To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his musical career, Kamijo has embarked on a World Tour, during which he will perform all the best that he has created during all his performances in LAREINE, NEW SODMY, Versailles and in a solo project. What feelings does he want to put into these songs? And what do all these groups mean to him? He talks about it himself.
Kamijo's theme is "eternity", and his ideal is to destroy time, to overcome the limitations of space and time.
And: 2015 is the year of the twentieth anniversary of your creativity.
K: Yes, just in the spring of 1995 LAREINE's serious performances began. And for me, the twentieth year of my career has become an important milestone.
Q: You have announced a World Tour, at the concerts of which the compositions of LAREINE, NEW SODMY, Versailles and a solo project will be mixed. This ambitious project is the best fit to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his musical career.
K: If I were currently performing in any group, it would be strange to perform compositions of another group. But since I am now working solo, it was enough for me to just talk to the members of those bands, and I got the opportunity to perform old songs. And I feel a special significance that such a time has come.
Q: When did you get the idea to do a world tour to mark your 20th career anniversary?
K: Quite recently.
I: Such a grandiose plan - and more recently ??
K: It all started with the thought that this year LAREINE will be 20 years old. And I just thought that my creative activity is also 20 years old. Of course, I got the idea that something special needs to be done in honor of the 20th anniversary. And then there was a proposal for a world tour. Of course, I wanted to do something special, so I decided to remember not only LAREINE, but my entire journey over these 20 years. And at the same time, I thought that there is one topic that I constantly strive for - this is "eternity." And this is reflected not only in the solo album "Heart", it is my constant theme. The eternity that I strive for is a place where there is no time. It is this act that allows you to "destroy time", to collect all events together, including the past. And if you pay attention to all the factors, then the time has come right now,
Q: Many new fans don't know much about the times of LAREINE and NEW SODMY. Perhaps you wanted to show your entire history for 20 years?
K: Yes, that too, but I myself was very interested in performing old songs. I think that if the current me performs these songs, it will be 300 times better! (laughter). And those viewers who do not know the past will enjoy them as new songs. Plus, I'm not going to revive LAREINE, NEW SODMY or Versailles at all. I just want to introduce them in my solo project. And since these songs will be performed by the current "me", the arrangement and musical structure will be slightly changed. Symphony elements, orchestration, what I could not do before, these elements will be included in a new performance, and I will be glad if they please the listeners.
Q: When you look back at the past, has your understanding of singing and music changed?
K: Yes, completely changed.
Q: Why do you think this happened?
K: First of all, the voice has changed. But most importantly, I was able to put everything on my back. Now I can put it on my back and can sing with my arms outstretched. I couldn't do that before. Before, I sang as if holding all my senses with both hands.
Q: People call it growth.
K: Maybe. But I don't like this word. I am a person who wants to be an adult from the very beginning (laughter). But I myself and the fans, we are all human, so in the memories everything seems more beautiful. And when I now sing these songs, I want to revive the most wonderful memories.
Q: Of course, time has passed, and in memories everything really seems beautiful, but now the bar has been raised higher.
K: Yes, and I think that it cannot be otherwise.
Q: And most of all, the music makes me happy. Although the groups ceased their activities and this music remained locked in that time, it is now possible to reintroduce it to the audience.
K: In all the songs that I have written in 20 years, I put my whole soul into it. There are many songs that I want to sing.
Q: Now, to enjoy the upcoming concerts even more, let's trace the history of Kamijo-san's musical career. Let's start with LAREINE. This is a group that has the concept of "The embodiment of flowers that have fallen into modernity." A variety of music embodies this idea. It is probably difficult to express this in one word, but if you look back, how can you define the nature of the music you were striving for?
K: I can say in one word! (laughter). This is heartbreaking music. A year has passed since the founding of LAREINE, when I realized that the band is striving for sad, painful music.
Q: And at the very beginning there were other directions?
K: At the very beginning, we tried different things. There were also just furious songs in which there was not a single drop of this pain. But a year passed, just those members with whom the group subsequently signed a major contract gathered, and the musical direction was clearly defined. Apparently, the individuality of each member of the group was fully reflected in the verses and the sound of the songs. And I myself, under the influence of the band members, began to strive to reflect this theme in the lyrics.
Q: That is, all members of the group adhered to the same direction?
Yes. I think there are actually very few people who write music based on their desire to convey something specific. Maybe this is the work of Antonio Vivaldi "The Four Seasons". I think that in the old days composers composed music when they had some images or feelings that they would like to convey in their works. So in LAREINE, music was also created, in which there was a clear understanding of what the pursuit of sad and painful things leads to. For example, even the smallest percussion line we made with the thought: "How will it sound more heartbreaking?" It was the presence of this standard that made the group cool. Because all members of the group adhered to the same direction.
Q: Can you give an example of songs that have special meaning to you?
K: The last indies single Métamorphose left a strong impression. It took almost a year to work on the song. At that time, I was still not well versed in music theory, and in this song, in the chorus, there is a change in the key to a minor third. Now it is the modulation into a small third that is one of the main techniques for me, but at that time I was acting by intuition. I felt that it was not worth staying in the same key, I wanted to change it, but how best to do it, I did not know. And until I finally calmed down, having found the opportunity to make modulation in a small third, a whole year passed! (laughter).
