CDJournal interview part 1

-When you guys formed DEG, what kind of band did you guys want it to it?

Kyo: Whatever we wanted it to be back then. A band that we thought would be cool. That's all.

-When you say "cool" how would you describe it?

K: It changes through the years so I'm not sure, but when I think something is cool, society usually thinks it's unacceptable. Well, I hate most of the music that is popular in japan so....I think that explains it(laughs). Pretty much everything that is positive I hate(laughs). I don't like happy endings and I'm just a negative thinking person. I'm the kind of person where if I'm told "It'll be ok", I'll think "Is it really going to be ok?". And I don't really like "white" images.

-Is there something that you can say you really like it?

K: When someone actually does it to me I don't really like it but, when someone is lively. When it's realistic. For example, I'd rather hear about a war going on someplace rather than a baby panda being born. The shocking feeling you get when you hear those kind of serious things.

-How about you Die? What were you thinking about when you guys formed the band.

Die: We didn't really have a set direction so I was willing to try any kind of style. I want to do whatever we want to do at the time whether it's a show or a song. That's why we exist now.

-What are the things you hate?

D: I hate the major key. Combinations of major chords don't exist in my mind. I like dark, sad things. But in reality people aren't that popular who do those kinds of music....but I think that's just how it is. But I like a couple things from the major key that sounds dark. If it's all bright colors like the sun, I usually don't like it at all. When I hear those combinations of chords, I get the chills because it sounds so gay(laughs). Even when I play the guitar, I can't play major chords because I get embarrassed (laughs). If I use those kind of sounds, I would think I changed a lot. (laughs)

-I don't know about the others but I think it's really interesting that both of your likes and dislikes are really expressed in your music. But it's weird because when you put your thoughts together your music doesn't have major scales or brightness.In theory that would mean that you guys are producing music that wouldn't be popular. But in reality that's different.

K: Honestly, I don't know. I'm not really in a band to make money and get popular....how should I put this. Everyone feels things differently. For example, people don't write the full lyrics on the booklet so that would make people that don't understand as well. But, theres always a reason to why people don't put on the full lyrics. Theres people that understand and people that don't get it. Theres really no use if you keep thinking about those kind of things, you just hit people with what you want to do.

D: I don't know why we get the feeling "It has to be this". I think that makes it good. I think people come to our shows because people felt something in not using only words. That's normal and I think it's really nice because it's really supple. We're supple too. That's all.

-If one of your charms if heavy sounds, I think that's a really easy characteristic to understand. When I actually watch DEG's shows I see people going crazy and at the same time I see people that listen carefully. I understand those people but then there's many people that sing. But it's not like a song that you can sing happily at karaoke is being played at these shows. I think theres a hint in that.

D: But if it's just a song that's heavy or a song you can sing I no fun for us either. We want to play a show that's meaningful to us as it is to them. We really emphasize that and if we lose that then that's when this band dies.

K: I wonder why they sing(laughs). But, I'm simply happy about that. I don't care if you sing from the beginning to end or headbang the whole time. If there is something we can sympathize to, it's all good. I don't want people to think deeply into our music, I just want them to feel it. But, when it's the last song of the encore and people go crazier just because of that...it really pisses me off.

-Like why weren't you going crazy like this the whole time?(laughs)

K:More like they're saving energy. We're going 100% from the first song but the audiences energy is completely different during the last song. If you're gonna go home all sweaty and messed up, then why should you even care(laughs). We're going full on, why are you guys watching quietly...well I don't mind that but it pisses me off to see it come gradually(laughs).

D: It should be normal to see people all tired. When it ends it's fun for us to see everyone all dead tired.(laughs)

-it's like "the hidden power you have in a fire(danger)"(it's a japanese saying but I'm not sure how it's translated) right?

K: It wish it was. But from the looks of it, I don't think it is.(laughs)

-(laughs). I guess your motto is always to try harder than your best so it's kind of unforgiving to see those kind of things. By the way "UROBOROS" has been completed and I had a chance to listen to it. It think it has a new direction and has DEG's characteristics of doing things you want to do at the time. It's an album that will explain what kind of band DEG is.

D: We don't think this is our everything, so I'm not sure but if you feel it's that way then maybe it is. But it's not like we've wanted it to be that way. The album's full image came up around July. When all the songs came together, I thought those songs really expressed "us".

-how would you explain "us"?

D: That's really hard. I can't really explain in words....Maybe, if we're able to think that way, than it's the correct thing we did. It's always been like that. If it wasn't, then we wouldn't be able to release with confidence.

