Oishi Resutaran (note: Ratatouille)
What do you feel when you are performing a live?
Teeda: I think, at the beginning of the live, I want to borrow the people’s energy, take it into myself. But then, as the live progresses, I start moving on, into enjoying it with the fans, and it’s all just energy.
Is there anything you dislike about touring or being in a band?
Teeda: There’re things like missing our families or being away from home, but that only is up to the time that we meet. Once we’re on the tour, it’s all fun.
Kenji: Part of the fun of touring and being a band is the fact that when we’re together, it’s not like we’re individuals; we’re brothers. It’s like we’re our own family in addition to the families we each have.
How do your families feel about your music careers?
Back-On: They’re all very supportive.
Shu: In fact, they tell us to work harder!
I really like your style. Where do you get inspiration for that?
Kenji: I get inspired by people walking on the street that are dressed really well. I also look through magazines of course. Particularly British, I think British people dress really very well, so those are my inspirations.
Teeda: My influences are…the vocalist from the Black-Eyed Peas, and I’ve also been inspired by samurai. So I kind of mix the past and the present.
Shu: I like all sorts of music, so I take the music I like and put it together to come up with an image of myself from the music I listen to.
Icchan: My music style is influenced by the people I’ve met until now. In terms of my clothing…I’d say…I like things that are really loud and stand out. And definitely cute clothing, I like looking cute.
Back-On: Cute! (laughs)
Gori: I don’t have much of a fashion sense. I actually receive all my inspiration from the other members of the group. (laugh)
What influences your music?
Kenji: My music…changes every day. It’s influenced by CDs I buy when I’m out on the town, or CDs that people give me. And I listen to it and I’m continuously inspired to change.
Teeda: I don’t play an instrument; I’m the MC. I’m more influenced by visuals. So oftentimes, I’ll get movies and turn off all the audio and I come up with lyrics for what I’m watching on the screen. That’s how I’m influenced.
Shu: For me, as I said before, I like all types of music. And I think that in itself is what helps influence me in terms of making the unique sound and style that is Back-On’s music.
Icchan: I’m influenced by everything that happens in my daily life. Even, say, this interview will be an influence for me; the fans that I’ve met this weekend, going out and seeing the town. I’m continuously being influenced.
Do you like any American artists?
Kenji: I like artists that combine both amazing visuals and music.
Teeda: Rolling Hill. The rapping…not just the rapping, but the rhythm and the lyrics, everything all comes together.
Shu: Green Day, Offspring, Pearl Jam. But I listen to all sorts of American music, like Techno and House, so it’s really hard for me to say just one or two.
Icchan: I’ve been influenced by Toto, who is famous from Africa, and it’s just…their worldliness and also their skill. But I also like a lot of Soul and House, and a lot of African-American music.
Gori: Linkin Park. I listened to them a lot in high school.
Kenji, you’re a fan of hide, right? Do you have any thoughts on X Japan reuniting?
Kenji: I feel conflicted a little bit. I’m really happy that they’re getting back together, but it’s not going to be the same… (pause) I actually went and watched them shoot recently.
Do you like the new X Japan song, I.V.?
Kenji: …not…quite.
If you could be any other member of the band, who would you be?
Back-On: We would rather be ourselves.
Teeda: I’d rather not be anyone besides myself, but if I had to choose, I’d probably be Kenji. And then I’d go out and do a lot of bad things, and worsen his reputation. (band laughs)
Could you say something about the person to your left?
Kenji: (about Teeda) I would say “Wow, he’s got interesting hair!” (laughs)
Teeda: (about Shu) Hmm…what would I say…I think he needs to eat more and gain some weight. (band laughs)
Shu: You’re not my mother! (about Icchan) You’re a little…feminine!
Icchan: Gori is kind of like my mom, because he cleans up after me a lot.
Gori: (about Kenji) …I’ve actually known him for quite a long time, so…ever since we were in elementary school, actually… Yeah, I guess I’ve just known him too long, let’s leave it at that.
Kenji: Maybe you should say you’re not in a position to say anything! (laughs)
Gori: Kenji’s the one that sets the mood for the rest of the band.
Have you had any memorable/crazy experiences with fans here in America?
Teeda: When we were performing in Texas, I got so excited and in the mood of the concert that I actually got off the stage and went into the audience, and all the fans started pulling on me. I thought I was going to die!
