Interview with bis in Germany

Believe In Style, bis, the former Visual kei band turned Oshare kei, had their first overseas performance in Germany during the J-Shock event in Cologne. Not to be fooled by the category the band changed music styles for; bis is not your typical sugary-cute oshare, but rather a positively ‘cool’ band.

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Hello. How was your flight and how are you now?

Tsukasa: The smoking ban on the airplane was horrible! Apart from that everything is alright.

First of all, we'd like to know why you chose the name bis - believe in style. In what style do you believe?

Maru: We believe in the personal style of every person. Each individual has their own style to express themselves, to get their emotions across. It is important to implement your own spirit.

Why did you decide on being Visual Kei and not on any other genre?

Maru: It was important to us to be able to express ourselves in any way possible and to be understood, as well. We believed that Visual Kei would be the best way for doing so.

You just said you have believed that Visual Kei was the best choice for you, but recently you have changed your style a lot. Your music has become more pop-like with some hip-hop influences; your whole appearance became more casual. What's the reason for this?

Maru: We wanted to reflect our true selves on stage and so chose to depict ourselves in a more natural manner. That was not possible with all the make-up.
Shunsuke: Yes. It's not like our influences have changed all of a sudden, we just wanted to express ourselves and show who we really are.

Why did you call your latest album Believe in Style? Do you think it reflects you and your music better than your previous albums?

Maru: It is the first album that truly reflects ourselves.
Shunsuke: Believe in Syle is bis' new self-awareness. The improvement compared to our previous albums lies in the fact that we've all decided to walk the same path together.

How have things changed for you after you changed your record company from PS Company to Free Will?

Tsukasa: After the change, everything became more relaxed and we were able to decide more on our own. To put it simply, the atmosphere is better.

How did it come to the creation of bis and what do you appreciate about your band?

Maru: When I met Shunsuke, he was on tour with his former band. Afterwards he invited me to play with him and later we created bis. What I appreciate about bis is that the relationship of the band members is not shallow. There is a depth connecting us and we feel no need to hide from one another.
Shunsuke: We are closer than my former band ever was. We're going through good and bad times together. In bis there is a strong unity.
Seika: In my former band we wore a lot of make-up and crazy costumes. Here I can be myself and feel much better about it.
Tsukasa: My situation is similar to Seika's... lots of make-up.

Please tell us something about the members of bis.

Maru: Shunsuke is very shy, but also careful. He is pretty naive and credulous and is often very nervous. Tsukasa is our happy boy! He is a very happy person. Seika... he's very selfish, but also very friendly.
Tsukasa: Shunsuke is totally crazy and talks a lot... but he pulls himself together! Maru is an idiot, but he tries very hard all the time. Seika is very honest... [everyone laughs]
Seika: Everyone is very considerate.
Shunsuke: Maru loves his guitar more than anything! Tsukasa is... sparkling!
Tsukasa: [laughing] Sparkling?
Shunsuke: Yes... always happy. Seika is selfish, but he thinks about the other members in the band just as much.

Where do you get you inspiration from?

Maru: Of course we have musical influences, but mainly our experiences are giving us the inspiration for our songs.

How does the process of your songwriting come together?

Maru: At first we compose the music together, then the lyrics. The whole thing is then processed and repeated a couple of times until we have the finished product.

Maru, your way of singing has changed a lot throughout the years. Before you used to growl much more and now you have gotten more confident with your singing. Why the change?

Maru: Well... One changes their vocal style depending on what they want to express. I took lessons once but now I practice more with the band and take challenges while singing karaoke.

What karaoke songs do you like to sing?

Maru:: JPop, Hip-Hop, Reggae, R’n’B and anime theme songs. I particularly prefer songs by Dragon Ash. In the past I didn't like Hip-Hop but that has changed. Dragon Ash has convinced me!

What's the most fun aspect about being in a band?

Maru: Definitely the lives! It's just great to perform songs on which everyone has worked! It satisfies us to see the reactions of the audience; the feedback of our fans is very important to us.

What would you do today if you were not a musician?

Maru: Hikikomori. (Hikikomori are individuals who refuse to leave their parents' house, and isolate themselves away from society and family in a single room for a period exceeding six months)
Tsukasa: I would be homeless.
Seika: An English and political science teacher.
Shunsuke: I would open a Tempura restaurant... no, wait, gyoza would be better. [laughs]

What impressions did you get from Germany?

Seika: It's really expensive...
Shunsuke: The sun is shining forever over here! In Japan it would be dark outside by now. When does it finally get dark over here?! [laughs]

What are your plans after the J-Shock festival?

Maru: Now we want to travel through many more countries after we got to see Germany! A world tour and CD releases all over the world would be awesome.

Lastly, we would like to ask you for a message to your fans.

Shunsuke: There are so many nice people over here and we hope we can cross the distance between Germany and Japan with our music.
Tsukasa: Our songs are in Japanese, but it doesn't matter since our fans will understand our music anyway.
Seika: Germany already has a special place in my heart.
Maru: We will give our best tomorrow and hope to receive good feedback from our fans. Thank you!

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JaME would like to thank bis for taking time for the interview and GanShin, Free Will and bis for making this interview possible.