Interview with Chatmonchy at SXSW

The day Chatmonchy started off their USA tour at SXSW in Austin, Texas, JaME was able to meet up with the trio. During their interview, they discussed their music and style, performing overseas, and set the story straight about how the band was formed.


Thank you for meeting with us. Please introduce yourselves to our readers.

Kumiko: My name is Kumiko and I play drums.

Eriko: My name is Eriko. I play guitar and sing.

Akiko: My name is Akiko. I play bass.

We know the band's name doesn't mean anything, but how was it created? Who decided on "Chatmonchy"?

Chatmonchy: We like the sound of "Chatmonchy" and how it looks when it's written in katakana.

Eriko: I decided on the name.

We've done a lot of research on you, and most sources have different information as to how and when Chatmonchy began. Please set the story straight. When was the band first created? Which of you decided to create it?

Akiko: The band Chatmonchy started in 2000, but we consider the real formation of the band in 2004 when Kumiko joined the band.

It's said that the three of you have been performing together since high school. Why did you choose to start a band? What was it about each other that made you want to create music together?

Eriko: Seeing my brother's band was really cool. I went to a big event where all the bands were three-piece bands and I thought, "Wow, they're all doing original work." I thought they were going to be cover bands. I really liked that. I was very impressed with that musical idea and thought I wanted to do it too. And that's when I started doing it.

Akiko: At first when Eriko and I were together, we had another drummer. Then Kumiko came around. Kumiko was a year ahead of us when we got to college, and we were friends. We then asked her to join us.

Your music is raw and energetic. What was it about this style that made you want to create it?

Eriko: We were used to listening to much calmer and quieter music. When I went to that big event with all the three-piece bands, especially with the sounds of the amps coming into me, I could feel the drums and just really fell in love with it. And I knew that was the kind of sound I wanted to make.

Please tell us about your music process. Who are the lyricists and music composers? What usually comes first, the music or the lyrics?

Akiko: We work together on the lyrics and Eriko will usually put the music to it. When we're in the studio, we arrange everything together.

Most of your overseas fans do not speak Japanese. Could you please explain what type of messages you like to get across with your lyrics. Are there any particular themes?

Kumiko: Rather than using a really big theme, we write about every day things, what's in our lives.

Your music videos are interesting whether it's the fully-animated Sekai ga owaru yoru or the simple with artistic flooring in Hana no yume. Do you come up with the concepts yourselves? Are any of your ideas incorporated into the music videos?

Kumiko: We have artistic directors who come up with the ideas, and then they talk to us about them. So we have a lot of input with the videos.

Eriko: There are times when the directors say, "Well, how about this?" And we'll say, "Well, let's do this." The other way has happened, too, where we come up with something.

Chatmonchy's style is very natural by either being very laid back or pretty. Why did you choose this style? Are you interested in fashion and style?

Kumiko: When we're on stage, we feel like our music is brilliant so we want to be that way on stage, too. We want our fashion to be very out there, very with it. In our regular lives, we're just normal people.

Your last musical release was last year's album Kokuhaku, which was released over a year ago. Please tell me more about this album. What was the creation process like? Which were your favorite songs on it and why?

Kumiko: We made the album in Tokyo.

Akiko: Usually we make albums six months before it comes out. But this one came out quicker than that. We were so happy with the new one. This time with Kokuhaku, we were so satisfied with it and so excited about it, in six months we were still playing it. We were really excited about the release very much. After we made the previous album, we just started writing new songs quickly.

Eriko: Number seven, Hibiscus wa fuyu ni saku, is my favorite.

Akiko: Last Love Letter.

Kumiko: Kaze fukeba koi because we play that one a lot.

Are you already working on new songs? When can we expect a new single or album release?

Kumiko: We haven't made a decision about releasing anything yet. Though we are writing new songs.

Have any of you been overseas whether it's together as a band or individually?

Akiko: Guam. (Everyone laughs.)

This is Chatmonchy's overseas debut. How do you feel being part of Japan Nite, a very popular and well-known tour in the USA?

Kumiko: I feel like we get to go to different towns and play Japanese music for people. I'm looking forward to that. I'm very excited about that.

Eriko: We've just played in Japan and I'm excited about playing in another country and have people listen to Chatmonchy.

Akiko: American rock is very famous around the world. We all know about it. People don't know about Japanese rock'n'roll. I really look forward to introducing people to Japanese rock'n'roll.

You will be performing in a handful of cities across the country, which is very extensive. How do you feel about all the traveling?

Kumiko: I'm not nervous at all. I'm excited! Let's go! (Everyone laughs.)

Eriko: I came here and may have been a little bit nervous, but I'm with nine other Japanese people. I feel very secure and I'm looking forward to playing and entertaining everybody.

Akiko: (Speaks in English.) I can't speak English very well. (Continues in Japanese.) I'm here and I want to speak English with people. I want to find out more about their culture and what they're doing.

I'm sure you have a full schedule, but what is there throughout the tour that you look forward to seeing or experiencing?

Akiko: I want to eat a hotdog. (Everyone laughs.)

Eriko: I want to eat bagels and bread.

Kumiko: I want to go to Hollywood and see a real Hollywood set.

The band has been together for a while and already you have releases that have ranked high on the Oricon charts, along with having a huge fanbase. What does the band plan on doing now?

Akiko: I want us to be successful with this tour and we're hoping that something will come out of that.

Eriko: I just want us to stay real cool and keep the band's sound brilliant and cool. I think there's something that we can do since we're popular, we're well-known. We want to do something that only people who are well-known can do.

Kumiko: I want to go to many countries. I want to go to Europe next time.

Already with such extensive experience, how do you compare your concerts that you had at the beginning of your career to now? Do you have any special traditions you do before a performance? Do you still get nervous?

Eriko: Since 2009, I've made some socks that I always wear. I hope I lose the socks during this American tour since they're too much trouble. (Everyone laughs.)

Kumiko: I still get nervous every time.

Akiko: Me too.

Now a fun question: if you had to create a remix in any style from any of your songs, which one would you choose and why?

Chatmonchy: No! We wouldn't change anything.

Kumiko: I like the songs just the way they are.

Please give a final message to your international fans.

Akiko: We sing about our feelings and our daily lives. I want the whole world to know about that.

Eriko: I want people to be able to listen to Chatmonchy. I want them to think, "Wow! They're so cool!" I want people to really and truly enjoy our music, for it to make them feel better.

Kumiko: (In English.) If you call Chatmonchy, I will go to your country next time!


Many thanks to Sony Music and Japan Nite's Audrey for making this interview possible.