GiGs Kyo interview last part

lol. sorry for the "silent wait"

here it is.

-Seems like you haven't done much communication on the road over there with other people. During that, I'm guessing that you were able to think a lot and polish yourself naturally.

K: yea. But, not only overseas. I think a lot even if I'm in Japan. I sometimes hate how nice the conditions of the tour can be in Japan.I think May's tour had a tighter schedule than before but i think it can be harder. But I'm guessing there aren't that many people that understands me...(laughs)But I never bend my thoughts and think that I'm just being myself. Things like that gives me ideas for lyrics. Everything from my everyday life to my smallest thoughts comes out as lyrics.

-The second songs is "undecided" which was also played in some shows. There was a time when you guys wrote very aggressive songs but do you guys actually like more quiet, melodious songs?

K: No, I actually don't like them that much(laughs). No, really. Its just, theres some songs that I really like. The second song was actually going to be a different accoustic song. And a live version of that. But there weren't any good takes on it so we asked if we can do "undecided". And we really had trouble choosing what to do for the unplugged song but I wanted to try a aggressive song. So I chose "ASOM". But then I couldn't make it to the piano recording so I didn't know where the first verse started and ended. I thought it was pretty interesting. And I wanted to give it my best shot at it and that's how it ended up.

-"ASOM" sounds like its gonna possess you.

K: But I really like it. The image the song originally had really went together with the image and atmosphere the piano track had so I thought this could work. I finished the recording of these 3 songs in one day.

-You really need to be into these songs in order to sing these. But after listening to the first to songs, it sounds like you not liking slow songs sounds like a lie. And you've said before that you don't consider yourself as a vocalist but I think that's a lie too.

K: No, it's not(laughs). I consider myself a voice-craftsman more than a singer. I can't really explain but I don't think of myself as a singer. A person who makes something with the voice. But in shows, I also use my body so I guess that's not it.

-I was just awed.

K: Oh, I see. You know how people have some kind of habit when they sings? I've been trying to kill that since "Dozing Green" so I have a lot of fun. Actually it was really hard for me to set that rule while I was singing. But when I was able to overcome that, I was able to ask myself, "What kind of new world is this?". I didn't write another melodious song to make a part 2 of "DG". This may sound weird, but I think "GLASS SKIN" doesn't really have a catch. It's not like the chorus really hits on you and it's really hard to tell if it's actually there or not. But that's whats good about it. We've never had this smooth sound, and I thought it was really cool. I wanted it to be a song where you can listen to it over and over. I've been in that mode since "DG". "DG" also doesn't have a chorus that just comes at you. You know, anyone can make a song like "OK heres the chorus, listen to it." I don't mind listening to it, but making it on my own...it's no fun.

-Does the album have the new approach?

K: Some of it yes. Some of it I did it on purpose. We've really emphasized that we wanted to make songs that doesn't exist anywhere. It's hard to say "it sounds like...". I'm guessing theres a lot of people imagining how the album might sound based on "DG" and "GS". We'll go past satisfying you and take you to a further level. At this point, we have something that brings this much confidence.

- Do you aim for a different place for your emotions in the lyrics?

K: Some songs, I've written based on how it sounds and some go even deeper than "DG" or "GS"

- The better you get, the more higher the hurdle gets to get into these songs?

K:yea

-Do you have any goals built from how much you've grown?

K: No. The closer I get to the image of myself I want to be, the further I want to go. So I'm basically chasing myself eternally. But I do see where I want to go. It just keeps moving. I think it's "how far I can go with this body". It's easy to just make things from looking at examples or relying on things. But it's to start with a blank sheet of paper. My goal is to keep on doing that and making more amazing things. More like what I want than a goal.

-You might end up becoming more flexible.

K: The more I push myself I question myself, "What is strength?"Overcoming what you think it the hardest thing in your life, I think, is the strongest thing. I think that thought is making up the core in me. And for a long time, if something really annoying happened, I really hated it. That's where it ended. If you can forgive that, it's really hard but, if you were able to forgive that, that would be really strong. I want that strength. "GS"'s lyrics looks like a love song but it's nothing like that. It actually about environmental problems. I didn't want to write what right or wrong...well it's kind of hard to get that but.

-There's a message beyond the lyrics?

K:Yea. I wanted to tell that i want to make a change, that something crazy is happening. I'm not trying to make society a good place but there's standards for certain things right? I'm not set up to the standards so maybe that's why I'm mad everyday. I want to lose that. I ask if anything is going to happen if I sacrifice myself. That's where my anger comes from sometimes. That's that difference before "DG" and now. Exploding with angers a easy thing to do. But I'm trying to obtain strength from taking in things. That's the me nowadays.

