Interview with AciD FLavoR at Japan Expo

Rockband AciD FLavoR was also part of the Japan Expo line-up this year. This wasn't the first time that the quartet performed in Europe as they performed in Belgium earlier this year. Less than an hour before their concert, AciD FLavoR granted us a short but relaxed interview.


First of all, can you please introduce yourselves?

Shigeru: (in French) My name is Shigeru and I'm the shortest Japanese singer. (Laughs)
Ryo: I'm Ryo, leader and guitarist of the band.
Taiju: (in French) I'm Taiju and I'm the drummer.
Tei: My name is Tei, bassist.

Why did you choose the name "AciD FLavoR"?

Ryo: At the beginning, when we chose the name we did not think it could be construed as drug promotion, we didn't think it could be badly perceived. At the start, we wanted to show with these words that the public would be addicted to our music, that they could not do without it, that's all.

Yesterday you gave a concert for the Mouv', how did it go?

Tei: It was great! Yes, it was very nice. Very interesting. We all had a good time.

The audience was very close to you, weren't you scared? (They all laugh)

Tei: Yes they were very near, but we weren't scared of the public, on the contrary, we were very close and it was great. There were a lot of fans (burst of laughter).

Were there a lot of young girls?

Tei: Yes, and they were really cute (they laugh).
Shigeru: There were plenty of people, it was good, and being so close - that's the interesting part.
Taiju: Hmm... yes, everyone was nice and really happy also, them as much as us.
Ryo: For my part, I had a great time but I felt it was too short...I was frustrated. We only played two songs. I had hoped to play longer. The staff was very nice to us.

Did you have time to visit Japan Expo and did you expect it to be so big?

Shigeru: As soon as we arrived by car we saw there were a lot of people waiting so we weren't surprised.
Ryo: And there are manga conventions that are also very large in Japan.

As you did the sound settings this morning, what did you think of the stage of the Japan Expo?

Ryo: I think we always did small venues and this one is very large, but I think we'll really enjoy playing on a stage like this. It's better for moving around.

Let's go back to the forming of the band, when did you meet?

Ryo: Actually the band has been around since 2000. At that time we were five, there was another singer. He had to leave for personal reasons and had a friend named Shigeru. The band as it is today started in February/March 2003, if I remember well. In 1999 I met Tei, who was a bassist, and had Taiju (drummer) as a friend. We're nearly all from Saitama. Taiju is a friend of mine; we've known each other since high school.

Did you attend musical classes?

Taiju: For my part, I've always played the drums.
Shigeru: I started playing guitar when I was 10 and I started singing in 2003.
Tei: Me, I played bass at 19, and before that I'd played guitar since I was 16.

And why did you change instruments?

Tei: I've always wanted to play the bass after seeing a bassist play it live and hearing him; that gave me the will to play that instrument.

What gave you the desire to play?

Tei: I wanted to make something felt, I want to share feelings with people.
Taiju: I find pleasure in playing so I give pleasure to those listening, it's as easy as that, and that allows me to travel.
Shigeru: Me, I've been playing piano since I was a kid and then in high school I got into a band.
Ryo: When I was around three years old, I started playing classical piano, because my parents wanted me to. At home there were three of us children and we all had a musical background, we all play classical piano.

Why that change of instrument?

Ryo: When I wanted to create my own musical universe I first thought of solo piano songs, but I wanted other sounds too so I started to play the guitar.

Do you write your songs yourself?

Ryo: I started the guitar when I was around 16 and my first lyrics also. My first songs were like my love letters (he laughs).

You did a concert in Belgium, today you're in France. What are your plans for the future?

Ryo: The first step was indeed a small manga convention in Belgium, the second one was the Japan Expo that is a really big convention, and we hope that it will allow us to be better known, the third step was the release of two albums in Europe.

And in the future would you like to come back and play in Europe ?

Ryo: Of course.


JaME would like to thank the band and Râmen Events for their availability.