Jrock Revolution

alicenine. has released single MIRROR BALL
on March 26, 2008 and will be releasing
two music clip DVDs: alice in pictures I
and alice in pictures II,
on July 2^nd, 2008. Please check out
their official website
for more information.

the GazettE. They're one of the most popular bands in the scene today, and they're ready to answer the calls of their overseas fans by descending upon Europe this weekend. The multi-stage tour Pulse Wriggling to Black launches abroad, and will first take them across Germany, France, the U.K., and Finland, before they return to tour Japan and lead up to their Grand Finale lives in April. the GazettE saw a rapid rise to Jrock stardom, and they show no signs of slowing down.

 Jrock Revolution had the opportunity to spend some time with band leader KAI (drums). In this first part of a two-part interview, read about the GazettE's creative process and style, and KAI's reflection on their first experiences overseas.

Before new album Core came out on January 9th, we had the opportunity to spend time with all of Kagrra,,

They're known for their Neo Japanesque style that mixes familiar Western rock and Jrock sounds with musical elements evocative of traditional Japanese music.

And of course, they also stand out powerfully in Jrock Revolution Festival 1 attendees' memories for their dramatic return to gorgeous traditional Japanese dress.

Commenting in a long interview on the theme of Core, their thoughts on traditional and pop-modern cultural phenomena in both Japan and the U.S., and more, ISSHI, AKIYA, SIN, NAO, and IZUMI were at once contemplative and spirited as they approached J-Rock Invasion in Germany and the release of Core.

And of course, we asked the number one question submitted by JRR readers: why did they come to us in kimonos?

Listen to Kagrra,'s message for all of you on our front page music player! Then read on for Part One of a two-part interview.

JRR: First of all, please start by introducing yourself.

MIYAVI: Ok. I’m MIYAVI, I’m a Japanese Kabuki rock and visual kei artist. I try to blend the elements of hip-hop, funk, blues, etc with the visual style. I’m making my own original style.

JRR: Last night at your live (December 25th at C.C. Lemon Hall), you talked a lot about visual kei and bringing Japanese visual style abroad; could you talk more about that?

MIYAVI: Just like I’ve said before, I am very proud of what I am doing. To me, kabuki and visual-kei are two very unique facets of the Japanese culture, that only the Japanese can achieve. That’s why, I think, we grab the interest of music listeners overseas. I don’t want to just sound visual kei-ish. I don’t like the visual kei rock bands that only limit themselves to just visual kei style, or are satisfied with just visual-kei fans, and vice versa. Of course I treasure my visual-kei fans, but I would like to expand my music and our culture outside the visual-kei world as well. I want to bring together artists of different music genres, and present my music and our culture to people who do not know about visual kei rock, people who have no interest in visual kei rock, or people who look down upon visual kei rock. When we go overseas, people label us as “Jrock,” J standing for Japanese. Even though other bands in the visual-kei industry as well as myself are definitely influenced by foreign artists, we must show them what we can do as Japanese, otherwise there’s no point [in going there]. That’s why I’m brushing up my skills, and making music that is unique to me.

JRR: First of all, congratulations on your major debut.

ALL: Thank you.

JRR: What has changed since you became a major band?

KEIYU: Well, the number of staff around us has definitely increased. (Laughs.) We’ve had the same management company since we were an indies band, but now that we’re working with a record company, there are many opinions given to us on making any single song. So, compared to our indies days, we’ve lost some freedom.

YASUNO: Yeah, we have to get several confirmations before we can proceed with something. The more people you have to work with, the more comments and suggestions there are.

Peace & Smile Carnival, the festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the company that brought us Miyavi, Kagrra,, the GazettE, alice nine., kra, SuG, and Screw was held at the Nippon Budokan on January 3rd, 2008. The official set list is as follows.

We just got news of this exciting new live show featuring 雅-miyavi-, Kagrra, Kra, the GazettE and alice nine. scheduled for January 3rd, 2009.

Wow! Kra has so many upcoming releases this time around! They will be releasing a new single titled, "Amaoto wa Shopan no Shirabe", which will be released on October 8, the same day Kra's first PV collection DVD, "Kraction" will come out.  The PV clips extend all the way back to the very first promotional video Kra has ever filmed, to even their upcoming single!  I know I'll be pre-ordering my copies of these, will you?

Lastly, Kra will be releasing their first photobook, "Kera no Kanata", releasing on September 11. That date will be Kra's seventh anniversary, way to go!