Interview with BLOOD
noi (Jrockradio): We are very pleased about BLOOD take the time for this interview. Thank you very much.
Kiwamu (bandleader/guitarist of BLOOD): anytime!
noi: BLOOD celebrates the 6th birthday these days. Congratulations for this!
From the very first you played for international fans. Already one year after the formation the band visited America, you were one of the first bands who came to Europe and you already often performed in countries only very few Japanese bands were on stage before. How do you find the courage to try your luck in new areas?
Kiwamu: If it is just luck, we already had end in failure for the tours. But we already had 50times live shows in 11 countires, and we got good responsed for 5 years. So I think many fans accepted our quality of the band. We worked very hard with agents for US markets.
noi: In my mind the Japanese Industrial-scene is more open and braver in the international field than other Japanese musical directions. Often they visit their fans also in new countries in their own initiative and it seems there is also a very open company with fans. Can you say this is true? What in your opinion is the reason for this?
Kiwamu: I think foreign industrial scene is open to another countires, but Japanese industrial scene is not open to foreign bands. I run my label Darkest Labyrinth for foreign bands. Sometimes foreign artists misunderstood Japanese market. They are thinking "Japanis easy country, every bands can get success very easy" But it is misunderstanding. Because Japanese industrial scene is very small than another countires. From my label's distribution working, I can know the truth about Japanese industrial scene.
noi: In November last year BLOOD was in Mexico. What were your experiences? Can you give some of your impressions to us?
Kiwamu: It was 5th Mexican tour for BLOOD. Mexico looks like home ground for us. Impression? 5th time impression? On this tour, we had sound problems but people were very homey. We appriciated at this very much!
noi: You were in the USA even now. You are often in America. Maybe you can also tell us a little bit about your experience there.
Kiwamu: US fans are first international fans to find us in 2002. So for BLOOD USA is the special country. Of course, there were many torubles on these tours. But recently we are working with agent Roger. I can believe him so small problems are not problem for us. There are the people we can believe, it is most important than money, right?
noi: What's your reason you visit America again and again? What do you like there?
Kiwamu: People we can believe!
noi: Your U.S. tour was together with DJ Sisen and you also worked on projects together with other bands in the past. You like the work with other artists? Do you regard somebody most?
Kiwamu: I just want to work with the artists I love. For example, many bands want to come to USA with BLOOD. But I don't want to bring the bands I don't like. There are many stereo type musics in Japanese scene. If I bring that kind bands to US fans, it is an act of treachery for US fans.
noi: How important is the cooperation and mutual assistance?
Kiwamu: I got many offers from foreign artists. "please book us in Japan" "please book us in Japan" "please book us in Japan" but they don't work for us in thier country. They just get the assistance from me. Of course, I don't work with that kind persons. For example, I booked GPKISM show in Tokyo, and GPKISM booked the tour in Australia. I just want to work with the person can do thier best for workings.
noi: Are there any running or coming projects with other artists you want to report to us?
Kiwamu: I am talking with some artists about the new projects. I hope it will be going well. Of course, when I fix everything, I will report you.
noi: A young project started by Kiwamu is GPKISM. It runs since last year, it this right? How do you found the idea and what is matter of the project?
Kiwamu: I joined in this last summer. I worked for BLOOD for 6years already. So I wanted to get new exciting activities from something. I don't have interest in my solo project. So I decided to show GPK's talent for new fans. For this, I will support him from my side.
noi: Do you explain the name for us?
Kiwamu: Oh, I though it was very strange name first. But it is his choice. His name is GPK and his project name is GPK's ism. So it is GPKISM.
noi: In summer BLOOD and GPKISM will tour to Australia. A visitor of our webpage told, there was already Eve of Destiny who came to Australia some years ago. I don?t know about other bands. So anyway BLOOD will also belong to the first Japanese bands that tours to their fans there. How did you get the idea for Australia?
Kiwamu: I got the chance to go to there, so we just booked the tour. Australia will be 12th country for BLOOD.
noi: Any expectances concerning the country and our concerts there? Maybe one of you visited Australia anytime before?
Kiwamu: For all of us, Australia is first country. But we already went to many countries, so I cant tell you "wow, we are very exciting!!" We will go to there, and we just do our best. Only that.
noi: The question suggests itself. What do you think about the music Eve of Destiny made?
