Interview with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at Japan Expo

After having performed two concerts at Japan Expo in Paris, the young model and singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu sat down with JaME to introduce her very special musical world to our readers.


Could you present yourself to our readers who might not know you yet?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Hello, my name is Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. It’s the first time I gave a concert at Japan Expo. Since it was in framework of the convention, it was rather short. I was very happy to perform, but next time I would like to give a solo concert.

Your musical universe is rather special. Could you talk to us about it?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: My concept is based on fashion and music. It’s a collaboration of these two universes with a touch of “cute”, but also with some shabbiness. I try to show an image of a girl that’s not only cute, but also artistic.

Could you tell us a bit about your upcoming single?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: At this point, there’s nothing decided yet, so I can’t tell you anything about it. Sorry!

Between studying and your career as a model, how do you find time to sing?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Between modeling and my studies, it’s true that I have a very busy schedule. So before going to bed, I listen to music, I watch many videos on YouTube. This is also how I find inspiration.

Do you have a ritual you perform before going onstage?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: With my dancers, who are called Kyary Kids, before going onstage, we stretch our arms forward and take each other’s hands, and we wish good luck to each other.

Why did you choose to have dancers perform completely crazy choreography?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I thought that a mixture of cute costumes and completely crazy dances makes things on the stage pretty funny to watch.

Yesterday you gave your first concert at Japan Expo and today you performed on the main stage during the fashion show. How did it go? What did you think about the audience?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Yesterday, at the concert at J.E Live House, there were many more fans than I had expected. Everyone kept calling my name, so I was very pleasantly surprised! Today during the fashion show, you could see that there were many more people, mostly girls, who loved to dress up, but despite that, the audience had fun with me.

After these concerts, can you envision yourself having a European tour?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: My concerts at Japan Expo really made me keen to come tour in Europe, but for the moment I am just starting to give solo concerts in Japan, so I think this might be difficult. However, I hope that in future I will be able to give concerts abroad.

How did your collaboration with the French TV channel "Japan in Motion" go?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I started my collaboration with "Japan in Motion" a while ago and now I am a moderator for them. I am really happy about this collaboration and I hope that it will continue.

Is there a concept that you haven’t worked on in a song yet, but that you would like to use some day?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I love Halloween! Whether in Japan or anywhere else, there isn’t really a song for Halloween like there is for Christmas. So I would love to be able to make a song with this theme one day.

You were on tour recently. Where do you find the necessary energy before each concert?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It’s the viewers in the audience that give it to me at every concert. It’s not me giving out energy; rather, it’s me receiving it at every performance from my fans.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu TV JOHN! came out on DVD in the beginning of June, including two episodes. Without giving away too much, can you tell us a bit what these episodes contain? Will there be more any time soon?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Actually, this series does not run on a national channel, but on a local channel in Nagoya, so I am free to do whatever I want. I am really doing what I want and having fun!

You also released your book Kyary Bon in April. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: My book Kyary Bon contains both photos from magazines, such as Zipper, as well as personal photos. I talk about my experiences in these magazines and other things as well. I would like it to be released in French as well so that you could also read it here!

Finally, would you have a message for our readers?

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I am really happy to have been able to sing here at Japan Expo, but I could only perform five songs, which is very short. I would love to have a chance to play a solo concert in France someday. Please wait for me!


JaME would like to thank Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, as well as her management, for the interview that she kindly provided us with despite having a very busy schedule.