The duo talk to JaME about their roots, collaborations and future plans.
Every August, a few thousand people descend on the small Dutch town of Veldhoven. Why? To attend the annual J-culture convention Abunai! Amongst the acts who performed at its twelfth edition were Japanese duo Zwei.
Could you tell us your names, your position in the band, and why you chose your instrument?
Megu: I'm Megu, I play bass. I will give most of the answers in this interview.
Ayumu: I'm Ayumu, I'm the vocalist. I am a bit silent, although I can be more talkative after drinking some beer.
Is it correct that you met at a live show? How did that go; were you both in the audience or did you meet backstage?
Megu: We were both in other bands, but I quit the band and was looking for a new vocalist. I visited a lot of livehouses and finally found Ayumu onstage. I asked Ayumu if she wanted to join my band.
Ayumu: Luckily I met Megu, because I was thinking about whether I should quit the band I was in.
Some of your songs have been collaborations with well-known musicians, such as Simon le Bon of Duran-Duran. How did you get this opportunity?
Megu: Through the producer Nick Wood. He's quite famous and knows these artists, and he introduced them to us. And so we got the opportunity to work together.
Before you were signed with Universal. Why did you decide to go smaller and in the direction of anime and videogames?
Ayumu: Ever since I started doing J-pop I have been getting questions like "Why don't you make music for videogames and anime?” I was asked that so much that I started thinking I shouldn't miss that opportunity. Instead of doing things by halves, I decided to completely submerge myself in the world of anime. Because of that I could come to Germany and the Netherlands, so now I think I made a good switch
Megu: I didn't want Zwei's music to be in just one genre. So while doing J-pop and the music from the UK that Nick likes so much, we got asked "why don't you do a song for an anime or videogame?" Since I like both things, I think that came at a really good time.
Now you are signed with 5pb, which isn’t just a record label but also a video game manufacturer. This would mean your songs will be used mostly for that scene. is that correct?
Megu: Before we got the contract with 5pb, Universal had an image of what kind of music they want us to play. Now that we have a contract with 5pb we like to make songs for games. Although that comes first, we still want to try to make music like Zwei as well.
Do you like to spend time on anime, manga or games in your free time?
Megu: I love anime, manga and games. I was a fan of "AKIRA" and I recently read the manga "Ajin", and I also love "Super Mario".
Ayumu: I don't read much or play games, but I like "Evangelion".
In April, you released a single in collaboration with Ito Kanako, a well-known singer in the anime and gaming industry. How did this collaboration come about?
Megu: We're at the same label, 5pb. We had dinner together and after some beers, we thought it would be interesting if we played together. Shortly after that, we had an event for 5pb and we tried to sing and play together, which went quite well. After that we made a CD.
You played Animagic in Germany just four weeks ago. Have been back to Japan in the meantime?
Megu: Yes.
That's too bad; I wish you could've seen more of Europe.
Ayumu: We hope to come back to play in Europe another time.
The convention you're at today has a different theme each year. This year it’s called “CLASS DISMISSED”. Schools in Japan offer clubs for afterschool activities. Which clubs were you in?
Megu: During high school, I played the horn in a brass band.
Ayumu: Volleyball.
What are your plans for the future?
Ayumu: In the near future, we have some lives booked in Japan. We will release a single this year, but next year we hope to release a new album. I'll try to write and compose some songs. And in my private life, I want to go to an onsen (hot spring) to relax so I can work on the album. And hopefully we can come back to Europe again!
Do you have a message for our readers?
Megu: It surprises me a lot how popular Japanese anime and games are overseas. I want Japanese games and anime songs to become more popular among people who like them all around the world. And I want our music to leave an impression on as many people as possible, not just in Japan.
Ayumu: I want to go on a world tour, regardless of the different races of people. So please invite us! (laughs)
JaME would like to thank Abunai! and Zwei for their co-operation, and especially Francisca of AVO for conducting and translating this interview.
