The upcoming new chapter of the bassist who established himself while evolving his playing style in the middle of fierce battles he experienced overseas
“We want to challenge both, our activities and songs, while constantly incorporating what seems new to us. Right now, once again, we want to try it with the feeling that Dir en grey can do anything”
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“For example, when we were making the album “DUM SPIRO SPERO”, the Great East Japan earthquake (March 11, 2011) happened. I remember clearly that our mood was ‘Is it ok to play music now?’. But this time, with this Corona situation, unlike that time, on the contrary I feel positively the only thing we can do now is music”
Text by Hiroko Goto
The last featured member is bassist Toshiya, boasting a magnificent presence while sustaining the base of the sound. Placing “Ochita koto no aru sora” as a new chapter when they started the production, he talked about the “past, present and future” of the band which can be a very important content to know the present position of Dir en grey. Also, he approaches his roots, which he has never talked about very positively so far, in a “Albums that inspired you” interview that starts with the story of the encounter with the band GUNS N’ ROSES, taking a look at the style of DEFTONES and KORN with whom they went on tour together as an example while he reiterates his own style, making it a interview in which you can see exactly his real image.
“We wanted to think about what we could do until the last minute. At first, we didn’t think about simply postponing it”
-Looking back, because of Corona, the tour scheduled for March “Tour20 Sogai” and the PIA Arena MM final performance “THE INSULATED WORLD”-THE SCREAMS OF ALIENATION-“ scheduled for July have been cancelled.
Toshiya: Right.
-Thinking about your past activities, it’s like the flow of the ’The insulated world'（2018）is completed at this point. That’s the image I’m getting. First of all, when you were getting ready for the “Sogai” tour, what kind of thoughts did you have about it?
T: ‘The insulated world’ tour had been done quite a few times until last year, so I was thinking about the set list changes for this “Sogai” tour. So, as I thought it would be interesting because there would be new elements, I was very disappointed because we couldn’t tour.
-Rather than a continuation of the tour from the last year, were you looking ahead of the album?
T: “Sogai” is also a tour of the album but, when I thought about the final Pia Arena performance, I imagine it as a concert that would connect with that.
-Does that mean the Pia Arena performance was the culmination of 'The insulated world’?
T: Yes, I think that idea was there.
-After all, it was a shock that it had to be cancelled due to the current circumstances.
T: For me too. If you ask me if it was a shock, at some point, it was. But it couldn’t be helped as we couldn’t do it. I had no choice but to put my feelings behind and move on. Rather than that, the biggest problem was wondering what we could do for the fans who were looking forward to it. That’s why we wanted to think hard about what we could do until the last minute. At first, we didn’t think about simply postponing it, on the contrary, we were thinking how we could make it possible (the performances) but after all, as expected, in the end it was difficult.
-In that sense, you did a live without audience, ‘The world you live in’, on the day when there was originally a live concert in March. In May, you did a live stream ’Dir en grey audio live stream 5 days’ with setlist planned by members and broadcasted a talk ’Dir en grey live archive & Special talk’ . I think you were moving forward in many positive ways. Did the members propose any idea about what moves you wanted to make?
T: Yes. How could I say it?…. In this situation, on the other hand, we thought there were quite a few things we could do only now, we tried to think in that direction. As there are things we couldn’t do anymore, what should we do now, so the idea of ‘what things could we do in the current situation?’ came up.
-For you personally, during the period of the voluntary lockdown (Japan’s declaration of emergency state), did you have that mentality?
T: That’s it…. I guess I didn’t feel much the impact of being in that situation in my private life . I don’t usually go out so much (laughs) To be honest, my daily life didn’t change.
-(Laughs)
T: It was very disappointing that my plan of going on tour and eating delicious food all over Japan was gone (laughs) I was like…. “But I was thinking of eating delicious food, drinking delicious sake, and doing my best at the concerts”.
“It was fun. If you talk seriously as usually, it won’t be interesting”
- Actually, how did you feel about the voluntary lockdown (stay-at-home)?
T: The tour was cancelled, and after all, I was making songs and within limitations, there were many things to do. As I was doing those things, I felt like I was always at home. So, if you ask me if my routine changed much, it didn’t.
-In the broadcasting of the set list and the live streaming of the talks among the members, there was a feeling of being closer with the members than the Dir en grey we had seen until now.
T: I was very concious about that, so thank you for telling me that. That’s why we made the talks like that, I thought people would enjoy it more if we show the parts that we don’t usually show.
-In the talk, I got the impression that you were relaxed while having a drink.
T: (Laughs) That’s true.
- Were you conscious of that feeling of naturalness/raw feeling ? Were you trying to create it?
T: Hahaha. It was fun. Well, I did it like because I thought if you talk seriously as usually, it won’t be interesting. For things like that (serious), it’s better to use properly the power of the media and magazines.
-Twitter was really excited about it, I enjoyed it too.
T: Thank you (laughs)
-Also, at the time you announced the release of a single ‘Ochita koto no aru sora’. Was this single originally scheduled to be announced at this timing?
T: Since last year more or less, it was decided it would be released around that time. Originally, as it felt like we weren’t going to play it during the “Sogai” tour, we started working on it at the beginning of the year. But this time, I was able to spend a significant amount of time due to the Corona situation, so I think as a result I was able to concentrate on it very much.
- So, was there any aspect of your recording style that was influenced by corona?
T: The recording style is always done member by member, so it doesn’t change. I didn’t have any particular influence because until preproduction, the work was done in each member’s home and recording was done one by one, so there was no particular impact. As it didn’t feel like when we are in the middle of a tour or between rehearsals, rather, I felt that I could dedicate the whole time to it.
- The previous single was a magnificent song called "The world of Mercy”, which was a continuation of “The Insulated World” and had the image of the final chapter of the album. What were the expectations for the new single?
T: It was discussed between the member which type of song it would be, if it was going to be an upper (upbeat) song or a downer one with calm feelings. There were about 4 candidate songs, so doing them, this was the one that worked the best for us.
- The feeling is that it is the next image of “The world of Mercy” or is it in the direction of something completely new?
T: Personally, it felt like something new. As I said earlier, I personally think that “The World of Mercy” is the final chapter of “The Insulated World”.
-The world of “The Insulated World” has being going around for a long time, so from there, did you imagine switching to a new feeling immediately?
T: I try to imagine it every time but after all it is still vague, and I don’t know. After finishing “Ochita koto no aru sora”, and as result of its final shape, there was a response to those questions but during the process of making it, I was worried about how it was going to land.
-From previous two choices, the upper/upbeat song was selected.
T: That’s right. Only because there was a sensation that it fits nicely.
“Unlike that time, we felt like ‘we can only do music now’”.
T: Basically, unison* is the main one. While playing the same phrase as the guitar, I had the feeling that it would be good if I could play in order to stand out at every important point of the song. That’s the position I’ve taking in recent songs.
*Unison: It’s the simultaneous playing of a note (or a series of notes constituting a melody) by different instruments.
-It’s a song that feels like a beginning, but still has a certain amount of 'The Insulated World’ energy. Looking back at the album 'The Insulated World’, what kind of album was for you?
T: When we released the previous album “ARCHE” (2014), I had an image of the band returning to the origin, I think the album for taking a new step from there was ‘The insulated world’. After all if a band continues, it may be like going around in circles, a similar circle may come around but, there was also a feeling that the band had regained a fresh feeling and was taking a new step.
-During the tours of the album, was there an actual feeling that you could certainly take the new step you just mentioned?
T: There is, there is. That’s why I think there is enthusiasm for the next single.
-Furthermore, when it comes to timing, it’s running in parallel with the Corona virus disaster. Did that affect you?
T: That’s right. We were making it while the world was in a situation like that. As one would expect, it’s something that really impresses you. For example, when we were making the album “DUM SPIRO SPERO”, the Great East Japan earthquake (March 11, 2011) happened. I remember clearly the mood was ‘Is it ok to play music now?’. But this time, with this Corona situation, unlike that time, on the contrary I feel positively the only thing we can do now is music. We can’t go anywhere, weird stories around, we have nothing to do. So, when we asked ourselves what we could do, as the response was “music”, there was a moment we thought positively “well, let’s make music”.