GiGs interview part 2

These kind of interviews are really hard to translate. I had trouble on this one because kyo used a lot of japanese phrases that really doesn't exist in english so i think this part might be really confusing...

-When you do that(rerecord if its off timing), do you think of yourself as a professional?

K: No, that's not a professional. Say you have a artist you really like, and that person wants to get hyped up for the show. When you watch those kind of people on stage, you don't really get anything from them. It only seems "eh", when people sing sad songs professionally. The concert begins from the rehersal, not the actual show. If you go deeper, it starts from how you live. Including all that, nothing with lies and regret, I want to fill myself up with that.

-When you push yourself into a difficult position, for example the pain described in your lyrics, does a different feeling come up than what you intended when you wrote the song?

K: I don't think the pain I mainly wrote about will never change. But when I'

m able to get more into a song, new things are born or I get into a different world sometimes. That's when the lyrics or melody changes during shows. When I stand on stage, I feel that I'm losing unwanted things. I am challenging myself to only be able to represent myself with my body.

-I was informing that you guys are working on the album, but in the means of getting into songs, are shows and studio work different?

K: There's a world in each song that you look into right? I think about how I can shape that, bring it to the closest of my image in my mind and how I can put my feelings into it. On top of that, something that no one else has done. When I am facing a new song in the studio, this is how I think. When I write new songs, I think about how they would turn out if we performed them in front of audiences, so you can only probably understand about 60-70% of the song on the CD. But then we make songs on the CD that can't be recreated on the stage. In that way, shows and recordings are different.

- The new song "GLASS SKIN" has already been performed live right? After you've performed it, were you able to see a more clear color of the song?

K: Every time we perform it, I understand it better.

-I think that color isn't just one color, but many differ colors and tones. I think the emotions are all heading to one place.

K: You might be right. Ever since "DOZING GREEN". The pain hasn't changed, but the how it comes to me is very different, and that changed the color and my expressions. I think the way the song is changes too.

- Is it from the experience that you've had in the past few years?

K: Yea. My songs and lyrics doesn't mean music, but it's coming from what I naturally feel. If I can become a better person, my expressions changes. After each experience my thoughts cement more and more or more flexible. I think that's the biggest change inside me.

GiGS OCT 08 interview translation

-After overcoming many oversea tours, I think you're changes have definitely started to show up. Before, it seemed like you were trying to hold in your feelings from coming out but since last year, those feelings seem to have started to go outwards.

K: No, I think that hasn't changed much at all. My conscious isn't even focused on trying to convey these pains. I just do whatever I want so it's up to the people to come watch or listen. I think I'm more into the atmosphere now than a couple years ago. I don't think on stage as much as I used to and I just try to be myself, taking in the atmosphere of that place at that time and describe that with my voice. To me that's fun, and to get completely synchronized is challenging for me.

-When you challenge for these kind of shows, i think the reactions of oversea fans and people from places that have never seen you guys can become a motivation.

K: No, I'm just doing it from myself. It depends on the places, whether it's Japan or overseas, but when people come and watch, I just want them to feel something from that, and if they don't it doesn't matter. It all just matters on how each person reacts to certain thing so it's no use try to explain to each person what they should feel. So I just let the fans be. But, I think the conditions in oversea tours are better than japan's.

-REALLY?! I heard that life on the road overseas is much more difficult than in Japan.

K: If you look at Japan's as a standard, maybe it is hard, but over there it's normal. So I think it's stupid to say it's "difficult". I hate how the Japanese think that 20 shows in one month is a lot. Saying that is hard is weak. If you go to different countries, people don't have money to buy instruments and their equipment is beat up. But, still there are bands that scream, and if you look down there's a lot of people watching. I'm think those bands are much more great(sugoi). Knowing that, I don't want to say that touring in a bus with a bed for each of us or performing 20 shows in a month is hard. I don't even want to depend on that. That connects to a weakness and makes a hole in your heart. That's why on a day where there are no shows during a tour, I don't go out to look around, so I just stayed on the bus. I there to make a appearance on the stage and I just want to concentrate on that 100%. Other than that, I don't really care. As long as I can take a back/shower(laughs).

-So, it's how much you can polish yourself. When you are able to bring yourself through that, do you feel like you have achieved something?

K: Not a achievement but a goal of not losing to yourself. Well, it's kind of weird to set up a goal. When I'm in a more difficult position, I'm able to perform better. The more difficult, more of a bad mood I'm in, it's a better show. I just want that "Today I was able to perform well in the show" feeling. That's the only reason why I push myself in a difficult position.

- So the explosion of your anger and negativeness is the description of yourself on stage.

K: That's all I've hot. If I had something else I'm good at, I wouldn't do this much to myself. I can put 100% into this because this is all I have. I don't want to do something incomplete and regret either. In the past I was way too easy on myself. I hate how I used to be and if I can I want to delete that from my past. So I don't want that to build up anymore. Whatever I'm able to do, I do. And, if I have something I left undone or one thing is on my mind, my heart starts to hurt. Recently, I get these pains a lot. During recording, I get annoyed by a 1/8 sound gap and want to rerecord. The other members don't even know what I'm talking about, but to me, this causes a pain to my heart.(btw when he says heart, he literally means heart. its not the emotional, feeling heart)

Barks GLASS SKIN translation

After the national tour(in japan) that ended in may, dir en grey has been in a underground state and is heading for a new direction. To begin their new step in their new direction, the new single " GLASS SKIN" is going to be release on sept 10 along with the start of TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN. And in Nov their new album "Uroboros"will be released. We will ask more about the album next time, but first we will like to present you with the interview about their new upcoming single.

Now it has not been confirmed during the time of this interview but, singles "DOZING GREEN" and "GLASS SKIN" are going to be on their new album but in a different version rewritten with english lyrics. So if you want to listen to GLASS SKIN just the way it was born, you should go out and buy the single(or liten to it on youtube :)) Now I warn you that none of you should wait until the album come out to listen to the single for your own good.

-Now this new single "GLASS SKIN", 11months since the release of "DOZING GREEN", has been played in the tour back in May, correct?

KYO: Yes. But, honestly i dont remember anything.

-What do you mean?

KYO: My memories that deal with that tour is completely gone. I think it was THE best tour i've ever done, and that tour felt like it was still going on until yesterday, but right after my head was filled with working on the album and basically i'm just a person who doesn't look back to the past(laughs). But even in the songs first stages, i felt it was a "easy song to get into". Except, as easy as it is, the taste of the song changes should change easily too.

TOSHIYA: From the players point of view, it's a fun song to play. There isn't really a speacial element or dramatic change to it, and because it's a simple song, i think thats what make it speacial. I can really face this song naturally.

-This song would be considered a very mellow song for DEG, correct? This may sound weird but kind of backstabbing people expectations?

TOSHIYA:No, actually this song was made naturally. We weren't really writing to release it as a single.

SHINYA: When we needed to choose a song to release, we had an opportunity to bring all of our ideas together. At that point, this song wasn't really complete to the point where you can actually call it a song but we all agreed on making this song.

TOSHIYA: When we thought this might be a pretty good song, we didn't think of backstabbing anybody but we were really able to work on it normally. Well theres actually theres time when its just hard to make a song naturally(laughs) but, this time I think we were really able to focus on it naturally.

KYO:We don't have that feeling now where you think "Maybe it might be new to release this"or "Maybe we should venture to make a song that doesn't sound like a single". Simply, we just wrote what we wanted right now, if we thought we've completed something where you can feel a fresh atmosphere we should release it. Really, that's all there is to it.

-Can we think of the title "GLASS SKIN" sculpting a image of something fragile and empty?

KYO: Yes. Something easy to break. In a human. If I were to explain as minimal as possible, the theme i sing about is, about environmental issues. Not a love song. Well, I'm not gonna give away too much(laughs). I don't like it when things get too lecture-ish(is there a word for that?lol).

SHINYA: I think the title, explains the atmosphere of the song.

-In this single, the B-sides songs are also very solid. First of all, the new version of a song in the 2002 album "KISOU", undecided. And "ASOM-UNPLUGGED-" recorded only with piano and voice. And in the limited edition, the live recording of "RYOUJOKU NO AME"

TOSHIYA: for "undecided" we've had some opportunities to play it unplugged back in 2007 shows. This idea is just simply, "If we play an old song now, this is what it would sound like". Recording this song was actually very troubling, although it sounds simple on the record(laughs).

SHINYA: As for the live recording, as long as there isnt any noticeable mistakes, theres no problem. There isn't much to comment onf that, but we just wanted something new.

-Any comments for the shocking "ASOMU"?

TOSHIYA: One word, sugoi(laughs)

KYO: Just listen to them. People that have already keep asking the same question. "How did you record this?"(laughs)

-and that's...top secret?

