Sugizo

 

The Lady Miz Diva: Watching you at the Juno Reactor concert last night, I could see so many different influences in your playing, Dick Dale, ska, funk, Duane Eddy, metal, all of those styles during the show. After the concert, I spoke to Ben Watkins and said "Sugizo looked like someone who’s been freed," and he said “Exactly! That’s what I want.” Do you feel like you have the freedom with Juno Reactor to play whatever you wanted to play and do whatever you wanted to do?

Sugizo:  I don’t know, it’s very my natural thing. It’s very natural. Of course Ben is a very serious musician, usually he wants more high quality and more big energy from music. Usually his request is very difficult for us, but I can feel this freedom from this type of music. Also, last night’s show, we had so much free time, free session time, free jam time on the stage, it’s awesome.

 

LMD: It sounded like one long jam session.

S:  Exactly!

 

LMD: Being new to Juno Reactor, I had to ask Ben if all the songs were actually tracks from the CD, or was it one big gorgeous jam session? He said, “They are tracks from the CD, but I wanted it to feel like a jam session”.

S:  Jam session is the most important element for music, I think, on the stage. Like communication, like sex, very important. Juno’s CD is just Ben Watkins’ work.  Of course, the last time I played too, Greg (Ellis, drummer) played too, and (rapper) Squid and so many of our members played.  All the members played, but it’s just source for his music, it’s just elements.  I mean, he can chop and he can edit and he can remix.  I think Ben Watkins’ remixes work, but on the stage, we can play with more energy, we can make magic.  Its very different to Juno’s album, it’s fantastic.  Music is free.

 

LMD:  I told Ben that the first line of my review of the concert would be “I’m going to run away from home and join Juno Reactor.”

S: Good!

 

LMD:  It’s like a circus.

S: Exactly!

 

LMD:  There’s so much going on onstage, you don’t know where to look.  A friend said she put her hand in the air and she could feel the energy in the hall.  Do you feel that, too?

S:  Yeah. Of course.

 

LMD:  What do you think brings out the reaction that you get from your audience?  Last night some of the folks were just standing mesmerised, deep into the music and the whole back of the hall was like a rave with mad dancing everywhere.  What is it that brings out that primal response?

 S:  Definitely, it’s different with the New York audience.  They are so fantastic.  Usually, on the stage I like to collect the cosmos. No think, just feel. You said to me last night, I was dancing….

 

LMD:  You were.

S:  I didn’t know, I just move with the music.  It’s very natural for me.

 

LMD:  I’ve seen other things that you’ve done, but I’ve never seen you like that.  It’s the freeness of it; there’s all these things going on and every musician can be themselves, but Ben’s controlling it like a ringmaster.

S:  Yes. He’s a great conductor.

 

LMD:  On to other things, you have a concert coming up in December in Shibuya, don’t you?  Is the concert to celebrate your 10th anniversary as a solo artist?

S:  Yes, December 19^th. 10 years solo was last year.  Last year, I really wanted to do my anniversary work, it was impossible. I was too busy. For example, last year I had S.K.I.N.’s work, you know S.K.I.N?  And last year I had Masi’s {sic – possibly Miyavi’s?} work, too, so I couldn’t do that.  I couldn’t do my solo work.  The timing was so bad, but it’s very important for me.  I mean, this December {will be} fantastic.  My solo band’s new drummer is Greg {Ellis}.

 

LMD:  He’s got to be one of the hardest working drummers I’ve ever seen.

S:  Definitely, he’s a great drummer.  He’s the best drummer in my life.

LMD:  There were so many young fans at both your live interview with Samurai Beat Radio and the Juno Reactor concert.  What message would you like to pass on to them?

S:  What I want to pass on to young people, to the younger generation is just spirituality for peace. Weapons no, music is good.  No more machine guns; play the guitar.  This is very important, no more weapons, play music.  We are oneness.  Just now we don’t need any borders for any race, any country, any religion, any culture.  Just now it’s our point of view, it’s very beautiful, but for government, for politicians, they still have big borders, they still have big problems for each country.

 

LMD:  One of the things that I find fascinating about you is that you say these things.  You are an activist, you don’t hide who you are, you are what you see is what you get.

S:  I don’t hide.

 

LMD:  A lot of other people do.  A lot of other musicians put up a very polished front, are afraid to say anything controversial and you’re not.  Why?  What is that confidence?

S:  I think being a musician; we have so many responsibilities for people.  I mean, definitely Bob Dylan, John Lennon, definitely they are truth for me, they are not hiding.  They talk to honesty, it’s very important. I mean, we are musicians, it is our responsibility, but just now, exactly, most music {isn’t}.  I don’t know why.  Usually, I will be honest for my mind, for my truth, but it is very risky for my life, for this society, but we need - we need – {to} be honest.  We need to talk to the truth.  We need to talk to the mind.  Most people {have} forgotten.

 

LMD:  So… what’s up with S.K.I.N.?

S:  Definitely, we want to continue S.K.I.N.  A few weeks ago, we had a meeting for S.K.I.N.’s future.  Of course, all the members want to continue to do that.  Maybe from next year summer, we can join in… maybe.  All the members are too busy.

 

LMD:  Since we are so heavily into films on our site, I wanted to ask you about movies.  You mentioned during your interview with Samurai Beat Radio that you enjoyed The Dark Knight.

S:  Yeah, The Dark Knight, I really loved it.

 

LMD:  I wondered what are some of your other favourite movies?

S:  I have so many favourite movies, it’s very difficult.  For example, Blade Runner, 2001 {A Space Odyssey}, A Clockwork Orange.  Of course, Star Wars is my life, too. Star Trek, too.

 

LMD:  Did you like the prequels, the most recent films, too?

S:  I liked them.  I mean, George Lucas is our god. He made up Star Wars; Star Wars is just his world.

 

LMD:  Sugizo, I know you’re very tired, but I really appreciate your taking the time to talk with us.

S:  No problem, no problem, this is very important work for me.

 

LMD:  I just wanted to say lastly that I thought that Juno Reactor should be in a Broadway theatre and I think it’s something that everyone should see.  I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

S:  I think Juno is one of the best live performers {I’ve been involved with} in my life.  It’s really important to me.

 

LMD:  I’m glad you’re a part of it and exposing the music to so many new people and the young people in your fanbase.

S:  Thank you, very much.  Thank you.

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