Interview with Megamasso

Although the indie visual kei band Megamasso has been around for just over a year, they have released an impressive number of CDs so far and their popularity in Japan, as well as overseas, is growing steadily.

Curious about this interesting band, we met up with the trio in Tokyo for an interview.


Could you introduce yourselves please?

Inzargi: I’m vocalist, Inzargi. Nice to see you.
Ryouhei: I’m guitarist, Ryouhei. It’s nice to meet you.
Gou: I’m bassist, Gou. Nice to see you.

Why did you pick this band name and what is the meaning?

Ryouhei: I have always liked bands with four letter names. Well, I mean four Japanese letters. While I don't care how it is spelled in English, I just thought that the four syllable sound of 'me ga ma so' was beautiful.

Did you have several other names when you thought about 'me ga ma so'?

Ryouhei: No, I didn’t. This band is my third visual kei band and I already had this band name in my head since I played in my first band.

Ryouhei, how did you meet Inzargi and Gou or were you already acquainted with them?

Ryouhei: Originally, I was going to make a band with Gou and Yuuta, a drummer who left Megamasso. I was going to do both guitar and vocals, but one of my acquaintances said that, "I know a good vocalist even though he isn't visual kei", and I met Inzargi, listened to his singing, then I thought "Ah, I want that voice".

Ryouhei, besides playing guitar, you also sing. Will you take vocals in future?

Ryouhei: I don’t think so. But of course I’ll take chorus.

What was your first impression of Ryouhei?

Gou: I knew Ryouhei, but even though we were in the same visual kei scene, I didn’t know him well. When we decided to do play together, I got to know Ryouhei very quickly.
Inzargi: I didn’t know either of them at all until I met them!

Were you in a different scene from them?

Inzargi: Yes. Gou was playing in the visual kei scene, but I was in the R&B scene.

So you didn’t meet in live houses, did you?

Inzargi: No, not at all. We met over the internet (laugh). An acquaintance said to me, "You have to see him", so I searched the internet and found out about him for the first time.

So if you didn’t have that common acquaintance, you would have never met, would you?

Inzargi: No, not at all, 100%!(laugh) It’s quite a miracle really.

Ryouhei, when you listened to his voice for the first time, did you think, "I found him"?

Ryouhei: Yes. I was also thinking about his look, but when I met him he wore very fashionable clothes, so I thought, "Ah, he is cool". But he gradually started to cut corners as he met us later. (everybody laughs)
Inzargi: Hey, don’t say that! (laugh)
Ryouhei: He sings very well. His voice is most important, but it’s better to have a good appearance.

The fashion of R&B is different.

Ryouhei: I heard that when he met us for the first time, he tried to dress up nicely and he wore a jacket, etc. So we thought, "He has good taste in clothes", but gradually he wore Japanese Yankee fashion..... (everybody laughs)

Well, he has returned to his former self.

Inzargi: Originally, I prefer American casual fashion. I just make proper use of formal clothes and casual clothes. (laugh)
Ryouhei: So, why don’t you put on formal clothes all the time!? (everybody burst out laughing)

Megamasso's music seems to combine many different elements and styles, from traditional to electronic to pop-rock and everything in between, so are there certain genres or styles that each of you listen to or are inspired by that add to the creation of Megamasso's own unique sound?

Ryouhei: No, I don’t think so. I rather think we try to restrain what we can do within the categorized visual kei rock genre. If someone said to us, "Do more", maybe we would break that boundary.

Do you mean you have many ideas for your music?

Ryouhei: Yes. For example, one of my scrapped songs, which I brought in, was full of irregular rhythms that continued for about six minutes with only guitar and bass sounds. But our producer said, "We should loose it" (laugh). I also had an experimental song which is made only with piano. It might seem strange without vocals, but since we three members don’t play it, but our support member does, he keeps hitting the bass drums, which we arrange and make a fifteen minute rhythm track. So I have confidence in making Megamasso’s sound.

That would be nice to hear at your lives.

Ryouhei: Yes. I want to do that. I think our musical tastes would really come out, but we three members want to try to narrow the range of Megamasso's music to be easy to listen to in the visual kei scene.

In your profile it’s written that Ryouhei has been playing piano and violin, and Gou likes listening to classic music, so you have a base of classic music. Does it influence Megamasso’s music?

Ryouhei: I think so. It influences our melody lines and the way we compose, certainly.

Ryouhei, do you compose by using a guitar, or a keyboard (piano)? Or do you use your PC?

Ryouhei: I basically use a synthesizer, which I received from my grandmother when I entered high school. It’s very old and the sounds are not so good, but I always use it.

Ryouhei, when did you become interested in playing in a band?

