Interview ~ Kaya (Hagakure) and Kenzi (Anti Feminism) : December 9, 2007
MadGod PrincessGod Coupling Tour2007~New Legend CreationIII~
We sat down with Kenzi of Anti-Feminism and Kaya of Hagakure just moments before the first show of their US coupling tour to ask them a few questions.
Both Hagakure and Anti-Feminism are bands that consist of one permanent member, with the rest of the band member listed as support members—in essence, both bands are session bands. Why do you choose to have a band like this?
Kenzi: I chose to have a session band because I have a whole other band (the Dead Pop Stars) and that band was able to put together what I wanted to do.
Kaya: Originally there were main members. But then there came a time when we were going to break up but I didn’t want to. I preferred having a session band like Hagakure, to keep going instead of not having a band at all.
How did you meet your support members?
Kenzi: I have known the support members for a long time and it’s because of that, that we got together.
Kaya: We were always together. Like Anti-Feminism, we have always been good friends.
Even though Hagakure and Anti-Feminism have two different styles of music, you are doing a coupling tour. You’ve also done two coupling tours in Europe. How do your audiences react to the two different sounds for the same event?
Kenzi: In foreign countries, Anti-Feminism and Hagakure fans are the same; they react and groove to the music. In Japan, it’s different. Foreign countries are more accepting.
What were/are your expectations for this tour, either for yourselves or the fans?
Kenzi: I had no expectations really. I wanted people to see that there is this type of band and this is what they do.
Kaya: I wanted people to know that there are different people with different ideas and thinking. I hoped that people could accept this and be happy.
Is this your first time in America? How has your experiences been so far for this tour?
Kenzi: This is our first time doing lives in the US. We’ve only been here a day. We just walked around New York.
Kaya: It is the same for us. We’ve only been here for a day. However, it’s different from what I imagined.
Is there anything you want to do while you are here in America?
Kaya: Eat a big hamburger.
Kenzi: (laughs) Collect old toys that I couldn’t buy in Japan. That’d be great.
How would each of you describe the music of your respective bands?
Kenzi: Anti-Feminism is just a band to me. We rode bikes together, held guitars and screamed together. We’re not just a band. We don’t really like music; we like being together.
Kaya: Our theme is “be happy.” Being together, we’re happy and if people feel that too, we’re happy.
How would you describe the music of the other band?
Kaya: I can’t really explain. I highly respect Anti-Feminism and Kenzi-san and relate to him. But I cannot be him.
Kenzi: To me, Kaya wears kimonos, samurai armor, and is very Japanese culture oriented. I have lots of respect for them, going into the world more, showing what they are.
What do you feel when performing on stage?
Kaya: For us, I have fun on stage. As long as I see the audience happy, I am happy too (laughs).
Kenzi: I feel more natural. I feel more anger than the need to connect to fans. I want them to “fight together” with me.
What do you think about the Japanese music scene here in America?
Kenzi: I think it’s a good thing Japanese music is coming in. Fans should have their favorite bands but should open their eyes and accept more. That is how I feel.
Kaya: Putting together albums and selling them are things that management takes care of. But here, more connections are made when these tours happen. That is more important than just coming over here.
What influences your music?
Kenzi: Misery, negative feelings.
Kaya: Historical things within history such as the samurai spirit and what he thinks and feels.
What are your goals as musicians?
Kenzi: I am not really a musician so I have no answer.
How do you think the language barrier affects the way foreign fans interpret your music?
Kaya: We do sing in Japanese and there’s a wall because of it. However, I try to use music to break the wall by trying to speak English as often as possible. Sometimes the fans don’t even know what I’m saying, but we continue playing our music and that wall disappears. Music prevails.
Do you have a message for your fans?
Kaya: We are two totally different bands but we want both of us to open to our differences. So please, accept that and come and see us. Try us out (please come see us).
Kenzi: We are two different bands and that’s why we’re doing this tour together because we are two different bands and we can be compared.
interview by Sophia; transcribed by Midori
Thank you to Kaya and Kenzi for taking the time to answer our questions; thank you to GUERILL'ART! and WOW ROCK! for making this possible.
links
Anti Feminism Official Website
Hagakure Official Website
Hagakure Official MySpace
WOW ROCK!
GUERILL'ART! is a brand of STUDIO BATSU
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