An interview with miyavi in Helsinki, Finland

miyavi’s second world tour, Neo Tokyo Samurai Black World Tour, began in Russia and then went to Helsinki via Tampere Finland. JaME met the thoughtful artist just before his show in Helsinki where miyavi shared his thoughts about not only his career, but his family as well.


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

miyavi: I’m fine. I’ve had fun.

Are you tired?

miyavi: A little bit, I had a concert yesterday, but…I’m just fine.

Yesterday, you performed in Tampere for the first time. What do you think about the city?

miyavi: I had little time for sightseeing, but my first impression was that it’s a very very beautiful city.

How about your concert? Was it different from your performance last year in Helsinki?

miyavi: I don’t know how many of them had been to my show before, but it was truly gigantic. The concert was hot and the audience gave me good vibes. Last time I had my kabuki rock style, which was something between Japanese culture and street-music. But this time I came with a very simple and more rock style. Totally different, but I’m sure we can make people rock.

You’ve experienced many changes in your personal life. How do you combine your life as an artist and as a father?

miyavi: It’s not that different…well, maybe a little. As an artist I have to maintain my motivation. Because of the tour, I couldn’t see my daughter for a while. I was so focused on my music and that my fans had told me they were waiting for me. And as a father…it was a magnificent moment when my child was born. So incredible, I cannot explain the feeling. I couldn’t stop crying.

Your new song Super Hero was released on MySpace during the summer. It seemed to differ from your usual style. Could you tell more about this song?

miyavi: Well, first of all…I wanted to spread my music to my fans all over the world. I became independent and the manager of my own company. I wanted to show respect to my fans. It has changed everything. Oh and, this song…it is quite different. I wanted to mix my old and current style. Combining them was a difficult challenge.

Would you tell us about your current band?

miyavi: Actually, I don’t have one big common performance with the band this time. I play the guitar and…this time, the sound is more connected and rock. But maybe next time.

Do you wish that your daughter will be a musician like you and your wife?

miyavi: Of course I hope so…so that she could have an effect on people. But it’s her life and she can make her own decisions.

You were one of the first artists of PS COMPANY. Do you think that you still might co-operate with other bands someday?

miyavi: Sure, there’s always a possibility.

So it is not completely in the past?

miyavi: No, that’s not what ending our relations meant.

You seem to be close to them.

miyavi: Well…it was a really difficult decision. I had to create myself anew and take the next step. My responsibility is way bigger now. The situation is similar to how it was starting my solo career.

How do you see yourself after five years?

miyavi: I’ll grow and develop my company. It’ll take two years until everything is ready. After that, I want to continue my trip, tour around the world…I want to create a whole new miyavi style.

When you are on a tour outside Japan, you represent Japanese music. What is the most important aspect of Japanese music that you want to convey?

miyavi: Some Japanese bands…well, actually, I don’t think I have anything like other visual bands. I tried to show what I have achieved during the past year. Most of the interpreting I wanted to leave up to the audience. It is not typical rock music, but rather represents a more unique and personal style.

What are you going to do after this tour? Can we anticipate a new album?

miyavi: Yes, I have something recorded, so you can look forward to it.

Do you have a message for your European fans?

miyavi: I’m really glad to be able to carry out this second world tour of mine. Last time I had so much fun. It’s important to keep on moving. I want to go to places where I’ve never been before. Hopefully I will visit Europe in the future too, to maintain good relations. Now we have a place where we can communicate, my fanclub C.W.I.F. We’ve just actualized it and I’m glad about it. It’s a place where we can all feel as one with each other. It doesn’t matter where you are born or what language you speak. I sing as a Japanese artist, but people who approach me come from all over the world. I want my voice to be heard and to connect people all over the world. That is one of my dreams.


JaME thanks miyavi and his staff for this interview, and Tiina Hirvonen for supplying the photos.