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Alright..onto the interview!
Hello and good evening to you. First I want to introduce ourselves! We are Visual Kei Heaven, a non-profit organization dedicated to the spread of Visual Kei Music. I also want to say it is an honor to finally be able to speak to you all and participate in this interview.
Now onto the questions!
1. Since your formation in 2008 you all have gone through quite a line up change over the past 5 years. What was it that brought your original line up together to form 'FUGA'?
=> Beautiful melody line and our unique musical quality.
2. Toshiki and 翼 (Tsubasa), you two are the more recently installed member of pan-d-ra since joining in 2011. What drew you to the band?
Toshiki: The music of Pan-d-ra was quite similar to the music which I was seeking for. And I liked the band members in person.
Tsubasa: I joined Pan-d-ra after Toshiki. Pan-d-ra’s songs and the reborn Pan-d-ra with Toshiki made me think that I could share the good future with them.
3. How did the line up changes since 2011 affect the artistic direction of your music? How did you get around the challenges that arose during those times?
=> Being the core of the Pan-d-ra has never changed. But I am very sure that the new Pan-d-ra has become more enovated Pan-d-ra with new talented members. We all respect each other and we stimulate each other more than we did in old Pan-d-ra.
To tell you the truth I was so upset and sometimes I lost my confidence whether I could find someone who fit Pan-d-ra while I kept doing the sessions with so many people before I found Toshiki and Tsubasa. But now I can define this experience positively ‘cause the two that I’d found brought me the new Pan-d-ra and the happiness.
4. Since you have finalized your lineup in 2011 you haven't released anything new sense your album Elpis in 2012. Are there any plans in the future for a release at all
=> Of course we have. The energy and the imagination for the next album has outbursted soon after the album Elpis was completed. But the most important thing for me now would be to get more people listen to this Elpis and know about Pan-d-ra.
5. When did you all decide to change the band name from FUGA to pan-d-ra? Why did you feel the need to change it?
=>In October 2008, when I realized that our music and the concept had changed.
6. What is the meaning of pan-d-ra to you? What do you want fans to think when they hear it?
=> Like the Greek mythology, people were defeated by their curiosity and opened Pandora's Box. I hope that the Pan-d-ra would attract many people to open the box and to be addicted with our music. But don’t worry! Our Pan-d-ra’s box contains all the hopes but not the evils!
7. How has your music evolved since you first started the band as FUGA? Have you all evolved individually with the band and music?
=> My music has been more sophisticated in the conceptual aspect and the technical aspect. And the skills of all the members have evolved individually.
8. Your current sound is quite peculiar and resembled a mixture of some elements that resemble both alternative and heavy metal. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music?
=> I personally don’t like to categorize the music. Our music is unique. Our music is created with arranging and rearranging and rearranging by all the members with our intention to make better one. For the people who has not yet experienced, the music of Pan-d-ra would be nothing but ours which they might not hear in other world. I would explain it as one of our expressions in Theater-tainment that Pan-d-ra pushes forward.
9. What inspires each of you to make music?
=> All our members and the fans that support us.
10. Are there any bands in or outside of Japan that inspire your music and style?
Toshiki: Rhapsody, Hibria, Stratovarius in Metal, Whitesnake and Mr.big in Hardrock
NAOYA: KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Helloween
Tsubasa: progressive rock as Dream Theater
MA-YA: Linkin Park. Japanese Rock
YO-HEY: Helloween
11. What is a favorite song to perform?
=> KISS, Michael Schenker. I feel so good when I play the first part of DOCTOR DOCTOR.
12. If you could aspire to be anything other than the musician you are now..what would you choose? Why?
=> Soccer player.‘Cause I like it...
13. Toshiki, as a vocalist, how do you prepare for a live?
=> Some stretching and some vocalization exercises. But I get too nervous before the live and I cannot tell you this is not sufficient for the preparations.
14. How long does it typically take for you all to get into your individual stage appearances before a live?
=> Just one second. You know, it does not take long to take off the disguise and just to go back to the real appearance...hahaha. Two hours, anyways.
15. Are there any plans in the making for a future live inside of The United States?
=> Unfortunately we have no plans. But definitely to perform in the U.S. and in other countries is one one our dream.
Thank you all once more for this opportunity to participate in this interview...I have just one more question...
Would you please leave a message for your fans and our readers on Visual Kei Heaven?
=> Pan-d-ra will become a big and great band in the future. Please look forward for our progress and innovation! And if you can please take any opportunity to see our performance! We are so sure that you will like it!
Visual Kei Heaven would like to thank the members of Pan-d-ra for their time and patience with answering these questions and Val / Helcanen once more for this opportunity! We look forward to more releases from Pan-d-ra and a possible chance of seeing them within the United States in the future! Please continue to support them and give them all of your love as fan's! They truly appreciate all your support and love! -Rei
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