His second time back in the USA, gothic/fetish/alternative
DJ SiSeN was everywhere at the Anime USA 2008 convention, participating in numerous events throughout the weekend as well as holding his own DJ sets during the convention's rave. Taking a moment out of his activities,
SiSeN talked with us about his opinions on music and fashion, and the tie between.
Thank you for meeting with us. Please introduce yourself to our readers.
DJ SiSeN: Hi! (laughs) My name is
SiSeN. It's my second time coming to the United states.
As your second time back, have you gotten to sight-see at all?
DJ SiSeN: Ah, not yet. But I want to!
What do you want to see?
DJ SiSeN: I don't want to see the conventional sights and things, I want to see the underground, strange things!
As a DJ used to performing in clubs, what do you think about the anime convention scene here in the US?
DJ SiSeN: Anime conventions aren't clubs, so I don't think many people here are people who go to clubs. I think maybe they're just otaku. (laughs) Sorry! (laughs)
(laughs) So then how would you say your set and the crowd reaction was last night?
DJ SiSeN: It was a really, really great time, I was very happy with it. On MySpace, I held dancer auditions for AUSA; I was very happy with their performance.
Speaking of your MySpace, you wrote on it that you weren't happy with the club scene in Japan right now. What aren't you happy about?
DJ SiSeN: Ah! (laughs) That's because the underground scene's not really big. In Japan, people like to wear gothic fashion but they don't go to the gothic clubs. It's like the gothic fashion scene in clubs is just kind of...uncool. (laughs) Only the fashion, I think, is cool. (laughs) It's important, the link between fashion and music. I think it's important for the fashion to reflect the music.
Your MySpace also says that you don't want to become famous, you just want to help the Japanese club scene. You don't want to be known for your work?
DJ SiSeN: No, it's not like that, it's becoming like an idol. I don't want to be reflected that way, nothing fancy, but if I have to be famous for anything, I want it to be for helping the club scene. If not, then that's okay too.
How does it feel to have fans in Europe and America?
DJ SiSeN: Awesome! (in English) I'm really surprised! (laughs)
When did you initially get interested in music?
DJ SiSeN: Around age five, I started listening to classical music. I always just listened to that kind of adults' music. (laughs)
You call yourself a gothic/fetish/alternative club DJ. Can you elaborate on your style for those who have never seen nor heard this type of music before?
DJ SiSeN: Lots of strange industrial sounds! (laughs) But even if it sounds strange, the club sound is very cool. I really like that kind of industrial music. Right now, the visual kei scene in Japan is not so good. You know, most fans are into visual kei for a short time and then they become interested in industrial music. Of course, some people stay interested in visual kei for a long time - it's okay to be thirty-five and go to visual kei shows. (laughs) Sorry...sorry if you like visual kei...but industrial is the next level!
(laughs) So you think industrial music is the next step from visual kei?
DJ SiSeN: Yes! (laughs) It's hard to find individuality in visual kei these days because many bands are short lived because the interest dies.
Then what kind of music do you yourself listen to now?
DJ SiSeN: Besides classical music, I listen to industrial music. A lot of different industrial artists from all over.
Last year, you were on the internet show "Tokyo Gothic Loliku Night." Could you tell us about that program?
DJ SiSeN: Ah, yeah. Basically, it's an internet program for the gothic lolita and visual music fans. Different artists and clubs come on to basically advertise for events and such.
For some time now you've been collaborating with Takuya Angel. How did that come about?
DJ SiSeN: Besides being a designer,
Takuya is also a DJ. He also thinks it's important for fashion to reflect the music, so we decided to collaborate. This (points at his hand) - this is something we designed. I wanted to mix cute things with the scary. You know, cute with strange, gross images. Maybe that was a bad idea. (laughs)
Is the pacifier you have with you frequently just a part of the image, or is it a personal necessity?
DJ SiSeN: It would be odd if I said it was a necessity. (laughs) A lot of ravers wear pacifiers around their neck and hands and such, it's just club fashion.
Did you know that in the club scene here in the 60's, pacifiers were used to do LSD?
DJ SiSeN: Eh?! Is that so?! I didn't know!
Yes, really!
DJ SiSeN: I don't like that idea! Maybe I shouldn't use one anymore! (laughs)
(laughs) No no, it's just for fashion now, it's okay!
DJ SiSeN: (laughs) Okay!
How was it, appearing in A La Mode magazine with DJ Chihiro?
DJ SiSeN: It was fun. Being another DJ in the same scene, it's kind of like the two of us are rivals. We look opposite, but in reality, we're actually good friends.
What got you interested in the more colorful side of the club scene rather than the gothic side you used to wear?
DJ SiSeN: I like both. I like the black, gothic style, but the gothic fashion scene is sparse and drab in the clubs. I like strange and cute things, too. I'm a big fan of them and they tend to be colorful, so I am colorful.
Visually, your look is extensive. How long would you say it takes you to get ready for a show?
DJ SiSeN: Thirty...about thirty minutes. It used to take longer, but since I do it a lot, I'm faster now.
Do you think the club scene could be strong without being visual?
DJ SiSeN: No, I don't think it can. The music is too tied into the fashion.
Lastly, since you enjoy receiving art from your fans but unfortunately don't have time to return the gesture, would you draw something now for all your fans out there?
DJ SiSeN: Yes! Certainly! (begins to draw) I'm drawing "binbou-chan." Binbou...what's "binbou" in English?
"Poor." (laughs)
DJ SiSeN: (still drawing) Binbou-chan is cute. (laughs) What's "kinki?"
"Kinky." (laughs)
DJ SiSeN: "Hentai?"
"Pervert," someone with a dirty mind. (laughs)
DJ SiSeN: Ah, dirty mind! (refers to self)
(everyone laughs)
DJ SiSeN: Binbou-chan is finished!
Thank you very much!
DJ SiSeN: Thank you!
JaME would like to thank Tainted Reality, AUSA and of course DJ SiSeN for making this interview possible.
