JRock Revolution interview with D'espairsRay

JaME recently caught up with Karyu and Zero of D'espairsRay the afternoon before their appearance at JRock Revolution in L.A. We asked them some questions about their new album, sharing the stage with old friends, and hiking in the Hollywood hills.
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Can you please introduce yourselves for fans who are new to your band?
Karyu: Guitarist and composer Karyu.
ZERO: Band manager Zero (laughing). Bassist.

How did the name D'espairsRay come about?
Karyu: Basically, the name is "despair" and "ray"... it's a contrast, a blend of both dark and light elements.

Your style has been described as VK, gothic, and even industrial. How do you describe your sound?
Karyu: Many people see us as a metal band, but we don't think so, we're just a rock band.

Are you excited to be playing in the US again?
Karyu: It's our first time being in L.A., and it's really nice. We're very honored to have been invited here to perform at JRock Revolution.

Is there anything in particular you'd like to see while you're in L.A.?
Karyu: I want to climb up the hill to where the Hollywood sign is, and have my picture taken in front of it in a white shirt. Can you go up there?
We're not sure... Maybe so. There may not be a road. You might have to hike...
Karyu: (In English) I'll try (everyone laughs).

Some Japanese bands say that they feel more energy from the audience during their US and European lives. Is that the case for you, or do you feel your shows at home are equally energetic?
Karyu: When we first came to America we thought the same. The fans were screaming and really wild, but then we released DVDs of the US shows back in Japan, and the Japanese fans saw how the US audiences behaved. Now, they try to give us all their energy, and I think at this point they are more energetic and crazy than the US audience.

You'll be touring Europe again soon; what are you most looking forward to seeing while you're there?
Karyu: We've never been to Spain or Sweden before, so we're really looking forward to that. Also, we're playing at two festivals in Finland, so we really want to see the local bands perform. That will be a lot of fun.

In August you'll be performing with Moi Dix Mois. Have you played with them before? What are your expectations for that show?
Karyu: No, it will be our first time playing with them. When you think of Japanese Goth, Mana IS Japanese Goth, so of course we're really excited about this opportunity. We're not sure what will happen, but it will be fun (nervous laugh).

We've heard your "Break the Mirror" tour will begin in September. What can fans expect from this tour?
Karyu: Of course the tour is in support of the new album, so we'll be playing all the new songs.
ZERO: After tomorrow's show, we'll be going to Europe, and we'll have many new experiences to bring back with us to Japan. So the shows will be a collection of the old and new.

You've played with Merry & MUCC before, what's it like to share the stage with them again?
Karyu: Of course being able to play here in the US with Merry and MUCC is something very rare. We all started out around the same era, and being able to share this experience with them is very exciting for us.

Can you tell us a little about the new album, Mirror? What were your inspirations for some of those songs?
Karyu: This time we weren't really inspired by anything. We tried to block out all outside elements and put what we were thinking at that moment in to the album. I think we came up with something good. Mirror is a reflection of the whole band.

Which song from the new album do you each like to perform live?
Karyu: I like them all, but my favorite is Hollow. It's different, and the fan response feels different to me, so it's interesting to play it live.
ZERO: I agree, I like to play that one best as well.

Your albums are available now in Europe through Gan-Shin. Have you seen a marked increase in popularity in Europe since you signed with them?
Karyu: There's a big difference between the early days and our last European tour.
ZERO: Yes, definitely.
Karyu: There are more fans now, and everybody knows the songs. People are getting to know the band. Unfortunately, we don’t have the same opportunity in the US.

Are you interested in signing with a US distributor?
Karyu: Yes, please wait a little bit more.

When you first started out, did you ever think you'd be playing here in the US?
Karyu: We never would have dreamed it, but two or three years after we started, it became a goal for us to play overseas, and then when it actually happened, we were really happy.

Please tell us a little about your song writing process. Does one of you typically write all the music and one the lyrics?
Karyu: I write the music. Sometimes I just think of a melody, and it starts in that way. Other times I start with the drums, and I play guitar over that, and the melody grows from there.

Do the vocals usually come after the song is completed?
Karyu: Yes, the melody is first. When I create the melody, I put in to it whatever I have in my mind at the time, then when Hizumi writes the lyrics, he does the same.

Does the image Hizumi has when he writes the lyrics always match what you were thinking of when you wrote the melody, or have you ever been surprised by what he comes up with?
Karyu: There were a few times in the past that I was surprised, but usually what happens then is that we will both get together and work on lyrics. We'll discuss it, and maybe we'll go back to the original image, or maybe we'll decide that what Hizumi has come up with is a better image for the song. We sort it out that way. For example, with the song Closer to Ideal, I wrote my own lyrics for that one, and when Hizumi heard it, he wrote lyrics that were nearly the same image. But, since I had written it, we went with my original concept for the song, and kept my lyrics

If you weren't musicians, what would you be doing right now?
Karyu: I'd like to travel around the whole world.
ZERO: I'd climb a mountain and figure out what to do (laughs).

Since it's just the two of you here, how about if you tell us something about the other members.
Karyu: In the past, when we all saw each other, we only saw the bad side of each other. Lately, we only see the good side, so we have nothing to say that's bad. Our vocalist is improving so much, and our drummer is getting stronger. We are all improving. But, if I could add... when our drummer gets drunk, he's very difficult to handle. And our vocalist plays too many games (everyone laughs).

Is he an Otaku?
Karyu: (In English) A little (laughs).
ZERO: (Thinking for a long time) I have nothing to say... (laughs)

Do you have a final message for your US fans?
Karyu: We just released our new album Mirror, and it's not available here, but we hope that many fans will be able to hear it in the future. We're working on getting it released here very soon. We want fans in the US to be able to enjoy our new songs, so we'll be playing them at tomorrow's festival. Please enjoy them!


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JaME would like to thank Karyu and ZERO of D'espairsRay for taking time to meet with us, and the organizers of JRock Revolution for making this interview possible.
Pictures by Bow