And, of course, the cover of the song from the anime "The Rose of Versailles" is remembered. So far, I have covered this song twice and would be happy to perform it now. If this film is shown again, I would like to perform this song myself.
Q: It seems that you have many different episodes associated with this song.
K: As I said, I covered this song twice. The first time I recorded it for the indies album LILLIE CHARLOTTE at the request of the band members. The second time I did a cover for the second major single, it was a release at the suggestion of the record company. In fact, at that time I had a very negative attitude towards it. I thought: "And why is it necessary to perform other people's songs now!" But my attitude completely changed after meeting with the author of the manga "Rose of Versailles" Ikeda Riyoko. I realized that it was good that I performed this song.
Q: Did your views change after meeting the author of the manga?
K: Before meeting Ikeda-sensei, I had not read the manga itself. But since there was a meeting with the author, I thought that I needed to read it. And that's when I first read The Rose of Versailles and became very carried away. This influence was evident later, when the group "Versailles" was founded. This song changed my destiny.
Q: Ikeda-sensei drew the cover for the single and also participated in the recording of the backing vocals. I remember that, as a man of the days of the "Rose of Versailles", it made a great impression on me.
Q: When Ikeda-sensei drew the cover, she looked at my videos and photos. At the time, she said it was a "modern Oscar". For me, this is a great pride, but at the same time, something absolutely incredible! (laughter).
Q: That is, you had difficult feelings. What can you say about her participation in the recording of backing vocals, because she is a professional singer?
K: I think that the value of this piece has increased because we worked with the author of the original not only on the look and on the music. Until that time, I practically did not use female vocals, so performing with a soprano was the first time for me. For me at that time it was a voice that existed in the sky above. I still admire the art of opera, but at that time it was a style for me that was not typical for me. Also, the fact that Ikeda Sensei agreed to take part in the recording was a special event in itself ... Today I often use the word “special” (laughter).
Q: But this is a really special song.
K: Yes. And also, if we talk about vivid memories, then this is the first major single “Fiancailles”. As soon as you hear the first sounds of the synthesizer in the introduction, it seems that time can be overcome. You listen to this music and it is like getting into a time machine. The concept of this song is “reborn, we will meet again”, because the soul can overcome time. This song fits very well with the current tour. There are also great songs, although I'm talking to myself, "Grand Pain", which came out in 2000 when I was working alone at LAREINE, and "Imperial Concerto", released after the band's reunion. This song was created with the understanding that LAREINE has moved ahead from the pre-stop period. Now I can sing them in even better shape, and I myself will enjoy it.
Q: I personally really love the song "FuyuTokyo" and would like to ask you for an explanation about this song. At that time I was just amazed, because LAREINE is a European-style band, and suddenly the name of the song is written in hieroglyphs, and also about Tokyo!
K: Actually, this song just used its rough title (laughter). I performed it during a concert in France in 2014, and it is quite possible that I will perform it on this tour as well.
Q: Have you already decided which songs you will perform in addition to the above?
K: The current tour will start in Europe, then throughout the year it will go to many countries, including South and North America. It would be difficult to conduct such a tour right away, and during the year it will be possible to perform a variety of songs. After all, at the moment I have published more than 100 songs! And I would like to perform the best of them.
Q: Among them, there will probably be songs from the times of NEW SODMY, which we will now talk about. This group was active for only a year and a half. What are your memories of this time?
K: The name of the group means "sinner". The members of the group who gathered here had been doing something completely different before and now decided to start working in a different direction. Therefore, our music was mostly a challenge. For example, “PHANTOM” has a strong industrial atmosphere.
Q: The members of NEW SODMY were Kamijo and Mayu from LAREINE, but this group had a completely different direction both musically and visually. It seems to me that to some extent you tried to make people think of you: "And what do they want?"
K: Yes, that was also the case. But if it were not for this year in NEW SODMY, I would not be able to feel the joy of playing in a group again. I think that our activity in NEW SODMY is connected with the revival of LAREINE.
And: I remember! At that time, I had several interviews with NEW SODMY, and each time you said that you really felt the pleasure of working in a group.
K: For me, that year was necessary both personally and in terms of human relationships. I am very grateful to the members of the NEW SODMY group.
Q: Do you mean musically?
K: NEW SODMY, in one word, it is mode (mode of action, form, appearance, tonality). I really like the style of walking on a platform in a super-model from the Paris collection of clothes. And the NEW SODMY group arose precisely from the desire to express this feeling in music. In addition, Akemi Oshima, a well-known author who writes about rock music, introduced me to the wonderful guitarist Aya. When I said that I wanted to add a guitar to my music, he played a beautiful phrase. When I heard it, I asked: "What kind of music do you like, Aya-kun?" He replied, "Lenny Kravitz." It was a completely different music than I was used to, and a new path opened up in front of me. That is why, when LAREINE reunited in 2002, we were able to do more than just repeat old songs. While I was busy in NEW SODMY, Emiru played in RIBBON, and that's why, that we both moved away from LAREINE for this period, later we were able to reunite. Creatively, it was a good reunion.
