We met Ayabie just before their first gig abroad. We arrived in the meeting room and settled down, the members of the band watching us carefully at the same time. Although the band was obviously excited, the atmosphere was relaxed and the members were also quite open. We introduced ourselves as JaME quickly and then moved to the questions since we had heard that our interview time had been shortened to 10 minutes.
The members were already wearing their performing costumes.
Ryohei and
Aoi answered most of the questions,
Intetsu, Takehito and
Kenzo were slightly quieter compared to them.
We would like to hear about your first impressions of Finland and what you already knew about the country?
Intetsu: (thinks): We didnt know much about Finland before to tell you the truth, so its a little hard to say. I know that Moomin is somehow connected with Finland! (laughs)
Aoi: I suppose henceforth well know a lot more about your country than we had before.
Ryohei: Im also sure the country itself is much bigger than the little piece we had time to see.
How was Ayabie born?
Ryohei: First, only four of us were friends: me, Intetsu, Aoi and Takehito. Kenzo joined us later
Kenzo:
And it was destiny!
(the band laughs)
Ryohei: You probably meant a nuisance?
(the band laughs)
Ryohei: To put it short, it was destiny.
What do you think influenced the band the most when it came time to choosing a style?
Ryohei: Were talking about a band that plays popular music, so naturally were also doing what the audience wants us to. Originally, however, we built our style to try and stand out and differentiate each member. We took something from everyone.
Could you tell us how your style has changed since your first single: Kagen no sakura, ame?
Ryohei: We have slowly mixed everything new to the style of that time. Heavy Metal, J-rock
Takehito: Punk?
(the others keep nodding)
Ryohei: Thats how our current style was born and at the moment, it feels like the most reliable. As well as our own.
Aoi, you were in MASK before. How did working in MASK and the band itself differ from Ayabie?
(the band stars to laugh)
Aoi: Hmmmm
(ponders for a long time)
(Ryohei and Aoi whisper to each other until both of them start to laugh loud once again)
Aoi: Ayabies teamwork is much more different. However, in a positive way. The teamwork is a lot better than in MASK, which I dont care to
Ryohei:
recall that much?
Aoi: Thats right. Besides, the members get along better and in Ayabie we just have a cooler time together. Plain and simple.
(laughs)
Where does the name Ayabie come from and what does it mean?
Ryohei: The name actually doesnt have a particular story behind it and it doesnt even mean anything. It has been constructed from different sounds that go together as beautifully as possible.
What has been your favourite tour ever?
(Aoi and Ryohei look each other)
Aoi: Generally speaking, the newest tour is always our favourite.
(others keep nodding with a smile on their faces)
Ryohei: Yet I believe this first tour in Europe will always be somehow really special and I believe well remember all of it forever.
Youre releasing new material all the time. This year, Ayabie has already released four maxi-singles. How are you able to do this and why are you staying specifically in singles and not releasing albums?
Intetsu: Firstly, theres always a theme we are sustaining.
Ryohei: (nods): Singles are naturally faster and easier to make compared to albums. Each release therefore includes a new theme. Releasing the singles is just because we all have too many ideas that are bubbling out of us and we have a huge urge to carry out all of them as soon as possible.
Aoi: Additionally, when were continuously releasing something new and dont stay quiet for long
that makes the fans satisfied!
Intetsu: (points the front of his trousers for a long time and says suggestively): Those ideas come from here.
(everybody laughs)
What will your next single,FAINT/Topaz, be like?
Ryohei: Were not going to give away much of it beforehand but were talking about a release which is a perfect constellation of Ayabie. One could call it a visitors pass because it describes our current style extensively.
What do you think of your fans?
Intetsu: Were getting letters and e-mails without interruption, from Europe too.
Ryohei: That kind of activity always makes us really happy and its great when our foreign fans are making themselves known. Its wonderful that were finding fans this far and that new fans are born all the time.
Aoi: Without them, we wouldnt be here now.
Ryohei: Fans get us hot more and more. And they make us to love this job.
What does the appearance of your band mean to you?
Ryohei: Our appearance is not so important in the end and were not dressing like this to please others.
Intetsu: We firmly think that everything we think is cool is.
Were curious; what song would you like to make a cover of?
Ryohei: We havent thought about anything like that. (smiles widely) Our biggest wish is that some other band would like to make a cover from one of our songs!
(everybody laughs)
Aoi: Oh my, that would be something!
(the band laughs some more)
How did you feel when you left for your tour of Europe?
Takehito: We actually even didnt grasp or comprehend it at first.
Ryohei: Thats why we left for Europe feeling kind of peaceful. Only when we came here and saw the queue, the fans, the club itself
well, I could say that the eagerness of the band increased rapidly.
Whats the meaning of concerts in Europe to you as artists? Are they somehow a next step?
Intetsu: I really believe theyre some kind of next step.
Ryohei: Concerts in Europe are actually the first step of Ayabies world conquest. And in a way, Finland has the honour to start it.
So would you like to release more material in Europe in the future?
Everyone: (keeps nodding): Yeah, absolutely!
Aoi: Were trying to advance this all in Europe all the time.
Were you surprised when you heard that the gig in Finland was sold out?
Intetsu: Yes, we were really surprised.
(Kenzo and Aoi are nodding and agreeing)
Ryohei: We were unquestionably surprised but also very happy. And we still are.
What are you going to do after this tour?
Ryohei: After this, were going to tour Japan.
(the band laughs satisfiedly)
Aoi: Were not going to slack off!
Thank you for your time and have an amazing concert!
Everyone: Thank you so much! (they keep smiling widely)
Intetsu: It was our pleasure.
(more laughing and smiling)
Lastly we asked the band to write greetings for JaME and Finnish fans. They agreed gladly.
Thank you: Ayabie and their staff, Mayu Saaritsa (our translator), Helinä Toikkanen (photos), Gloria and JrockSuomi for your help.