KYO:yes(laughs)

-So, you are preparing for the new releases and the tour.(bleh...too many repeats...i shortened that)

TOSHIYA: Honestly, i don't think i can switch into tour mode until a day or two before it starts. This means that we've got to finish up the all but...(laughs)i'm looking forward to it.Including Novembers America Tour(me too:)).

KYO: I think we were able to make something new for us, and something that you would not find anywhere else in the world, so yea, look forward to it.

GLASS SKIN 歌詞

ぶれ始めた視界　ガラスの空　風の色
一人流れてるメリーゴーランド　手を振る
後ろめたさより　何処となく薄れた声
何故、自分を置き去りに眠る？

喜劇の涙より誰よりも儚く
奪われるまま　穢れるまま
ここに・・・

打ち明けた不甲斐なさに　窓を捲り見ていた
眠る肌起こし　濡れた絵に手を伸ばす
春の川にちらつく　街の澱みは何処へ行く
重たく閉ざした扉に　手を掛け
パレードの亡骸　静けさが今日も俺を
眠らせない　真実と笑う

喜劇の涙より誰よりも儚く
奪われるまま　穢れるまま
ここに愛を

おどけて踊る四季は　何処までも痛く
奪われるまま　穢れるまま
差し出す　夢に溶けて

生まれてくる　明日の声は
純粋そのままで
涙で君がもう見えない

喜劇の涙より誰よりも儚く
奪われるまま　穢れるまま
ここに愛を

君を見下ろせる　ひとつの観覧車
ただ崩れゆく　旋律さえ
淡く綺麗に請う

儚い言葉より
太陽に照らされた
影が焼きつく心に触れ

こんな感じだと思います

まぁ3日ぐらい待てば間違いも分かることですけど

kyo interview part 6 edited

i guess i never posted this

-what kind of year do you think 2008 will become?what kind of year do you want it to be?
k:next year....

-121 lives this year...
k: What kind of year...We're making the craziest album, so the craziest year.

-so we can all expect something good right!?
k:of course

-will the next album be a part 2 of "THE MARROW OF A BONE"? or will it be something completely different?
k: I'm sure it'll be completely different, because 'Dozing green' is nothing like the last album, right? We're different now, and we have a perspective you probably couldn't find anywhere else in the world.

-that's true
k:so we'll make something that doesn't exist

-do you write the music as well?
k: Sometimes, I'm not gifted in writing music, but sometimes I will write the melody.

-how about in the next album?
k:i though about it but...i write all the melodies down,but if i finish all the songs theres no point in it. so whats important is...to consider if its going to help out the band if i make all of the songs and help out myself in the end. normally you would think writing songs by yourself would help out the band but for me thats not the case.

-so its whatever comes in mind?
k:yeah, its whatever you want.so i dont know which one is going to help the band after all so when i feel like it ill write the song!

-are you satisfied with what the fans write in the letters?
k:yeah theyre starting to write better ones. before there would be stupid ones like "the lighting was too dark and i couldnt see you" or "teach me how to scream". if i see letters like that i just throw it away

-its almost time for your show but how was this tour?
k:i think its good, one of the best, i think.
...we've done alot of tours but i think this ones the best.

-is that like doing what you wanted to do?
k:yea,the perspective and the kind of shows i want.but the 2nd day in SHINKIBA was the worst live in the tour...in my opinion

-how?
k:the worst

-singing wise...?
k:singing and concentration...everything. i couldn't get into it, but even if it was the worst i was able to give it 100% of me at that time.
even if i have 3days or 7days i do shows thinking its that last time everytime.

-so if you died tomorrow would you have any regrets?
k:no,well i would but...probably not.compared to normal people i wouldn't

-so you give it everything?
k:yeah. i think every songs the last song we're going to play.

-someone i know died holding a mic but would you want to die like that?
k:that would be the best thing ever!!

-but not for us staffs(laughs bitterly)
k:still the best... You know how as the gig goes on and the crowd gets crazier?
Like, if there's an encore, the crowd will enjoy the main part then go wild for the encore...
That's wrong! They should get crazy from the first song! I do every song as if I'm going to die, So if I get tired during the middle, I still give it my all, because I don't know when I'm going to faint so if you say 'oh, I went crazy during the encore' just die, I hate you.

-this tour had a equal amount of girls and guys...
k:I thought the guys were a bit shy about going wild, because there was a lot of girls around. But I thought today 'gender doesn't matter' and stopped caring.

-I've noticed you used to change your tone when you called on guys and girls but lately you've been giving the same tone of voice
K: yeah, thats when i started thinking it doesnt matter.

