Press Conference with miyavi at Anime Matsuri

On April 10, a day prior to his much anticipated performance at Anime Matsuri, miyavi took time out of his schedule to hold a press conference in a small room with an even smaller group of press members. He spoke openly about his music, fans, independence from PS COMPANY, marriage and upcoming fatherhood.


You have explored a wide variety of styles of music since the beginning of your solo career. Now that your collaboration with the KAVKI BOIZ is over, what direction do you plan on taking with your music?

miyavi: Actually, I decided to do the KAVKI BOIZ style and solo artist style separately. I just started a company and I’ll do my solo world tour next time.

Can you tell us a little bit about your company, J-glam?

miyavi: J-glam. The idea for the name of the company comes from Japanese glamorous. My style is J-glam rock, so that’s why I named it that. I became independent for several reasons, like my marriage and my baby. The most important reason is that I wanted to face my fans seriously, honestly and sincerely.

You have a really large international fan base. How do you plan to speak to them through J-glam? Is there anything more that you plan on doing to get in touch with not only your Japanese fans, but your fans around the world?

miyavi: The reason I started my company is that I want to be able to talk with my fans all overseas, so just wait for the next movement.

Any plans for an international fan club?

miyavi: Yeah, actually I am going to, yeah.

What are your biggest inspirations?

miyavi: Everything in my life. Yeah, just everything. Everything from artistic stuff like novels and movies to random conversations with my friends - everything. I am just singing about my life.

You’ve traveled the world with your tour last spring. What was your most memorable moment?

miyavi: In the last year? We almost lost my guitar. (laughs) It was so bad.

What happened?

miyavi: I don’t know. With this air company, I don’t know what was going on, but there were so many troubles. But there were also good memories. Every time I do something, something happens.

When you look back on the concept of Neo Visualizm, do you view it as a success?

miyavi: I’m not sure yet, but I’m just going to keep doing it. Actually, Neo Visualizm equals J-glam rock. It’s a new style, not the old visual kei style. I’m just working on making a new style.

Do you plan on having a USA tour soon?

miyavi: Yes, actually. I haven’t announced it officially yet, but I’m going to have a world tour after September. I’m going to have my birthday party, with my fan club, in Japan on September 14. Then I’m going to go to Russia, or somewhere in Europe. Then, after that, America and Asia and of course Japan too.

How do you see your company growing in the next year? What is the ultimate goal for J-glam?

miyavi: The first purpose is for me. After that, I want to produce or provide for some good Japanese artists to go overseas. So, I’m not sure when it’s going to happen, maybe some time next year, but I’m planning for it.

I’m assuming it would be just Japanese artists since it’s called J-glam?

miyavi: No, not only Japanese artists. I am half Korean and half Japanese, but I was born as Japanese, so I want to spread the Japanese culture to the world.

What sort of artists would you be looking for for J-glam? What sort of genre?

miyavi: Any genre, like tap dancers, painters, BMX riders and the KAVKI BOIZ, like that. I actually don’t want them to do music, only music. It’s so hard to keep to only the music of Japan. [Other types of performers] - they are also artists. They all have to think about self-promotion or something, so…

You mentioned that you want to do a different style of visual kei, not like old visual kei. Do you feel like old visual kei is repetitive or overdone?

miyavi: No, I respect old visual kei and have many friends in visual kei. We met in the visual kei industry, but at the same time, I feel that I have a responsibility to make a new style for a new generation – so that’s what I’m making with Neo Visualizm.

What has been your favorite thing about touring the USA?

miyavi: I already lost my driver’s license, so there is nothing to do, but I like coming to L.A. and here. There are so many fans waiting for me.

In 2004, you were originally supposed to perform at A-kon, but it didn’t work out, so how do you feel now, even though you’ve already done a world tour, that you’re going to perform at an anime convention?

miyavi: I’m happy. I like anime.

What would you say is the biggest challenge that you’ve faced in the past year, not only as an artist, but as a person, in terms of starting your company and starting on this new era of your life?

miyavi: I’m becoming a dad. (smiles)

What barriers do you think visual kei, as a music genre, has to overcome in order to succeed overseas in the USA and Europe?

miyavi: I don’t know – it’s unique, I think. It’s so different [even] from the bands who are putting makeup on overseas. Asian bands are more… I don’t know – I can’t explain it in English.

In what ways, if any, does your method of composing music and lyrics change depending on the style of music you are working on at the time?

miyavi: Actually, I am still looking for my style in my life, right? But so far I have been looking for myself, which is why I have been changing. From now on, as I said before, I am going to do my street jam style with the KAVKI BOIZ and my solo career separately. I can’t say exactly how because I am also a human being, so I’m changing, right? But what I can say is that I am just trying to be honest with myself.

