INTERVIEW ~ Aural Vampire: February 15, 2009
Katsucon ~ Arlington, VA
Aural Vampire made their second appearance at Katsucon in Arlington, VA. They took some time out of their busy schedule to sit down and answer a few of our questions.
First, please introduce yourselves and what you do in the band.
EXO-CHIKA: We are Aural Vampire from Tokyo, Japan. I am EXO-CHIKA, the vocalist, and this is RAVEMAN, the DJ.
Let's go back into the past. Last year, you made your US debut at Anime Matsuri in Texas. How did that go? Did it leave any impressions on you?
EXO-CHIKA: The experience we had at Anime Matsuri was quite excellent. We were really happy and overwhelmed that there were so many people that were excited to see us. Even here at Katsucon, the reaction of the fans has been similar and enthusiastic. We're having such a good time here.
What is your impression of America as compared to Europe and even Japan?
RAVEMAN: The audiences in Europe and Japan are very similar in the way that they are rather shy. We have performed here in America twice, both at anime conventions and the audiences are already just so pumped up about the convention, being dressed up in their costumes...they are already ready to have fun. So, their enthusiasm and energy is really special.
Speaking of audiences, did you have any expectations for your performance on Friday night?
EXO-CHIKA: The audience was really great! I was really afraid that because the show was at 11pm, there wouldn't be a lot of people there. Oh, but I was surprised and excited to see so many excited people! They had so much energy so it was really great to perform for them.
Aside from conventions, would you ever like to do an actual tour throughout America?
EXO-CHIKA: We would love to do live performances outside of conventions and all over America!
RAVEMAN: As for opening acts....since we are from the underground scene, we would like them to be local bands, from each location. It would be best if they were in the same kind of genre as Aural Vampire, too.
Going on about the underground scene, will you please enlighten us and tell us a little about the Tokyo Dark Underground scene?
RAVEMAN: The underground scene in Tokyo is kind of connected to not only underground scenes of Japan, but actually worldwide. It's like one big family. I think that alone is a bit different than other types of music genres out there, where the artists are just friends with one another.
Do you think there is a great future for the scene? Maybe a possibility of it being introduced into mainstream?
EXO-CHIKA: That's definitely our goal for the future.
RAVEMAN: Yeah, I agree.
Moving to another scene, America's cyber goth and industrial scene seems to be far behind that of Japan and even Europe. What do you think we could do to catch up?
RAVEMAN: Well, like I mentioned before, there really isn't any sort of national barrier to the underground. So long as the US underground stays involved in the world scene, I think America could go a lot further.
EXO-CHIKA, you were featured in BLOOD's song "BLOOD" on The Reaper Behind Me. How did you get involved with that? Did you enjoy that collaboration?
EXO-CHIKA: When I was invited to perform with them, that was actually the first time I've ever done anything like that before. I was a little bit nervous at first, but when the final product came out, I was actually really impressed with it. I hope I can do more collaborations like that in the future.
Are there any particular artists you'd like to collaborate with?
EXO-CHIKA: Regardless of genre, we both would like to collaborate with other artists in general. We want to create an explosive chemical reaction! (laughs)
Now, RAVEMAN, this is for you. Could you please tell us a little about your work as a DJ?
RAVEMAN: I have a lot of DJ activites going on outside Aural Vampire! Live performances as opposed to actual DJing is quite different from one another. DJing requires a lot of improvising, so I have to pay a lot of attention to the audience and their reactions and behaviors so I can adjust accordingly. That's one of the biggest challanges, but that's what I enjoy most about it.
In 2008, Aural Vampire was nominated for "Best Newcomer" in Shojo Beat, one of America's manga magazines. Even though you aren't new to the scene, how did it make you feel to be nominated?
RAVEMAN: We feel really honored to be selected!
EXO-CHIKA: We were so excited! It was hard to believe at first.
A lot of the voting for that award was done via the internet. What kind of affects do you think the internet has on the music industry?
EXO-CHIKA: The internet is basically what brought us to where we are now. Without it, I'm sure we really couldn't have done much or gone very far.
RAVEMAN: The fact that it has virtually limitless possibilities is something that's really amazing. People can listen to our music at any time, anywhere they want to. That alone is very important to us. We can't be touring all over the world at once, so it's very convenient.
If you chould choose just one song that would embody the meaning of Aural Vampire, which would you pick?
RAVEMAN: I would definitely have to say Freeeeze!! represents us the best. It really encorporates and has everything that Aural Vampire is trying to accomplish. We take components of different music genres and sew them together to form that one piece. Freeeeze!! is the best choice.
Do either of you have a song that would represent you as an individual?
EXO-CHIKA: All the songs have a special meaning to me because I write all the lyrics. I just have a special connection with them all.
RAVEMAN: Yeah, same with me, because I write all the music! (laughs) I'm always trying to improve our style. So, our favorite songs are typically the ones we are working on at the moment.
RAVEMAN, you just said you write all the music. Well, I was speaking to a lot of fans Friday night before your performance, and I noticed a lot of people forget all about you and think Aural Vampire is just EXO-CHIKA! How does it make you feel to not be recognized as being a crucial part of Aural Vampire by a lot of fans?
(both laugh)
RAVEMAN: I want to be backstage!
EXO-CHIKA: Sometimes, when you watch our performances and you look at RAVEMAN closely, he's doing something really funny!
RAVEMAN: I don't mind that image of myself. That's how I want to be perceived, something like a mysterious shadow. I like being in the corner, doing my own thing.
EXO-CHIKA: Balance is also very important. There is darkness and light in everything. In Aural Vampire, I represent the lighter side and RAVEMAN is the darkness. Even in our personal daily lives, we are opposites of each other. I think it's important to always keep that sort of balance.
RAVEMAN: Aural Vampire is to JPop as RAVEMAN is to Aural Vampire!
Since we're out of time now, will you please give a message to your fans and our readers?
EXO-CHIKA: Thank you very much for listening to us all the way over here in America! I'm really grateful for the fans that I have here. RAVEMAN and I are going to work really hard this year to keep making music and improving our style. Please keep encouraging us and listening to our music!
RAVEMAN: Uuh..wawaawarara..awawarara...mmnmnnmm....
interview and photos by Kei
Thanks to Aural Vampire for taking the time to answer our questions; thanks to AVEX and Katsucon for making this possible
links
Aural Vampire Official Website
Aural Vampire Official MySpace
Download Aural Vampire's music on iTunes
BACK