Kenji: Actually, during last night’s concert, all the fans were excited and waving their hands. In the middle, right in the front, there was this person—I’m not even sure if it was a guy or a girl—wearing a V for Vendetta mask, standing their with their arm up, and that really stayed in my memory. The reason why it’s stuck in my memory is because I was in the middle of one of the songs I really like, and the first thing I saw when I looked into the audience was this smiling face. (laugh)
Icchan: Not at the concert, but during our first autograph session, after our panel, someone actually brought us all—each of us—a V for Vendetta mask. So that was kind of interesting. Another thing that was interesting was the types of things we got asked to sign. We had someone bring a dollar bill, people wanted us to sign their Nintendo DS…
Shu: For me, during the concert, especially later into the set, I was starting to get tired, and then… There’s a woman on the staff who’s been making our meals and so forth, and I happened to look to my left and she and her son were there watching the concert. I was so tired, but the moment I saw her, I just felt so good; it gave me more energy to keep going.
You guys like video games, right? Do any of you play Guitar Hero?
Teeda: There is Guitar Hero in the Green room, and it was the first time we’ve played it, but yeah, we had a couple chances to play it. (note: the Green room was for con guests/staff)
Are you any good at it?
Back-On: Nah…
Kenji: Even though we are guitarists, we aren’t very good.
Shu: We’ve been working at it harder than we have for the concert! (band laughs)
Kenji: I think we’re going to buy one when we get back and practice more.
What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t musicians?
Kenji: I’d probably be on a farm somewhere…scrap that, I’d probably be out on the streets, homeless. (band laughs)
Teeda: I’d probably be either a tattoo artist or working at an adult store.
Shu: I would probably still be creative…some sort of art field, whether it’s painting, drawing, or fashion design, or just design in general. I like creating things.
Icchan: My family background is wholesale tea distribution. So I’d probably be working in the family business, or maybe I would have a Japanese barbeque restaurant.
Gori: I’ve been involved with music since my adolescence, so I’d probably still be doing something within the music industry.
Teeda, you said you’d like to be a tattoo artist, did you design your own tattoos?
Teeda: I didn’t draw the designs myself. I asked the tattoo artist…I left the decision to the tattoo artist, going by what I told them I wanted.
Do any of your tattoos have any special meaning to you?
Teeda: Well, I have a wolf tattooed on my chest, and the inspiration for that…because I respect my father very much and I thought, “if my father were an animal, what would he be?” and I thought of the wolf, because wolves are very proud. It’s my hope to be like him.
Do you have a message for your American fans?
Kenji: I’d like to thank all of our fans, because being from Japan, and then coming here and being greeted so warmly by them, it’s definitely a great inspiration to keep us working. So I guess it’d be “Thank you.”
Teeda: I’d like to say that we consider ourselves the best JRock band, though, I want to let everyone know, don’t miss us, keep watching us; keep an eye on us!
Shu: There are so many artists worldwide, and I’m so glad that people here in America would think of us and invite us all the way here to perform, it’s very heartwarming.
Icchan: I noticed that there are a lot of fans that came all the way up from Houston. They had seen us in Houston, and they came all the way up here. America’s such a big country; I know it’s hard for people to get out sometimes, especially from so far away. So that was really great and I’d like to encourage the fans…seeing them in the autograph line…I hope that the fans that came and saw us for the first time here in DC, at our next live concert in America, whenever that may be, that we’ll see them again.
Gori: I’d like to say to fans that it’s really great to see them. It’s because of their support tht we are able to come here and it’s because of their support that we’ll continue to grow as artists and continue to perform. So I’d like to tell fans to keep supporting us, to keep getting us back in America.
When can we expect to see you here again? Do you think it’ll be at a convention, or do you think it’s possible that you’d do a full tour?
Teeda: We would do either, whether it’s an anime convention, or an anime convention tour, or just a stand-alone tour. Whatever it is, we’d like to come and meet all of our fans.
Ok, thank you very much!
interview by Melony; photos by Carroll Kong
Thank you to Back-On, AVEX, and Anime USA for making this possible.
links
Back-On Official Website
Back-On Official MySpace
Download Back-On's music on iTunes
Back-On Live Report: Anime USA 2007
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