Ryouhei: It was when I was in the 2nd grade of high school. Until then, I only listened to classical music. When I was in the 2nd grade of my junior high school, a band, SHAZNA, was popular. I was interested in SHAZNA, but it was not because of their music, but its visual part. I looked at SHAZNA and bought their CDs, but I didn’t know anything about electric guitars at all.

When did you start playing guitar?

Ryouhei: When I was in the 2nd grade of high school I was influenced by my friend and started playing.

After you compose using a keyboard, do you add the sounds of other instruments to it?

Ryouhei: Yes. Making melodies, codes, or sometimes guitar riffs, it depends on the song. But about 80% of my songs are made using a keyboard.

Do you add the lyrics last?

Ryouhei: It depends on the songs. Sometimes lyrics precede; sometimes melodies precede, it really depends on the song.

Do you compose with some kind of theory? Or do you compose according to your feelings?

Ryouhei: I don’t really have a theory; I tend to compose through inspiration. When I started the band in the second grade of high school, I could read music, but I learned the theory later in order to explain my songs to the members.

When does your inspiration come?

Ryouhei: Um, well rather than inspiration just coming to me, I make it come to me. Sometimes melodies come in my mind suddenly, but it’s because I have listened to classical music and J-POP up until now, which has created a base within me. Then something comes from there, I think.

The way you use words is very interesting. Is it original? Or do you use other sources to inspire you?

Inzargi: Well, not so much interesting, but more just strange. (All: laugh)

Do you read various books?

Ryouhei: I like books. But recently I’m busy and I don’t read books so much. I used to read books all the time when I was a student of elementary school and junior high school, and I’m the type that can stay in a university library all day long.

So you have had enough exposure to words and so on?

Ryouhei: I don’t know, but when I’m asked, "What books do you read?", I find myself saying, "I don’t read so much now". But I think that all the reading I did as a child, is still in me. For example, there were thick books such as Heike monogatari in my grandparents' house, which I read all the time when I was a child. Recently, I’m very busy and I don’t read, I read less than general people, I think, but I think all the reading that I used to do is still in me.
Inzargi: Then he makes his own words. (laugh)
Ryouhei: Well, if I’m asked whether I’m normal or not, I’m getting to know that I’m kind of abnormal these days! (laugh)
Inzargi: It’s too late! (everybody burst out laughing)

You don’t write down words which come to you and stock them away for later, but words come out in you more and more naturally, right?

Ryouhei: Perhaps, members have never seen that I note words and ask things like, "What do you think about this word?", or write something down. I’m rather complacent about lyrics; I even cut corners, but I work hard on melodies. Well, these days I have changed my awareness, but before we began to work with a producer, I made whatever I felt like making.(laugh)

When the melodies’ notes don’t fit the lyrics well, how do you adjust them into bar lines; do you change lyrics or the melody?

Ryouhei: With the lyrics, we often don’t sing everything on the lyric sheet.
Inzargi: I tell you, this is his new bullying! (everybody laughs)

Inzargi, can you easily understand and accept the lyrics Ryouhei writes?

Inzargi: You know it’s impossible! (everybody laughs) I can’t do that at all because they aren’t what I made.

Do you ask about what kind of view point with which the lyrics are written and talk about it well together?

Inzargi: Yes. We discuss for about an hour, and after I understand it, we check how to put the lyrics on the melodies. However, if we still can't put some of the lyrics on melodies, we talk about how to do them together.

Your titles are also very unique.

Ryouhei: Thank you so much. But those are quite normal for me, I find that I try to tone things down a little. In the lyrics of the last single we had various problems, so we changed them a little or sang differently from the lyrics. Well, I didn’t intend to express grotesque things, but once in a song, there were words such as 'heroin addiction' or 'incontinence', which weren’t proper for radio broadcasts. So Inzargi sings it 'faint' on CD, while he sings it 'incontinence' in our lives. He also sings 'Migou' on CD instead of 'heroin'.

Ryouhei, do you have various stories in your head about imaginary worlds? And do you have a theme for each album?

Ryouhei: I don’t have a theme especially. Until now we've had only one concept album, which is our second album, Kai no Me Tou no Zokuryou.

So that album has a consequent story. About your first full album and your latest album, you didn’t have a theme to collect songs, did you?

Ryouhei: No, I didn’t. Each song has a different world. Well, actually, there are little tricks in the lyrics in the booklets and it’s a hint for something later, so I can’t tell you a lot about them, but I hope you see the design of the lyrics.

You often write words concerning night, such as stars and the moon, and the weather is mostly rain instead of fine weather; the season is not summer but winter. From this I got the feeling that you prefer negative things rather than positive things.

