After nine long years, visual kei band Matenrou Opera will be returning to Europe this summer for a tour consisting of eight shows, beginning with a performance in Finland on June 30th. It will take the band through the UK, Germany, Poland, France and the Netherlands before wrapping up in Russia on July 11th.
Vocalist sono and bassist yo answer JaME's questions in a short interview about their latest album and upcoming tour.
Hi Matenrou Opera, thank you for accepting our interview request. For a start, please tell us what your 10th anniversary means to you.
sono: I am deeply thankful. We have been able to continue for 10 years thanks to everyone who loves Matenrou Opera. yo: I am thankful to our fans from the bottom of my heart. It would be difficult for us to last this long without their continuous love and support.
After all these years, do you still get nervous, say, five minutes before entering the stage?
yo: I do not feel nervous when I am with my musical instrument. sono: I feel nervous every time before entering the stage. The only time I don’t feel nervous is when I don’t have enough intensity.
You released a new album titled PANTHEON -PART 1- on April 12th. The word “pantheon” means “a group of famous people” or “all the gods of a religion”. Why did you decide to title your album as such?
sono: “The place where heroes gather” is what I mean by “PANTHEON”. The album itself is a gathering place of the songs whose main characters have heroic strength. The album also reflects my determination to be a hero to lead the band members and fans.
What are some of the more prominent themes of the album?
sono: The power to break through.
Which song on the album did you find most interesting to work on? In what way was it interesting?
yo: It’s Nandomekano Prologue. It is a different kind of song on the album, but that’s what made it turn out good. sono: It’s Tomarunjanee. I enjoyed playing a guitar while singing. Also, it was fun to work together with support guitarist JaY who came up with a lot of cool guitar phrases during the recording.
Your upcoming European tour will be your first overseas tour as a main act. What is the first thing that runs through your mind when you think of the tour?
yo: I would be traveling enormously long distances. sono: The cheers of fans I experienced in each country nine years ago.
What do you expect from your European shows?
sono: It’s been nine years, but I am expecting unchanging love from fans. yo: I am looking forward to meeting people at our destinations.
Do you already have a to-do list for every country you're about to visit? (places to see, food to eat, etc.)
sono: I would like to drink local alcoholic drinks in each country. yo: I can only think of meeting locals, and of taking a close look at sceneries in each country at this point.
What’s next for Matenrou Opera?
yo: It is to create greater music, and also to become cooler as a band. sono: It is to pass music on to the next generation.
To conclude our interview, please leave a message for JaME readers.
sono: Thank you for loving visual kei and Matenrou Opera. I would like to know more about you. I look forward to meeting you at a live venue. yo: I am looking forward to our tour in Europe. Please also come to Japan!
JaME would like to thank Matenrou Opera and B7Klan for this interview opportunity.
Watch Matenrou Opera's fan Q&A video message below:
