Visual Kei Heaven sits down with vocalist Izumi to discuss his new solo project Black Crystal, a US based band he had formed after his previous group, HEAT. Check out the interview below to learn more about a band that holds great potential as we explore their fashion, music, future plans and more!
VKH: Would you like to do a brief introduction of yourself?
Izumi: They call me J or Izumi, both of it is fine. I played in my
last band, which is HEAT, for over seven years. Then I started my own project
called Black Crystal. We started for three months. Our style is like heavy
metal, you can say anime style better. With passion but very positive.
VKH: What was the inspiration behind name Black Crystal?
Izumi: Black Crystal? Just because it sounds good. (laughs)
VKH: Really? So there's no other reason? No symbolism?
Izumi: Black Crystal sounds so very, how to say...
VKH: Mysterious?
Izumi: Yes, mysterious. Very interesting and pretty. Sounds with magic power. It's a good name!
VKH: Mysterious?
Izumi: Yes, mysterious. Very interesting and pretty. Sounds with magic power. It's a good name!
VKH: How would you describe your music? If someone had never
heard your music before, how would you describe your music to them? What do you
want your music to say or feel?
Izumi: A music that will bring you energy. We wake up in the
morning to go to school or work. When you listen to my music you can feel more
excited about it. Passion is all we talk about.
VKH: What kind of inspirations do you have for your songs or
lyrics?
Izumi: Most is about love. It's about sad love but in a positive
way. But also some fighting spirit. Working hard, trying hard, fight for
yourself. Something like that.
VKH: What was your inspiration to start Black Crystal?
Izumi: Because I wanted to try some different music style. For HEAT,
it was more like classic heavy metal style. Very old school. There's a lot of
different metal styles nowadays. Metal core, new metal, hard metal, stuff like
that. I wanted something…new! So that's why I started my new project.
VKH: So what would you say is the biggest difference between HEAT
and Black Crystal?
Izumi: Biggest difference, Black Crystal's music is different
style. You can call it alternative style.Very alternative. A lot of
new stuff.
VKH: As a fashion-focused website we have to ask this. We love the
way you dress and we've seen your music video for HEAT with the wig… The way the band dresses is very uniform, is the way you dress trying to convey something as well?
Izumi: I was vampire but nobody could tell (laughs) Black Crystal is very casual. I dress crazier when I'm
not on stage (laughs). Yeah, people say that I dress like a Japanese host. My
other members, they dress in the casual way too so I try to fit in with them.
Try to downplay the visual kei or Japanese style.
VKH: So you deviate from visual kei style?
Izumi: No visual kei, My band members are just a casual style. Causal but
cool.
VKH: What would you say is your inspiration? Any artists or
bands?
Izumi: Yeah, there's a lot. Well, first from US, I really like
legends of metal music. Stryper, which is a Christian band. We're like the same
way by trying to spread the word of positive. There's a lot for US. From Japan
I have Siam Shade. All my guitar skills and the way I write my music. The way I
sing. Sounds much like them. The guitarist is very good. They're my favorite
band.
VKH: What are your future plans for Black Crystal?
Izumi: We hope to do a tour. Try to play with some other bands.
VKH: We remember you mentioned a new music video before. Could you tell us about that?
Izumi: Yes! I think we're gonna start filming to the video…next
month. But it's still, we're still planning. I'm not sure but soon.
VKH: Do have a message for your fans?
Izumi: Thank you for supporting me all the way. I will keep on
trying to make more good music to share with everybody. We'll keep on giving
you guys surprises.
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