Interview with BE:FIRST

Featuring seven members who can not just sing, dance and rap, but also write their own lyrics and create their own choreography, BE:FIRST is not your average boy band. The members were all personally selected by their producer SKY-HI through his management company/label BMSG's audition show "THE FIRST", which challenged all of its contestants to tap into their creativity and place their passion for music and performing above all else.

They officially debuted in November 2021 with the single Gifted.. On August 31st, they released their first full album BE:1. Touted by SKY-HI, as a release that is "infinitely powerful, empathetic, bittersweet, yet filled with joy", the 15-track album is now available for download and streaming worldwide, and BE:FIRST are currently showcasing its songs across Japan on their first nationwide tour.

Shortly before the tour, the members of BE:FIRST answered a few questions about the release and shared some advice they received from SKY-HI.

If you had to choose just one song from your debut album BE:1 to recommend to a new listener, which one would you choose and why?

BE:FIRST: We would recommend BF is.... It is the first track in our debut album, and the perfect introduction to BE:FIRST and our music. For our live performances, this is the first song on our current stage set list. It is like our anthem song.


You wrote the lyrics for the song Grateful Pain yourselves. Could you please explain a bit about the inspiration behind this track?

LEO: Grateful Pain is a song where we were able to express who we are and how we feel from the audition till now, put into this song where we worked together on the music and lyrics.


One of the most interesting aspects of BE:FIRST is the members’ strong sense of individuality. If you had to describe your style or strength as a performers in five words or less, what would you say?

BE:FIRST: Simple! It's what our label BMSG embodies - Brave, Massive, Survive, and Groove, and quite essentially being ourselves.

It seems like SKY-HI takes a very hands-on approach as a producer. What is one useful piece of advice he has given you, either about performing and recording or about life in the entertainment industry in general?

BE:FIRST: The advice that SKY-HI gave us on the day of BE:FIRST's formation, which would be "love, gratitude and respect". To endlessly give our all, and to have pride and love for what we do, and to be number one, as well as give respect to others who equally qualify as number one in what they do.


If you could perform anywhere in the world – at any event or in any country - where would you want to go and why?

MANATO: For me, it has been a dream to perform at the Apollo Theater in New York. Now that I am a member of BE:FIRST, that dream continues, but as a group I would like us to perform at the Apollo Theater one day.

SOTA: Similar to MANATO, my dream is to dance during the halftime show at the Super Bowl game. I've seen amazing performances by great artists. I hope BE:FIRST will perform at the Super Bowl someday.

JaME would like to thank BE:FIRST and CANGLO Pte Ltd for this interview opportunity.

Links to download and stream BE:1 on various online music platforms are available here.

A video called THIS IS BE:FIRST that introduces the group and documents their road to the release of BE:1 can be viewed below.


In addition, BE:FIRST recently appeared alongside SKY-HI and their labelmates Novel Core, Aile The Shota and edhiii boi, as well as all of BMSG's trainees, at BMSG FES'22, a two-day festival that was held on September 17th and 18th. Footage from the festival was streamed worldwide via ZAIKO on September 24th, and the archive of the broadcast will be available for ticket holders to watch until 23:59 (JST) on October 31st. Fans interested in watching the archive can purchase a ticket here.

At this event, all of the artists came together as a supergroup called BMSG ALLSTARS, which released an original song titled New Chapter. The music video for New Chapter can be viewed below.