Interview with Aoi at Japan Expo

Rock artist Aoi performed at Japan Expo last year, and he has returned to France for the second consecutive year. Before his performance, JaME caught up with him to ask about his recent and future activities.


Could you please introduce yourself for our readers who don’t know you?

Aoi: I am Aoi. I started my music activities in 2007.

How would you describe your music, to make people want to hear it?

Aoi: I try to compose with new sounds and describe my vision of the world and the universe. I’d like for people to listen to my music as if looking at a painting.

What inspired you to make music?

Aoi: I wanted to contribute an artistic creation, and it was music that agreed best with me. My agent pushed me to realize my wish.

How do you envision your career in music?

Aoi: Now that I’ve started, I want to make it all the way to the summit.

Which artists influenced you musically?

Aoi: I don’t really have any direct influences, but I really like the music of David Bowie.

Do you play any instruments?

Aoi: I play guitar, and when I’m composing my music, I do it with that instrument.

How do you balance your solo career and you career with BOUNTY?

Aoi: I don’t make a distinction between the two. When I sing, whether it’s solo or in a group, I do my best and try to enjoy myself.

What are the advantages and drawbacks of being solo as opposed to being in a group?

Aoi: Whether singing solo or in a group, there are inevitably advantages and drawbacks, but that’s completely normal. I just try to give it my best in both cases.

Your look is relatively somber compared to the ambiance of your songs, which is sometimes lighter. Do you play on that duality?

Aoi: I don’t play expressly with that duality, but it agrees with my temperament. And seeing me, the fans will have their own opinions.

Your song titles often include an English word with a strong meaning, like ASSASSIN, EDEN or Frontier. How do you choose these titles?

Aoi: Actually, there are two ways I create songs. A word may inspire me and I’ll compose the song around it, or alternatively I’ll compose the lyrics and music, and then the title will appear afterward. It’s not necessarily the title that inspires me.

We can hear a harpsichord intro in the song MASQUERADE; is that an instrument you like? How do you marry that with your modern and more rock-like compositions?

Aoi: That was an idea from Tohru Nagae, my arranger. We had an idea based on rhythm, and we tried to find something that would stay in your memory. After many different attempts, we hit on the idea of putting in a harpsichord.

You’ve come to France for the third time now. What do you like about this country?

Aoi: I really appreciate French architecture, I find it artistic. And the French are very kind people, I really enjoy French culture.

Your trips here are usually linked to a convention or particular event. How is that, compared to a more standard type of concert?

Aoi: Fundamentally, there’s no difference for me, whether it’s an event or concert. At lives, I sing in Japanese and English. And then in France, I try to express myself in French. It’s an endeavor I want to pursue.

What aspects have made an impact on you since your first concert at Japan Expo last year?

Aoi: I was struck by the significant number of male spectators at the concert, in contrast to in Japan.

How do you find the European audience? Is it difficult for you to communicate with your foreign fans?

Aoi: I think the audience here is wonderful; they’re incredible. I hope this kind of artistic and cultural communication between us will grow more and more.

On July 31 and August 1, you will do one-mans in Bonn and Paris, respectively. Are you more excited or nervous?

Aoi: I’m not getting too worried about it. On the contrary, the idea of playing in Paris and in Bonn really excites me. I’ll be doing songs that I haven’t performed in Japan yet. I hope there will be a lot of people there and that they’ll be very responsive, because this is something new for me, performing songs here before performing them in Japan.

Will you take the opportunity during your return to France to shoot a new music video?

Aoi: I can’t say for the moment if that will happen, but I hope that will be the case.

This year you will play with drummer Masahiro MUTA (ex-SADS), guitarist YUKI (DUSTAR-3, ex-Λucifer), bassist Michitaro (Ayaka and Do As Infinity) and guitarist Kazuma ENDO (ex-Siam Shade). Can you explain this musical formation?

Aoi: I learned that this is the first time an artist will have played at Japan Expo for two consecutive years. To thank you and show my respect for this honor, I tried to choose high level artists to do this concert.

When and how have you had the opportunity to play together?

Aoi: We’ve never played together, it will be the first time.

What are your plans for the future?

Aoi: I’ll come back to Paris for my concert. After that, I’m not sure, but please anticipate some good news soon, and I invite you to check my internet site regularly.

Do you have a message for your fans?

Aoi: I am glad you’re enjoying my music and for whatever it evokes in you. Thank you for your continued interest in Japanese culture and for listening to my music.


JaME would like to thank Aoi and his management for this interview.