Ryouhei: Ah... maybe so. And we intend to narrow the width of Megamasso’s world to to fit visual kei. Visual kei prefers such words as 'rose', 'flower', 'star', 'moon', 'love', and so on, which I don’t dislike. Among those words which fit visual kei, I use words which I like.

Inzargi, since this is your first (official) band, has it been hard for you to adjust to such an active band as Megamasso?

Inzargi: It was hard. I had various feelings, as the scene was different from what I used to be before and I had to get used to it quickly. But the members helped me quite a lot, so I was all right. Anyway, my environment totally changed, so it took me time to adapt to it.

Were you confused a lot?

Inzargi: Yes, but just at the start. When I met him for the first time and he asked me to join them, I felt at a loss; I was not sure what to do. However, after I decided to join them, things worked out well.

This time, the song Love you so...., which you composed and wrote lyrics for by yourself, was included on the regular edition of your album. When you sing songs do you feel any difference between songs you make and songs that others make?

Inzargi: Yes, I do. I think that I can sing what ever is brought to me, but the songs I don’t write do change maybe a little. About the songs which I make, I know myself best after all, such as how I want to sing the song, how it flows, where I make it rise, things I know from the beginning.

Which kind of songs are you good at originally? Your ballads are very beautiful, such as a winter’s day. Are you good at these kinds of songs?

Inzargi: Yes. I'm very good at them. Ballads match my voice and are one of my strong points.

Do you go to karaoke, usually?

Inzargi: I just don’t like karaoke(laugh). So I haven’t been to karaoke often.
Ryouhei: Yes, as I think about it, we have never been to karaoke with each other (laugh).

Gou, After you came to Megamasso, which is rather pop/rock, how have things changed for you?

Gou: I was in the same visual kei world, but my environment changed totally. Since I entered Megamasso, I could expand my world, which is the biggest thing I think.

Since the drummer left did you, as a bassist, change your approach to the music?

Gou: Of course, I was influenced by that. As the rhythms changed, the way to take rhythms became different from before, so I tried to get used to it as a bassist.

Rather then you leading the party, you try to get used to it as the same rhythm party, don’t you?

Gou: Yes. It’s like we get along with each other.

Ryouhei is the main composer and Inzargi has written a couple of songs as well, but what about you Gou? Will you compose any songs for Megamasso?

Gou: Of course.
Ryouhei: Actually, he is writing now. They don’t fit us at the moment, so we haven’t released them yet, but all three of us members do write songs.

So in future, more and more various and original songs will be released.

Ryouhei: I think we will use them more and more when they fit the image we have at that time.

From when did you work with a producer?

Ryouhei: From the single Hoshi furi machi nite.

Did your sound change much?

Ryouhei: It was totally different. We worked with the producer from Hoshi furi machi nite, which was made by our former drummer. Then we became three members and the drummer changed, so our sound changed. While Inzargi knows the producer from before, Gou and I changed a lot since we've worked with the producer.

For example, did you take in his opinion objectively?

Ryouhei: Yes. I decided to learn what I could from him, so I stayed with him at our recordings as long as I could and I talked with him to learn how he thinks. He also says things like, "Steal this from me".

Ryouhei, you're now involved with producing for Watashime Slug. Is producing other bands something you'd like to continue to do in the future, in addition to performing in your own band?

Ryouhei: Yes. I think I’ll continue to produce Watashime Slug and also other artists if I would be asked. However, Megamasso is the first place for me after all.

Do you like to produce?

Ryouhei: Yes, I do. I produced Megamasso at first. As we started to work with a producer, we did change. I still take charge of producing the band quite a lot, but Megamasso is a visual kei band, so it’s not only about the music. For example, Inzargi designed the bandanna, which is the free gift with our DVD, and Gou works as a model in magazines, both of which are activities of Megamasso, I think. So we produce what each of us are good at, respectively. But in the end we create our music together, discussing most things.

Ryouhei, can you tell us about Tensai terebi kun MAX? You've been a guest star several times, what is the show about?

Ryouhei: Yeah! I enjoy it! (laugh) Basically, I like working in music and playing in a band, and I’m very happy when I see fans who get energy when listening to our music, but besides that I like wearing visial kei fashion too. And as everyone knows, I like to stand out, love cosplay, and I want to appear in these kind of programs as much as I can. I’ll appear in anything as long as it isn’t a minus for Megamasso.

So you think about the media a lot.

Ryouhei: All of our members do.

Inzargi, do you like to design?

Inzargi: Yes. I like drawing pictures. I designed a bandanna that is included as a gift when you buy our DVD.
Ryouhei: He is very clever with his fingers, so he often takes the hem up for me on my jeans (laugh). Well he does it very well. I’m sure he is a perfectionist and, once he decides to do something, he does it very carefully, which seems like the direct opposite to me (laugh). So we are well-balanced in a good way.

