Interview with Gothika in Lahti, Finland

Thank you for making time for this interview with JmusicEuropa.

Gothika: Thank you, pleased to meet you!

You had a gig in Helsinki yesterday, how did that go?

#449: It wasn't necessarily the best gig we've had in Europe, but as a band we enjoyed it a lot despite everything. There weren't a lot of people present (nervous laugh), but the people that came managed to make the show an exciting and wild one.

Do you have any expectations for tonight's gig?

#449:We hope that this gig will be as good as yesterday's, and we hope that people will enjoy our music.

What are your thoughts concerning your previous European tour?

#449: The tour was very long and tough, but unforgettable in a good sense. We gained so many new experiences and the crowd was really supportitive at our gigs. I think that the tour improved towards the end and made us want to come back to Europe again. We received new inspiration for our music.

Why did you change your name from Euthanasie to Gothika?

#449: Our music is transforming to a more electronic direction than before. This was one reason why we wanted to change our name, but the main reason was that we pondered about the attitude Europeans might take towards the name and the negativity that the word "Euthanasie" might bring up.

Understandable.

#449: Yes. I think that our listerners and fans understand this. Euthanasie and Gothika don't have any other differences.

Regarding your gig in Helsinki last night. Was it different than your previous gigs in Europe?

#449: (thinks) I can't really compare them, because our gig last night was totally different from any other previous gigs. I was dissapointed about the age limit, because I want everyone to have the chance to attend our gigs.

andro, what do you think about Atsushi Sakurai? You have talked about him before.

#449: (bursts out laughing)
andro: I like his way of interpreting songs. I think that BUCK-TICK is a forerunner for Japanese rock. Their music could be described as general rock, but in my opinion, they have that special something in them. That has made a huge impact on us.

What other bands have made an influence on Gothika?

#449: There are many bands like that, but firstly I could mention all the different bands who play electro. Come to think of it, our band has been influenced by everything - even Japanese popular music, from which we get the inspiration for the pop melodies to our songs. We have even gained ideas from Norwegian industrial music.
andro: So it is very difficult to name exact bands.

How would you describe your own music?

andro: Sexed up electronica! (everyone laughs)
#449: That is probably our main feature. (laughs)

Where do the names you use in the band come from?

andro: Andro stands for androgynous ... It has a special double meaning.
#449: Nowadays I am more likely to be called Yoshiki, because it is more simple. #449 is just set of numbers I randomly chose.

Have you also had tours in Japan?

#449: No, not really...In Japan we are active only around the area of Tokyo. We don't consider that to be a loss, since we want to be very active in Europe.

Where do you get your outfits?

#449: I buy my outfits from individual stores from either Tokyo or London.
andro: Apart from that, my outfits are often made specially for me in Europe.

Who writes the lyrics to your songs?

#449: He writes them. (points at andro and laughs)
andro: Yes, for the most part. Every song has it's own idea. Firstly, I listen to the song, which they (points at #449 and n@o) have composed and then I develop the idea that I got from the music. I get more inspiration from, for example, movies, books and my own personal experiences. The lyrics are born this way, little by little, and to be honest it is quite a long process.

What do you think of the spread of Japanese music to Europe in general?

#449: I think it is very interesting. But we want to point out the difference between us and other Japanese bands, because we are not a "regular jrock band among others". Our music is very different from others.
andro: Yes, the spread of jrock is fairly interesting, but we consider ourselves to be more of a European electro band than a Japanese rock band. (draws an imaginary circle on the table) All Japanese bands seem to be clustered together here in this certain pile and Europeans are here in the other one..
#449: I am getting all mixed up by this! (everyone laughs)
andro: Anyhow, our goal is to be more like a European band, because we don't want to remain in this boring Japanese cluster. We have always felt this way inside.
#449: We are not underestimating other Japanese musicians or their work, but we like this special European atmosphere.

You use German in some song intros. Why is this?

#449: Why do you use German in our songs?
andro: To put it simple: I like Germany and, naturally, also the language of the country.

How did you meet each other?

#449: Everything started on the internet. To make a long story short, the formation of the band was destiny in the end.

What are you planning to do after this tour?

#449: We will release an album. It will contain songs from our previous singles. The project has been very tough and epic, because we plan each song with care and concentration, but it has been worth it all. You won't be dissapointed!

Is there anything you'd like to say to your European audience?

#449: Listen to our music. Don't just concentrate on our visual image, because we also believe in the strength of our music, which will touch people's hearts.
andro: I want to thank everyone.
n@o: Thank you.

Thank you for the interview and I wish you good luck for the rest of your tour!
Gothika: Kiitos! (thank you in Finnish)


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JaME would like to thank the venue Torvi in Lahti, Elena Novikova, Gothika and our photographers Maria Vähänikkilä (interview photo / Lahti) and karmik (concert photos / Helsinki)