Interview with Mikaru

Shortly before the release of his new mini-album EVER-CHANGING and his European tour, Mikaru gave us some time for an interview.

Could you please introduce yourself to any people who don’t know you?

Mikaru: I’m vocalist Mikaru of G.L.A.M.S. G.L.A.M.S is a symbol of my art project. I make music, paintings and jewelry.

You’re a complete artist: a singer, composer, jeweler, and painter. What are your inspirations, and what do you like to do most? Do you do things based on your state of mind? (For example, painting when you’re at peace or making songs when you’re angry)

Mikaru: I will create what I want. A different world always spreads out in my head. It shows a variety of landscapes. It will end in a day, continue for a week, or continue for a month, so there is no uniformity in what I create. The scenery and emotions that can be seen and felt there are my inspiration. What I like to do... Hmm… music, paintings, jewelry... I will do them all in my room. So, I want to go out into open nature – out to oceans and mountains. To eat delicious food while watching nature. It’s the best time, but I’m a little sad when I’m alone.

Is there a kind of art you really want to create that you haven’t tried before?

Mikaru: I like fashion, so I'd like to design clothes. The clothes I design will surely be beautiful. I’m confident about that.

When you were a child, were you thinking about becoming an artist? Or did you think about doing something else as a profession?

Mikaru: As a child, I first wanted to be an F1 racer. I next wanted to be a Tour de France rider and a professional wrestler!

Your music’s universe is really rich since you always renew both your music and fashion styles. Do you think about this universe before making a song, or do you create it based on the song?

Mikaru: I don’t like the idea of a "concept". I don’t need to confine myself to a small world. In my case, I will first make a song. At this point, I can see the world of the song in me and think about the fashion style that fits that song. I’m boring and always the same, but that freedom frees my imagination.

You’re going to release a new mini-album. What’s the title? Could you tell us more about it?

Mikaru: The title is EVER-CHANGING. I will constantly change. That’s the mind trying to create more amazing things; that spirit makes me grow. In other words, for me, now is the best. Today is better than yesterday; tomorrow is better than today. It’s "ever-changing" in that sense.

You’ll also release three PVs. Which songs are they for? Could you tell us more about them and describe the style of each PV?

Mikaru: The PVs are for Dragonfly and Rosy Life, The Beginning of the End, and Man in Underworld.

Dragonfly and Rosy Life... They are songs I’d like to sing with everyone at shows, so I made the PV look like my usual practice scenery.

The Beginning of the End... It’s a song completely about vampires. This is my makeup and costume. This was what I wanted to do before. It’s as I imagined. It’d have been cooler if it was in a European castle.

Man in Underworld... This is exactly my world. I think it’s a song that’s hard to understand. It took about a year to make this song. The video is like an old mafia or gangster movie, or it has an image like 007.

It seems as if the three PVs feature completely different bands. This is the good part about G.L.A.M.S.



After so many tours in Europe, you’d certainly have some memorable moments. Could you tell us about a funny memory during a tour? Or maybe the worst or scariest one you have?

Mikaru: I have a scary memory. It’s very frightening. I stayed in the same room with Syu, but there was only one big bed in the room. I woke up in the middle of the night, then I hugged him! Oh... I’m afraid of myself.

If you were able to meet yourself from 20 years ago, what would you like to say to him?

Mikaru: Don’t take the college entrance exam! You should quit college! It's a waste of money!

Do you have any hobbies besides art?

Mikaru: Traveling, eating, watching films, watching anime, drinking a beautiful woman's blood...

You were in many bands, including Dio, DISGRAS and BLACK LINE, and now you’re a solo artist in G.L.A.M.S (even if you’re still accompanied by band members most of the time). Do you prefer being solo or in a band?

Mikaru: After all, I’m the vocalist of a band. The raw sound of a band is the best. The good thing about being solo is that it makes me feel like Michael Jackson. I should dance.

The first G.L.A.M.S album was softer than your previous projects, but it looks like you’re coming back to visual kei with this new mini-album. Do you miss this style, and do you think it fits you more? Or is it because you want to keep changing G.L.A.M.S’ style?

Mikaru: It changed from a visual kei style to a “G.L.A.M.S kei” style. The visual kei world is too small for me.

Could you tell us more about your music creation process? How do you make a song? Do you think about the music first and add the lyrics in after that, or do it the opposite way?

Mikaru: First, I will make the melody while I shower. After I shower, I will pick up the guitar and try to sing as I play. I will wear clothes. Then, I will hand the song over to the members while conveying an image. This time, there are also songs by Yudai. In that case, he gives me the demo and I will make the melody.

What’s the most important thing in your music life?

Mikaru: It's shows. I’m not making music to put out CDs. I’m making music to perform shows. The shows are my music life.

If you had the opportunity to collaborate with a Japanese artist, who would it be? Who would you choose for an international artist?

Mikaru: MIYAVI and Paul McCartney. The Beatles are a band that triggered the beginning of music. When I was in junior high school, I sang The Beatles’ songs as I played the guitar.

Could you please leave a message for JaME’s readers?

Mikaru: Thank you for the interview and thanks for reading so far. I will continue to create new works. I’m thankful that I’m living in the same era as you. I will go on a European tour in November. Let's enjoy the show together! We are waiting at the venue!

JaME would like to thank Mikaru for this interview opportunity.