The Mikro Head 4N'S Interview

Interview: Takaya Yamamoto
Translation: Ena Hytonen

-To begin with, how did these members assemble?

Kazuya： There were ups and down but I really wanted to have a band again so first I contacted SHUN.. That time we both agreed we wanted the members to have careers and experience. Of course the working efficiency is important as well but we wanted to have members we could communicate with on the same level. That’s where we started our search from.

-Had you met the other members before?

Kazuya： I and Ricky have known each other for over 10 years already. I’d always liked his voice and thought it would be nice to work together. ZERO I had met through HIZUMI (ex. D’espairsRay vo.) and that time I asked him to work together with us. Then through ZERO I persuaded also TSUKASA to join us and then when we all were having a meeting while drinking together the band had suddenly been assembled.

-What is the consept of “THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S”?

Kazuya： We wanted it to feel loose like a session band, but still a ‘band-like’ band.

-What do you mean by ‘band-like’?

Kazuya： Every member has their role so that the band just wouldn’t be the same without them. Something like that.

ZERO： Just to do something we enjoy. The intense style until now is something I can do anytime so now I want to do something different. I really enjoy being in this band now!

SHUN.： With Kazuya we’re almost inseparable but the other members were mainly new faces. Everybody did feel connected though so I believe we could have fun together.

-Where does the name “THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S” come from?

Ricky： Everybody brought their band name ideas and we first chose 3 from them and lastly “THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S” was chosen.This name was actually my idea. To me it feels like a name I’ve heard before. Headphones are something you can submerge with to your own world while listening to music and that’s something we’re aiming for with our band.

Kazuya： First we were supposed to find a short name... but then we ended up with this long one! *laugh*

all： *loud laugh*

SHUN.： I thought that too. *laugh*

Ricky： But it doesn’t feel really Visual kei-like. Maybe a bit electro-ish. But I see it as a good thing not to be categorized in one genre. It leaves space for imagination and I think that might be an interesting advantage while competing in the Visual kei scene.

-What kind of music do you want to make?

Kazuya： We haven’t really decided anything permanent. I suggest this and that like “How about this? Or this?” and then we proceed depending on the other members opinions. I tell Ricky what I think would be cool and then he records the vocals and after that we see what others think about it.

TSUKASA： When these members were assembled I thought we could do a lot of different things. When making music I first start with the image I have in my mind. I think I’m good in making songs with four-on-the-floor beat so I might bring a song like that next time.

SHUN.： As for me I don’t think much while making songs. I have some in the making and just hope that these members will make them listenable.

all： *laugh*

SHUN.： That means I trust the other members as they also have careers like we were planning with Kazuya. I’d like to advance while doing things I like and experiment while suggesting different ideas to other members. When we were in a band called LASTLIP with Kazuya I used to make music while thinking about the band more than what I myself liked. That’s why I sometimes made music that didn’t feel like me but now we all can freely bring songs we think are cool and I believe our style will naturally begin to shape. Although there’s still some parts we need to match... *laugh* I think this is a band with potential also because everything is still so open.

Ricky： I enjoy inserting vocals to songs that Kazuya sends me and it’s also fun because most of them are songs I couldn’t make myself. Until now my style was more pop but with this band I get to show my dark side as well. It might be cool to show the “wicked Ricky” too. *laugh*

SHUN.： The Black Ricky... *laugh*

Ricky： The truth is I’d like to go with silent Ricky but it just so happens that I have to talk. *laugh* At lives I would like to just sing more than talk. While doing many things I get confused wich Ricky I should be...

all： *loud laugh*

Ricky： I get tired if I just keep acting. Shouldn’t I just be the way I am but then that can be difficult too. So I leave the talking to TSUKASA. *laugh*

TSUKASA： No thankyou...

all： *loud laugh*

Ricky： Well, we’re not having a band to talk on the stage. But for some reason people say the talking parts have become more important. 

-What do you think the lives will be like?

Kazuya： I think something mischevious would be fun. All of us have experience of well made lives so we each have our strenght. I think it will be a blast when the live starts everybody moving in all directions. You could call that a bit scattered too...

Ricky： Can I dive at the first song?

all： *loud laugh*

Kazuya： I think people would laugh at you doing something absurd like that. As we get older the music gets kind of softer as well as our behaviour. But I want to go to the opposite direction and make this band one of the most intense ones I’ve had until now. I haven’t had two bass drums that many times until now. I want to keep the feeling of this band really rock and that’s why I think mischevious would be ideal.

-So you don’t have any rules?

Kazuya： Maybe some but as few as possible.

Ricky： Go around just before the songs hook.

all： *loud laugh*

Kazuya： I wont *laugh*

Ricky： But you said you want to wave the towel. *laugh*

Kazuya： I didn’t say I want us all to go around the stage. Anyway, I think it’s best to do what feels fun and remember the feeling of having a band first time. Ofcourse we can’t go back to those times when we used to go around in a worn-out transportation van but to have that feeling again.

-Do you have something planned for your next move?

SHUN.： We have a hosting event at Shibuya WOMB on 14 February the Valentines day and on 14 March the White Day. We are planning to make this event called “MONSTER’S ROAR” continuous with other bands and stir up the scene. On march we also go to Osaka and Nagoya with “Stylish wave”.

-What is the meaning behind “MONSTER’S ROAR”?

SHUN.： Literally it means “roaring monster”. Every band is in a way a ‘musical monster’...

Ricky： Everybody wear a kigurumi okay?

all： *loud laugh*

SHUN.： We leave that to Ricky. *laugh* Shouting and roaring and having fun is a part of the titles meaning.

Kazuya： Also TSUKASA is creating a mascot character to this event.

TSUKASA： I’ll try my best. *laugh*

-Seems like also going overseas could be expected.

Kazuya： If we’d have the chance ofcourse we’d like to go but well go to countryside or anywhere. Right now what I think is most important is our time together with the five members. Everybody is quite busy and can’t gather that easily and having a drinking party once a month isn’t really that necessary but we have it to keep our distances close. That is what is most important now. Both overseas and in Japan. Ofcourse there might be some things that don’t feel nice but we’re all adults and all have experience so things will get sorted out.

-The logo and other design is also made by the band right?

Ricky： ZERO designed it, I think it’s awesome.

ZERO： I haven’t studied design or anything so I studied all by myself so I don’t have much knowledge. I’m learning while doing.

Kazuya： He’s also doing the designs for our merchandise, home page and my pick. On top of that he does the art directing of our artist photos. As I said earlier every member has their part in the band. Ricky does the lyrics and other production, SHUN. takes mostly care of live business, TSUKASA is responsible of production and for example character design and I do management and production. It’s like our band is a small company. We want to do things as much as possible on our own.

-Lastly please send a message to the readers of Visulog.

Ricky： Even though we all have careers this is a completely new band so I believe it could work as a inspiration to those who think of making a new band. I wish you keep a close eye on us and cheer for us.

SHUN.： We all are having fun making our music so I hope people who listen to us also enjoy and come to see our lives.

TSUKASA： Moments when you’re overcome with emotion have always been important to me so I want to enjoy moments like that with the members and people who come to see our lives. I hope we can all together overcome with emotion at our lives.

Kazuya： I hope our feelings about the band and partnership and dreams reaches you.

ZERO： Our band has just started but I hope people don’t hesitate to come and see our live. There’s often people who feel they start to like a band too late so please use this opportunity and check us out. We hope those who heard of us the first time and those who already know us come and find out what we are like on the stage and enjoy their time at our live.

credit to: Visulog