Q: Since 2002, only 4 years have passed, and LAREINE again stopped its activities. And after that a new period began in your work - the Versailles period. For me personally, it was amazing to hear that you sing in the metal genre!
K: At the very beginning, Hizaki was striving for a different direction than metal. Although he himself played in this genre, he still strove to follow the main rut of visual kei. Maybe he thought it was more suited to my style, but I started a band with Hizaki with the intention of playing metal music. I felt with pleasure that gradually the power hidden in both of us was coming out.
Q: But why did you want to play metal specifically?
K: Actually, I have wanted this since the days of LAREINE. Mayu loved hard rock and metal and even at that time said that it would be nice to bring Hizaki to LAREINE, and then it would be possible to have two guitars in the group. But Hizaki was then playing in a different group, and these conversations remained conversations. LAREINE was striving for sad music, my voice began to sound too soft. I felt that I had reached the limit. Therefore, I wanted something new, I wanted to overcome this barrier. In order to get a new beautiful voice, I decided to start everything from scratch and it was for this purpose that I took part in the creation of Versailles. And as a result, over the five years of the band's activity, I was able to improve my level in many ways, both personally and musically.
Q: You will undoubtedly perform Versailles songs during the world tour. What songs, in your opinion, will be impossible to do without?
K: First of all, this is the debut major single Ascendead Master and the famous song "Aristocrat's Symphony" from the Indies period. And oh, very important is the composition "Masquerade" from the Holy Grail album, the coolest album of the band in my opinion.
Q: I wish you a successful tour! For a whole year you will be performing different songs in different countries. You are having a very interesting period, how do you feel now?
K: Now I am gradually realizing what is drawn to me in my dreams: "It would be nice to do this!" For example, I was able to publish a long composition as a suite, as a single work, as the debut release in my solo project. So it will be on the world tour. Although I can't announce it right now, some interesting things are expected from the summer. If I wanted to do something and could not, then there will be no second time. Therefore, this year I will implement my ideas with the thought: "If you try, everything will work out."
Q: In one TV show, artist Koyabu Kazutoyo (小 籔 千 豊) said, “Dreams don't come true. These irresponsible media claims that dreams are becoming reality only mislead children. It is much more important to know the reality! " Sadly, there is some truth in these words. But there are other people who, like you, Kamijo-san, can confidently say that dreams become reality. What do you think is the secret of making your dreams come true?
K: I think it's meeting people. When we signed a major contract at LAREINE in 1999, there was a very favorable environment. But after LAREINE suspended its activities, my activity did not have a large scale, take at least NEW SODMY, at least the revived LAREINE. To be honest, these were the times when I thought that I shouldn't concentrate only on music. But at this time, I met the future members of the Versailles group. And it reawakened my powers. I think that it is meetings with people that give a chance and provide an opportunity to awaken your strength. And the fact that Versailles were able to enter the world stage began with the fact that we gave an interview to German television. After all, initially we did not plan to perform all over the world at all. Of course, there were conversations with the then staff, but these were just conversations, but it was thanks to that broadcast on German television that the word Versailles took the top line in Yahoo. And then our interview on Mezamashi TV appeared.
Q: There are things that I don't understand. It seems to me that all these meetings are just a miracle.
K: Our first concert was at Meguro Rokumeikan. And for some reason there was already television! (laughter). How come we are not that popular yet !! (laughter)
Q: However, the morning TV program reported that there was a visual kei group that plays metal, which was still unheard of!
K: So at first we didn't know ourselves that we were playing in the metal genre. This interview only came about because we went up to Yahoo! To the top positions.
Q: And yet, these meetings with people that lead to such results are amazing. But the meeting itself may not lead to anything if you do not make your own efforts.
K: Yes, it is. I was fortunate enough to meet many people, and thanks to this, I moved on. While it's embarrassing to talk about myself, 10 years after LAREINE's major debut, Versailles made its major debut. I think it's not easy to do this twice.
Q: And you made your debut in a solo project for the third time, I think that this happens very rarely.
K: The solo debut was influenced by Versailles, so this is not surprising. But the fact that I managed to make a major debut with groups twice is really rare. I myself think this is very unusual. And in the future, I would like to confirm that everything that you want can be done and show it to everyone.
Q: And in conclusion, please, a few words for our readers about your thoughts and feelings regarding the 20th anniversary of your creative activity.
K: Now I, in accordance with the story of the vampire, write music directed to eternity. And I hope that in 2015 I will be able to break "time" and share "eternity" with all of you. I want to create an atmosphere where space and time become one. As I said at the very beginning, I want to collect all the events and combine them into a single axis, which is associated with the destruction of time. And although different countries are far away, if only to overcome time, then we can all gather in one place. And this year I want to cross the borders of countries and spend a special anniversary year with everyone.
Zdroj:https://www.facebook.com/notes/vive-le-roi-kamijo-fanclub-by-fans/attraction-of-eternityrock-read-n58/2931906930467538/
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