Interview with Airo from UNDER FALL JUSTICE

Nagoya kei band UNDER FALL JUSTICE released the new single Koutei on April 13th. In this interview with JaME, vocalist Airo invites fans to explore the band's dark world filled with pain and sorrow. He discusses the emotions and worldview behind their music, the meaning of each song on Koutei, his next solo release, the band's admiration for La’Mule and plenty more besides.


How would you describe UNDER FALL JUSTICE’s music to a new listener?

Airo: “The most real emotions are those of life and death”. The lyrics of the songs talk about negative emotions that you face in life. What is the meaning of life and death? What is betrayal? Our songs have a heavy emotional load. Those emotions are the ones that define UNDER FALL JUSTICE’s music.

Where did the name “UNDER FALL JUSTICE” come from? Is there any special meaning behind it?

Airo: “From the depths of a dense darkness…” We will fall forever together with our believers (fans), who sympathize with our discourse and have let themselves be enchanted by our words.

What can you tell us about your latest single Koutei? Is there anything in particular that you’d like fans to pay attention to about the songs on this release?

Airo: “Koutei” ("Affirmation")
Devastated, in pain, sad… I am alone…
You will be ok… Only I can confirm your existence.
Even if you die, I will forever be by your side …

“Kimi no hitsuu... Boku no hitsuu” ("Your pain… My pain")
Annoying… repulsive… annoying… repulsive…
I am the only one who can save someone like you…
Let us change together… Let us have a life together…

“Akai nikkichou” ("Red diary")
If by any chance you do not throw yourself by my side… Let us eat the cyanide apple… A treacherous death…
The diary we have been writing together… With the memories we have up until now…
Let us do it… let us be forever together.

The music video for the title track from your recent mini-album Boku igai ni nani ga iru? begins with Syoma kissing you and you seemingly coming to life and choking him in response. Is there a concept or story behind the video?

Airo: No matter what you tell God, you will not be saved… you will be alone…
What should you believe in? What should you love?
There is only one answer, right? Trust me… only trust in me…
You are not alone… I am here… as long as you live… even if you die…
That is the meaning of the music video.

UNDER FALL JUSTICE - Boku igai ni nani ga iru?

Why did you decide to revive your previous band "Seigi" Suuhai Kyoudan JUSTICE KING in 2019?

Airo: We thought it would be interesting to play as "Seigi" Suuhai Kyoudan JUSTICE KING in that moment. It was fun, just as we expected. We also had a limited release in 2019, which I would like you to listen to.

Why did you decide to start a solo career in 2018? Is there something different that you want to express as a solo artist?

Airo: I wanted to express myself in a deeper way in comparison to what I do in UNDER FALL JUSTICE. As long as there is one person who identifies with and feels saved by my dark songs, I will continue singing. It is something that only I can communicate or do.

Airo Maeda - Watashi wa dare? Boku wa doko?

You will be featuring solo versions of the "Seigi" Suuhai Kyoudan JUSTICE KING songs Hitoribocchi and I LOVE YOU ~Uragiri no daishou on your new solo single Watashi wa dare? Boku wa doko?. Why did you choose these songs?

Airo: They are songs to which I feel a strong emotional attachment. Both are very intense by themselves, but I thought that all the feelings expressed in the lyrics could be communicated in a better way with the arrangement style I did for these versions. I hope that you are looking forward to listening to the new versions.

A few years ago, you covered La’Mule’s Knife, with the band’s frontman Kon on backing vocals. How did this collaboration come about, and why did you choose to cover Knife?

Airo: La'Mule are the mentors (sempai) of our hometown. They were really popular back in the day. As their apprentices (kouhai) from the same region, we only felt admiration and respect for them. At some moment I was able to speak with them and I just thought about a collaboration. There are a lot of young people that do not know about La'Mule, so I wanted to let the new generations know how fantastic this band was, as well as to let them know about their incredible songs! We chose Knife because it is the song that resembles our vision of the world most closely.

UNDER FALL JUSTICE - Knife (La'Mule cover)

Starwave Records just celebrated its 10th anniversary recently. Do you feel that the label has evolved or changed in any ways since you joined in 2016?

Airo: I did not know much about Starwave Records when I first joined, but I can say that it has been evolving in a good way year after year. If I look back, I can see that it has been a label with great leadership, and that is something I respect.

Many of your labelmates have been performing overseas recently. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

Airo: I would like to visit Southeast Asia, the United States, or Europe. I would like to show them the type of visual kei culture that they can only find in us.

What else can fans look forward to from UNDER FALL JUSTICE in 2020?

Airo: I want them to witness the constant evolution of UNDER FALL JUSTICE. We will continue bringing the music and the aesthetics of visual kei. We will deliver our world view to you - one that you will only be able to feel after listening to UNDER FALL JUSTICE.

Finally, do you have a message for JaME’s readers?

Airo: We are a band that represents visual kei. Experience a shock that you have never felt before and discover a new world with us. I will be waiting for the day I can meet you all.

JaME would like to thank Airo, UNDER FALL JUSTICE and Royal Stage for this interview opportunity.

An audio preview and a snippet of the music video for Koutei can be viewed below: