First of all, many thanks for taking time from your busy schedule and doing the interview. Congratulations on “Naishikyo-Sekai”, it is an excellent album. Are you happy with how it’s turned out, looking back three years later? Did you ever want to change anything for this release, for example, rerecord it or use English vocals?
Here in Japan, there is no change for us, because “Naishikyo-Sekai” is not a new album for our fans. But through MySpace, we are getting many fans from all over the world. It’s a pleasure! For the release of this album, I never thought to change my songs as you mentioned, apart from mastering to enhance our sound. We had been looking for a label who can accept our original style. The only one was Season of Mist!
Can you briefly explain the themes and lyrical meaning of the album?
When you listened to your mother's tales in childhood, did not you feel something in your mind? Also, when you go into the darkness, don't you feel an existence of something? Our vocalist Anoji wanted to describe those feelings, because understandable things make awe! All of songs are based on this concept. But it's very difficult to summarize lyrics. Please forgive me.
Your website says that Gonin-Ish means ‘songs united by five people’. Do all five take an equal measure in the songwriting, or does this refer more to the playing itself?
Our songs are very complicated. And I think the ensemble itself is the most important element to avoid becoming boring. So, I used the word “unite”! On song writing, I take all the instrumental parts, and Anoji takes the lyrics and melody lines.
Do you take more influence from Japanese or Western artists, would you say? Is Visual Kei an influence at all?
Visual Kei came out after my background was constructed. So we are not under their influence. My background is from 70’s Progressive Rock, 90’s Progressive Metal and Japanese heavy bands. For example, King Crimson, UK, Univers Zero, Cynic, Dream Theater, Kin-niku-syojyo-tai (King-Show), Vow Wow, Ningen-Isu…… and Anoji was influenced from Thrash Metal, Death Metal and Japanese Pop. Well, a mixture of all of them is what I wanted to describe!
Can you tell our readers a little about how the band first formed? Was there a specific album that got you into Metal?
If I pick up specific three albums considering the forming of "Gonin-Ish", these are Cynic - “Focus”, Dream Theater - “Images and Words” and Anekdoten - “Nucleus”. From the very beginning, I liked the guitarists more than the keyboardist. Therefore it was very natural for me to get into Metal!
How does Anoji take care of her voice? Is Mike Patton’s Avant-Garde style of singing an influence?
She and I love Mr. Bungle! However her style is not only influenced by his style, but also by Edge of Sanity, I think. She and I use the voice to enhance the Gonin-Ish world. In other words, all of the instruments and the voice should be united as a small orchestra. So, the same as the variation in sound of the instruments, the voice should describe many tones too!
What made you choose Season Of Mist to release “Naishikyo-Sekai”? Are you going to release more albums with them?
Our contract is not for multiple releases, so I don’t know how it’ll go in the future. However, all I can say is..... Season of Mist was the only label that is interested in our sound! If it’s possible, I hope Season of Mist will have an interest in our next album!
Have you started to plan the next album yet? Can you tell us anything about it?
For the next album, I already wrote five songs, but I trashed three songs... So we only have two songs to play. Sometimes, we play new songs on gigs. I don’t want to include boring songs in the album. It means that an incredible effort is hiding our album. :D:D:D
Are you political people? Is/will your music ever be influenced by politics, lyrically or instrumentally?
No, I am not…. Maybe I should be so. But I don’t want to put political messages in my songs, I just want to enjoy listening to my songs. Like a horror movie, not a political documentary program; the concept is completely different.
Where do you see yourselves in ten years’ time? Do you think your music will have changed significantly by then, becoming more or less ‘commercial’, for example?
I write and play songs for my own satisfaction. And I want to listen to my songs more! “Keep on progressive!” is my theme. So, the sound direction will be more complex, but beautiful. It means the opposite side of commercial!
Do you find that coming from Japan changes people’s attitude to your music given how fussy Metalheads can be? Do you think you’ve been treated differently to other artists because of your nationality?
Most Japanese Metalheads treat music as belonging to two genres: Japanese or non-Japanese. And some of them think that Japanese Metal is ‘false metal’. However, our sound was accepted as ‘true metal’ from such people. It is a very rare case! About nationality, spreading Anime is very nice for us. Many people have interest in the Japanese language as well as Japanese culture. So this means that "from Japan" could be an advantage, I think.
How’s the Japanese metal scene? Are there any up-and-coming bands worthy of attention?
The end of the century was so bad for the Japanese Metal scene. But nowadays, it’s become preferable compared with 10 years ago. However, for professional Metal musicians, the scene is not big enough to survive. Anyway, at the end of January, we will have a concert and “RIKUGO” will appear as an opening. I mastered their album which was self-released. Their sounds have many essences, for example, typical Progressive Metal, soundtracks and experiments. I love them very much! In addition, I want to pick up “Jurassic Jade”. Their band was born 20 years ago. Very old, but very aggressive Metal sound. Maybe you can find their website easily.
What makes a band ‘progressive’ in your view? Do you think that Gonin-Ish is very different from other bands that call themselves that?
Firstly, I suggest our vocalist’s style. She can growl and sing. And it brought us a dynamic in the sound. Secondary, is using a piano attack. I like to play drums even though I’m a keyboardist. So this background made me a Heavy Metal keyboardist, like a guitarist. Finally, we don’t want to appeal only via musical techniques. I think techniques should be used only to make an atmosphere in songs!
Do you think Metal as a genre will still be here in say, another fifty years’ time?
I think the development of the instrument is already saturated, and future Metal will not change so much. However Metal will survive like Jazz, because Metal has extreme feelings which you never get from the other genres. Metal will never die! I give you my word!!!
Would you describe you or your band-mates as party people? Does much alcohol get consumed, and if so, what’s your favourite poison?
Actually, our band is famous as the most over-drinking band in the Japanese Metal scene… Hehehe. I like drinking, and I love all of alcohol (beer to spirits). But if I pick up one kind of alcohol, I pick up Sake (maybe you know in the sushi bar, Japanese rice wine!) In Japan, there are so many breweries, and uncountable types of Sake. They are like the wines in Europe.
What was the best decade for Metal, in your view, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s, and why?
From my memories, the 90's were the most exciting decade for me. The guitar sound was dramatically changed in this period, I think.
What are your current five top albums, new or old, metal or not?
Recently, I haven’t listened to Metal so much. But some metal bands charmed me. For example, the new albums of Cynic, Meshuggah, Decide….etc. On the other side, I always listen to soundtracks of Anime Movies. I have all the stuff from “Ghost In The Shell”!
Do you have a favourite joke you could tell us?
I spent a few minutes over the reply to this question. But no ideas are coming to me, so I don’t have a nice joke. Instead of this, I can tell you our band’s funny episode. Most of the members (of course including me) can’t write or read scores. So sometimes, each member’s understanding of rhythm is completely different, our songs include too many odd rhythms. Therefore, in our gigs, our headbanging never synchronizes. Of course, audiences can’t synchronize either!
Thanks again for your time, and good luck with everything! Any final words for fans, or perhaps the few who haven’t checked the band out yet?
Firstly, visit our website or myspace, and check our sound (gonin-ish.com, myspace.com/goninish). You can find and touch the progressive sound. Progress never stops! Thank you!
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