[TRANSLATION] club-Zy: Long interview special edition | All 4 parts serialization: Aoi (the GazettE) | Part 4

Part 4: Started guitar during elementary school. At the 10th year anniversary, [Wanted to quit the GazettE]

-- In the previous part was Aoi-san’s chance at starting (to play) guitar. And next I’d like you to look back as the GazettE’s (member) about the 10th anniversary. Back then, did you start playing guitar under the influence of your brother who had been in high school?
Aoi: That’s right. I was an elementary school student at that time, and I found the figure of my brother playing guitar so admirable. There were also a lot of guitar heroes (that I admired) from abroad. Until the time I started becoming a part of a band, I thought the future I wanted the most was to be a guitarist. Even now it’s still the same way abroad, but in Japan it’s the vocalist (that takes up more attention). That’s why, at the moment, I’m thinking “What happened??”

-- While reading a past interview, I was thinking, “I want to listen to the intro of X JAPAN’s [Kurenai]!”
Aoi: When I was in 1st grade, I liked hide-san, so much so that I practiced desperately. I wanted a guitar so much, but I couldn’t exactly ask my parents (to buy me one). So I would wake up at 4 a.m. and work at the nearby newspaper stand as a delivery boy. (I was living in) a rural area, so there wasn’t even a game center anywhere around the house. Before I began playing guitar, from the moment school was over I would go to the beach to swim and stuff. But as soon as I got my hands on a guitar, I would spend every single day playing it. At that time, I probably played most often.

-- When did you form a band?
Aoi: I had never really properly formed a band, but when I was in 3rd grade in junior high, or maybe 1st grade in high school, I and a senior performed ZIGGY’s [GLORIA] at the school festival in the gymnasium.

-- Ah, that song was popular back then, huh. It was a drama’s theme song or some sort.
Aoi: Yep. By the time I graduated junior high, I had wanted to enter a vocational school instead of high school, but I wasn’t allowed to, so I reluctantly entered high school. No one was playing music back then, so I stopped playing guitar and did nothing else but surfing instead.

-- Surfing??
Aoi: Yeah. And then I quit high school. While I was doing nothing, one time late at night in a local Tokai area TV program, there was a band from Nagoya that was doing an introduction of themselves; (I felt) really gloomy. It came to the point (where I thought), “Why couldn’t I be that skilful as well!!” And so I told my father, “I’m going to Tokyo”, and then I got up and left.

-- The talk escalated so quickly (to want to go to Tokyo), the scene is almost like Yawaza Eikichi-san.
Aoi: I was 20 years old. I brought my guitar and a sports bag with my clothes stuffed into it. I came to Tokyo. I did a part time job at Chinzan-so (a hotel in Tokyo metropolitan area). There was a recording company nearby, but since their image was nothing but enka, I thought impertinently, “I’m definitely not going to get into that company!” (LOL)

-- (LOL). You’re probably much indebted. (LOL)
Aoi: Yeah. The moment I was in a band with our previous drummer, I met RUKI and the others. His band hadn’t had any drummer from the beginning, so at first only the drummer was asked to join. But then, just when I was thinking of what I should do, RUKI said, “We also need a guitarist, how about it?” and invited me as well. At the same time, Jinxxxx Raxxo was also recruiting and I had already sent an application. If the GazettE hadn’t existed I might have been a member in Jinxxxx Raxxo instead (LOL).

-- Ooh. I’m surprised to hear that. But I’m glad the 5 of you met. And then, starting from Meguro-Rokumeikan to Tokyo Budoukan, and then to Tokyo Dome, connecting the memories, you’ve reached your 10th anniversary this year in March, right? Looking back, what is the most memorable thing you keep in your heart?
Aoi: The truth is, before the live at Makuhari (Messe), I was thinking about quitting the GazettE. It’s because I thought I wouldn’t be able to continue (being in) the band until the relationship between these 5 guys collapsed. I didn’t want to come to the point where I was overdoing it. But then, as I stepped onto the stage, the moment I saw the faces of 20,000 fans, I instantly thought, I couldn’t possibly betray those kids. If I quit, I would snatch away the GazettE from them. So then we played “Shunsetsu no Koro” in that live, that was ended with the scene of me gathered with REITA, RUKI, and Uruha in the center of the stage.

-- Yes. In the midst of white and pink confetti fluttering about, the 4 of you stood up on the pedestal. Behind Kai there was the GazettE’s logo shining in gold.
Aoi: Yes. (At first) I didn’t want to do that, gathering up on the front like that. It’s because I thought it was superficial, and because I couldn’t mend only the surface.

