JaME's Rising Stars of 2015: GIGAMOUS

Introduction

In August 2013, a band arose from the ashes of visual acts Ap(r)il, N@H, Heisei Ishin, spiv states and Viored. Its members are Shiki behind the microphone, YUKKIE on guitar, seiya on bass and Rai on drums. Rai and YUKKIE have been bandmates ever since their days in Heisei Ishin, but for the other members, this was their first time playing together.

GIGAMOUS quickly made a name for themselves. In little over a year, they had played two one-man lives as well as many other concerts. The Tokyo-based group also released no less than five singles, three of which were part of a three-month campaign: Platonic, Tokyo and Kangoku Rockmen.

Working from the concept of “GIGA PARTY ROCK”, their music is a blend of jazzy basslines, electronic melodies, clear vocals and catchy refrains. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the result is a sound that’s very danceable and irresistibly upbeat.


Interview

How did the band members come together and form GIGAMOUS?

GIGAMOUS: Originally, each of us already had solo careers and so on, but the timing was right to form a band, so we chatted to each other and now here we are. Shiki, YUKKIE and Rai were decided in advance, but it took a long time for seiya to decide.

What made you go into visual kei, as opposed to regular rock?

GIGAMOUS: We don't think there are divisions between rock or music. It wasn't about any particular preference over the styles of music. Rather, since visual kei is a culture specific to Japan, we feel that it's a good "weapon" to have when we make music.

What are the themes behind GIGAMOUS? Are there any feelings or messages you want to convey?

GIGAMOUS: Our concept is "GIGA PARTY ROCK!!!!" In our shows, we always shout: "Let's have a party!" A bustling and extremely flashy show with a fashion style that nobody can copy; that's our selling point.

Your band name has the word "mouse" in it and you wear mouse ears at times. Is there any specific reason that they appeal to you?

GIGAMOUS: We are not necessarily restricted by the meaning of the word "mouse". Sometimes, we attach the meaning of the word "mouth"—a big mouth—to our band name. So, we coined the word "mous" for use in our band's name in order to express both meanings. When our band's name and visual impact come together, we think we can express ourselves strongly and easily.

What are your plans and hopes for 2015?

GIGAMOUS: GIGAMOUS means more than just having a big mouth. We want to gain lots of attention with our big mouth.


Review



Title of release: Kangoku rockmen
Date of release: 2014.08.06

GIGAMOUS seems to make it a point to make every single they release sound a little bit different from the one before. While previous singles had a lot of electronic elements, their more recent single Tokyo was all about jazzy pop-rock. Kangoku Rockmen however is a straight-forward and loud rock song. This does not mean they have a hard time sticking to one style though; the party rock atmosphere is clearly represented and as always the song is extremely danceable.

Kangoku Rockmen starts off aggressively with a wall of sound blasting from the speakers. Although this fast pace is held on to throughout the following three minutes, a playful undertone takes over.

Alternating upbeat guitars and funky bass lines get their moment to shine, sometimes stopping in their tracks for a sudden break or quick tempo change. Meanwhile vocalist Shiki ventilates his pessimistic view of the world and expresses his desire to break away from it, inviting the listener to join him. To top it off the chorus is easy to sing along to as it contains easy English words.

The result is an inciting whole that should get every listener jumping around, fists in the air–yes, even in their own living rooms. It’s simply a fun song, with a capital "F," that would translate very well to a live environment. Here’s to hoping these men get a chance to perform near your town soon.