When you play outside of Japan, obviously a lot of your fans don’t speak the Japanese language so they might not understand your lyrics. Do you feel like the music and performance and vocals alone carry the meaning or would you encourage fans to look for translations?

miyavi: Without lyrics? Yeah, I hope so, but lyrics are also important. Some people translate my lyrics and put them on fan sites, which I really appreciate.

You’re pretty famous right now. Is there anything you miss from back in your indie days?

miyavi: Actually, being famous is not my goal, but I want to spread my music because that’s really my life, I believe. I’m still on my way. I’m not satisfied.

How do you feel you’ve grown since your first album as a solo artist?

miyavi: Gagaku, right? Actually, when I made that album, I had never sung before it was released.

You’ve said many times that your life is connected with your music and your music is connected with your fans. Is there any message you would like to give to your fans?

miyavi: Yes. As I announced on my MySpace page, I got married and will have a baby. He or she will be born in summer, in July. I want to share everything with my fans, not only as fan and artist, like this is the private and this is the public image or something. I am miyavi. Even when I am just spending time with my family, I am miyavi.

What ever happened to S.K.I.N.?

miyavi: That’s a very good question. (laughs) It’s still alive. I want to do it so badly so we’ve been trying to make it happen, but, you know, Yoshiki is doing X JAPAN, Sugizo’s doing his stuff too and Gackt is too. I’ve been doing my world tour. Someday. Someday! I don’t know. Ask Yoshiki. (everyone laughs)

When your fans see your tattoos and piercings, it is something they would sort of mimic since you’re an inspiration for them. Why did you take out your lip ring?

miyavi: That’s what I wanted to explain. Right after I came back from the world tour, I felt like I didn’t need that stuff because I had confidence throughout the world tour, as a guitarist and a singer too, so that’s why I took them off. Some say it is because I was engaged and will be a dad, but it’s a totally different reason. I think my family likes my piercings and I hope my baby likes my piercings. (laughs) But actually, as a singer I had confidence, so that is why.

With your new family, having just been married and with a baby on the way, what is the hardest part about balancing family life and public life and your music right now?

miyavi: I don’t know. I just started my company, so I’m not sure yet. My baby hasn’t been born yet. Through the media reports, the news came out unexpectedly, which is good for me because the hardest part is how to share with my fans. There are so many people who can’t tell the truth in a band, which is why I wanted to be independent. That’s what I felt was the hardest to deal with. I wanted to be able to face my fans. So I think that’s the hardest part that I – that we – have to get over. But I’ve been receiving so many warm and kind messages and I really, really thank you guys.

How was your flight?

miyavi: It was…good. I was sleeping all the time. First, we went to San Francisco, but I don’t remember anything, ‘cause I was in my dreams.

Since you’ve removed your piercings and cut your hair, would you ever remove any of your tattoos?

miyavi: (laughs) Actually, I am going to add more tattoos.

What kinds are you going to add?

miyavi: I don’t know - it’s a secret.

Your tattoos are all black. Why don’t you have any in color? Or do you?

miyavi: Actually, they are not designs. They are all messages. I think I might have some of my lyrics put on my body.

Is there anything you haven’t had the chance to do yet that you would really like to do?

miyavi: Like…anything? There are so many things I want to do. I want to have my world tour, bigger, bigger and bigger. I want to share how I feel with many more people. So many things!

Do you find that it is different playing concerts in Asia than it is playing concerts in the west in terms of fan reactions?

miyavi: Yeah, it’s kind of different. It is really complicated to explain. It is related to their reactions to my marriage and my baby. Some reactions are kind of like (makes disgusted sounds). It’s so hard. I am idolized as a character. I would like to be like that, but it’s a lot to be two artists. Yeah, they are kind of different, but they are also the same. But through my music, I will be able to deliver my message to my all of my fans.

Do you have a favorite musician you look up to?

miyavi: Yes, yes, guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei. He just started his own MySpace and I put him in my top friends. On the day I got married, I…his wife used to be a singer. We were invited to his house to have dinner. I really look up to him.

Your wife hosted a show, "J-MELO," and you were on it as a guest. Is that where you first met?

miyavi: Yes. At that time, I realized that she was a person who could be loved by everyone. Every time I am on a TV show or something like that, with the host or other girls my fans don’t like, my fans are like “who the fuck are these bitches?” or whatever. But at that time, my fans loved her a lot.

melody was a singer and artist, but is moving on to fashion; do you have plans to collaborate artistically in the future?

miyavi: Yeah, in the future. But I want her to concentrate on her and taking care of our baby. I also want her to keep singing, too. I like her voice.


JaME would like to thank John of Anime Matsuri for arranging this event, and miyavi for taking the time to speak with us. Photos by Lacy