Interview with Kaito of Wizard

Wizard is a rather new visual kei band that recently released an European version of their album Aquarius on the German label CLJ Records. Because of this occasion, we had an interview with Kaito, the vocalist of the band.

Thank you very much for taking your time for this interview! First of all, we would like to ask you to introduce yourself.

Kaito: I am Kaito (Kamasama).

What's the meaning behind your band's name? Who came up with it?

Kaito: ‘Wiz’ means an exceptionally gifted or skilled person. ‘Wizard’ means not only a male conjurer but also the one holding the highest position. Hiro-san and I chose the name because of those meanings.

How would you describe your musical style? How about your visual style?

Kaito: We have pliable thinking and try different sounds without being bound by anything (laughs). About visual style- I think it would be okay even a person is fat (laughs).

You change your costumes every once in a while. Do you decide your style based on your music or something else?

Kaito: Our music is one of the reasons, but we also want people to think “oh, they've changed,” and we like to surprise our fans.

What about the visual kei scene made you decide to take part in it?

Kaito: I simply started my music with a visual-style band.

Kaito-san, you and Hiro-san were the ones who formed the band, right? How did the two of you meet? Did you know each other before you started Wizard?

Kaito: We met each other through an internet message board offering and looking for band members (laughs).

What about the other of the members? How did you get to know them?

Kaito: We met Saki-kun the same way and Saki-kun already knew Masumin. And we happened to see Haruka playing in a session and picked him up.

Kaito, why do you call yourself Okama-san?

Kaito: Hm, probably I want others to consider me as a unique person; I don’t exactly know the reason. How can I say it.... I want others to believe that I am different from everybody else.

How do you decide the name of your releases? Is it before or after you decide what songs that will be on the album/single?

Kaito: We decide on the title and concept first and then we make songs according to that.

A lot of your fans in Europe don't understand Japanese lyrics. What do you usually write about in your lyrics? Do you base them on your own experiences?

Kaito: Some of the lyrics are from my own experiences and others are stories from an imaginary world. Most of them are fantasy lyrics.

Why do you release so many of your songs over and over again, in different versions? Are you not satisfied with the existing ones?

Kaito: Yes. We were not satisfied with them!

The bonus track on ‘Platonic boy’ is a cover of Pink Lady's ‘Nagisa no Sindbad’ (a female popduo from the 70’s/80’s). Why exactly did you choose to make a cover for this song? Does the song have some personal value for you or did you do it just for fun?

Kaito: I liked it personally.

You're releasing your first live DVD on March 7th in Japan. The majority of your European fans haven't seen you live; what can they expect to see on the DVD?

Kaito: You can see how fat Okama-san really is. And our attitude of playing music seriously, even if I say such a stupid thing.

Did you get any reactions from people in Europe on your album, Aquarius, already?

Kaito: Yes, I feel honored that our music is accepted in Europe.

Four speed disk bands (Wizard, Ayabie, SCREW and SERIAL⇔NUMBER) went to Korea for a short tour in January. What did it feel like to play in Korea?

Kaito: It was our first gig in overseas and I was very nervous. I could not communicate in Japanese with the fans, so we had to satisfy the fans only with our music. But they welcomed us very warmly, and we were happy about it.

What do you think about the other bands on the Speed Disk label and how do you see yourself in comparison to them?

Kaito: The other bands are attractive too. But we try to do what the others don’t do or don’t want to do. On that point, we are proud of our flexibility.

Now that you've released an album in Europe, do you have plans to tour in Europe in a near future as well? On that note, how about any plans to release CDs or perform in the USA?

Kaito: Well, we wish to have a tour in Europe one day. We don’t have any plans for releasing in the USA, but we want to do it one day too.

What plans do you have for the future, in general?

Kaito: On 7th March, Live DVD “Film Wizard – Universal [KAMA]ER FINAL – Release
On 4th April, 8th Maxi Single SHELL –シェル- Release
On 4th April, solo concert at Kudan-kaikan

Please give a message to your overseas fans.

Kaito: Try the Wizard’s sound, just for the heck of it (laughs). Wait for us until we come to you for a concert tour one day. Thank you.