Dio - distraught overlord Interview in Houston, Texas

After their debut live in America, JaME had the chance to interview Dio - distraught overlord. Seeing that it was their first time in the states, the five members could reflect on some of their experiences at Oni-con and what they look forward to in the years to come.


Please introduce yourselves for our readers.

Ivy: I’m Ivy on bass.
Erina: I’m Erina who loves beer.
Denka: I’m Denka the pro wrestling lover.
Mikaru: I’m Mikaru the singer with wings.
Kei: I don't have anything to say but I’m Kei.

This is your first time playing in the US. How did you feel about it being at an anime convention instead of a concert hall?

Mikaru: Since we did the Japan Expo in France before, we thought that because Oni-con is an anime convention that there were going to be a lot of cosplayers, and when Oni-con happened we thought it was going to be just like Japan Expo. That time we were able to walk around and see things. So, it kinda stinks that we can’t go around and see things here at Oni-con. We definitely wanted to see different kinds of cosplay.

After your concert last night do you think you will come back to tour in America?

Mikaru: Our feelings really grew, because we didn't think there was going to be this many fans waiting for us over here. We definitely want to schedule a return soon.

What were some differences between not only American and Japanese fans but with European and American fans?

Erina: It’s really similar, the craziness of the fans and their eyes are really similar too.
Mikaru: Yesterday, no one groped my crotch (all laugh).

Fans are wondering what your preferred instruments are. What brand, company or style.

Kei: I like to use Marshall amps personally.
Denka: I really recommend Orange County snares.
Erina: For me it's sort of hard because with guitars it could be a 500 yen guitar which could make a better sound than a million dollar guitar. So its really hard to decipher, so there isn’t really a specific brand that I would say.
Ivy: You know it's really a personal touch, but if you want a hard core sound, then it should be an Eden.

Have any of you customized your instruments?

Erina: With amps I have done that because I have a lot of extra things I have to put on my amp, like 3 or 4 channels aren’t enough so I had to customize it to have more channels, but nothing more than that.
Kei: Normally, I use my original guitar but it broke right before I came so I am borrowing Erina’s guitar.

Have you done any sightseeing in Texas? And if not where is a place you would go?

Denka: NASA (all laugh and agree)
Kei: NASA is here?
Yes, NASA is in Texas!
Kei: For me it's not in Texas, but if I could, I would like to see the statue of liberty in Manhattan. Also, in America I want to go somewhere with a really pretty landscape because that's the image I have of America.
Denka: I want to go to Toyota center and see the Rockets play.
Erina: I want to go somewhere that the alcohol is really good. (all laugh)
Ivy: I want to go right there! (Pointing out the window)

What was the most surprising thing in America? The roads, buildings, people?

Denka: I was surprised to see so many limousines! There was a hummer limousine too.
Kei: We went to the Newark airport in New Jersey and on the way I saw this kid playing soccer with a soccer ball but he was really good at it! So I got to see the basic training, the difference of training between Japan and America.
Mikaru: There are a lot of males and females that look really really strong.

Who is in charge of your cover art and logo designs? For example, the shirts that they have here at the convention.

Manager: The logo was made by the designer at the company but I decided on the placement on the t-shirt. The cover art was also done by the same designer.

How do you feel about having a CD releasing while you are in America? Exciting? Or maybe scary?

Mikaru: Right now it's a little late in transit, but we really want everyone to listen to it a lot and feel that we are "here".

Would you say the new release is a sneak peak into what is to come from Dio in the future?

Erina: Right now this is a full album that's coming out so there are a couple of songs that we have re-recorded, so it's more for the people who don't know us to understand how and what we are.

Do you feel that your music has changed or grown since you started together as Dio?

Mikaru: We started about two years ago but for me personally, my voice was cute back then with the shouting and singing but now it feels like my voice has changed, like from a teenager to a man's.

Do you plan to do any experimenting with your sound in the near future?

Erina: Well with the release of CARRY DAWN we did some experimenting. And we do think things like "maybe we should do this" or "shouldn't do this with Dio" and see what happens. So there is some experimenting we plan to do and just go on from there.

If there was an American artist or band you would tour with here who would it be?
(everyone thinks for a minute)
Anyone, your dream band.

Mikaru: Mariah Carey, because she is pretty. (all laugh)
Erina: Any one really? I want to do it with Metallica.
Kei: Slayer.
Denka: Linkin Park.
Ivy: Konishiki the wrestler. One day in Hawaii.

We know you all listen to European music but were wondering if any American bands have influenced you personally.

Kei: I listen to a lot of death metal so bands like Cannibal corpse, In Flames, Arch Angel, and Slipknot. And that is just listening wise.
Mikaru: Mariah Carey.
Denka: Foo Fighters and Puddle of mudd.
Erina: KoRn, they are American right? Yeah, I really like KoRn.
Ivy: Backstreet boys. (all laugh)

In the past you mentioned kote-kei and that even though you are grouped into that style you do not feel you are kote-kei. Can you then explain what your style is to our readers?

Mikaru: Kote kei? What is that?
Erina: A lot of international fans seem to concentrate on that aspect of visual kei or kote kei because all of the make up and clothes are really glamorous so that is what they call kote kei. But with our situation it changes song by song so it's not that we aren’t kote kei but we change from each genre of visual kei sometimes.

Mikaru, you have said in the past that you try to tell stories with your music, can you tell us a little about this method of song writing?

Mikaru: For trying to tell stories, it is each song as a separate story. So I can't really tell the story easily. I write what I like to write at that point so there isn’t something in particular that I am trying to portray with one long story line.

Your costumes are essential to your expression. Do you feel that your PVs have the same importance or are they more of an artistic expression by the director?

Mikaru: For the PVs, we talk it over and everything, and for the costumes and make-up each one of us personally designs it ourselves.
Erina: So one of these days there could be a chance that one of us could be like "BAM WOW".
(Kei’s stomach growls, all laugh)

Great timing! Could you each give a message to your fans?

Erina: Of course we would like to come back to America but we cannot do that unless our fans listen to our music and demand us. This time around it was an event like this, but for next time we don't know what kind of event it will be so please wait for us.
Ivy: If I was asked which one I liked more a dog or a cat, I would say a dog because it is more loyal to its owner so I like people like that. (all laugh)
Denka: Fans of America, Dio is going to keep on evolving really, really fast so please keep up with us.
Kei: In America there is another big band named Dio and we would like to become that big so please cheer us on. Also I want to eat meat.
Mikaru: The fans of America, why don't you get on my back and let's go flying? (all laugh)


Special thanks to Oni-con, Cure and translator Midori Maejima for making this possible.