-Also, for the coupling side, a reconstructed version of “CLEVER SLEAZOID” with Japanese lyrics was recorded.
T: This was during the European tour, while talking about what to do with the coupling song, we narrowed it down to a few songs and we actually decided to try to do it at the time of the rehearsal. We made a rough framework of how it would be. At that rehearsal, when we were sitting silently, it felt like all the members decided to do it.
-Rather than the reconstructed songs you have done so far, it’s an arrangement that uses the original song as it is very well.
T: When we were matching it at rehearsal, we were trying out to change the rhythm a bit. As a result, the tempo was a bit faster than the original song. It was refined with the arrangements. Certainly, we used to change the arrangement quite a lot, but recently, our mode is that we don’t change it that much and we take a slightly softer approach.
-The simplicity of using the current sound of the band. I feel that mode as you can put the song out as it is.
T: I can’t explain how that happens in that mode, because we do it in an intuitive way. Also, since this song has originally English lyrics, it’s seems like he wanted to sing it properly in Japanese.
-That’s something big. How did you feel when you heard this song with Japanese lyrics?
T: Mmm…. His (Kyo’s) lyrics and melody are an instrument in my mind. Everything feels like an instrument that once is put all together, it’s called a “song”. That’s why, whether it’s Japanese or English lyrics, it may not change much.
-I see. Also, at that time, this song was released as a single at that time, after the album 'Withering to Death’ (2005), when it was a time when you were moving into a new phase. In that sense, I think it could be said that it was the same mode as you are now.
T: Certainly, at that time, it was when we started to think about overseas as a band. Now that you have mention it, it’s not the same thing that we’ve talked before but, there is a feeling of bouncing around from one place to the next.
“At that time, there was a moment where we wanted to somehow to leave claw marks of a band called DIR EN GREY”
-You would say that the band is about to change?
T: That’s right. I think there are some parts that are about to change. When we first released ‘Clever Sleazoid’, in ourselves as well, there was a feeling of ‘Let’s spread our work at overseas!’, I think it was a turning point that was about to change everything. So, now ‘The Insulated World’ was released, and we are trying to get to the next phase, so in that way, it’s connected. Well, there is a feeling of trying to find our new weapon in order to fight something.
- Comparing how you were at that time and how you are now, have you changed your way of thinking/mindset?
T: To be honest, the way of thinking is completely different (laughs) At that time, we had a strong feeling of going to overseas. In order to go overseas, there was a feeling in ‘Clever Sleazoid’ and the songs around that time, like we wanted to compose music with a conscientiousness of overseas music. In that sense, I think there was a moment in which we were very conscious of overseas. Right now, we are constantly playing overseas, but on the contrary, the idea of ‘What activities should we go based on overseas?’ is no longer there. It’s not because of overseas, it’s not because of Japan…. the way we are doing it from now on is what we want to deliver to the people.
-In other words, you were in a more glaring moment?
T: That’s right. More than glaring, at that time, there was a moment where we wanted to somehow to leave claw marks of a band called DIR EN GREY. I think that feeling was something that only could appear at that time, it was something that it only could be done at that time. Now, I think that there are several ways to do it (laughs)
- Certainly, I’ve been watching your live performances in recent years, and instead of standing somewhere, it’s feels like your stance is making use of your originality. It seems that it has become a natural thing for the band without forcing or changing anything.
T: That’s true. That’s why when it became a circular thing that you catch a hold of it, as a band that it’s in a mature point, I think the important point is what we can release or not.
- Even as the start of a new chapter, I think it will be a great time for those who have been waiting for it. I’m looking forward to the reactions of the new single.
T: That’s right. Also, this time, it’s the first time we are releasing a single in this way, so I wonder how is going to feel. It’s a little wait-and-see.
Zdroj: https://thepriceofbeingaroseisloneliness.tumblr.com/post/627017135031484416/toshiya-personal-interview-special-headbang-vol27?fbclid=IwAR2WMSJXiJoAw88jEIglkeW0ciq4ICVRRyJoOVe1zlJunTTkIxlXRRLGaks
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