Interview with DAI KONAN

Musician DAI KONAN recently released a cover of Alive or Undead, a song originally performed by the German power metal band Powerwolf. For the cover's music video, he travelled to Madrid, Spain, and filmed it among the renowned sculptures of El Retiro park.

In addition to DAI KONAN on vocals, the line-up of the newly released Alive or Undead recording includes guitarist Shinno from NoGoD, pianist Ayame from Matenrou Opera, bassist yumeji from HOLLOWGRAM, and drummer Aki, who has previously played in bands such as Lc5.

JaME's Finnish team had the opportunity to interview the musicians regarding the cover, as well as to hear from DAI KONAN about his recent travels in Europe.

DAI KONAN, your new collaboration cover with Shinno, Ayame, yumeji and Aki has been released. How did the five of you come together to work on this new cover?

DAI KONAN: Firstly, yumeji, who played bass on this track, is actually a guitarist. He has played guitar for me on three previous re-arranged cover songs. Although I asked Shinno to play the guitar for this track, I really wanted to collaborate with yumeji in some way. I knew he could also play the bass, so I asked him to take on that role. We've known each other for about 15 years now. I met yumeji back when we were both in bands in Sapporo, and we often went out for drinks together. He's still a really good friend of mine.

While I was in the band m:a.ture, I also did composing work for Japanese TV shows and other music projects, and that's how I started working with yumeji. I composed the live opening SE for Lc5, the band yumeji was in, and that's how I met Aki too. I knew he was an amazing drummer, and for this track, I really wanted a live drum feel, so I asked him to join in. I've also been friends with Sato, the bassist of Lc5, for a long time. We still go out for meals and watch pro wrestling together. He's now in a band called ASH DA HERO.

On a side note, Lc5 had Miku from An Cafe as the vocalist, right? Actually, when I went to a vintage clothing store in Latvia, I found an An Cafe T-shirt! I was so surprised that I asked the store staff about it, and they said they had bought it in the U.S., I think. They mentioned that they liked the design. (laughs) I never expected to find an An Cafe shirt in the Baltic states!

I got to know Ayame and Shinno when I was in m:a.ture, but we've never actually played a show together. However, we've always supported each other's bands, going to their shows and hanging out. I got along with Ayame because there aren't many synthesizer players in rock bands, so we became friends so quickly. If I remember correctly, I think we first met at a synthesizer product demonstration event by a certain manufacturer, and we hit it off from there. We've had great conversations about music and composing ever since. Shinno, on the other hand, was the first person I thought of when it came time to do this cover. I know his guitar style from NoGoD, and I immediately knew he was the right person for this track. Even though I've never actually played with Shinno before, he did an amazing job.

Shinno, Ayame and yumeji, what thoughts did participating in this cover evoke in you?

Shinno: I was really happy because it was an offer from a close friend. I don't often get the opportunity to do covers in the form of recordings for NoGoD, so I thought it would be a great learning experience. Since I was given clear directions and a solid concept from the start, I enjoyed figuring out how to add my own style without breaking the original vision. I actually recorded my part without knowing who else was involved, so it was really interesting to find out later. (laughs)

Ayame: Powerwolf's music is so powerful and epic. I focused on how to highlight the symphonic elements, and I think we managed to create an atmospheric and grand arrangement. Everyone involved in this project comes from the visual kei/J-rock scene, so it would be amazing if we could perform live together someday.

yumeji: Basically, neither the song nor the members affect my playing style. I've worked with DAI KONAN many times before, so I simply provided what he was looking for. Since the chord progression of this song is simple, I considered various approaches. However, I didn't want to interfere with the synth, which defines the atmosphere of the song. So, I focused on playing as simply as possible. I don't think bassists usually go for this kind of sound. (laughs)

Were you already familiar with Powerwolf's music?

Shinno: No, this was my first time discovering them, and I'm glad I did!

Ayame: I wasn't very familiar with them, so I'd like to listen to more of their songs from now on.

yumeji: No, I wasn't. But thanks to this project, I got to know their music!

yumeji, you have participated in many of DAI KONAN's covers over the years. How has this long-term collaboration been for you? Also, was there any cover that was particularly challenging?

yumeji: Most of the songs we've recorded together have simple chord progressions, so the difficulty level isn't too high but there is an aspect that makes it more difficult to make simple things sound interesting. However, this time I played bass, which made me ponder a lot. (laughs)

DAI KONAN, are there any fun stories you would like to share about your process for working on the cover?

DAI KONAN: This song required a grand orchestration, so I asked Ayame to help me with it. While Ayame and I share the same role as synthesizer players, our styles are very different. I tend to focus on electronic arrangements and machine-like sounds, while Ayame uses piano and strings in a more classical style. It's this contrast that made our collaboration work so well. Ayame took the arrangement I originally had and refined it with his input, which was a huge help.

I don't have the powerful, metal-style vocals that a band like Powerwolf would have, as I tend to sing more quietly in a new wave music style. In contrast, Shinno's heavy guitar added the heavy aspect that the track needed. Dancho, the vocalist of NoGoD, also helped with the guitar recording, which was great.

How did you get the idea to shoot the music video in El Retiro Park? Did you consider other locations or was this the obvious choice?

