Matenrou Opera and Versailles in Finland

Matenrou Opera

When the still new band arrived backstage at Tavastia club they were perhaps a bit shy and insecure about the concert which was about to begin. Despite some small problems at the beginning, we found out where the band gets their inspiration and who is behind all the amazing songs.


Hello, we are from JaME, nice to meet you.

Everybody: Nice to meet you!

Your symphonic sound is interesting because it combines metal music and beautiful melodies. Have any particular artists or bands affected it or did you come up with it yourselves?

Sono: Well... (thinks for a moment) From Finnish bands at least Sonata Arctica has inspired us. (the others laugh cheerfully)

I've heard many of you like western heavy metal. Why did you end up starting a visual kei band instead of an "ordinary" rock or metal band?

Sono: Some of us had already played in a visual kei band. My first band was visual kei, because I had listened to that type of music before.

I've heard you like some Finnish bands too! Which ones?

Sono: (discusses with the band for a while and then starts listing) Sonata Arctica, Children of Bodom... Stratovarius and Nightwish...

The name of your band means "skyscraper opera" and the cover art of Ruriiro de egaku nijin seemed inspired by skyscrapers. Where do the name and this skyscraper theme come from?

Sono: (talks with You for a moment) Sky scrapers as a view are really modern, where as opera is a traditional form of art, so these two create a nice contrast.

Soon you will release your first mini album, GILIA. Where did you get the inspriration for the name of the album and have the songs got some kind of gilia flower theme?

Sono: In Japan we have a concept called hanakotoba (language of flowers), as in flowers have certain connotations and meanings. In hanakotoba, gilia means volatile love. (You plays with Ayame's hair piece)

Will GILIA also include old songs or are there only new ones?

Sono: The album will have previously released songs, but also new material.

Your first PV will be released with the mini album. What was the shooting like? Why did you choose to make a PV for alkaloid showcase, a song from your first single, instead of a song from GILIA?

Sono: The shooting... (smiles) We were cold. Really, really cold. It was so cold outside. The video was shot in an old impressive building.

Yuu: It was really tough. (the others laugh and nod)

Sono, by far you've composed most of Matenrou Opera's songs. How do you compose and where do you get your inspiration?

Sono: When I make songs, I use the guitar and the piano. (considers the question) Among other things, landscapes and different kinds of atmospheres inspire me.

However, the new mini album will also have songs made by the new members, Anzi and Ayame. How did you make songs before and how has it been making songs with the other members?

Anzi: The songs from GILIA took their final form when we just played with the band at the studio looking for a good feeling. When we found it, we all started working on the songs together.

Thank you for the interview!

Everybody: Thank you!

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Versailles

Matenrou Opera had already started playing when we were taken to Tavastia's backstage and all the way down under the small Semifinaali stage. Because of the tight schedule, we only got to interview the front man of Versailles, the singer KAMIJO. We were impressed by his elegantly confident and friendly presence. He also impressed us by speaking a bit of English, which proved that he truly wants to communicate with the European audience.


Hello, we are from JaME, nice to meet you.

KAMIJO: Nice to meet you, my name is KAMIJO. (He says this in Japanese and English.)

Your theme is very interesting: the names of your songs, such as Aristocrat's Symphony and The Red Carpet Day together with you beautiful outfits and flamboyant music create a very sophisticated image. If you had to desribe your theme with a few words, what would they be?

KAMIJO: The theme behind Versailles is aesthetism. We want to give the audience aesthetic experiences. Like the black rose. (This probably refers to Charles Baudelaire's book The Flowers of Evil, in which evil creates something beautiful. It also has references to Versailles.)

Your band gives a European vibe, your name is European and you're known to be a fan of France and the French language. What does it feel like to be in Europe now?

KAMIJO: MY LIFE BEST! (a wide smile)

Are you going to visit Versailles?

KAMIJO: I want to play a concert in Versailles.

Is this why the names of all your songs are in English even though you mainly sing in Japanese?

KAMIJO: The lyrics are in Japanese because my English isn't good enough for me to write lyrics in English. It's also important to me that they are in Japanese.

Your compositions are versatile and interesting. How does the composition process work? Does someone make more songs than the others or do you work together?

KAMIJO: HIZAKI, TERU and I compose all the songs. Jasmine You and YUKI arrange the rhythms.

What do you think of the current state of visual kei?

KAMIJO: I think visual kei is a wonderful thing... (thinks) But nowadays there are a lot of bands that are visual kei just on the outside. I'd like there to be more "visual & sound" and "visual & beautiful melody" bands.

Why did you choose to go on tour with Matenrou Opera?

KAMIJO: Because I really like their music.

What did you know about Finland beforehand?

KAMIJO: That there are really many metal bands on the charts.

Have you had time to do anything in Finland?

KAMIJO: Unfortunately not. We just checked in to our hotel.

What do you think of Finnish music?

KAMIJO: TERU, HIZAKI and YUKI are crazy about it.

Thank you for the interview and we wish you a successful concert!

KAMIJO: Thank you very much!

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JaME thanks the bands about the interview. Also thanks to Krista Vuori, the interpretor and the photographer Heikki Mitikka.