During my stay up in Washington D.C I attended Anime USA who was hosting Matenrou Opera, DjSiSeN, and BLOOD. While there, I got the chance to sit down with Kiwamu Kai and Hayato. Two of the main members of BLOOD. Both were dressed in their normal stage attire, which consisted of black leather. They kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us. We appreciate when Kiwamu sends Visual Kei Heaven release info about BLOOD. He also retweets alot of our announcements about his labels bands including BLOOD, as well as sending us other information about the bands under his label. This was a great honor to be able to sit down and speak with him about different topics concerning BLOOD.
Ri: First of all, how is everything during your tour going so far? Is BLOOD enjoying their time in the United States? How are you enjoying traveling with Mantenrou Opera and DjSiSeN?
Kiwamu: Everything is good so far. We don’t really get to spend much time with the other bands because Matenrou Opera is only here for their show at Anime USA and SiSeN is only here for his two shows as well.
Kiwamu: We really have not had time to go sightseeing but we did travel up to Canada and to Boston to perform.
Hayato: We ate at McDonalds. It is also my first time in the United States.
Ri: What inspires BLOOD [Specifically Hayato-san] and your music?
Kiwamu- The cure and gothic industry bands. I also get inspiration from Japanese melodies. I don't really listen to the band but I do take inspiration from the writers.
Hiyato- Xjapan, specifically Hide. My own singing gives me Inspiration as well.
Ri: How did Blood come to reform? How did the members of Blood meet each other?
Kiwamu: I was working with GPKISM at the time. I was not really very happy in that band because there was not much excitement at the shows. Hayato, Dora, and Kazuha all worked under Starwave Records so I helped their bands out. When Hayato’s band announced a pause in activity I asked Hayato if he would like to join. He said yes. When the other members former bands paused on activity or disbanded I asked them to join as well. Their answers were yes.
Ri: If the members of BLOOD could be anything else besides a Musician what would they be?
Hayato: I would want to be a boxer.
Ri: How are BLOOD and family doing sense the earthquake and tsunami tragedy earlier this year in Japan? It was such wonderful news to hear that everyone was safe and out of harm.
Kiwamu: We were all in Tokyo at that time so we were not in an area truly affected by the earthquake and Tsunami. We did have a friend who was in an area affected so during that time I started up a donation fund for Japan to give to the Red Cross. Two of our members also went to USA to get some money to send to the Red Cross outreach.
Ri: What sort of music do the members of BLOOD enjoy, specifically are there any jrock bands that they favor, aside from their own band, or any american bands?
Hayato- Lady Gaga and X-Japan
Kiwamu- The Cure
Kiwamu- The Cure
Hayato and Kiwamu- Thank you to all who came out to our concert. We want to come here again to perform in the USA also with other countries to support us as well. Please continue to support BLOOD. Thank You!
After the interview I got to take a snapshot with Hayato and Kiwamu. Kiwamu also asked me about VKH and said he wanted to thank us for all our announcements concerning BLOOD. I also thanked him as well for the times he spent forwarding announcements to us as well.
On behalf of the entire VKH staff we thank you Kiwamu and Hayato for taking the time out for this interview.
Hayato also took a pic of me, my partner, and Kiwamu on Kiwamu's phone..have yet to find out where that ended up. xD
ReplyDeleteIts interesting Hayato said he would want to be a boxer. ^-^ And I am going to have to look up The Cure I never herd of them before :o Kiwamu seems very fond of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Ri.
Really nice interview. Heck, I didn't know Hayato liked hide. I was in hide cosplay during AnimeUSA. BLOOD made my experience there really satisfying. They were everywhere, sometimes in your face without you knowing it. To be in their merchandise booth themselves was something else, and Hayato was such a sweetheart. Among the members, he was always the first to reach out to anyone in their booth or signings. Very playful, too. I remember when the interpreter was having fun with me, asking me if I was ordering all the wristbands. Hayato got so naughty and put out a whole plastic bag of wristbands, then he, Kiwamu and the interpreter were trying to put the plastic in my bag, with Kiwamu telling me I had to pay $1,000.00!^^ I had so much fun that time! (They were the band I fully supported at AUSA due to their presence within the con, popping up everywhere, even when you least expected to see them, and really interacting with the fans. Ironically, though their music is not the type I usually listen to, I just loved it, especially when they did the songs live!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Anon..I happen to respect japanese artists because they are the only ones who really don't use all the fancy sound amps american artists use. I really do like my bands to be able to sing their own music without help..it makes me believe that they truly care for the music they are singing..and you were in HIDE cosplay? Interesting..I might have passed by you more than once while trolling around the dealer room. I am so happy to hear that BLOOD made your experience at AUSA worth while. ^_^ and Thank you for your lovely comment on here..and yes most Japanese artists respect Hide-sama very much.
ReplyDeletelol ri you said trolling i think you meant strolling xD
ReplyDeleteNo no trolling = boredom lol. Literally..in between the interview and going to MO's concert I was trolling. :P
ReplyDeleteOh I see. lol ^^
ReplyDelete