An Exclusive Interview with Mana

For the first time, Mana has produced a female artist, Kanon Wakeshima. He now visits France not for his own live, but to accompany Kanon for her first live concert at La Bellevilloise in Paris and her showcase at FNAC. Before the event at La Bellevilloise, Mana sat down with JaME for an interview about producing Kanon Wakeshima, Moi dix Mois, the European release of their live DVD ~"Fated raison d’être"~ Europe Tour 2007 and possible future plans.


Hello Mana, you are in France yet again, but this time for something other than a live. As such, isn't France something like your second home?

Mana: It is true that in Europe it is France that I go to the most, so we could say that my adopted country is France!

What are you expecting from this event?

Mana: Having no concert this time, I have come to France as a producer for the first time. I come with the perspective of a spectator and I'm looking forward to seeing the reactions of the spectators who will come to the show and hope that they will enjoy themselves.

First, I'd like to discuss your work with Kanon Wakeshima. How did you meet her and what led you to work with her?

Mana: Actually, someone from Sony invited me to attend the audition of some young talents and to see if it was possible that I could produce someone. The idea seemed interesting, so I went. There was a young girl who stood out from everyone else, who sang while playing on her cello. As we already know, I really enjoy classical music so it left a strong impression on me. She had a really special talent and I became close to her in hopes of being able to do some interesting projects with her.

Do you remember what she played for this audition? Was it an original composition or was it a classical piece?

Mana: She played a piece that she had composed herself.

How did the production and writing of the music go?

Mana: Knowing that she had played the cello since she was three and had had classical training, my approach each time was to take into account the melody of the cello and add the digital compositions that I thought would perfectly complement the musicality of the instrument.

We also notice that the music for Kanon is much softer than the music for Moi dix Mois; what inspired you to adapt your compositions to her taste?

Mana: Yes, the image of Moi dix Mois is a sort of "aggressive" beauty, whereas Kanon's world is more about the transition between the worlds of children and adults. It was necessary for me to create sounds completely different from those of Moi dix Mois. What better represented her music was an idea closer to gentleness. The music of Moi dix Mois is more virile, if you will, while Kanon is delicate and sweet; her universe is more tender and softer. So among other changes, I reduced the number of beats per minute.

This is the first time that you produced a female artist, were you nervous in any way?

Mana: No, I was not really worried; on the contrary, I told myself that this was an opportunity to do something different than what I normally did with Moi dix Mois. It was a good experience for me to do this.

Are you going to continue to produce her in the future and do you already have projects lined up with her?

Mana: I was Kanon's exclusive producer up to the album Shinshoku Dolce, but I will be less involved from now on, becoming someone who "helps from the shadows." Sony will call on me to compose though, so I will be a melody composer.

Will you be the primary composer or will there be other composers?

Mana: I do not know yet, perhaps there will be others who compose songs for her. At the moment, there isn't a decision of exclusivity yet; it is just me and we will see what happens later.

Do you have any other artists in mind whom you would like to produce?

Mana: This is the first time that I am 100% the producer so this is not typical for me. I have not really thought about what new artists to produce, but if I discover someone who is musically interesting, I would be happy to produce him or her.

In regards to your clothing line Moi-même-Moitié, do you have any particular projects planned?

Mana: Unfortunately, there is nothing planned at the moment.

Would you consider including Kanon Wakeshima in your line?

Mana: The worlds of Moi-même-Moitié and Kanon Wakeshima are very distinct and too different to think of putting the two together. So right now, there is nothing planned to bring the two together.

Now if we may, let's talk about Moi dix Mois, who released a European version of the live DVD DIXANADU ~ Fated "raison d'être"~ Europe Tour 2007, which includes subtitles in English and German. What would you say about this DVD?

Mana: It's a DVD in which you'll get to see concert footage, as well as a documentary of the group with subtitles, so more people can understand the universe of Moi dix Mois. It also includes a booklet that I'm sure will delight the fans!

The audio commentary and the bonus videos present the group in another manner, that is more friendly. Was it important for you to present Moi dix Mois outside the serious and dark side that we see on stage?

Mana: Perhaps, through the video, the fans will discover another side of the group, that's true. It's nice that through this they are able to see behind the scenes and how we are off-stage.

There is a bonus version of the European version of the DVD that includes an autographed photo and a t-shirt. Is this to thank the fans for waiting for the European release?

Mana: Yes, exactly! Unfortunately, I have not seen this version of the DVD yet. Would you have it with you today?

Yes, but I only have the DVD here!

(Mana inspects the European version of the DVD in detail, surprised at how it has turned out.)

You had a Dix Inferno live (the sixth) in December, accompanied by Közi (note: the ex-guitarist of Malice Mizer). You must have thought that this would be a surprise to many, especially when you played the songs of Malice Mizer together. How did you propose this to Közi?

Mana: This past summer, we were eating together; we see each other from time to time, though it is rare. I said to him, "Would it be nice to play together once again?" And since there was the concert in December, I asked him to participate and he agreed.

How was it to play together again with your old bandmate?

Mana: It was really fun to play old music with Közi!

You announced that you were in the process of writing a new song for Moi dix Mois on your personal website. Are you going to open new musical horizons?

Mana: It's something that will be very "me"! It resembles me a lot and will be quite dark, but despite that, it will be orientated more than usual around classicism and aesthetics.

Is a single planned for the coming months? A new album maybe or some PVs?

Mana: Right now, I'd like to make a new album, but I can't say anything more.

Is a European or American tour planned?

Mana: Indeed, I would like to tour.

Will you travel to new countries this year to tour?

Mana: I do intend to go to many countries that I have previously never been to.

You've accomplished so many things outside of Japan. What do you still hope to do?

Mana: There was an American tour, but that was cancelled as you know. So, I hope to get my revenge! (laughs)

To finish, do you have any particular message to leave us with?

Mana: First, I invite all of my fans to listen to Kanon Wakeshima's Shinsoku Dolce because it is the first time that I have produced a female artist. This will give you a chance to listen to a new type of melody that I usually would not have composed with Moi dix Mois who represent my musical style, although, that said it is Kanon's album above all.

I also invite you to purchase Moi dix Mois's live DVD, ~"Fated raison d’être"~ Europe Tour 2007 - even if you already own the Japanese version, the European version has subtitles so you can better understand what's going on!

Thank you very much!

Mana: Thank you.


JaME would like to thank Mana and Midi:Nette, Grégoire Hellot for translating, and the team of Wasabi Records, Aurélie and Gaëlle.