DAI KONAN: Actually, it was Fernando, the director, who suggested the idea after hearing the song. The main location for the shoot, the Fountain of the Fallen Angel in El Retiro Park, represents a fallen angel in Catholicism — a being who was cast out of heaven and became a demon. It's the only monument dedicated to the devil in the whole world, and the statue is at an elevation of 666 meters (the number of the beast) and has an 8-sided base (which symbolizes chaos). Because of all this, it's considered to have an evil nature. In Christianity, the number 666 is associated with the "number of the beast" in the Book of Revelation, which is why it's seen as ominous, but I guess not many people in Japan would know the significance of that.

When the director suggested shooting in front of the fallen angel monument, I immediately thought, "This is perfect." The theme of the song matched perfectly with the monument's symbolism. In the video, I think we've captured the essence of immortality well. There's a point in the song where the lyrics goes "Ignored the signs of the end," and my costume changes at that moment, symbolizing a shift into an immortal existence. I prefer videos that leave room for interpretation rather than ones that give clear answers, and I think this one has just the right amount of ambiguity.


You have visited several countries in Europe. What are the differences between them as a traveler?

DAI KONAN: Spain had amazing food, especially the tapas! I stayed in an area that wasn't very touristy, and I enjoyed it more that way. I spent time in bookstores, shopping at local supermarkets, and riding buses, just soaking in the local atmosphere.

The Baltic States — Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — each had their own unique charm. Lithuania was very rich in nature and had a calm, beautiful cityscape. It's the best place if you want to immerse yourself in history and culture. Latvia was also great, with its historical aspects and wonderful local people. I even bought an amber bracelet there and gave it to my mom as a gift. Estonia felt the most modern of the three. The IT industry is huge there, and you can feel the cutting-edge atmosphere. At the same time, the downtown area was beautifully preserved, creating a great contrast.

Finland was super organized and clean, and everything I ate was delicious. The only thing was that it was the most expensive of the countries I visited. (laughs) Another thing that surprised me was the number of karaoke shops in the city. When I asked the hotel staff about it, they said it's just a Finnish thing. (laughs)

Do you have a favorite travel location you would like to recommend out of the ones you have visited yourself?

DAI KONAN: That's a tough question, as every country has its own amazing qualities. But if I'm to choose one, I'd say Laos. I went to a place called Det Island in the middle of a river, where I rented a bicycle and circled the island — it was such a beautiful sight. It felt like I had traveled back in time.

I also visited the Wat Phou ruins, and if you like adventurous travel, it's definitely a place to check out. The Angkor Wat ruins in Cambodia are amazing too, but it can be very touristy there sometimes, and that can detract from the experience. Laos, on the other hand, has a much more peaceful and laid-back atmosphere, making it a perfect place to relax.


Do you happen to have any bad travel experiences that stuck in your mind?

DAI KONAN: Haha, yeah, the toilet situation in Southeast Asia. I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say I had a rough time in a public restroom in Cambodia. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

You recently visited Helsinki briefly. Was there something you enjoyed about Helsinki or Finland in particular?

DAI KONAN: In Helsinki, I visited a record store called Music Hunter, and it was incredible. They had so many rare items, like signed photos of Ozzy Osbourne and cassette tapes of Iron Maiden. I could have easily spent days there, but I didn't have much time, so I had to leave quickly. If you're a collector, it's definitely a place you should check out.

I was also surprised by how the public transportation system works in Finland. You make the payment in advance through an app, and there's no concept of ticket gates. I'm planning to share more about my time in Finland in an upcoming vlog, so I hope you enjoy it!

You have covered Finnish artist HIM's song Join Me in Death and said it was one of your favorites. How did you initially discover HIM's music?

DAI KONAN: I found the Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights album at a local CD store called Underground when I was living in the U.S. I hadn't heard of HIM before, but I was drawn to the album cover and decided to buy it. When I listened to it, the music really resonated with me — it felt like "this is it." Join Me is from their previous album, Razorblade Romance, and it was from this album that I really started to dive into their music. I remember playing it at my apartment and my roommate at the time said, "This song is amazing. Who is this?" And he ended up becoming a HIM fan too. I still remember it clearly. I love dark, dramatic, and romantic music like Sisters of Mercy, that is why HIM's music also fits me.

After I started listening to HIM, I began exploring many Finnish gothic rock bands. The 69 Eyes, Entwine, Shamrain, To Die For, and Soulrelic became some of my favorites, and I especially loved the song Burned to Ashes by Soulrelic. These days, I think Swallow the Sun is a really great band.


Lastly, would you like to leave a message for our readers?

DAI KONAN: I think Finnish music is truly amazing, and it's one of the roots of my music style. I'm really happy to be featured in Finnish media.

Some people might think it's a bit strange for a Japanese musician to cover a German metal band like Powerwolf, but I've always loved their gothic style music. While I'm not really into run-of-the-mill type of metal, I have a deep respect for Powerwolf's sound and their visual image. I've changed the arrangement quite a bit, but I've kept the original track's spirit and added my own touch to it. The guest musicians who played with me did an amazing job, so I hope everyone takes a listen!

Many thanks to DAI KONAN, Shinno, Ayame and yumeji for the thorough interview!