Interview with Kiwamu (Starwave Records Label Owner)

Some days ago, VKH got the chance to interview Guitarist Kiwamu from BLOOD via mail.
Most of you probably think that this is about him as musician, however, it's not. 
Next to his band, Kiwamu is also owner of well-known visual kei label Starwave Records, which was created in 2009. At the moment, 9 bands are signed to his label: SUICIDE ALI, Misaruka, Calmando Qual, Tokami, lix, KU, umbrella, THE SOUND BEE HD and his own band BLOOD.
Thanks to this offer, we were now able to "look behind the scenes" and ask Kiwamu some questions about his work as label owner and the bands signed to Starwave Records.

A big thanks to him for his time, answers and information!

Moreover, we'd like to thank Gloria from Starwave Records worldwide fans very much for the interview offer!

Please enjoy reading everyone!

VKH: First of all, we'd like to know what actually inspired you to create a record label?

Kiwamu: At the very beginning, I worked for my band BLOOD myself. During this time, I learned many things like booking tours, designing CD jackets, designing websites and promoting events. The first time I booked a BLOOD event in Tokyo with some other bands was in 2005. I chose bands with a dark and gothic style because I wanted it to be a gothic event. The reactions of fans to the event have been very good. I organized more BLOOD events like this one later, and I wanted to release compilation CDs of the participating artists for fans from other cities and countries, so I released compilation CD “Darkest Labyrinth Vol.1”. I also started to help some industrial bands to release CDs in 2007.

VKH: "Starwave Records" is indeed an interesting label name! Is there a certain reason why you chose this one?

Kiwamu: After I worked for the label Darkest Labyrinth for a while, I got a release offer from the Luzmelt members. But they actually wanted me to create a Visual Kei label. So I decided to create a new label for Visual Kei artists. Luzmelt’s vocalist Yuhma helped BLOOD since 2005. I know him very well. I talked with him about the label name, and we decided to mix the words “Star” and “Wave”.

 

VKH: I'm sure many of us can't imagine how huge your label is, that's why we are wondering how many people are roughly working for Starwave Records?

Kiwamu: There aren’t many people. 1000 (Tokami) and vetchie (Misaruka) help with events in Tokyo. There are some foreign promoters in other countries, one costume designer for label artist costumes and I do almost all the rest myself. At the moment, the Visual Kei scene isn’t a big scene. To save money, I need to do many things myself. I worked for an advertisement agency as professional director for 7 years. It was a good experience for me because I worked with many types of people. Before finishing one graphic design, there are many steps needed. I can use this skill for my own label jobs.

 

VKH: Is there are special sound Starwave Records is searching for?

Kiwamu: I always want to work with good music artists. In Tokyo, there are many bands. But many of them are stereotype bands. I’m searching for the “unique sound artists”. That’s a very important point for me.

 

VKH: When trying to sign a band on to the label, what kind of things need to be taken into consideration?

Kiwamu: When I sign artists, I always check if they’re able to help each other. To promote the bands, I need much time and money. If an artist wants to get promotional fee but they don't help with my events, it’s not good for me. To organize events, I need some bands from the label. Some bands didn't help me with label events but wanted to get promotional help. I am not a volunteer to give money to all artists. If I don't get any income from the events and releases, I can't work for them. If they have a "help each other mind”, it’ll work.

 

VKH: Do you have any say in the bands visual styles or do you leave that up to the bands?

Kiwamu: When I push a band very much, I’m designing their costumes and help with make-up. When I released Tokami and Misaruka, I decided to push them very much this year, so I designed their costumes together with them. I drew the design on a sheet of paper, and my costume design staff sewed it. And the make-up is very important, too. The band and I need to talk with the make-up artists very carefully. And I talk with the photographers, too. Sometimes, bands can't see the total because they only look at their faces in pictures. I always talk about the total with them.

 

VKH: Please describe a random workday to us. What do you normally have to do during the day when you start in the morning and finish your work in the evening?

Kiwamu: On a label event day, I go to the venue in the noon. I also manage the event, talk with bands and the venue staff. From the beginning until the end, there 12 hours of work. Sometimes, I play a live show with BLOOD, too. On a normal job day, I talk with many artists and many other people about the work. I always work like the whole day. Some people even ask "When do you sleep??" because I just work all time. Maybe I am a workaholic (laughs)!

 

VKH: What is it like being a label owner, as well as a member of a band under your own label? Do you find it hard to switch back and forth between being owner and band member?

Kiwamu: That’s a good question. It’s a very difficult part. When I work with other bands from my label, I can tell their weak points. And I can work with them to find solutions. But sometimes, band members of my own band BLOOD don't listen to it when I say the same things. When I work with my band members, there are other points I need to be careful with.

 

VKH: How would you describe the relationship between all Starwave Records bands (including BLOOD)? Is it more like a big family, a circle of friends or don't they know each other so well and stay more with their own bands?

Kiwamu: 2 years ago, there haven’t been many differences between the artists, except that some of them were only thinking about themselves. But recently, I manage the events in Japan. Many bands started to work together. During events, they talk at the guest rooms, and after the event, they go drinking together. It is very nice for my label. And sometimes, all band leaders come to my office and talk about ideas for promotion. It is the leader meeting. Each band leader talks about the work of the label. During this work, they started to help each other. It looks like a big family.

 

VKH: Would you consider yourself as fan of one of your own label bands?

Kiwamu: I am the first listener of the band's releases. When I get their CDs, I listen to them a lot during my work. I am a fan of every band.

 

VKH: If you could be in any other band on your label aside from BLOOD, which band would it be?

Kiwamu: All bands have their own style, so it’s a very difficult question.  I can't choose one out of all bands.

VKH: The last band that joined your label was KU. How come you chose them? Did you know the band members before they joined?

Kiwamu: They joined one of my events a while ago. They are a good band and make good music. But they don't know how to organize events themselves. I taught them some points. Since they didn't have any plans for their CDs, I decided to help them. They have honest minds concerning their music, so it was a very very good decision to choose them.

 

VKH: Being head of a label must be a hard and exhausting job sometimes. Have there ever been a time where you wished you wouldn't have become label owner, or do you always enjoy it, no matter how much work it is?

Kiwamu: In the last few years, there have been some difficult problems I needed to solve. Of course, some of them have been pretty exhausting. But I can get much impression from label artist’s work. Recently, when I watch Misaruka’s PVs and live shows, I’m very impressed. I’m able to forget all exhausting problems because of this. When I worked for the advertisement agency, it hasn’t been like that. So all together, I can work hard because I love my job.

 

VKH: What do you think about other visual record labels directly in competition with your own label?

Kiwamu: There are some labels here. Some label owners of other labels help me and we help them. But each label has it’s own way. So I don't think it’s a "competition". I just work for my label artists to help them.

 

VKH: And lastly, how do you feel, as an owner of a record label in Japan, about the growing and spreading of Visual Kei world wide? Do you think that more record label owners should open up to the idea?

Kiwamu: When I started to go to foreign countries in 2003, I only worked for my band BLOOD. When I went to these countries, I needed “to hide” the working way to save my skills. But now, many bands are signed to my label, so I can use my skills for them. I am very happy about this situation. To help Starwave Records bands, I can use all my time and skills.

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