Interview with BALLISTIK BOYZ

From August 2022 to February 2023, boy group BALLISTIK BOYZ moved their activities to Thailand as part of a partnership agreement between LDH JAPAN and Thai hip-hop label HIGH CLOUD ENTERTAINMENT, who have been aiming to "work together to amplify entertainment from Asia to the world through a cultural exchange between Japan and Thailand". Along with fellow LDH group PSYCHIC FEVER, BALLISTIK BOYZ appeared in a reality show produced by Thai rapper and HIGH CLOUD ENTERTAINMENT founder F.HERO called "New School Breakin'" where they took on various challenges related to Thai culture and the local music scene, including performances at large music festivals and collaborations with Thai artists and producers.

Now back in Japan, BALLISTIK BOYZ are showing off what they've learned with the recent release of their sixth single Ding Ding Dong. Shortly after it hit stores, JaME had the opportunity to ask the group some questions about the message behind the aggressive title track, their experiences overseas and their other recent activities.

What do you want to convey to listeners through the title track from your latest single Ding Ding Dong?

Yoshiyuki Kano: The song expresses belief and temptation, which I believe is what everyone has felt and suffered from. I hope you will feel through the track the importance of keeping your belief to pursue your dreams and goals.

Ryusei Kainuma: The field doesn’t matter. I want to convey the message that no matter what kind of temptation may come in your life, you can make your dreams come true if you keep your belief.

Ding Ding Dong has a rather aggressive sound – especially the rap parts. Do you do anything special to get yourself in the mood before recording or performing a song like that?

Rikiya Okuda: As mentioned here, this song is aggressive and has a unique worldview, so I immersed myself in it during the recording process. As a rapper, I was especially focused on expressing the role of the devil! In terms of performance, we practiced dancing a lot together through rehearsals to create a sense of unity so that it would be as strong as the atmosphere and worldview of the sound!

Riki Matsui: My rap part had a lot of devilish elements, so at the time of recording or before performing, I invoke the devil inside me and take on the challenge. (laughs) In this song, I’m focused on transforming fully into a devil! (laughs)


What can you tell us about the coupling song All About U?

Masahiro Sunada: This song was created based on our wish to make a song for the fans who don’t get to see us often. The music is meant to embrace each listener in line with the way they perceive it at each time.

Ryuta Hidaka: This is a mid-ballad for you from us. It is also a song to say “Long time no see” to our Japanese fans, whom we could not see while being based in Thailand. When we get to see our fans waiting for us outside of Japan, we will be able to convey the same to them with this great song.

Fukahori, Okuda and Matsui worked on the music and lyrics for the other coupling track, Lonely. Is there any section or line of this song that you are particularly proud of?

Miku Fukahori: First, Rikiya asked me to make a ballad-like beat, so I took Rikiya’s idea in my own way and created the beat. Then I left the actual music and melody to the two of them. When I listened to the completed track, I was impressed by them.

Rikiya Okuda: We created this song while being based in Thailand and I am emotionally attached to it. All the lines in the song have some meaning, and I want you to pay attention to each of them. The last one of the second verse goes “The promise we made will become the tomorrow that we believe in.” It may be the line that I would like listeners to let sink in particularly! These are important words to me because we will continue to move forward keeping in mind all the promises we have made to our fans – and the only thing we can do is to believe in them!

Riki Matsui: "Three six five, we can’t stay together, but our hearts are one. We’re flying to the world for our dreams, but our goal is with you". These lines are for all of our fans. They are our very straightforward feelings.

You worked with TRINITY on the song DROP DEAD and also had a chance to perform the song live in Thailand. What was your first impression of TRINITY when you met them?

Ryuta Hidaka: They were our generation, and so friendly and kind that we got along right away. Also, they are very popular and successful in Thailand. I felt their aura.

Yoshiyuki Kano: It was the first time and a new experience that I collaborated with overseas artists of my generation. All three of them were very nice and kindly taught me about Thailand. We had a fantastic time together!

I respect them for being so friendly and hardworking. I would love to perform the song Drop Dead in various places, and I hope you will love both us and them!


What was the experience of performing alongside TRINITY like?

Masahiro Sunada: As a group of artists of the same generation, we were really inspired and learned a lot! We are good friends and rivals at the same time who can learn from each other!

Ryusei Kainuma: It was an experience beyond description. Without any doubt, it was nothing but a great thing for us, and we learned so much about how to express ourselves, artistic charisma, and the sense of music.

Did you learn anything new about music or performing while you were in Thailand?

Miku Fukahori: After my encounter with BOTCASH, my knowledge and skills in music production have improved dramatically.

Riki Matsui: I did a lot. I had valued the response and reaction received in Japan, but different songs excited our fans in Thailand more than in Japan, and they also danced with us during the live performance. Those things felt really new to me!

Also, I met a lot of artists and listened closely to a variety of music I had never been familiar with before. I learned a lot from the experience.

What was your favorite non-music activity you tried in Thailand? Is there anything you wish you had the opportunity to do while you were there but couldn’t make time for?

Yoshiyuki Kano: We were in Pattaya to record "New School Breakin’", and the water park we visited then is one of my favorite places!

The water slides are like nothing we have in Japan. I was very excited, and it was also a great stress reliever. A good memory!

I was thinking about getting a scuba diving license, but I didn’t have enough time and was a little disappointed. One day, I would love to get one and dive in the beautiful sea of Thailand!

Ryusei Kainuma: The most memorable place for me is the seacoast of Pattaya! The sandy beach was beautiful and the stores nearby were stylish and very comfortable!

I would like to visit Phuket next! It has been on my mind, on my list of must-go places since before I went to Thailand. So, if possible, I would like to go to Phuket for fun together with the other members next time!

If you were in charge of a show introducing people from another country to Japanese culture, what activities would you encourage them to try?

Masahiro Sunada: It might be fun to make a program where we dig deeper into and understand better the Japanese culture that people overseas find strange!

Ryuta Hidaka: I for sure would recommend them enjoying the food. I love Japanese food and we have many delicious dishes in Japan, so I would like to introduce various kinds of Japanese food!

I guess there are a lot of things that Japanese people take for granted but people overseas may find it difficult to understand!


You also took part in SKY-HI’s “D.U.N.K.” project, collaborating with MANATO from BE:FIRST. As some of the members of BALLISTIK BOYZ have known MANATO since long before his debut with BE:FIRST, what was that experience like?

Miku Fukahori: We belong to different groups but have dreams. I was thrilled to be able to perform on the same stage with him, and it was inspiring for both of us.

Masahiro Sunada: We studied in the U.S. together, so I had always hoped to collaborate someday, and we had personally talked about how nice that would be. I was really surprised and thrilled that it happened so quickly!! He is like a cute little brother to me just like he was!

Rikiya Okuda: MANATO and I studied together in New York. We were only junior high school students at the time, having no clue about what to do and trying hard to get used to our life abroad! I remember the time we spent having training and going to school together in the mornings. I am glad that we had various experiences back then because I believe many of them help us in different ways today!

JaME would like to thank BALLISTIK BOYZ and avex for making this interview possible.

Links to download and stream Ding Ding Dong on various music platforms are available here, and fans can watch full English-subtitled episodes of "New School Breakin'" on HIGH CLOUD ENTERTAINMENT's official YouTube channel.