BENI at Anime Expo - Live and Panel Report

The day before BENI’s performance at Anime Expo, she was able to hold a Q and A panel for her fans. The fans were able to line up and ask BENI questions. However, to avoid inappropriate inquiries, the questions were screened beforehand by Anime Expo staff members. As the singer is bi-lingual, she was asked and answered questions in fluent English. After a brief introduction of BENI’s career, the fans lined up to ask their questions.

When are you going to have a worldwide tour?

BENI: I would to love to do a worldwide tour one day. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. But I’m actually going to have my first Japan tour this fall and then after that, a new album. After touring Japan, I’ll probably tour Asia and then the US.

How long did you live in the United States?

BENI: I was born in Okinawa and then I moved to San Diego when I was in the first grade. I spent all of my elementary school years there before returning to Japan.

What is it like coming from America and going to Japan?

BENI: I was pretty much like a gaijin (foreigner) when I went to Japan. I didn’t really know how to speak Japanese too well. I knew how to speak with my mom. It was a long process to learn Japanese. I didn’t really have it in my mind that I wanted to sing in Japan. I just knew I wanted to sing. I got into J-pop and then began to write my own lyrics in Japanese. From there, since I was in Japan, the easiest way was to get into Japanese music first.

What inspired you to be a singer?

BENI: A lot of things inspired me, I loved R&B, singing and I loved a lot of artists. I started playing the piano when I was five and I also took chorus and dance classes in school. After that, I started to sing on stage and loved it so much, so that’s what inspired me.

How frequently do you get a chance to go to the US?

BENI: Whenever I get a long break. Last time I came to California was seven years ago. Last time I was in the US I was in New York, three years ago for work. I mostly travel in Japan and around Asia. The next time I get a long break, I definitely want to come back to relax.

I have been following your career for a while. I was wondering what do you attribute your current success to?

BENI: When I went by my full name Asashiro BENI, I did a lot of stuff. I was singing, but also acting, I did musicals and some modeling. I was pretty much doing everything. I wanted to focus on my music, so to refresh everything I wanted to change my image. I didn’t really change my name; I just took off the last name. That was something really big for me as well as my fans, and everyone else who wanted to listen to my music. I think that’s when a lot of people started to listen to BENI for my music, not because they saw me on TV or in a movie.

Is there a song that reminds you of your life back in California?

BENI: California Love.

You did the theme song, Call Me Beep Me. I was wondering how that came about.

BENI: Disney asked me to sing the theme song for “Kim Possible” and I sang it. Then they told me I looked like the character so they put me in the video.

I looked on wiki and it says you’re a political science major…

BENI: I guess they got that wrong, I’m a sociology major…

That’s really interesting. Does it change how you produce or make music for your audience?

BENI: I’ve definitely studied a lot about culture. And differences in Western culture and Japanese culture. So yeah I’ve read books from Western scholars that were talking about Japanese music. Reading an outside point of view when I’m actually in the industry made me think on a whole different level. It was really good experience.

What sort of genre do you consider yourself?

BENI: I would consider myself a J-R&B artist.

How is R&B in Japan as opposed to in the states?

BENI: When I think of Japanese R&B, it's a whole different genre in itself. It’s a mixture of J-pop, which has a distinct sound and the melodies are more oriental I guess. And it’s mixed with an R&B track which makes it a whole different sound. It’s the best of both worlds.

Are you going to be doing any more collaborations?

BENI: I’m definitely up for collaborations. I’m not planning anything for the near future but I would like to.

How would you describe the differences in music between American and Japanese pop?

BENI: Well, Japanese people love karaoke. So the music definitely has to be something fun to sing at karaoke. I think that’s a big reason why they like memorable melodies. They also love lyrics and focus a lot on that. A lot of girls nowadays look up lyrics online. They find a song with lyrics they like and then they start listening to the music. It’s the doorway to the music.

You said you got into singing by J-pop. Was this something you discovered on your own? What were some of the acts that got you into it?

BENI: Right around the time I got back to Japan when I was in middle school, Okinawain artists were big. Singers like Amuro Namie, SPEED, MAX. All of these artists were from Okinawa just like me, so that was a big motivating factor. I listened to a lot of them as well as Utada Hikaru and a lot of R&B styled J-pop.

How has Japanese fashion influenced you?

BENI: I liked kawaii (cute) style. I hosted a TV show called "Tokyo Kawaii" on NHK. We introduced a lot of things on that show like kira kira (sparkly) - where you put sparkly stuff on everything you owned. In my daily life, I like a lot of things depending on my mood. Stage-wise I like something more edgy but something still kawaii and cute and sparkly.

How has life changed for you when you became famous in Japan?

BENI: Nothing really changes. I got my first number one on my last album. But nothing changes. You’d think it would, but it hasn’t. I’m always the same. I don’t really prefer to hide with masks and big sunglasses. If a fan came up to me, I’d say ‘hi’ back.

Have you written any songs in English? Or if not, do you have plans to?

BENI: I’ve written a couple of songs in English. I think for the most part I write in Japanese. One day I hope to release a full English album so I can give back to my world-wide fans, and then maybe a little tour.

How do you influence Japanese fashion?

BENI: A lot of the girls like to know what I’m wearing regularly, rather than on stage or on TV. I do a blog online called Ameblo. I introduce daily fashion and write about my outfits. I guess they go out and buy it too!

Favorite color and fruit?

BENI: My favorite color is purple and my favorite fruit is mango.

What is your website? And does it have an English translation?

BENI: An English website? Not at the moment - I should make one, huh. If I were to have one, I’d be the one translating everything. There’s no one in my team who speaks English. Otherwise there will be some Engrish on there. But I’ll try. My website address is benibenibeni.com…beni.com was taken.

Are you influenced by someone in particular? Such as performers?

BENI: No one and so many people. Especially lives. I love going to lives and I have a lot of live DVDs. I just love watching people perform. So I love to watch pop, R&B, and dance artists. I get inspired. I go home after lives and think about it.

Are you going shopping here?

BENI: I went the day I got here. I didn’t sleep on the plane and I was dead tired. But I dropped everything at the hotel to go. I went to vintage shops on Melrose. I went to Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, and a bunch of places.

What prompted you to cut your hair so short?

BENI: Everyone always asks what happened and if I went through a bad break-up, but that wasn’t it. All that happened was I tried one of those iphone applications and played around with it. I tried short hair and it looked good, so I said let’s try it.

I remember you were in a musical. Was that something you want to pursue in the future?

BENI: I enjoyed being in a musical. It was really fun. I’m a solo artist on stage so I’m always alone on stage. I’m on my own as an artist, but in a musical you’re working on it with a team. If I had the chance one day, I’d try it again.


LIVE REPORT

Recently BENI has been growing in popularity, especially when her recent album Lovebox topped the Oricon charts following its release in June 2010. The next month, the idol made her US debut as Anime Expo’s guest of honor and performed on July 3rd, 2010. Many fans and guests of Anime Expo came to see her perform at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater. It was an incredibly large venue with double screens on each side of the stage. However, for her performance only half of the orchestra seats were filled. It didn’t matter to BENI as the fans who were there were extremely welcoming and excited to see her perform.

Starting a bit later than expected, BENI came out, greeted the audience in English and went right into her song Kiss Kiss Kiss. On the stage with her, there was a DJ in back and two back-up dancers right beside her. As a fashion icon in Japan, she wore a very stylish dress with gloves while dancing slightly on stage, mostly moving from side to side. This contrasted with her back-up dancers who wore flexible black clothing and danced with full-body movements. Surprisingly, the contrast in movements made BENI stand out on stage.

It was time for BENI’s first MC to her American fans. She related that since it was her first time to perform in the US, she was a little nervous. She then started to talk about her song, Kiss Kiss Kiss, which was her first song as BENI. Then she moved on and introduced her next song, Mou ni to. This slower song really showcased her voice with the simplicity of the music, stage and the movements.

The next MC was a quick one in which she talked about her new album that was just released, Lovebox. This most recent of her albums was at the top of the charts. Then she introduced the next two songs by telling fans these were the singles off of the album.

The next song was Gimi gimi♥, an upbeat dance single, which brought more dancing from BENI. With this more recognizable song, the fans started to get into it and started dancing along with her. The atmosphere started to become less pressured and more fun as BENI started to relax more onstage when she saw everyone having fun. The last song for the singer was Yura yura, another catchy danceable tune. With this song, the energy was at the maximum for the show and BENI was really getting into the performance. If there had been a few more songs performed, the show would have turned out to be a great one for everyone. Sadly, the time was limited for BENI and her overseas fans would have to wait until next time to get a full show.


JaME would like to thank BENI and Anime Expo for making these articles possible.