-- When it was time for everyone to say some words, Aoi-san said, “With these 4 guys and me, the GazettE exists. Because everyone is there (with us), the GazettE that you like exists. I’m so moved that I can’t even say thank you (enough) to everyone”… and then tears flowed from your eyes, and you looked so deeply emotional.
Aoi: I think there’s no other band that is worth as much as the GazettE. That’s why I can’t betray all the people who have been supporting us.

-- Now that you’ve passed your 10th anniversary, is it okay to say that the bond between you guys will only get deeper? And then what do the 5 of you wish to accomplish from now on?
Aoi: I’d like (for us) to create another production. “DIVISION” was born from “TOXIC”. I’m aiming for something that surpasses (all of those).

credit to: theGazettE_INA

[TRANSLATION] club-Zy: Long interview special edition | All 4 parts serialization: Aoi (the GazettE) | Part 3

Photographs by Takehiro Suganuma / Interview by Ayano Nishimura

Part 3: The "Ibitsu" that was born in the band. [Made of the perfect balance]
―― Previously, we explored what you had in mind about doing a solo project...... but in the position of the GazettE's Aoi, how do you perceive yourself?
Aoi: Even while I'm in the middle of the so-called members, I feel like...... it's judged by how much influence we have. I'm also a member, but regarding the GazettE, I keep thinking whether I can make my contribution or not.

―― Of course, it's judged by your influence right. Aoi-san is the oldest and, also when we have an interview 4 years ago for the first time, among the five people, more often than the others you looked at the circumstance, saw us all objectively, and with you I felt like I could talk. However, I feel like the way of the conversation right now, so far, is more interesting. To continue the band for a long time, Ibitsu was to be born; in other cases, other musicians would have been doing solo projects already, right. But, concerning the related party – the GazettE, that is– I think you don’t want the project to become like the GazettE.
Aoi: I think it’s not about to put an emphasis to someone's opinion. It’s the band's. Right now, because the stuff that RUKI produced became an axis, RUKI’s speech is so strong, so it's becoming like...... these 4 men create something from what RUKI has in his mind. That was the GazettE continuance, it was important to preserve the world view as a musician, but, I think there's a small part where we've come to an actual state where we could not listen to the opinions from the outside.

――Ah, isn't Aoi-san who has been judging it from influence up until now? Because, we've also talked a while ago, I thought we could see ourselves objectively but it turned out we couldn't. I wonder if that isn't Aoi-san's role. Although I'm thinking about the band's assets, in this matter.
Aoi: Yeah. However even if there are people who can judge objectively, you still have to ask, right?

―― With the exception of RUKI-san, don't any of you have anything to say (in regards of the band)?
Aoi: Well, you see. RUKI together with Uruha were getting stronger in the matter of making songs. They had various experience beforehand, and they have acquired self confidence so that they could state their opinions (freely). But, because Uruha also won’t listen to other's opinion, he has the good part of possessing the power to persist, and he also has the bad part of having his own way. Because; with Reita and Kai, I was getting along with the 2 people. Well, since I don't have the confidence to assert my opinion, and since I kept hesitating, when someone stated something definite to me, I was the person to follow, to agree with anyone, but, it was important to follow, out of it, there were times when I couldn’t let out my own sound… … Really, it's made of the perfect balance.

―― So in this production, there had been various conflicts, right. Alright, this is a completely different topic, but a reward! to yourself who had worked hard; was there anything?
Aoi: A reward?? I wonder what. Maybe the two guitars I ordered for myself. They will be done sometimes in autumn, I’m really looking forward to it.

――I don’t know when, but in the future, when you debut as solo musician, you will also make a song. We’re also looking forward to it.

credit to:  theGazettE_INA

[TRANSLATION] club-Zy: Long interview special edition | All 4 parts serialization: Aoi (the GazettE) | Part 2

Photographs by Takehiro Suganuma / Interview by Ayano Nishimura

Part 2: From the desire to want to pursue his sound, a view to the future solo career?!
-- To start this second part, please tell us about a challenge you faced during the production of this album.
Aoi: It's a…… continuation, so there wasn't much change.

-- That ended up quickly (lol). Well then, what did Aoi-san want to express (in this album)?
Aoi: I thought a lot about wanting to change the sound. Up until now we haven't released anything like that. For [DIVISION] and [TOXIC], there was a similar coordination and shape regarding the source of sound, but as for myself, looking back, it didn't seem like a stimulating thing. There was conflict against what I wanted to express.

