Interview with GANGLION

Could you please explain the meaning of your band name? How did you choose it?

oni: The name "GANGLION" evokes training and hatching. We chose this name to reflect the wish to be at the heart of music and produce more and more.

Could each of you describe with a funny anecdote the musician sitting to your right?

ebi: When vivi eats rice, she looks like a little hamster nibbling.

vivi: sagara is dynamic and always goes before others. So if it were a game, she would be the first to get shot.

sagara: oni is not very athletic and her movements can sometimes seem rather strange. Even when she tries to run seriously, it looks more like she’s hopping.

oni: Yesterday, ebi was involved in an amusing incident. This is our first European tour, and because of the difficulties with language, we rely heavily on our tour manager. ebi followed him thinking he was heading somewhere important, but she ended up in the men's room!

What messages do you want to share through your songs?

sagara: We want to convey dreams and love.

On the basis of your five years of experience, and as a female visual kei band, do you think it is easier or more difficult to evolve as women in this environment? Have you found differences?

oni: In Japan, there aren’t many visual kei bands that’re exclusively female. We’re playing music that we like with our own clothing style, without really wanting to do visual kei, even if it inspires us. Our fans are also fans of metal and pop, not only visual kei. Abroad, that's different. Fans are very interested in the band’s image and consider it as a visual kei band, which doesn’t displease us. Foreign fans don’t really make distinctions between female or male bands, while in Japan, this is more important, and it’s difficult for women to present themselves as a female visual kei band.

How is your first European tour? Were there any events that have particularly moved, surprised or impressed you?

oni: We had lots of fun! We are quite surprised to discover that beyond the borders, there are many people interested in our music and who appear to be so passionate during our lives.

A question for ebi. Have you found a favorite food on this tour?

ebi: I’ve discovered ham slices of smoked chicken. They’re easily found in Europe so I’m often nibbling.

Your Parisian live begins shortly. How are you feeling?

sagara: We’re very anxious to see how it will turn out. Also, it's my birthday today, so I'm really happy to be able to celebrate it in Paris alongside our fans.

Do you have a message for our readers?

oni: Thanks for all your support, and thank you also to JaME for enabling new people to discover our band through this interview. We are happy to be touring for the first time in Europe, the lives are going well and we have a lot of fun with all of you. We hope to return to France and Europe again soon!


JaME would like to thank GANGLION, the band’s manager, and Crosslight Global Entertainment for making this interview possible.