interview ~ Satsuki: July 4, 2009
Anime Expo - Los Angeles, CA
We caught up with Satsuki as he returned to perform his first solo live in the USA.
You used to be in RENTRER EN SOI, and many people know you for that. Now that you're solo, how do you look back on your time with the group?
Hm... It was fun.
Do you miss your time with RENTRER EN SOI or do you prefer being solo?
No. I wanted to challenge something new, so I'm taking the solo project very positively.
I think a lot of RENTRER EN SOI fans might not understand 100% what it is you're doing now that you have a solo career, so how would you explain it?
When I was in the band, it was more like we were trying to make something cool. But now, I want a lot of people to know me and a lot of people to know my music. So I'm going talk more and I want to others to know more.
What is it about your music that makes it stand out?
When I make music I focus on my vocals only, not so much the band music.
How long does the process for making a song or album take?
(laughs) It takes five to thirty minutes. But about three months for every project.
We're at an anime convention right now. Your live, however, is taking place at a venue. Still, what do you think of the convention scene?
I'm very happy that they know about Japanese culture, anime, music, whatever. I'm just happy that they actually study and then they learn about it.
What is your impression of American visual kei fans? Since a lot of American fans, they copy the visual look really closely. And they wear make-up.
I think the original look of visual kei bands in Japan came from American bands, like anglo-saxon people, white, blonde hair, blue eyes. They were copying that from America, but now American people are wearing even more make-up...so I feel that's really interesting...
We often hear Japanese artists tell us that Japanese and American audiences are very different. Do you feel that way also?
I do think it's different. But it's very positive. But when there's slow songs, like ballads, they still respond, they still go crazy for it. But in Japan it's not like that. Japanese people are more like listening to it and try to enjoy the feeling of it. But I like to hear the response from the audience. It's great. So that difference is actually great. I actually like the American response better because I like to hear them from the stage.
Are you looking forward to the live later today?
(English) Oh, I'm looking forward to performing to live.
Thinking back to all your encounters with American fans, what surprises you the most?
The fans, they all hug. In Japan there's nothing like this! So I feel kind of nervous about it. I'm very surprised and... I get scared sometimes. (laugh) But I'm falling in love!
Let's talk about that subject. How do you define love?
Love is not forever. Somehow it ends at some point, but if you make music of love, then it lasts forever. So I'm making music of forever love! Very cool right? (laughs)
(laughs) So how many songs have you written just on that subject?
Maybe I have one love I want to write about and I think of the words, the way to say it, but I have to be indirect about it. So it may sound like it's about different loves but actually a lot of the songs reflect the same love.
You said in previous interviews that you enjoy coming to America. What makes you like this country so much?
First of all everything is big. I went to Subway and I ordered something small, but that small size is actually three times bigger than the Japanese size small! "Oh!" I was so surprised!
Have you had a chance to visit In-n-Out, the popular hamburger joint?
Yeah I went. (English) I eat animal-style.
Better than MOSS Burger?
Ahhh but I still like Japanese taste.
What is your favorite food?
I like any kind of food. In America, I like hamburger, animal-style, cause there's nothing like that in Japan.
The main concept of your solo music is that singing purifies the soul. Does this concept reflect your personal spirituality?
Yeah, my personal feelings have a huge influence on my solo work. My mood when I write solo music that day also really seeps into my songs.
What single object, artist, or anything really, influences your music the most?
Women, in an artistic way. Like I get a lot of influence from their gender. (laugh) It's nothing perverted. It's just an artistic way of thinking that I find women to be very mature. Even the shape of an acoustic guitar has a bit of a woman's body shape. So I get a lot influence from that...
Why do you see women in that way?
Because I'm not a woman, so there are a lot of things that I don't know about women. I don't really know them, so I want to look cool in front of them. I have to be careful when I get close to one woman so I have to act cool in front of them. (laughs) I'm not a pervert.
Oh no, it's interesting that you pointed out how an acoustic guitar has a kind of womanly shape!
That's why I play hard! (laughs)
Who would you cite as a musical influence?
Kurt Cobain from Nirvana. Smells like Teen Spirit.
And Japanese artists?
Hyde from L'arc~en~Ciel and Kyo from Dir en grey.
You've been a visual kei artist for a long time. What do you think of the change in visual kei over the years?
It's cool. I like it.
What's your impression of the cosplayers here? Do you recognize what they're cosplaying?
Yeah, I'm checking everyone out whether I know who they are or not. The concept of their cosplay is a litle bit different than Japanese cosplay. I even saw a cosplayer of Death Note but it was not Death Note!! It must be normal for them to cosplay as L. But it's impossible to see that kind of thing in Japan. I saw an Obama cosplay! Yes we can! You know how Obama says, "Yes we can!"
Yeah! What places have you visited so far in LA?
I've been to a lot of places like the Chrome Hearts store, but I want to go back there again. I love it! Chrome Hearts is very popular in Japan.
Did you visit Hollywood?
I love Johnny Depp so I went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and saw Johnny Depp's star and took a picture.
What would you say is your best memory?
When I'm with the fans and we're together, I have a lot of fun. That's my memory.
Supposing you embark on a world tour or are given the chance to visit wherever you like, where would you like to go?
Finland, Paris, but I think LA is very clear and beautiful. Wide! Very wide! Japan is very compact. Very square. The sky in Japan is very square. I feel that way.
What do you miss the most when you leave Japan?
I usually like Japanese food. When I went to Texas there was no Japanese food so I missed it. But in LA there are so many Japanese restaurants, so there is nothing to miss anymore. So I wanna live here! Live in America!
Did you visit Little Tokyo?
Yes I have! I went to an izakaya, a little bar.
You also said in a previous interview that you like Shinri Testo (psychological tests), so from here we are going to ask you a few of those!
OK!
You're in an American slasher/horror movie. Your best friend just got killed. What do you do?
a) hide and hope you're not next!
b) go warn everyone else that someone's on the loose killing people!
c) go after the killer
d) go after the next victim, because you ARE the killer!
D! I'm the killer.
Another shinri testo. You're stuck on an island and you can have only three things with you for the rest of your life. What three things do you have?
Water, the seed to grow rice, and a guitar.
What are you hoping to achieve in the future?
I want to tour in the USA more. I want to perform more and more and more.
And what can people expect when they come to one of your lives?
They can release their stress. No more stress after I play!
Thank you very much!
So, what are the answers?
Answers?
To the shinri testo?
Actually I don't have any answers...
They're supposed to have answers. (laughs) Usually we have answers to shrinri testo. Why? Why? You were tricking me!!
interview by Sarah and Antonia; photos by Antonia
Thank you to Satsuki for taking the time to answer our questions; thanks to CURE for making this interview possible
links
Satsuki Official Website
Satsuki Official MySpace
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