Interview with Dio - distraught overlord

Dio – distraught overlord is a rather new visual kei band that formed earlier this year. With their heavy yet melodic sound, they are trying to become known in both Japan and Europe. In December, they released their single “Byakuya ni Moyuru Hana” simultaneously in Japan and Europe.

JaME had a short interview with the band members to get to know them a little better.


Since all of you have been in bands before, was it easier to get recognition by fans and/or a label?

mikaru: I think that's true. When our older fans heard we were forming a new band, they wondered what kind of band it would be like and had some expectations about it. I don't think that we have let them down.
erina: I can't say it was easy. Every fan has their likes and dislikes, but I think they will grow to like us soon.

You said in ShoXX that you were in classified in the 'kote-kei' style. Can you explain what it is?

mikaru: I don't like that we classified ourselves as one style. We said it because people who don't know who we are can conjure up an image based on that word. Dio is Dio. It doesn't matter to me what people say about our style, I don't care.
erina: It's hard to explain. Just look at us. That's kote-kei.

Why have you chose to release your first single in Europe?

mikaru: I heard the European music scene is hot and I wanted to show people in Europe that bands like us exist in Japan. I believe no other band in Japan and Europe has the same understanding of music like we do. We are quite unique in this sense.
erina: I wanted to know how people in Europe see us, not just people in Japan. I want to know what people think about us worldwide. I can say it's a kind of 'challenge.'

Whose idea was it to form this band and why did you choose this name? Do you like Black Sabbath? (note: there is also an American band named Dio, led by former Black Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio).

mikaru: I have never listened to Black Sabbath, I have only heard the name. The band’s outlook was decided by all members. I was glad that guys who have similar ideas could get together. The name of band was decided by me, it means 'insane overlord‘. The overlord is stronger and more powerful than the other lords...but from his outward appearance, nobody can imagine the madness in his mind. I want to express that madness through music, a part that nobody can understand and is forbidden to show to other people. I think it that is an essential part of human beings and I want to try to approach it through the lyrics.
erina: Our style and direction came naturally when we were discussing our ideas about costumes. I think that every member favoured the style like this originally.

erina, you've been supporting ANTI FEMINISM a few times. Where do you know Kenzi from? Do you think you will ever return as a support member?

erina: Kenzi often took me to hang out and drink. It was the time when I felt depressed because my former band broke up, so while we were drinking he asked me to play with ANTI FEMINISM. I only performed with them for one year, I have no plan to play with them again.

And how about your relation to former band colleagues from Chelsea or Sally?

erina: We often contact one another and we often go to each other's gigs. I feel we are friendly rivals.

ivy, your former band Grevious looked more like a pop-punk band. But your own style already was a little bit darker than that of the other members in the band. What was the reason back then? Do you think you fit better into the band now?

ivy: Grevious was my first visual kei band and I didn't know what I should do...so I played as hard as I could. When I did that I began to lose myself and I went to my own world...that experience made my playing style aggressive. I feel thatDio is a suitable band for me because Dio's style needs dark and intense things.

Kei, you've been inactive for about three years since your last band, Kress Devia, broke up. What did you do in that time?

Kei: I haven't played for about two years. For the first year, I distanced myself from bands and was living normally. During that time, I looked for members and I went to other band's gigs, and so on. I was going to give up on forming another band again because finding new members was really hard. I was impatient and felt ineffective because other former members had already started new bands. But at last I could find members who could satisfy me, and we started playing, and we made our band.

What do all of you expect to reach with your band in the future?

erina: What I want to do most is to continue this band and I want everyone to be surprised. Please be surprised!
kei: Personally, I want to try to bring 'heavy' and 'melodious' together. As a member of Dio, I want to find a unique way of expression that only Dio has, and I want to produce new things free from any stereotypes.

Thanks for the interview, and we wish you a lot of luck in the future


You can find their single on Jmusic Store. Please note that the single is simply called ‘dio – distraught overlord’ instead of the original Japanese title.

Thanks to: JDC/ Red list Entertainment / J-Music Distribution. Interview translated in English by Mai Hayakawa