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Guitar Vader Take the Smashing Pumpkins, Talking Heads and early B-52s, mash them together and make the result Japanese and you may end up with something approaching the genius of Guitar Vader. Formed by Miki (vocals and guitar) and Ujuan (vocals and bass), Guitar Vader is the best thing to come out of Japan in recent years. We talk to them about their new album From Dusk, singing in English and Ujuan's desire to send people naked pictures of himself...
PIXELSURGEON: How did you two meet?
UJUAN: We met at rehearsal studio in Kawasaki about 7 years ago. But, we were in different band each other at that time and we just knew each other, that's all at that time. Then, our both bands were broken and we had common musical taste, so we just started a band together. We started to making demo with just two of us in the beginning as home recording unit.
MIKI: It's not dramatic met at all.
What were your musical influences?
MIKI: I was shocked about BEATLES sound when I was high school student. Then, I start to listen cool guitar band such as STONE ROSES, PIXIES, etc...
UJUAN: I was born and grown up in very country side, so, I'd been listening only Japanese pop music. But, one day, my friend recommend NIRVANA. I was so shocked with their cool sound and vivid voice! Since then, my musical taste were completely changed.
Why do you sing in English rather than Japanese?
UJUAN: We like music from over seas, so, It's quite natural to sing in English. But, we can't speak English at all...
MIKI:It doesn't matter as long as it sounds good!!
Would you find it really strange for Western artists to sing in Japanese or would that be really cool?
UJUAN: Western artists sing in Japanese... Sounds interesting!! But, may be weird...
MIKI: It sounds cool!!
Who is Mr Three Cats?
MIKI: It's song about three fat wild cats in our neighborhood. One of them were coma.
UJUAN: She often write song about wild cats
Will you be touring in Europe, Australia or America?
UJUAN: We really want to go!! But, we have no money...
How has appearing in the Sega Dreamcast "Jet Set Radio" game affected your popularity?
MIKI: Our CD is not released in over seas, so, "JET SET RADIO" gave us a lot of opportunity to be known us as world wide. We are quite surprising reaction especially from over seas!
UJUAN: So we are having interview like this!
Was it fun having your tracks remixed?
MIKI: Sound master NAGANUMA who composed most of the music in this game, he was doing something with our music and we enjoyed it. So, we thought as it is good idea to ask him for our remix.
UJUAN: And also we asked to another close friend for rest of remix stuff and we ended up as we are happy about our works.
Who would you like to remix your tracks in the future?
UJUAN: FAT BOY SLIM!! and AIR, we like them recently. Could be impossible...
What are your favourite movies, music and games?
MIKI: As far as films, "SIXTEEN STRINGS", "DODESUKADEN (AKIRA KUROSAWA)", "AKIRA". Music, PAVEMENT, APPLES IN STEREO, GORKY'S ZYGOTIC MYNCI. Game, "SUPER MARIO", "DRAGON QUEST".
UJUAN: Films... I like "DELICATESSEN", "BRAZIL", all works of Stanley Kubrick. Music, TAKING HEADS, PORTISHEAD, RADIOHEAD. Game, I don't play game.
Your new album seems to have a new, more mature sound. Did you try and create a different feel for From Dusk?
UJUAN: I didn't really think to make something different from "From Dusk". But, our drummer [Yuki Takumiya] who play with us since we made this band has left at same time as our recording. So, we had to try for our recording different way from previous time. And also, our producer Taichi Ohira helped us a lot for arrangement and we tried over our idea with three of us. So, may be that made our sounds different from "From Dusk" as a result. However, our drummer's left effect us a lot I think.
MIKI: We really couldn't see what kind of album this going to be until we finished recording.
"Shimanagashi" experiments with sampled loops and a dance rhythm. Could this be a new direction for Guitar Vader?
MIKI: When we arrange our music, may be we always keep "dance" in our mind.
UJUAN: Every time we finished recording for each song, I bring that material back to my home and play loud. And if I could dance with it, that's OK. If I couldn't, we try recording again. "SUPER BROTHERS" and "MAGICAL GIRL" are song like that. We can dance with them can't we? So, our answer is We don't really feel as it's a new direction or experiments.
How much of the stuff you release is recorded at home and how much in a proper recording studio?
UJUAN: We've done most the of the part in studio. I only have Bass guitar, Acoustic guitar, and 4 track MTR in my home. So, we can't really work properly in my home.
MIKI: And also we are bad at working with computer...
What are your plans musically after this album?
MIKI : We've just finished recording, so we have no plan at the moment. But, I'm just thinking to write next material with our experience from previous recording.
Do you like playing live?
UJUAN & MIKI: Of course!!
MIKI: Playing live is different from recording as we play everything with three of us. It's gonna be more high tension!
UJUAN: Playing live is Rock & Roll!!
What do you do to relax or does music take up all your time?
UJUAN: I want to spend my life as musical life, but, I just can't afford to manage my life with just playing music at the moment. So I'm working as part time worker every day unfortunately. But, I play music that's what I want to, and our CD is out. So, I think I'm very lucky.
MIKI: I look after my cat and goldfish. I can relax with watching goldfish.
Have you got any psychotic fans? The sort who follow you everywhere and send you pictures of themselves naked?
UJUAN: Nothing at all!! Anybody send me nude photograph!! so I can send you back my nude photo!!
MIKI : .....
Although many of your influences are Western, do you feel like a Japanese band?
UJUAN: Of course we feel like we are Japanese band. We have many other good band in Japan which most of them are unknown.
MIKI: We gonna try to work hard to be known with them as good Japanese band!
Why do you think the West is obsessed with Japanese culture?
UJUAN: Well... I don't feel that much if I'm in Japan. Of course Japanese cartoon and game are great. But, as far as Japanese music... we still have big gap... I don't know...
MIKI: I hope Japanese music will become much more popular to people in overseas, and would be nice if more people know us through this interview. Thank you Jason.
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