Interview with tricot

Could you please introduce yourselves to our readers?

Ikkyu Nakajima: We’re tricot, a Japanese band. Although we don't categorize our own music, many people call us a math rock band. I would say we’re relatively more accessible and melodic within the math rock genre.

Can you tell us about the beginnings of the group and how you all came together?

Ikkyu Nakajima: Motifour Kida (the band's guitarist) and I met in our high school pop music club. We met Hiromi (the bassist) later on at a venue. After graduating from high school, Kida and Hiromi formed an instrumental band, and I pursued a solo career with Kida supporting me as a guitarist. Eventually they merged together and tricot was formed. We didn’t have a permanent drummer for a long time, but Yusuke joined us in 2017 after we held an audition for one.

How would you describe your musical style?

Motifour Kida: Our band doesn’t limit itself to a single musical genre. We respect each member's musical inspirations and blend them together.

If you had to recommend one song from your discography, which one would it be?

Motifour Kida: It's hard to pick just one, but the song that’s coming to mind right now is Jodan kentei.


Kyoto, where tricot was formed, is known for its rich culture and history. Has the city’s environment influenced your music in any way?

Hiromi Hirohiro: It was never intentional, but we often went to see and play with other bands in Kyoto, so I’m sure there’s been some natural influence.

Call (or "Otozure") is your first song in nearly two years. Does it match what you had in mind for your long-awaited return?

Yusuke Yoshida: I think we took the input from the time we weren't actively writing music and put it to great use.

This is also your first anime tie-up, since Call is used for "Kimi wa Maid-sama". Did you find it challenging?

Motifour Kida: The process of breaking down something with a clear theme and turning it into a song was both challenging and enjoyable.

There is a somewhat sweet-and-sour feeling in the anime because of the main character’s backstory. Does it appear in the lyrics as well?

Ikkyu Nakajima: Yes, it does. Although tricot has a wide variety of songs, this one depicts not just romantic feelings, but some complex emotions from a female perspective. I hope you enjoy analyzing the lyrics along with the anime.


With what other franchise would you like to collaborate in the future?

Yusuke Yoshida: I’d love to do a full soundtrack for a movie.

You’ve toured extensively worldwide, performing 129 shows abroad. How has your international experience influenced your music or approach to live performances?

Hiromi Hirohiro: I've come to realize that it’s okay to be more myself when creating music. Doing so many concerts overseas and seeing everyone there enjoying music purely in the moment helped me stop overthinking, and enjoy live performances and songwriting more.

What has been your most memorable experience during your concerts abroad?

Ikkyu Nakajima: During one concert in England, an excited woman climbed on stage and started dancing her heart out right in the center. We became her backing band for a moment. We’ve had plenty of other thrilling things happen to us while abroad.

Can you tell us more about the creative process behind Fudeki, your album released in December? How does it differ from your previous album Jodeki?

Motifour Kida: On the album Jodeki, we expressed any ideas we came up with to their absolute fullest. In contrast, Fudeki was created using songs and phrases that hadn’t made it onto previous albums because they weren’t quite there yet. We revisited and revived songs that hadn’t been selected before.


Are your more dynamic songs the most fun to play live?

Yusuke Yoshida: Yes! It’s really fun to play delicate parts within a dynamic song!

You’ve been actively performing live since your latest album Fudeki. Are you considering returning to Europe anytime soon?

Ikkyu Nakajima: If needed, we’re ready to go at any time.

Can you tell us about your upcoming plans?

Motifour Kida: We’d like to start making new music again. I think it might be nice to switch things up and try collaborating with someone else, instead of just writing songs as a band like we have up until this point.

Can you please share a message for our readers?

Ikkyu Nakajima: We’ve consistently released fairly large albums so far, but this is our first new release in a while, and it’s a single at that. Since this tie-in is a special collaboration song for the anime "Kimi wa Maid-sama," I hope you savour it and get ready for the next time we meet! See you again soon!

Motifour Kida: I’d be thrilled if tricot's songs became part of your daily life.

Hiromi Hirohiro: I hope you continue to enjoy our music. When we come to your city on tour, come and see us live!

Yusuke Yoshida: Please listen to our new song a bunch!

JaME would like to thank the members of tricot for making time for this interview.

Links to download and stream Call on various music platforms are available here. 

In addition, tricot kindly recorded a comment video for JaME's 20th anniversary, which can be viewed below.

*Turn on captions to watch with English subtitles.