DNR, DREAMS NOT REALITY, ITALIAN VISUAL KEI BAND: SEBASTIANO SERAFINI IS NEW VOCALS & KEYBOARDS MEMBER!
La Carmina blog is always full of surprises and sharp turns… and here’s one that will knock your socks off. I’m tickled to announce that Sebastiano Serafini is the fifth member of DNR (Dreams Not Reality), the Italian Visual rock band! He will be performing as vocalist and keyboardist in DNR’s upcoming concerts, in Eastern Europe and the 10,000+ audience festival Notte Rosa.
DNR was formed on May 2, 2008 — ten years after the death of HIDE, legendary guitarist of X Japan. The band describes its sound as “Euro-Visual KEI,” a genre that mixes Visual Kei / Jrock influences with American 80s metal and Gothic; electronics and melodies meet powerful riffs. (You can hear tracks on DNR’s MySpace.)
☆ DNR has toured around Europe and been featured in many magazines, including All Star and Bravo in Russia.
☆ The band is recognized by Mr. Seiichi Hoshiko, called the “father of Visual-kei”. DNR is currently ranked fourth on Visualog.
☆ Guitarist Kira uses Hide’s signature guitar in the Beyond The World music video (see above). The song is available in English and Japanese on iTunes.
☆ DNR collaborates with Luminor from Cinema Bizarre, who will be touring with the band and Seba next month.
And… there’s a collaboration between DNR and La Carmina in the works! Seba and I will be in Italy soon, working on this secret musical project. (Can you guess what it might be?)
We’re currently tearing up Hong Kong and Macau. Tons of coverage and photos coming right up.
PS: Thank you to Sandi of Wearable Art Blog for interviewing me about Harajuku DIY fashion and crafts.
PPS: Agepoyo gyaru blog wrote a funny post about me and Sebastiano. How random!
Have you heard of the Italian Visual Kei band DNR? What’s your reaction to Seba joining them? Surprised? Excited?
Song of the Day: DNR – Beyond This World
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CAPSULE HOTEL, TOKYO JAPAN: COFFIN-SIZED ROOM FOR BUSINESSMEN TO SLEEP. PHOTOS OF JAPANESE CAPSULES.
Quick: name a place in Tokyo where ladies are not allowed. Did you know… almost all Japanese capsule hotels are for men only? These stacked, coffin-like accommodations are mainly for businessmen who miss the last train.
I’ve never been allowed inside a capsule hotel… until I got the chance to visit one for the NRK Norway TV show. Some cool news — the program just won the Gullruten, the Norwegian Grammy award!
Naturally, Naomi and I used this opportunity to take as many artistic (aka silly) photos as possible.
The capsule rooms are as tiny as you’d imagine. For US$25-50 a night, you get a pillow, sheets, and tiny TV nailed to the ceiling.
Naomi made arrangements with the Green Plaza Capsule Hotel in Shinjuku, so that we were able to film during the daytime, before the spaces filled up with customers. (It’s what we do as Pirates; you can find out more about our Tokyo consulting, TV fixing and hosting business here.)
The Norwegians, Ari and Per, put on Asian robes and crawled into the upper cubby-holes.
I couldn’t understand the Norwegian dialogue, but it sounded pretty funny!
With shared bathrooms and too-close-for-comfort coffins, I’m not sure I’d stay in one of these capsules (even if I were allowed to).
How about you? Have you ever spent the night in a Japanese capsule hotel? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments!
PS: I will post clips of my appearance in the Norway TV show about Tokyo ASAP.
Song of the Day: Girugamesh – Owari to mirai
LA CARMINA
