D’ESPAIRSRAY IS ON HIATUS DUE TO HIZUMI’S THROAT PROBLEMS. SACRED DEER OF NARA PARK, JAPAN BUDDHIST TEMPLE GROUNDS TAME DEER.
Brace yourself… another Visual Band is temporarily leaving the stage. D’espairsRay has announced they will be on hiatus after their current overseas tour.
Like Jui from Vidoll, vocalist Hizumi is suffering from throat problems caused from a past illness. The Jrock group plans to give their all for the remaining “Human-clad Monsters” tour stops, and hopes none will be cancelled. Afterwards, however, all four members will be taking a break from performing and recording until Hizumi recovers.
I’m so glad I was able to see D’espairsRay play in Seattle, before their hiatus. Let’s wish them well — you can leave them a comment of support. Coming right up: exclusive photos and a review of their show.
Now for something happier… remember when Yukiro and I took a trip to Nara, the ancient Japanese capital in Kansai? Nara is famous for its sacred, tame deer that roam through the park and Buddhist temple grounds. So we had the genius idea of incorporating them into a fashion-forward photoshoot.
The deer are all over Nara. They’re the embodiments of Zen calm. Visitors can hand-feed the deer, pet them, hug them…
However, the deer have probably never seen cyber-furry fashion before!
Top: h.NAOTO Blood (I wore it in our Abandoned Curse B-movie)
Skirt: Algonquins
Purple lace tights: Very old…
Have you ever visited Nara? You must make the day-trip if you’re in Osaka; it’s about an hour away by subway. You can see the rest of our Nara photos in this post.
Got thoughts and well-wishes for D’espairsRay? Let’s be their Little Monsters and show our support!
Japanese Word of the Day: Setsunai = Melancholy, bittersweet, sad, sentimental
Song of the Day: D’espairsRay – Monsters
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X JAPAN NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES, 2010: YOSHIKI'S VIDEO GREETING TO FANS. INTERVIEW WITH DJ CHIHIRO & DEE LEE OF VANISHED EMPIRE, TOKYO GOTH BAND.
Get ready, pirates… X Japan is setting sail for our North American shores for the very first time in th’ history books! The legendary Visual Kei band will be touring US and Canada, September 25 to October 10 ( join the official Facebook Page for dates, ticket information and updates). Mastermind Yoshiki has just released a video message to his fans:
Why should you see X Japan in concert? Because they’re a monumental band: the LA Times compared the group to U2, but I think that doesn’t do them justice. X Japan’s vision — from their Visual appearance to hide’s guitar work and Yoshiki’s passionate presence — created a revolution in Japanese rock music. And the songs: they hold up. No matter how many times you revisit it, the opening piano strains of Endless Rain will send shivers up your spine.
Moreover, you should get tickets ASAP because… your favorite Jrock bands need you. If we want Dir en Grey, Miyavi and their cohorts to keep touring outside Japan, we must show our support. So let’s give X Japan a huge welcome! You can find out more about their tour on the official site. Of course, I’ll be reviewing one of their shows, so keep checking back.
Speaking of forward-thinking bands… one of Japan’s spookiest spooks, DJ Chihiro, has paired up with Dee Lee and created a dark electro / Goth band, Vanished Empire. Their latest songs and image are based on H. P. Lovecraft’s myth-cycle, Cthulhu Mythos. With the help of my evil minion Kanae, I picked their brains…
La Carmina: What does Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos mean to you? Has it influenced your music?
Chihiro: I entrust the details to Dee Lee, but I have wanted to create music based on sinister and scary things that come from unreal world. Lovecraft’s Mythos is very attractive material for me.
Dee Lee: I started to write new songs since late 2009. Back then, I didn’t specify themes or materials. But while composing I realized “Oh this is Azathoth’s anthem!” After I finished composing, I thought I must compose other songs for other deities from Cthulhu Mythos. This is why I decided make Cthulhu Mythos trilogy.
La Carmina: Lee, what draws you to Nyarlathotep?
Dee Lee: Nyarlathotep is the messenger of outer gods and I wrote the message from outer gods in the songs this time. I think Nyarlathotep took control of me for his purpose.
La Carmina: How did you come up with your band’s name? Is it inspired by the Russian movie “Vanished Empire”?
Chihiro: The name “Vanished Empire” was the temporary title of one of our songs. Back then, we had no band name and I thought the words “Vanished Empire” were really good for our band. I thought these words can express our musical direction. So we used this as our band’s name instead of a song title. Therefore it is not related to Russian movie.
La Carmina: Can you tell me about your process of creating music? Who is responsible for what?
Dee Lee: Usually I make first draft, record a demo version and send it to Chihiro. After, I incorporate Chihiro’s ideas. I always compose music before I write lyrics. But this time I had to peruse Lovecraft’s mythos and make music and lyrics at same time. So I spent a lot of time on the process. While I was making songs for this trilogy (mainly March and April), I was going insane from insomnia and nightmares. I think Cthulhu sent messages from R’lyeh.
La Carmina: Your album was released by Darkest Labyrinth. What made you decide to work with this label? Do you collaborate or perform with other Darkest Labyrinth bands?
Chihiro: I have been associated with Kiwamu (owner of Darkest Labyrinth and member of GPKISM) and trust Darkest Labyrinth as the best in the Japanese Gothic scene. Spectrum-X (they are also a label mate) remixed our song in our first album “Theater Of Tragedy.” There are a lot of talented bands on this label, so I would like to collaborate with them.
La Carmina: What are your goals for this year? How has your sound evolved?
Chihiro: We will release a EP based on the Cthulhu mythos in this year. And if we can, we would like to go to tour with this album.
Vanished Empire’s music will be deeper and darker.
Dee Lee: The title of new EP will be “The Unnamable Symphony”. Our recording work is in progress. I think we can announce release dates and detail soon… I hope! This will be the most blasphemous CD in our history.
La Carmina: If could perform with anyone, who would it be and why?
Chihiro: I love the bands like Alien Vampires, Siva Six, and Leather Strip so I would like to perform with them someday.
Kanae may be incompetent as an evil minion, but she’s mad talented as a visual artist. She created the photo manipulations of Vanished Empire to reflect their new image (and that’s her in the bottom row of the above photos).
Kanae made these spectral images for the Japanese band Despair. They recently played at the Goth party Lunatic Sabbath, where Kenny Creation’s band performed and Yukiro danced.
Kanae is from Tokyo but currently attends school in New York; I think her artwork reflects both sensibilities, from the perspective of darkness and beauty. You can see more of Kanae’s photo manipulations on her website. To hear “the most blasphemous music in history,” check out Vanished Empire’s MySpace.
Who’s getting excited for X Japan? Which songs are currently on your playlist?
Japanese Word of the Day: Aseru = Discolor
Song of the Day: Vanished Empire – Hellfire Within Me
LA CARMINA
