Interview with DaizyStripper

Seven years into their music career, visual kei band DaizyStripper shows no signs of slowing down. JaME speaks to DaizyStripper about their new album TRAGUS and much more.

Could you briefly introduce yourselves?

Yuugiri: I’m Yuugiri, the vocalist of DaizyStripper.
Nao: I’m the guitarist, Nao.
Rei: I’m Rei, the bassist.
Kazami: I’m the drummer and the pianist, Kazami.

Can you share any secrets about each other with us?

Yuugiri: We are unexpectedly shy.
Nao: I have no secrets at all.
Rei: Each member is unique. We all are sentimental but stubborn, for better or worse.
Kazami: Yuugiri sleeps well. Nao drinks a lot of water. Rei keeps a lot of loose change.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Yuugiri: I’d make a door which I could use to go anywhere in a flash, because I could go anywhere, even abroad, immediately.
Nao: I don’t know.
Rei: To be able to read the feelings of others, because our relationship with others is the most important thing.
Kazami: I want the power of brainwashing, to make people all over the world adore Daizy.

Can you tell us any funny or memorable things that have happened to you since your debut?

Yuugiri: Since 2014, I have learnt various instruments such as the guitar, tambourine, and harmonica et cetera.
Nao: When we played a one-man live at Zepp Tokyo, I smashed my guitar. That was so good.
Rei: Visual BANG! ~ SID 10th Anniversary FINAL PARTY! I was so excited to be on the stage of the Nippon Budokan, and it became the reason why I wished to play one-man lives as DaizyStripper! I thank SID for giving me the best memory.
Kazami: When I met YOSHIKI of X JAPAN in a dressing room at the hide memorial summit. He told me, “Drums and piano are very hard to carry.” I was so moved I was able to talk with YOSHIKI.

You've been active since 2007. How has your music evolved and do you feel you’ve grown as musicians?

Yuugiri: My ability to communicate our messages to the audience in lives has improved remarkably. I believe only DaizyStripper can do lives so passionately, they make you cry.
Nao: I’ve grown up as I built only one style as a guitarist. Well, you’ll understand if you watch our live.
Rei: I could grow only because of the members and fans. I will keep growing so long as they are supporting us.
Kazami: I have become more aggressive and emotional.

What can fans expect from your album TRAGUS?

Yuugiri: It’s an ultimate album, both negative and positive, filled with what we are now. I’m sure you’ll find it moving.
Nao: Super crazy!!
Rei: It’s an album about touching your hearts, pursuing your ambitions, changing your fate, and making our feelings known.
Kazami: It’s a work about showing our emotions, and is full of heavy songs suitable for lives.

Why did you choose to release G.Z.S.K.K. as the first single?

Yuugiri: Because we’re at a rebellious stage, we wanted to make a song that was more intense than anything we’ve done before.
Nao: It’s a song that matches what we are now.
Rei: It suited to how we express our feelings in music now.
Kazami: It just shows where we’re presently at as a band.

Does this song represent the sound of TRAGUS?

Yuugiri: Yes. This sounds matches us now.
Nao: Yes!
Rei: Yes. We put how we are now, our will, and our desire to keep challenging and persisting into it.
Kazami: Yes.

What feelings did you want to share through this new album?

Yuugiri: We are alone but not lonely, so it’s nice if we, if suffering from sickness, could laugh together.
Nao: Super crazy!
Rei: They’re songs to go to wild in lives, so please listen to the loud sounds and try to imagine our lives.
Kazami: The strength of spirit to blast out of the spiral of negative emotions.

You held a live in Canada this May. Can you tell us more about this experience?

Yuugiri: Their big cheers might be bigger than Japan. Canada’s the craziest place in the world. I want to go again.
Nao: Rather than talking about my experience here, if you look into my eyes at our future lives, you will know how much I experienced in Canada.
Rei: Canadians are the best. They were cheering so loudly in the live, especially during Tresor. It was so lovely, seeing them enjoy the music so wildly.
Kazami: We also went there two years ago. They cheered so loudly that I couldn’t hear the notes I was playing. I really want to go again.

Can we expect to see you return to Europe soon?

Yuugiri: I’ll go at any time if you invite us.
Nao: Maybe!
Rei: I’ll go immediately if you invite us. I want to conquer Europe.
Kazami: If we get offered, we’ll go. My dream is to do a European tour.

What are your future plans for 2014?

Yuugiri: We’ll do a tour after we release the album.
Nao: I don’t know.
Rei: After we release TRAGUS, we’ll do ONE-MAN TOUR “TRAGUS TOUR” and Winter Box Disorder.
Kazami: We’ll do the Winter Box Disorder tour.

Finally, do you have a message for your foreign fans?

Yuugiri: Thank you for always cheering us on. I look through all my Twitter replies, so please send your messages.
Nao: You're my sunshine!
Rei: I’m looking forward to seeing our foreign fans. I really love your cheers and seeing your faces at lives. I’m waiting for the day when we love one another more.
Kazami: I really want you to listen to our new album TRAGUS, even if you find it hard to get. Please send me your Twitter messages. I’m waiting.

JaME would like to thank DaizyStripper and their management for this interview.