In this article, I did an interview with a J-Pop/Punk artist. She is very conformed to Japanese society so with the use of a J-Pop magazine in the UK it would press onto questions that weren't the typical of asking about the music. In the genre of pop/punk a lot of the artists backgrounds are a heavily influence of what their material, so I used questions about a hard background in my interview to press onto that. I also used questions that truly indentified the artists real feelings and attitudes, even if she is famous internationally, with a genre of music that is very underground compared to mainstream music. I also wanted to highlight through this article the reality of the music industry, when it percieved heavily through their own media devices that it's full of fame and fortune when it really isn't.
MEDIA STUDIES MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
Outside, we can hear the foreign tongues, even if we are playing on their side of the playground. Everything is as we expected, the lights are bright in the bustling streets of Tokyo, well, from the bird’s eye view from where we’re stood. We’re here a little early, when we could have been fashionably late like a lot of other musicians we interview. However, in the five minutes we’re due to start Mitsuki Tragedy enters the room, with an honest attitude that is rarely seen in this business.
You’re new album Crystal Hearts is quite a hybrid of cultures and music genres. Was the process difficult when writing and recording the album?
It was actually quite difficult. I mean, I’ve only started learning Japanese, so when I wanted to put in some Japanese lyrics I had a lot of hurdles. Many people are very fussy when it comes to pronunciation so I tried at first to pronounce the words correctly before singing them. Then once I had the songs written, which took three months when it should have taken one, I then started to record the album. I had a talk with the producers and I decided that I’d have three of the songs that were very American pop/punk, whereas another three would be cutesy Japanese pop, that I’m largely known for. I had to have the perfect balance. So then the rest were a mixture, so I could create something new and stand out with it.
When you say ‘standing out’ do you mean standing out Lady Gaga style?
I can see where that is heavily perceived, but I don’t want to be too out there like Lady Gaga even though I do have a lot of respect for the girl. The way I want to stand out is dress in what's normal and fun in Japan to what may be misunderstood in the UK and the US. I really hate prejudice and how people don’t understand individuality, so with my style I want to drag them away from that.
Is the theme of individuality and prejudice expressed in the album?
There is one track called Say Whatever It’s Words that does express that message. I purposely sang this in English and Japanese to create a unity with two different audiences with the same message. I guess it’s a complex way of uniting people.
Did you ever, growing up, face prejudice for the vast difference you have with music taste?
The main genre of music I listen to is alternative, pop-punk stuff so growing up in the UK, there are so many stereotypes. Where I live, there’s mostly what we call ‘chavs’ and they think they’re the biggest thing in the country because most of the music they listen to is mainstream. So when some classmates discovered I loved rock music, they instantly called me ‘emo’ and would call me names for the way I dressed. Then when I started listening to J-Pop that’s when they really started to hurt me. They would then call me ‘preppy’ thinking I was listening to all different types of music for a way to get everyone to like me.
Despite going through crap in school, are you happy where you are? Do you feel like you’ve won?
On the inside, I do feel proud of where I am because despite what’s happened I’ve continued to fight hard and I’ve come out with the best results I’d ever have. However, even though I do feel like I’ve proved the bullies wrong, I don’t feel like I’ve won. I didn’t choose this career for the sake of making people feel lower than me, I did this because I enjoy doing it. I don't want a reaction.
When you grew up with your love for Japanese culture, did it feel like another home to you? Or a different world?
It was a bit of both, because Japan is so different to the UK in terms of culture and language, so yeah it does feel like a different world because I feel like I have to nip myself when I’m here in Tokyo. Then again, it feels so natural to me, because I love this place and I’m comfortable in it and I feel like myself so it does feel like a second home. The UK will always be a first home; I could never forget where I come from.
Being in a different country and having the time of you’re life, we bet that time does rush sometimes. Does touring feel like it’s only going to be for a week or it does it feel like the months passing by?
Oh the best part about this is the touring. Each show feels like the first one, so I feel adrenaline all of the time. A lot of Red Bull is required for me so I have the hyper attitude that the fans love to see. The last tour back in 2009, I was touring for three months in Japan, but because I was excited for each show, looking back on the whole thing it did feel like a whirlwind. It went too fast for my liking.
But we bet the flights can be tiring?
I think, in a year, I take round about ten flights back and forth between Japan, the US and the UK to do promotions. But then again, I spend most of my flying sleeping so it doesn’t feel that long. I remember I had a long flight straight from Washington to Tokyo, it lasted for ten hours, and I was nearly crying with happiness because I hadn’t slept for three days.
This is quite a hectic life with flying and promoting. Do you have any time for family?
As much as I love the life I’m having now, that is the only negative aspect to it. I only get to spend Christmas with my family, so I only see them every year which isn’t right in any case. I try to call them as much as I can, but my family tell me not to because of how much the calls would cost. I bet they don’t want me to waste my money on phone calls so can I buy my Mum a new car instead! Or pay off the mortgage! (Laughs)
So there’s no boyfriend?
I wish I could say yes, (laughs) but no.
Have you ever met anyone on your travels and wanted to make something of it?
I have met one or two guys who have been amazing. But I wouldn’t want to drag them into a hectic lifestyle. As much as they’d be over the moon with dating someone like me, really in the back of their minds they’d want someone who they could spend every weekend with and have a normal relationship. I can’t give them that.
Would you ever give up your music for something special?
No, because in life everyone has more than one boyfriend or girlfriend, whereas there’s only going to be one music career. And which one would I take? Obviously the music. I’d rather spend my younger years enjoying the world and then looking back on it in twenty years and being in love with someone.
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