-i see
k:i just stopped caring

-so its just if you can give it all you have
k: yeah thats it

-It's 6:50 now, time for the gig. Thank you very much!

kyo interview last part unedited

thanks for waiting

heres the last part

-what kind of year do you think 2008 will become?what kind of year do you want it to be?

k:next year....

-121 lives this year.

k:what kind of year..."make the craziest album",CRAZIEST!

-so we can all expect something good right!?

k:of coarse

-will the next album be a part 2 of "THE MARROW OF A BONE"? or will it be something completely different?

k:i sure its really different because "DOZING GREEN"s nothing like the last album right?we're different from what we were before and we probably have a perspective that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

-that's true

k:so we'll make something that doesn't exist

-do you write the music as well?

k:...sometimes but im not gifted in making the music but if i were to write it i would write from the melody from now on.

-how about in the next album?

k:i though about it but...i write all the melodies down,but if i finish all the songs theres no point in it. so whats important is...to consider if its going to help out the band if i make all of the songs and help out myself in the end. normally you would think writing songs by yourself would help out the band but for me thats not the case.

-so its whatever comes in mind?

k:yea, its whatever you want.so i dont know which one is going to help the band after all so when i feel like it ill write the song!

-are you satisfied with what the fans write in the letters?

k:yea theyre starting to write better ones. before there would be stupid ones like "the lighting was too dark and i couldnt see you" or "teach me how to scream". if i see letters like that i just throw it away

-its almost time for your show but how was this tour?

k:i think its good, one of the best, i think.

...we've done alot of tours but i think this ones the best.

-is that like doing what you wanted to do?

k:yea,the perspective and the kind of shows i want.but the 2nd day in SHINKIBA was the WORST live in the tour...in my opinion

-how?

k:the worst

-singing wise...?

k:singing and concentration...everything. i coudlnt get into it. but even if it was the worst i was able to give it 100% of me at that time.

even if i have 3days or 7days i do shows thinking its that last time everytime.

-so if you died tomorrow would you have any regrets?

k:no,well i would but...probably not.compared to normal people i wouldnt

-so you give it everything?

k:yea. i think every songs the last song we're going to play.

-someone i know died holding a mic but would you want to die like that?

k:that'll be the best thing ever!!

-but not for us staffs(laughs bitterly)

k:still the best.

you know some fans warm up and and then gets crazier?

if its an encore...they just enjoy the main part and then gets crazy during the encore...

that ain't right!get crazy from the 1st song! i do every songs as if im going to die, so if you get tired during the middle, i give 100% or 120%, and i dont even know when im gonna faint so if you say"i came up for the encore and went crazy" please go die, i fucken hate you!

-this tour had a equal amount of girls and guys...

k:i thought about guys being like scared of getting out of theyre shell...like their shy to go crazy or something...well theres alot of girls around them but then i thought today "sex doesnt matter!" so stop caring

-ive noticed you used to change your tone when you called on guys and girls but lately youve been giving the same tone of voice

yea, thats when i started thinking it doesnt matter

-i see

k:i just stopped caring

-so its just if you can give it all you have

k: yea thats it

-o its 650 now. i guess its time for the show. thank you very much!

part 5 revised

-I always wanted to say this but you always sing different lyrics from the cd.
k: yeah, every time

-You change the melody too. Do you have a stock of these and then just pick out one of them?
k:No, no! I just improvise on the spot. So even if you did hear what I'm saying, some parts may not make sense at all. But then I just let out my emotions and what I'm thinking straight out so some of them might make sense but most of them probably don't.

-I just thought that was very mysterious and wondered if you thought of them off the top of your head.
k: like i said before, when you get pissed off you get pissed off right?and sad when you're sad? same thing

-are there times where you can't think of anything?
k:No. I'm always sad and I'm always pissed, so, no. I'm never satisfied. If I'm satisfied I would probably only get happy lyrics...yeah.

-that would have a lot of opposition to the band, right?
k: Yeah. If this band always had a happy concept, I wouldn't be here. There aren't any happy moods to begin with in this band, we're always sad. If there comes a day when we think we should try a happy,bright fun image in dir en grey that's the day I'll quit! I will quit!!!

- That's pretty extreme
k: I know. Even if we only get 20 or 30 people in a small gig, we would never do it. If we do I'll quit. That's common sense.

-That would mean you wouldnt be able to express what you want right?
k: No, not that. Is there a meaning in doing something you dont want to do? In music, there's not, right?