-- Conflict, you say……
Aoi: Yes. There's also the idea of wanting to work to deepen the GazettE's music even more. I'm thankful (for this), but along with the production of the album, we were constantly on tour, participating in events, being very busy. Speaking of the GazettE, I wonder if we're not blessed with such thing as leisure in pursuing our music. Back then I always thought that each of our sounds stood out, our individual figures, young as we were, there hadn't been any coordination. But starting from [STACKED RUBBISH] (album, on sale since July 2007) until [DIM] (album, on sale since July 2009), we began to form our "union" and create music with great care. To be perfectly united is important, but I think I would like to still be able to let out each individual's essences.

-- When it comes to the GazettE, is it hard to let that out?
Aoi: When I was a kid, while I was playing guitar or listening to music, the face of the artist (I was copying) floated into my mind. That kind of thing is hard when it comes to the GazettE. More than individually, maybe something like the outlook of world of an artist is more important.

-- Then, isn't it possible to do a solo career side-by-side with the activity of the band, to be able to express what you wanted?
Aoi: Hmー. Maybe when the time comes.

-- The parts that you feel difficult (being done) in a band, you can do them in a solo (project), right. About this solo (project), what kind of image do you have in mind?
Aoi: I've been thinking what it would be like to have a female vocal. I've been listening to RUKI's voice all along, it makes me want to try (doing a song) for a woman's voice tone. Well this is just one thing (among others).

-- Last summer, in the event that your company held, you formed a (session) band called [bon:cra-z] with Alice Nine's Hiroto and other guys, and you sang hide-san's songs. It was surprising to see you take the role of the vocals and also guitar.
Aoi: Ah. Yes I did. I didn't really want to sing myself. Because of the form of what we had to do, I sing because it's necessary to... that sort of stance. When it's just for fun I can do whatever I want, but when thinking about solo (career) in commercial term, there are so many regulations.

-- I see. Do you talk about this kind of feelings with fellow members in the GazettE? I feel that perhaps the five of you, respectively, have the idea of doing solo (projects) in your minds.
Aoi: We did have that sort of talk for a bit. In the GazettE, (sometimes) the music that I'm thinking cannot be understood (by the others), but I think it's not time yet for me to be by myself.

 credit to:: theGazettE_INA

[TRANSLATION] club-Zy: Long interview special edition | All 4 parts serialization: Aoi (the GazettE) | Part 1

Photographs by Takehiro Suganuma / Interview by Ayano Nishimura

Part 1: [DIVISION], the album that was born at the 10th anniversary of the GazettE’s formation

-- The new album [DIVISION] was on sale starting from August 29th. The previous work, [TOXIC], was (released) only 10 months before this. The method also came as a surprise, where all the compiled songs (in total of 14 songs for the first time, whereas usually only 12 songs) were new songs. Firstly, please tell us starting from the motivation of this production.
Aoi: the GazettE had our 10th anniversary March this year. The idea came from RUKI, where (he said) we should release something in accordance with our 10th anniversary. What would become of the album was not determined yet at the onset, but at the end of last year up to the beginning of this year we had another discussion, and the image hardened into ‘let’s continue the flow of the previous album, [TOXIC]’… sort of feeling.

-- In Aoi’s thought, was there a part of you that wanted to create this kind of image and the likes for this album?
Aoi: That’s right. Because this time we are marking our 10th, I was thinking I had to freely let out something that I didn’t have within me, the music that was born from inside of me. In LIVES, recently, more than just as the so-called the GazettE’s Aoi, I’m thinking of standing there on stage as myself.

-- The album’s Limited Edition has 2 discs, the first disc is the [Rock Side] and the second is [Digital Side]. Being varied into those categories, it’s really interesting that you’ve revealed this kind of overview. I was surprised to find that the orders of the songs in the Limited Edition and Regular Edition were different. How attentive!
Aoi: We changed the orders of the songs in the Limited and Regular Edition to make the flow nice, that’s the idea. When we put the songs that were divided into two discs in the Limited Edition into the Regular Edition’s single disc, we thought about changing the order of the songs.

-- Which song has the greatest emotional attachment to you?
Aoi: It’s [Ibitsu]. It describes about greed among other things, the truth about human being. It’s kind of like mud.

-- [Ibitsu]’s PV is included in the Limited Edition’s DVD. How did the shooting process go?
Aoi: We shot the video in a film studio, but the main focus is a monochrome performance scene. The shooting was exhausting because we pushed ourselves to the end.

-- Coming here despite being tired, I notice the gloomy look on your face (lol).
Aoi: Right.

The second part will be uploaded at club-Zy’s site at September 12th. We hope you will be looking forward for it.

credit to: theGazettE_INA