Moi dix Mois, Mana Interview

 

[The beautifully dark world, it's my very life itself]
--Mana, you started your solo project, Moi dix Mois in 2002. Last year, you added new members. How did you choose them?
M: Last year, the previous vocalist left, so I searched for a new vocalist. It is a solo project, so, for example, if there was no vocalist, I could still put out my work, I thought, and I was preparing to put out my work, when at exactly the right time, I found him. He was doing me a favor, and so it was possible to release the album.
--On the back of the jacket, there are two people beside you.
M: On my left is the vocalist, Seth, and on my right is the other guitarist, K.
--When you accepted them as members, what were the deciding factors?
M: First of all, they adapted their voice and guitar playing to match the music I produce. When the sound and voice matched, then we unaffectedly, somehow or other got more familiar. It feels like it was an intuitive judgment, I think. The remainder of people weren't able to share in how I present my world, so the question "do they have interest?" is also important. There were people skilled at the songs, and who would share in my world, but there were some people who were unreasonable...
--So, from Moi dix Mois' formation up until now, you've had the problem of presenting a single world view. It comes straight from your heart, without blurring.
M: Yeah. So, for sure, it's difficult to find someone who doesn't try to solve the dark world view.
--You haven't had any problems like changing band direction, have you?
M: Yes. Because the beautifully dark world is a thing very much like my life itself. Therefore, I hope to always continue pursuing it.
--Usually, when one keeps progressing in the same direction, you reach your limit, and try to escape it. You haven't felt like this?
M: Not particularly. I'm not a very social thing, and strangely, I don't have an excited interest at all in bright, cheerful sort of things. I have no choice but to ultimately pursue that worldview.
--To pursue that worldview, day after day, you must be very determined.
M: I don't do anything special. In my head, I feel like I'm always having crazy ideas about a world of darkness. To make things, I don't specially have to go try and see and hear about dark things. It's natural, a world I made up. Things like fads are a waste, and I'm not interested, so I'm just together with my worldview.
--Well then, about your new album representing your beautifully dark world, "Beyond the Gate". While recording 12 songs, you ended up with five having vocals (First press edition.) Moi dix Mois is unusual, and relatively unknown, but doesn't it have a rare form?
M: In me, only through sound can I express my world, and make it have meaning. To better express it, I include vocals. These songs I created, I'd like them to be listened to as they are, but the vocals erase some of the effect, and I'd like the instrumentals, without vocals, to be listened to also. Unfortunately, the normal press doesn't include instrumentals.
--Haven't you heard from any of your fans who'd like more songs?
M: Not at all. The people who call themselves fans of me, people who like the instrumentals, there are many of them. Conversely, I previously have had many people say "I want to listen to the instrumentals."
--Oh, really. About how long, in all, did it take you to make the album?
M: Recording took about one month, to compose the songs took about two or three months. I can't write down music, so although arranging the orchestra went tolerably well, it took time. The melodies were practically put in my head, and I was thinking about all this while the harmonies were echoing in my ear, so...For me, that's the only way I can do it, but (laugh) for example, it's easier for me to choose an atmosphere to make a Mana-like sound, rather than make sheet music. Once it's nicely in order, I have to ask, "Is it not boring? Is it a beautiful sound? Was it like that?" From that place on the edge, the harmonies that can be born...I seek that thrill in the sound, I rely on my instinct to make music, although that way doesn't seem to match, but in that way, can't thrilling music be born, I think to myself.
--This time, your song lyrics are both in Japanese and English, and the basis is in both, isn't it?
M: I choose words that match with my compositions. It does seem like because it's being exported, I use English, doesn't it. In spite of that, there is still the beauty of Japanese, things like the characteristic sound of Japanese. If I were to stop using English altogether, my songs wouldn't exist.
--The music you bring forth, what kind of genre has it been treated as overseas?
M: What it's typically called...It's been called a Gothic type of band often. Our costumes are pitch-black, and there's a small taste of wicked demon-ness. To me, I make various compositions, and it's not possible to lump them all into one genre. At any rate, I think it's best for the person listening to decide. Especially with this album, as it's an experimental piece, and each song is a different world. It's a work that stretches the depth of Moi dix Mois' sound, and I'd like for someone to be emotionally moved by it.

--Which reminds me - in the last third of march, it seems you went to France and Germany and played live shows.

M: Yes.

--Even people who had been to a show in Japan, some of the audience came to see because it was in a foreign country, didn't they?

M: Even more than last time. When you compare it to Japan, there was a wider age group. Half of them were even male.

--Half?!

M: Yes. That's considerably different from Japan, isn't it? There were a lot of girls in Gothic Lolita fashion, and many people wearing my Moi-m�me-Moiti� (the Gothic Lolita fashion brand Mana started.) They don't have Gothic Lolita fashion, as it is called, over there. Even though they have Gothic fashion.

--What do they call Gothic fashion?

M: Whichever way you call the way of dress, the skirt length is long, and gives off a Madame sort of feeling, and black serves as a basis of their fashion. That was originally there, but Gothic Lolita fashion wasn't. So wasn't it a fresh experience? Now especially, as all of Europe is taking notice of Gothic Lolita fashion. I feel it's gone over really well in Europe. It seems like the image of the other day's live was a little washed out by the German television, as previously we were featured many times on German television. We've also been featured in the German magazine, "ORKUS".

