Arizona's Saboten Con is only days away, having visual kei artist SANA as their musical guest! VKH takes the time to learn more about SANA's music and personality, reviewing his solo career that's been active since 2006 as well as the rebirth of his band MASK. Read on to see how SANA got started and where his guitar has led him!
For information on Saboten Con, see this link: http://www.sabotencon.com/
VKH: Before we begin, could you please introduce yourselves to our readers with a story of how you got started as a musician?
SANA: Hi, my name is SANA.
It all started when my friends gave me a guitar while we were in junior high school together. When I played that guitar, I could see a huge stage and a huge audience. That was the start of my career as a musician.
VKH: What made you want to begin your solo career instead of continuing to just work with bands?
SANA: My band of MASK broke up in 2006. It was really sad, and at the same time, I felt like I didn’t have my own identity.
Therefore I've started my solo career for myself in order to find my own originality.
VKH: If you were not a musician, what would you be instead?
SANA: A model or a mystery hunter.
VKH: What motivates you to keep writing music and performing?
SANA: Whenever I meet people, I get new emotions and feelings from them. It's a lot of positive energy. And, of course, I receive negative power from them too.
But those have become my motivation. Because I want to share positive vibes and raise people up from the bottom of the darkness.
VKH: What did you dream of becoming when growing up?
SANA: The king of some country or another, lol.
VKH: Since you are going to perform at an anime convention, what are some of your favorite anime and why?
SANA: My favorite anime is "Death Note". Because they tried to change the world and [believed] in themselves. Each kind of justice trying to bring down the other.
VKH: What are you looking forward to the most at Saboten Con?
SANA: Saboten Con is having their 10th anniversary this year. It's such a big convention. I'm looking forward to meeting many fans, creators, and artists when I get there.
VKH: Since you are performing at a convention, some people may not know your music. How would you describe your musical style?
SANA: More and more, my musical style combines a Japanese melodic line with dance music and rock guitar. In the future, I want to mix more groove dance rhythm and blues guitar into my music.
VKH: At shows, you tell fans you’re “looking for [your] honey”. Who or what is your ‘honey’?
SANA: I'm always asking my fans, "Where's my honey?” and the fans respond, "Here". The meaning of my “honey” is the sweetest things in the world. During concerts, the sweetest things are the fan's smiles and voices. That’s why I'm always asking about it.
VKH: How does it feel to have everyone back together for the reunion of MASK after so many years?
SANA: It was very nostalgic, but it was also a very exciting time.
VKH: We often see you traveling across the globe to perform. How do you find time to write music?
SANA: I'm always recording words and melodies on my phone on during tour. Because music is passion and emotions. So I pack every day with new, refreshing feelings. It’s really exciting for me to unpack all that when I get back to Tokyo. At that point, the song is already done.
VKH: What do you do when you are not making music or performing?
SANA: I enjoy traveling, watching movies, and sleeping (for a long, long time!).
VKH: How do you feel about yourself as a musician now compared to when you first started your solo career?
SANA: When I started my solo career, I didn’t expect that I could visit a lot of countries the way I do right now. I believe it's a special gift from fans, media, other companies, and my friends that I’m very grateful for. Thank you very much.
VKH: What are your songs mostly about?
SANA: They’re about searching within oneself and positive hiding within the negative. Someday I want to make a love song.
VKH: What are some of your musical influences?
SANA: My music is influenced by the moon and the ocean. They are constantly changing, but their essence always remains the same. Recently, the sun has joined my list of influences. The first artist I found inspiration from was LUNA SEA.
VKH: Do you have any future plans you would like to share?
SANA: If possible I want to release a new album alongside visiting every country on Earth.
VKH: Thank you for your time! Would you please send a message to our readers?
SANA: Thank you for interviewing me. Sometimes, as I do an interview, I travel to the past and to the future. I like this kind of traveling. I always remember fans’ faces and past emotions. I will try my best in the future. Please keep supporting my music. Thank you.
Special thanks to SANA for taking the time to answer our questions and to Chaotic Harmony for making this interview possible!
For information on Saboten Con, see this link: http://www.sabotencon.com/
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