Interview with THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S

A European tour might be a big step for such a young band as THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S. Although some of their members have already toured around Europe, for the band as a whole it is still a première. JaME got the chance to ask the musicians about the band’s formation, their wishes, their music and of course about the recent European tour.


Since this is your first interview with JaME, could you please introduce yourselves to our readers?

Ricky: Our band is one where the members get along well with each other.
kazuya: It's a visual rock band of five members: kazuya and SHUN. from FANATIC◇CRISIS, ZERO and TSUKASA from D'espairsRay and Ricky from DASEIN.
SHUN.: It's a band made of five authentic people that came together.
ZERO: It's a band made of five members who can't stop laughing.
TSUKASA: It's THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S. A rock band that came alive because of fate. We have a lot of fun.

What can you tell us about how the band was formed?

Ricky: Each member was going through separation from his earlier band and was in the process of leaving the music scene. Then we all met and figured that we needed to create a band together! That's how it all started.
kazuya: The band was centered around me because I wanted to create a super band.
SHUN.: We created the band because of kazuya.
ZERO: kazuya's idea and proposition came when I was asking myself what I was going to do now, and it all started because of that.
TSUKASA: The band was created around kazuya's idea, and he's our leader.

How would you define THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S?

Ricky: A band that can have a hell of a good time together!
kazuya: A band with a lot of freedom.
SHUN. A band where you can do whatever and where everything is possible!!
ZERO: His style isn't the only thing funny about this band. We're also very funny.
TSUKASA: So funny that time flies when we're together, but we're always very focused when it comes to music.

TSUKASA, it is said that it was HIZUMI who talked to you before you joined D'espairsRay and now it was ZERO who convinced you to join THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S. What is the reason that you always need to be convinced before joining a band?

TSUKASA: I was really busy at that time.

Who came up with the idea of writing "4N'S" instead of "phones" in the band's name and why?

Ricky: This was all kazuya's doing.
kazuya: I wanted to use a number and when we started that band we were four.
SHUN.: Yeah, because we were four in the beginning....

You're playing lots of lives with other artists in Japan. How did you choose these events and what do you think about them?

Ricky: If the bands that are participating in these events seem interesting, we're participating also! The other bands? I don't care about them (laughs).
kazuya: If it's fun or not.
SHUN. If we can have fun then no problem!
ZERO: It depends if we feel like we want to or not.
TSUKASA: We discuss it together first. For me other bands are like rivals, but at the same time they're also colleagues you work with to make sure the event is a success.

What's been your most memorable moment together as a band?

Ricky: I think this European tour will count as one of the best.
kazuya: The Japanese tour, the launch of the album, the European tour, everything.
ZERO: The endless laughs.
TSUKASA: The moment where we're having the most fun and when everybody is smiling on stage.

Which artists have influenced you?

Ricky: BOØWY, JEJUS JONES, Sigur Ros, Elvis Costello, SKID ROW, MR.BIG.
kazuya: Originally, I was a fan of video game music.
SHUN.: Before I used to like Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, but now I really like club music. I love SKRILLEX.
ZERO: Mmmh, I don't know.
TSUKASA: A lot of musicians.

Are there any musicians you'd like to work with, both Japanese and non-Japanese?

Ricky: I would love to sing Tomoyasu Hotei's songs. And do a duet with Björk (laughs).
kazuya: I don't care with whom in particular, but with a lot of people.
SHUN.: SKRILLEX.
ZERO: I don't have any particular idea of whom, but I would love to take part in an event outside of Japan.
TSUKASA: MM, KOЯN.

Recently you released some fashion accessories in collaboration with FATIMA DESIGN. How was this experience? Can you tell us about it?

Ricky: I wish that everyone would wear the same thing so that we would feel united.
kazuya: So that our fans are happy.
SHUN.: Originality and simplicity were our concepts.
ZERO: I think I created something I could or would want to wear.
TSUKASA: It should represent the band's spirit and design, and we wanted to have fun sharing it with our fans.

Could you please describe to us a typical day during a tour and in the studio? What do you do?

Ricky: To find new ideas, I usually go to onsen (public baths) or the sauna.
SHUN.: I usually bike.
ZERO: A day full of a lot of things.
TSUKASA: ??

And what are you doing in your spare time?

Ricky: I read manga.
kazuya: I compose and plan for future projects. I do whatever there is to do for the band.
SHUN.: Right now, I feel like I have no spare time....
ZERO: I just let go.
TSUKASA: I take care of the blog, Twitter account and compose a little.