-You have written all the lyrics but what if you had to sing lyrics that another member wrote?
k: I wouldnt sing it.

-What kind of lyrics do you think other members would right?
k: I dont know. I dont care about other peoples lyrics. I don't read lyrics or poems by other artists at all. Maybe I was reading lyrics by artists I liked until i was 18 but...
Well, I've said I hate how i was before "MACABRE". After the release of "MACABRE" I've never read lyrics from another artist!

-I see, so that's where its coming from.
k:That's why I dont care. Even if i read others peoples lyrics my reaction is "so?". I find that theres no connection. im pretty excessive, huh?

-So that explains the K
yo before and after "MACABRE"...
k:yeah.yeah.yeah.yeah.
I used to look at other artists, and if I liked them, I tried to absorb the techniques they used. I hate that. I hate how I thought of things back then.

-so after "macabre" until now, the lyrics that came from you...or i should say all your "expressions" aren't influenced by other people but directly from you.
k:yes, exactly

-so the artist you recommended earlier has nothing to do with lyrics?
k:yeah, I dont read lyrics and I dont care how the melody is. From artists...I see if I feel something from them or not. No matter how beautiful the melody is, its just "a beautiful melody". To me it only looks like "a pretty flower".

-I see.
k: And I dont care about that. Easy right? It's easy to understand but hard at the same time, I think.

-Is there a wall that you just cant get over?
k:No...are there? No, probably not. at least I dont think there is. I dont know what other people think but...

-Is there a difference in the Kyo in DEG and the Kyo in normal life?
k:no

- You're always you huh?(laughs)
k: I am aren't I? You can tell right? People tell me I'm different on stage but I'm the same...really.

-There a probably a lot of people wanting to become a vocalist out there but can you give advice to them?
k:"be random"

-A secret to long success...?
k: yeah, "be random"

-Do you have things you try not to do in front of people?
k:(gives thought to it for a while) No...and I think this is normal but never judge by looks and age. Talk to people normally,older or younger in the beginning. Even if they're younger, if I can see that they try hard in their lives and I can respect them as a preson I would talk to them normally and if I think they aren't I wouldn't talk to them, not even get close to them.

-There are a lot of people that are working hard right now, but are there any people that you think is trying hard?
k: I dont have that many people I know, at work there's a couple of people I think are trying hard(laughs). A "couple"! ok? At this workplace.

-wow...
k:wirte that down ok?

-...!?thats harsh.
-DEG was a guest for a couple LINKIN PARK show but has that expierience effected you in some way?
k: ..."damned japanese". (he means the people who just came to see LINKIN PARK)including the PA!(is PA like the sound system?)

-I'll write that if I can.
k:no, write it. theres nothing wrong with that.

-It went on for 2 days but the 2nd day...
k:They're "damned japanese" but I'm proud of our fans who came to see us...how should i say this...who came to have fun, without worrying about the people around them. I think thats great. I respect them for that.
That's why that day I sang especially for, of course for me, but for the people who came to see DEG.

-so it was for the people who understand DEG just like your doing this interview for the fans.
k:yeah.that's all I see.

-but we heard positive comments towards DEGs stage
k:hmm...if the PAs were better there would have been better reactions.(laughs bitterly)

-(laughs bitterly)i heard TOMMY was also mad.
k:yeah, of course!

-DEG has a concept of "pain" but what is the easiest way to express that?
k:huh? Isn't it what we do now?

-Concerts.
k:Concerts. What else can we do?

-in this tour you haven't scratched yourself as much.
k:yeah I havent.

-but in SHINKIBA...(gig in tokyo)
k:3rd day, yeah.

-is there a difference in your emotions when you do it and when you dont?
k:just when i feel like it.

-what's the feeling you have when you start scratching yourself?
k:awful

-Is it a feeling where you just want to destroy?
k:no, when I realize im already bleeding

-just, all of a sudden?
k:yeah. when i realize i just...have a pin and im on the box

interview part 5 unedited

sorry to keep u guys waiting

-i always want to say this but you always sing different lyrics from the cd.

k:yea everytime

-you change the melody too. do you have a stock of these and then just pick out one of them?

k:no no! i just think of them right there. so even if you did hear what im saying some of them wont make sense at all. But then i just let out my emotions and what im thinking straight out so some of them might make sense but most of them probably dont.

-i just thought that was very mysterious and wondered if you thought of them off the top of your head.

k: like i said before, when you get pissed off you get pissed off right?and sad when you're sad? same thing

-are there times where you can't think of anything?

k:no. im always sad and im always pissed so no. im never satisfied. if im satisfied i would probably only get happy lyrics...yea.

