Before KAMIJO embarks on his 20th Anniversary world tour, VKH had the chance to ask him a few questions about his solo career, what he thinks of visual kei over the past 20 years, and more! Check out what KAMIJO has to say below:
VKH: Visual kei is always changing. How do you think it has evolved aesthetically and musically over the years and how is it different from what you expected 20 years ago?
KAMIJO: If I compare now to 20 years ago, the bonding between band members has decreased. In the old days when a live was over, without fail, everyone who played in the band would stay until morning closing up. I would stay each time to help close up. The exchange between real people is more important than Twitter in my opinion. Also, the meaning of the “art” hasn’t developed at all.
VKH: How does it feel to constantly work with many different musicians for your solo project, versus being in a band with set members?
KAMIJO: It doesn’t feel particularly different but as a solo artist, there are no members to depend on so everything is up to you.
VKH: Why did you decide to include songs from your previous projects (LAREINE, NEW SODMY, Versailles) in the setlist for the upcoming tour?
KAMIJO: Because those songs are eternal and because I love them.
VKH: Do the older songs you have chosen to perform have special significance to you or do you arrange them to blend in with the current storyline?
KAMIJO: I chose the songs that I want to sing and songs that everyone requests.
VKH: We've heard you sing in Japanese, English and French many times, but Italian was recently introduced with the beautiful song "Grazioso." Are there any other languages you are interested in singing in?
KAMIJO: I love the vibrations of German. I think it's really cool!
VKH: How do your past projects influence how you write your music now?
KAMIJO: LAREINE gave me heartache and sorrow, NEW SODMY gave me joy, and Versailles gave me intensity.
VKH: Romance and the world of vampires have been a constant theme in your musical career. What draws you to these concepts?
KAMIJO: Immortal vampires and love eternal—both are beautiful concepts. As long as I am engaged in the pursuit of beautiful music, these themes will surely never change.
VKH: Your current storyline includes a lot of historical context regarding the French Revolution. What made you decide to use a historical theme, and what kind of message do you hope to deliver to your fans with it?
KAMIJO: In my band days, I pursued original fantasy rather than historical figures. But after becoming a solo artist, I traced back the French name origins of LAREINE and Versailles to the past and finally arrived in the 17th century. It’s not that I have a message to convey per se—it’s that I want to awaken those who listen to my music, to a new me.
VKH: Your costumes also have influence from France’s baroque/rococo era. How do you come up with the designs for your visual style?
KAMIJO: I draw my designs with the same intuition as someone who is sketching out character ideas for an anime. Sometimes I’ll also refer to haute couture, such as collections from Paris Fashion Week.
VKH: Can you tell us what’s next in the storyline for your character, Louis XVII?
KAMIJO: With this world tour, he will journey through the art of the past. There he will find unwavering justice.
Special thanks to KAMIJO for taking the time to answer our questions and to B7Klan for making this interview possible!
Check out the dates for his upcoming world tour here: http://bit.ly/1Dv7MUO
i seem to understand him way too well he talks in a way i seem to understand him some times its just scary
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