--Oh?! And weren't you featured on the front cover?!!

M: Twice, once on the February 2005 issue, and on the February 2006 issue. It felt like it was the best magazine in Germany. Their editor was so pleased, he gave me a Christian Death record as a present. "In the old days, Christian Death was huge, and Moi dix Mois makes a similarly deep impression. So, I'll give you a record from my collection," he said.

--Is that how it was? So, about those male fans that make up half your audience?

M: The males' fashion and the way they added to the atmosphere, they must have liked metal. (laugh)

--They liked metal (laugh).

M: They wore metal T-shirts, whoa! And they raised their fists. There were a lot of grim looking people, and that was nice. There were a lot of tough guys and skin heads, too. In Japan, the guys hang out in the back and stay quiet, don't they? Over there, that's the biggest difference.

--It seems the atmosphere was considerably different at that live.

M: Totally different. Overseas, it's an explosion kind of feeling. Experiencing that, I'm kind of looking forward a little to the positive Japanese mood, I think.

--There weren't very many bands with Moi dix Mois' hair color, were there?

M: Surprisingly, there didn't seem to be many. {?}

--If that's the case, in spite of the movement of Japanese gothic, and generally Visual Kei bands in Europe, I think you'll still transmit what you want to. {?}

M: Yeah. It's something or other I've been acquainted with since the days of MALICE MIZER. In those days, there were people who came to Japan to see us.

--Ah. How do you think foreigners find out about you?

M: How do they find out...Because my works get diffused on the Internet, I wonder? If you go look, there are stores where they sell things like Japanese CDs and magazines. I think people find out in that way. Presently, after the France Expo in 2004, every year after that, I've gotten offers to play live shows.

--This time you went to play in Paris and Berlin, but since it was a different country, was the difference in atmosphere a problem?

M: Nothing was unreasonably wrong, except for a few incidents. Berlin (Germany)had a darker feeling. It seems like a natural habitat for Gothic-type bands.

--In short...Do you think it's possible to keep revisiting? For Moi dix Mois. I think Europe's music and fashion is very like yours.

M: Originally, Europe's music and fashion inspired my way of looking at the world.

--When you went to Europe this time, was there a "Welcome home!" kind of feeling?

M: Nah. Me, I like Japan. (laugh)

--But previously you said France was your hometown, you liked it to that degree....

M: Something like that, but I say I like Japan, after having visited several places in Europe, I think. The buildings and the atmosphere, I like these things, but I was born and raised in Japan, so I don't think I'd really want to live overseas. If I were to live in Europe, I don't think I could make my music. The power of my imagination could die over there. In Japan there isn't the same kind of structure as there is in Europe, is there. There isn't, so I want to make my own space, I think. In Europe, that kind of space would already be there, so my imagination wouldn't get all excited...I think....I say that because I went to Europe, and I don't want to make a bad habit. {?} If I especially liked the presentation of European tastes, then if I go to Europe it's like I can be born, isn't it? Can't I think that?

--Yeah, yeah.

M: It's a little bit surprising. For my music, I don't look at the scenery to make it, it's just naturally born from my head, so...basically I just lock myself up in the house to create songs. (laugh)

--In your head, do you define Europe as your ideal land?

M: Hmm....I'm Japanese, so I think about all the beauty of European things. I can't closely investigate Europe by simply going there, what I see isn't a representation of Europe itself, so it doesn't bring out something like a new paradise, but I think that's something I have to express for myself.

--This year, it was your birthday in Germany, at the Berlin live. Did you do anything special?

M: That day was a special live. After the live ended, we held a raffle, and the people chosen were invited backstage. One fan acted as a representative, and, alone, came up to the stage, and handed me a present, a highly-priced antique watch. It seems like all the fans took out their money to pay for it.

--Really.

M: That doesn't happen often in Japan, it's rare. It left a deep impression in me.

--Did they even sing a birthday song for you in the concert hall?

M: They did. Also in the breaks between songs, they abruptly started singing. (laugh)

--That's unusual, too. (laugh)

M: After the Moi dix Mois songs, they all sang it together, like a chorus. I heard at least 6 versions, in different languages.

--Really? Well, here in Japan, it seems there's expectant waiting for your May 2 SHIBUYA-AX one-man live, doesn't it?

M: There's a significance, we've become this new lineup, so the general idea is that it's a new debut. March 11 was the fanclub only live, and since then we've steadily been working on new compositions, so even for them it will be a new announcement. There are various things to consider. I think we can show them a new, an evolved Moi dix Mois. We've gotten a drummer and a bassist, to make 5 people, so there's a type of appeal in that. In spite of that, if the live isn't raw...A raw groove, if the live has that, it'll have that appeal. {?}

--I'm looking forward to it. After that, what are your plans?

M: I'm thinking about a Japan tour. Around the end of summer, I think. If there's an opportunity, I've been getting a lot of inquiries from America, so before long, I'd like to play in America. [something about a one-man live I don't quite get. sorry]

--Energetic, isn't it?

M: Last year, after the vocalist left, we weren't able to do live shows, so we'll try to make up for it this year. This year will be an energetic year.