Inzargi, do you have a lot to do with the live goods sold at concerts?

Ryouhei: Yes. Inzargi seems to take the most interest in them.

What are your own favorite songs from Megamasso and why?

Ryouhei: I haven’t told this to the members yet....(laugh), one is Yuki mau Chigasaki. Once I let Gou listen to this song and he said, "It’s a good song".

It is unreleased, isn’t it?

Ryouhei. Yes. But when I asked him, "Don’t you think that song is good?" recently, while he remembered that I played it on a grand piano, he seemed to forget the song (laugh). I haven’t let Inzargi listen to this song yet because I want him to feel fresh when he listenes to it. This song was made when I was a junior high school student, and I decided that I’d release at the appropriate time after I debuted in music scene. I made the three songs Namida Neko, Tsuki Koi and Yuki mau Chigasaki when I was a junior high school student. Now, among the present Megamasso songs, I like New Romancer. I haven’t told the members yet, but I made two versions of this song, actually. One, I let members listen to, which is the restrained version of New Romancer, but there is also an unrestrained version of New Romancer. So please look forward to that unrestrained New Romancer...... that’s all, and thank you! (laugh).
Inzargi: I’ll tell you, it's so hard to sing that restrained New Romancer because the melody line goes down one scale in the main melody. It’s deadly hard! (bursts out laughing)
Ryouhei: May I say another song? I like Miyoruku(mjolk) from our last album. This is just my liking.
Inzargi: I like all of our songs, but Namida neko remains in my mind most after all. This is my first encounter in this band, so I’m very impressed.
Gou: Let me see... I choose Mandrake Usagi Konagusuri and Throne Angel. As for Mandrake Usagi Konagusuri, I like everything from its world view to melodies. As for Throne Angel, when I play it in our lives, I like a sense of identity with the audience and I like the low sounds of my bass.

Your videos are often quite cute and interesting; how do you come up with ideas for PVs?

Ryouhei: I say what I want to do basically, like, "I want to do this" or, "I want to do that" even in the film studio.

Since you started the band you've been releasing singles and albums non-stop. Do you ever have time for yourself? What do you usually do in your free time?

Ryouhei: I think I spend most of my time with other members. Other than that, I suppose I sleep (laugh). So I am never really alone. I generally play games when on the move.
Inzargi: I think so too. I listen to my favorite music. I like Western music.
Gou: When I have time, I watch movies.

With Japanese music becoming more and more popular globally, is performing and releasing Megamasso's material overseas something you've thought about or would be interested in doing?

All: Very interested!

Are you interested in a world tour?

All: Of course! We want to do it very much!

You’ll start a winter tour after this. What do you want to do accomplish with this tour?

Ryouhei: All of members think the latest album, Matataku Yoru, is our masterpiece among our works, and most of our fans think the main melodies match Megamasso, so I want to express 100% of its world view. Recently we had a meeting and said various things like, "I want to do this" or, "I want to do that", and we changed the arrangements of the songs to fit with our ideas. Please look forward to seeing that!

I tell you, a winter’s day is a very good song. It’s like a masterpiece that is sung on NHK Kouhaku Utagassen (a famous Japanese music TV program of NHK which broadcasts in the end of every year).

Ryouhei: So, we'll aim to do that!(laugh)

What do you wish to accomplish with Megamasso?

Ryouhei: As we sing in the lyrics of Throne Angel, we just go upward higher and higher.

Could you give your message to JaME readers?

Ryouhei: I’m Ryouhei of Megamasso. Thank you very much for this interview. It hasn’t even been a year since we started this band, but now we have had so much response from overseas and received many fan mails and presents. We really want to go overseas as soon as possible, but we will play in Japan first and increase our experience and then go on tour overseas. We stock songs, so how about releasing a limited version for overseas? I’m afraid our manager would say something against that (laugh).... I want to release a limited version for overseas. Well, let’s do it! OK? (Ryouhei looks at the manager’s face.) Oh...... our manager doesn’t look so happy (laugh). Let me see... when the time comes, I’ll do it by myself! (laugh) Well, I and the three members.
Inzargi: Hey, let's do it together! (All: burst out laughing) I'm happy with this opportunity and I receive lots of fan mail from overseas, most of them saying, "Please come to my country" or, "I want to see you soon". I want to answer them soon. I want Megamasso to grow more and more and to do a world tour; I want foreign people to see Megamasso’s lives soon.
Gou: I really want to do lives overseas. Please listen to Megamasso’s music. And I want you to be fascinated with my bass and my face! (laugh)