-that would have a lot of opposition to the band right?

k:yea. if this band always had a happy base/idea i wouldn't be here.there arent any happy moods to begin with in this band, we're always sad. if there comes a day when we think we should try a happy,bright fun image in dir en grey thats the day ill quit!I WILL QUIT!!!

- thats pretty intense,

k:no shit. even if we only get 20 or 30 people in a small gig, we would never do it. if we do ill quit. thats common sense.

-that would mean you wouldnt be able to express what you want right?

k: no, not that. is there a meaning in doing something you dont want to do?in music, no right?

-you have written all the lyrics but what if you had to sing lyrics that another member wrote?

k:i wouldnt sing it.

-what kind of lyrics do you think other members would right?

k:i dont know.i dont care about other peoples lyrics. by the way ive never read other peoples lyrics at all, "at all"!maybe i was reading lyrics by artists i liked until i was 18 but...

well, ive said i hate how i was before "MACABRE". after the release of "MACABRE" ive never read lyrics from another artist!

-i see, so thats where its coming from.

k:thats why i dont care. even if i read others peoples lyrics my reaction is "so?". i find that theres no connection. im pretty excessive huh?

-so that explains the kyo before and after "MACABRE"...

k:yea.yea.yea.yea.

i used to be like if i like an artist i liked them alot and tried to absorb techniques of other artist but i was too soft at that time and i hated that.i just hated how i thought of things back then.

-so after "macabre" until now, the lyrics that came from you...or i should say all your "expressions" aren't influenced by other people but directly from you.

k:yes, exactly

-so the artist you recommended earlier has nothing to do with lyrics?

k:yea, i dont read lyrics and i dont care how the melody is.from artists...i see if i feel something from them or not. no matter how beautiful the melody is, its just "a beautiful melody". to me it only looks like "a pretty flower".

-i see.

k: and i dont care about that. easy right? its easy to understand but hard at the same time, i think.

-is there a wall that you just cant get over?

k:no...are there?no, probably no. atleast i dont think there is. i dont know what other people think but.

-is there a difference in the kyo in DEG and the kyo in normal life?

k:no

-you're always you huh?(laughs)(im guessing he just read the question from a paper)

k:i am aren't i?you can tell right? people tell me im different on stage but im the same...really

-there a probably a lot of people wanting to become a vocalist out there but can you give advice to them?

k:"be random"

-a secret to long success...?

k:yea "be random"

-do you have things you try not to do in front of people?

k:(gives thought to it for a while)no...and i think this is normal but never judge by looks. and age. talk to people normally,older or younger in the beginning.even if theyre younger, if i can see that they try hard in their lives and i can respect them as a preson i would talk to them normalls and if i think they arent i wouldnt talk to them, not even get close to them.

-there are a lot of people that are working hard right now, but are there any people that you think is trying hard?

k: i dont have that many people i know, at work theres a coulpe people i think is trying hard.(laughs).a"couple"! ok? at this workplace.

-wow...

k:wirte that down ok?

-...!?thats harsh.

-DEG was a guest for a couple LINKIN PARK show but has that expierience effected you in some way?

k: ..."damned japanese". (he means the people who just came to see LINKIN PARK)including the PA!(is PA like the sound system?)

-ill write that if i can.

k:no, write it. theres nothing wrong with that.

-it went on for 2days but the 2nd day...

k:theyre"damned japanese" but im proud of our fans who came to see us...how should i say this...who came to have fun. without worrying about the people around them. i think thats great. i respect them for that.

thats why that day i sang especially for , of coarse for me, but for the people who came to see DEG.

-so it was for the people who understand DEG just like your doing this interview for the fans.

k:yea.thats all i see.

-but we heard positive conversations towards DEGs stage

k:hmm...if the PAs were better there would have been better reactions.(laughs bitterly)

-(laughs bitterly)i heard TOMMY was also mad.

k:yea, of coarse!

-DEG has a concept of "pain" but what is the easiest way to express that?

k:huh? isnt it what we do now?

-concerts.

k:concerts. what else can we do?

-in this tour you havent scratched yourself as much.

k:yea i havent.

-but in SHINKIBA...(gig in tokyo)

k:3rd day, yea

-is there a difference in your emotions when you do it and when you dont?

k:just when i feel like it.

-whats the feeling you have when you start scratching yourself?

k:aweful

-is it a feeling where you just want to destroy?

k:no, when i realize im already bleeding

-all the sudden?

k:yea. when i realize i just...have a pin and im on the box