Loud rock visual kei band LANTANA first began their activities in July 2015. Despite an intense sound and a dark visual kei mask, their songs feature pleasant hooks with melodies that make you pay close attention.
Here's our introductory interview with the band!
Thank you for this interview opportunity. For a start, can each member please do a self-introduction and tell us what drives your passion for music?
Tomo: Hello, I’m Tomo, LANTANA’s vocalist. As for what drives me to make music, right around puberty, I had some times when it was hard to go on living with integrity, and at that time, I was saved by listening to music by certain artists, and after that happened, it gave birth to this feeling of wanting to become someone whose songs could save another person. All this time and even now, that’s been the underlying feeling in my heart. Toshiki: Thank you for this interview. I’m Toshiki, LANTANA’s guitarist. When I think about how our music is being accepted and loved, there’s no way I can ever give up doing it now. Shinba: Nice to meet you, I’m Shinba on bass. I play in a band because I feel that I want people all over the world to listen to our music. Keita: I’m Keita, LANTANA’s drummer. Music is something the whole word has in common, so I’m working very hard while thinking about how it’d be great if we could get in touch with the whole world via our music.
What kind of music does LANTANA make?
Toshiki: We try to make sure we include pop and catchy bits within the intense sound. Our music will definitely have a melody that makes anyone who listens to it think it’s beautiful.
Why did you choose to be a visual kei band?
Toshiki: Because you can express not just something audible but also something visual. I think it’s a great genre because the power of expression can be so broad.
What's the story behind your band's name?
Toshiki: There’s a flower named LANTANA. The Japanese name for this flower means “plant of seven changes” and it can change into many colors. The core of our band won’t change, but we will go through a transformation little by little and keep evolving.
Can you explain the design of your band's logo to us?
Toshiki: We went with a sharp design so that people would have a solid impression of the band.
How would you describe a LANTANA live?
Toshiki: We put on shows with a passionately intense and exciting stage performance that makes the whole venue feel as though they have been united. In addition, it’s also important to us to approach the show with the goal of making people listen to our music, not just getting them hyped up.
Would you rather spend a day recording in the studio or performing live? Why?
Tomo: Definitely performing live. I do like the feeling of the images inside of myself turning into something real that I get when recording, but seeing the faces of the audience who come to see us at the venue and establishing a bond with each other is my reason to live. Toshiki: Performing live for sure! It’s fun to write songs and record, but I want to be together with the fans at a show. Shinba: Performing live. I like it because I can have fun feeling united with the fans. Keita: Performing live because you can’t experience that kind of fun when you’re recording.
Your second single THE ROOTS was released earlier this year. Its first track is titled PLEDGE. Please tell us what PLEDGE is about.
Tomo: The words have their literal meaning, but they’re also filled with the strong determination inside of me that I feel toward the people who support us and listen to our music. In this world, compared to when we’re little, various walls, obstacles, things that make living difficult increase more as we grow older, don’t you think? But during times like that, I’m filled with the feeling that I’ll always be there to wrap my songs around you, so through the music we can live and try hard side by side.
What about second track Heizento uso o furuu omae ra ni sayonara o ...? What was the inspiration behind this track?
Tomo: This song is me incarnate. In the past, I was betrayed by someone who was a trusted friend and someone I had very genuine affection for and got a taste of despair. There was a time when I seriously couldn’t trust people, but the truth is that despite what happened, I wanted to trust in people. I wanted to love this world. So if there are people who empathize with our music, I want to tell them that there are other people like them out there and they’re not alone. I want to feel that, too. I guess no matter what kind of music, songs have a strong feeling of “I want to get close to you”.
Is there anything you can reveal about any new songs you're working on? (theme, sounds, etc.)
Toshiki: Right now we’re focused on simplicity. Rather than increasing the number of syllables or amount of profoundness, we’re being conscious to decrease the number of syllables and keep things simple. Since we’re a four person band, we’re still figuring out what kind of music we can do. I think we might be able to deliver a punk sounding LANTANA starting from the spring of next year.
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Tomo: To be honest, music has no boundaries, so I want to go everywhere in the world. Toshiki: I want to go everywhere in the world. Shinba: Europe. Keita: A beach in Hawaii.
Lastly, please leave a message for JaME readers.
Tomo: LANTANA’s characteristic is melodious music with a strong message. Please try experiencing it more. And please spread our band around the world. We need your help. I’m looking forward with all my heart to being able to meet you at a show. Toshiki: If there’s even one person who wants us there, I want to go meet you wherever you are in the world. Please bring LANTANA all over the world. I want to go see you. Shinba: Hello to all the readers of JaME. I’d love it if this interview makes you even a little interested in LANTANA and exposes you to our music. We’re thinking about how to reach people internationally. Thank you so much for your support. Keita: Thank you so much for reading this interview. I would be so happy if we could perform in various places outside of Japan in the future. If you ever have the opportunity, please come to one of our shows.
JaME would like to thank LANTANA and Chaotic Harmony for this interview opportunity.