How would you describe your music?

Ricky: Emotional and sentimental.
kazuya: A Japanese melody that moves you, makes you cry - a sophisticated simplicity.
SHUN.: A non-genre music!
ZERO: What came out from everyone's experiences mixed together.
TSUKASA: A kind of music that no one else could do.

Are you working on something new?

Ricky: I'm currently in the middle of proposing an extraordinary project... but it's a secret for now!!!
kazuya: Absolutely!!!
SHUN.: Always!
ZERO: A reflection.
TSUKASA: A project.

If you had one song to recommend to someone who has never heard your music, what would it be?

Ricky: The song Hikari no sekai. This song is unique but very beautiful.
kazuya: HELLO MY CLONE.
SHUN.: MONSTER'S ROAR.
ZERO: HELLO MY CLONE, but you've got to listen to the others, too!
TSUKASA: HELLO MY CLONE.

When was the idea of touring throughout Europe born?

Ricky: When the group met for our meeting, and when we went out to drink.
kazuya: Last summer.
SHUN.: I can't remember.
ZERO: For me, it's when I began doing music again. I was envisioning playing outside of Japan too.
TSUKASA: Last spring? Or last summer?

Could you tell us your first impressions about your European tour so far? What would THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S like to show to European fans?

Ricky: The fans are really hyped despite the cold outside! Listen to my songs!
kazuya: During the European tour, the fans are nice and have a lot of fun!!
SHUN.: Awesome atmosphere!!!
ZERO: I was really happy to see that there also were a lot of fans from my previous band that were waiting for us.
TSUKASA: It was so awesome. I was moved, moreover, because ZERO and I came several times before. I wish that people saw our new band, new style and that they get to know each of our members even more.

What do you think of the European myclones in comparison to the Japanese ones? (myclone = fan)

Ricky: Actually, they're the same (laughs). Some of them are shy, others are very passionate. I don't think there's any difference between the two.
kazuya: For us, both are important.
SHUN.: They're all cute.
ZERO: Aggressive!
TSUKASA: Super hyped.

Which other countries or regions of the world would you like to visit?

Ricky: Morocco, Spain, Brazil and Asia.
kazuya: Everywhere we'll be able to go to!!!
SHUN.: Czech Republic.
ZERO: First, every place I went to.
TSUKASA: South America, Australia, Singapore and a few other countries from the southern hemisphere.

Would you like to come back to Europe for a future tour, for seeing more countries and more fans?

Ricky: We’ll come back as soon as we get more tracks!
kazuya: Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHUN.: Yes!!!!
ZERO: Yes, and if the opportunity is there I would love to go to the States, too.
TSUKASA: Absolutely.

The European visual kei scene is not as active as it used to be. How do you think you can boost Europe’s interest in visual kei and make the visual kei fanbase grow?

Ricky: Fans will come if you've got good bands!
kazuya: No matter the time or the situation, it's important to seriously create good songs and to play them LIVE.
SHUN.: Good music. Good performance.
ZERO: There's nothing we can do about the lack of appeal in Europe, but I think it's important to call out to the fans in Europe regularly and diligently.
TSUKASA: No matter what, we've got to come to Europe a lot more.

What are your plans for the future?

Ricky: I told you; it's a secret!!
kazuya: Compose and produce new songs.
SHUN. The next album.
ZERO: There are a lot of them.
TSUKASA: Launch a new album.

Please give a message to your fans.

Ricky: It's not because we are visual kei that we're only about the looks. Our music and songs are great. Listen to them!!
kazuya: I love you all. I was really happy to be able to meet you.
SHUN.: I'm really happy I could come to Europe! I really hope I'll be able to come back! Thanks a lot!
ZERO: Right after this band transformation we still managed to go on this European tour. We've also been hearing that J-rock's situation in Europe was not so good, but the fans were waiting for us, and I thank them very much. We'll keep on doing our best so that we can do another tour overseas. I count on your support.
TSUKASA: Thanks a lot for all your support and cheers that moved me. I really want to come back to Europe and play music, as well as to discover other countries of the world. Cheer for us and we'll have even more fun together.

Thank you very much for the interview and please have a lot of fun and nice experiences throughout your European tour.


JaME would like to thank THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S for taking time to answer our questions and B7 KLAN for making this mail interview possible.