Kiwamu: When I joined in Astan magazine compilation, there was thier song. But I don't know the detail. In my opinion, I like the melodious gothic song if I play. But I think thier sond is cool.
noi: It is fascinating to compare the works and optic of BLOOD from the first time with today. The band has really changed. Originally BLOOD was a Visual Kei band, but there was also already a different mind from other representatives. Today you argue clear against typical Visual Kei. When and why came the turn for you and what did you want to make different?
Kiwamu: You know Japanese visual kei is very boring scene now. There were many great bands we loved; X Japan, Luna Sea, Kuroyume etc. But after them, there are not good bands I think. So we worked for visual kei scene for 5years, and we noticed "we are not listening to visual kei music for long time! because new visual kei bands are very boring!" So we decided to search our style. Industrial and Gothic were best for us now.
noi: You are no fans of the Visual Kei Scene, but are or were there although bands which impress you, which you like, maybe also listen to sometimes and possibly even impact and from you as BLOOD?
Kiwamu: I answerd the bands names I loved. But from our music, you can't find thier influences. Right?
noi: Is really impressing for me you make really all yourselves. Kiwamu, you are not only bandleader, but you also take all concern management, promotion and production of BLOOD and you are representative director of Darkest Labyrinth at the same time. Maybe you can provide an insight to us in what all you do in fact. What falls into your field of activities?
Kiwamu: For example, Fuki will write words and think about the arrangement with me. And he will mix for cds. They are another works from BLOOD. So I do all another things without these works he dose. There is no range for my working. I just want to work by my working sprits. I need to do "song writing, gutiar playing, programming, designs, running websites, management, promotion and running the label"
noi: Of course there are always good and bad experiences, but are there activities you really dislike to do?
Kiwamu: yes of course, there were many good acitivities and bad activities. Owing to thisband, I had many good releationship with good people. For example, there were many bad experiences in France because of stupid orgnizers. In Mexico, we had bad organizaders, but fans helped us when we had troubles.
noi: Have you ever think over to engage anybody for some works?
Kiwamu: I can do my working by myself, so I dont think about that.
noi: Do you have Street Teams, which support you?
Kiwamu: When we had the tour in USA, Roger got the streat team. So BLOOD dosen't have fixed street team.
noi: During your last tour through Europe there were some problems and you had to cancel some of your plans. Kiwamu, after that tour you want to avoid Europe for a while. Now by far, do you think BLOOD will come back to Europe and maybe also try to visit the countries, where you had this problems, soon again?
Kiwamu: In fact, I am very tired to book European tour. Slow countries. Lazy countries. It looked wasted time. From my bad experience, I dislike Russian orgzniers, Italy orgzniers, French orgzniers!
noi: Your next album is announced. Can you introduce it a little bit?
Kiwamu: "THE REAPER BEHIND ME" [2CD], a full album accompanying the new concept Symphony of Chaos, which began in 2007, finally makes its appearance. As the first album since their musical transition to a gothic/industrial style, it will be released as a 2-disc set with disc 1 being the full album and disc 2 containing remixes created with foreign clubs in mind. Participating as guest vocalists are Exo-Chika of Aural Vampire on a re-recording of the 1st period track "BLOOD", and Austrian singer Emily Rose on "FOUNTAIN OF BLOOD".
The jacket image was shot in Los Angeles and features model Jade Starr.
Remixes have been contributed by BLOOD's label-mates Virgins O.R. Pigeons (Greece), GPK (Australia), Spectrum-X (Italy); foreign artists BLUE BIRDS REFUSE TO FLY (Greece), The Last Dance (USA), In-Tranzit (Australia), siva six (Greece); and Japanese artists Anny-K (Camino), calmand qual, and DJ dora.
noi: Maybe you can give a view to the future of BLOOD and GPKISM. What can we look forward to?
Kiwamu: My working is not for BLOOD and GPKISM. I will work for Spectrum-X and Virgins O.R. Pigeons too. I just do my best for them.
noi: Do you have some closing words, possibly a message for your fans and the visitors of jrockradio.com?
Kiwamu: I hope you enjoy my works
noi: Sincere thanks to you in the name of jrockradio.com
We are looking forward to all we can hear from you and wish you all the best!