JaME met SCREW shortly before their second performance in Europe at the Tsukicon event in Helsinki.
On October 17, during the convention Tsukicon held in Helsinki, Finland, the five members of visual kei band SCREW consented to an interview and shared with us their enthusiasm in meeting new fans, their thoughts on their recently released album as well as their hopes of doing more performances in Europe in the future.
How are you today? Please introduce yourselves.
Yuto: I’m the bassist, Yuto. I look forward to meeting the fans.
Jin: I’m the drummer, Jin. I hope tonight will be fun and I’m excited about seeing the fans.
kazuki: I’m kazuki, I play the guitar. Today it’s very cold outside, but I’m certain that inside the venue it’s going to be hot.
Byo: I’m the vocalist, Byo. I’m looking forward to the gig, but I feel a bit nervous.
Manabu: I’m Manabu, and I’m also a guitarist. This is my first time in Finland and I want to return to Japan with good memories from here.
Tsukicon is a rather big event with various Japanese performers. How do you feel about playing as the main act at this kind of an event?
Yuto: It's rare that we are able to perform as many songs abroad as we will tonight. In that sense this event feels special.
You were recently signed to CLJ Records. It’s a European label, so this is surely going to bring you more fans in Europe. What does this contract, and Europe in general, mean to you?
Jin: This is a unique chance in life. We really would like to perform here at our own level. Metal music, for example, has its origins in Europe, and because we too have taken influence from metal, it is an honor to be able work here.
A few months ago, you released your new album X-RAYS, which is your second full-length album. What do you think you succeeded best in when making it?
Byo: The concept of the album is viewing the innermost parts of the heart and the soul. The songs on the album have a straight access into there, they reflect it. We think we have done a good job with every song on the album.
What is your opinion about concert tours in general? What do you miss when you are on tour? And what do you miss the most about touring when you’re not touring?
Manabu: We really like being at home, so even when we’re touring in Japan, we miss our homes. And when we’re not on tour we miss all the action that is related to touring.
How does your personality change when you step on stage?
Byo: In the beginning of our career I used to notice a change in myself before a performance, but these days, now that we have gained more experience, I am on stage as my own natural self.
How do you communicate with each other when you are on stage?
kazuki: Everything happens through eye contact. Because we know each other so well, we have a sort of unnoticeable sign language even in our private life. By looking at each other we can hit the same rhythm.
What is it that you most want to express with your live performances?
Jin: As a band, of course, we want to perform our own songs. At the same time, we would like to express the strength and the soul that is part of the music to a greater public.
Would you like to give a message to our readers?
Manabu: I’ve heard that visual kei is very popular in Europe. I hope that when its popularity spreads even more, we will be able to perform here more often and in other countries besides Finland, everywhere in Europe.
Byo: Love me more than anything.
kazuki: For most of the audience this must be their first time seeing us. I hope that through people our music can spread to new places and this way we will become more known and acknowledged.
Jin: We love you all.
Yuto: I’m very happy about the possibility music gives for communication between Finland and Japan.
Good luck for tonight’s concert!
SCREW: Thank you!
JaME would like to thank the band, JrockSuomi and PS COMPANY for making this interview possible.
