Interview and Report of DJ Khimaira's Athens Event

On the 15th of May DJ Khimaira visited Athens, Greece to perform at Underworld. While Khimaira is slowly but surely building up his name in the European industrial/EBM/goth scene, the majority of the audience was visibly not too familiar with the scene. Audience aside, the night was solidly planned. The DJs opening the event were better known for their J-rock and anime sets, yet they were constantly blasting industrial sounds, successfully setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

DJ Khimaira appeared early on, clad in his trademark red and black vinyl outfit, nocturnal make up and impressive dreads. After thoroughly checking the equipment, he spent quite some time getting to know the club-goers and signing their posters and leaflets.

As Khimaira climbed on the decks – set on an imposing balcony, overlooking the entire club - a pulsing intro shook the floor, and the crowd fully realized it was not going to be another anime or visual kei night at Underworld. His set had the familiar structure of EBM/industrial sets - punishing beats with the occasional melodic breaks – but it was not without some well placed twists. The DJ himself was kept constantly busy by his equipment and looked extremely professional. Yet he would nod rhythmically, giving his fascination with the music away. The intense beat forced the majority of the peculiar audience to make a relatively successful endeavor into the stylized EBM dance moves. While the crowd didn’t go as wild as the music, it certainly sparked everyone’s interest.

One solid number followed the other. After the first hour of his set, Khimaira blasted an entrancing remix of Fear of the dark. This was definitely the decisive turn of the night. For the very first time, the regular club-goers got as wild as the regular Japanese music fans, and they mingled vividly with each other. The commotion got even louder with the next remix, a Metallica ballad turned electro dance that left everyone nodding vigorously. It carried on to the next track. Many were mouthing “born to live, born to die, born to be crucified” while smiling in approval. The set came to an end a little later with beautiful, reverberating melodies, leaving the audience wanting more even after two full hours.

By the end of the night, the clubhouse’s atmosphere was dominated by content feelings. The audience might not have been the restless dark techno or EBM scene regulars, but everyone enjoyed the night in their own way: the sweet lolitas left with a sudden interest in stylized industrial dance and the club regulars with a new found interest in Japanese artists.


After his set, DJ Khimaira took some time to speak with us about his European endeavors, the Japanese goth scene, the perception of music and more.


Good evening, would you mind introducing yourself to our readers?

DJ Khimaira: I am Khimaira from Tokyo, Japan. I have played in Japanese clubs for more than five or six years, but recently I have moved to Europe as my music is better suited for here. Basically, I want to permanently stay in Europe. My music is not only be EBM/industrial/gothic, but it also falls under the hard style scene. To further my steps in this scene, I have a very important appearance on the 22nd of May in the biggest club in Europe: Technic Factory, in Belgium.

How did first you got interested in being a DJ?

DJ Khimaira: Long before I got into EBM/goth scene, I was already attracted to the club scene. I used to enjoy styles like trip hop, techno and abstract, or the original DJs of that time. By chance I encountered a Japanese night club, New Church, where I was first introduced to the front man of Eve of Destiny, Haruhiko Ash. This was also my first encounter with this style. The first time that I played as a DJ was a guest performance at Tokyo Dark Festival back in 2002.

And what exactly is your current relationship with Tokyo Dark Castle and Tokyo Decadance?

DJ Khimaira: This is something that happens often; people mistake me for a Tokyo Decadance member. However, the truth is that I have never performed with Tokyo Decadance. Of course, I had offers in the past and of course I know SiSeN and Andrian, but I have never performed with them - yet. However, if sometime in the future the conditions happen to be right, perhaps then I will play with them.

Since you have been performing for years in Japan and Europe, you must have noticed some differences between the respective audiences. Could you share the most prominent one with us?

DJ Khimaira: You mean in club scene in general, or EBM and industrial?

EBM and industrial, in particular.

DJ Khimaira: Actually. This is the difference that was also the main reason that made me leave Japan and move to Europe: While there certainly is a dark scene in Japan that calls itself goth, in my honest opinion they are nothing like that. What they are is a hybrid of J-goth, with elements of visual kei and J-rock, or cyber-kids like SiSeN of Tokyo Decadance. While they do have their own style and appeal, for
me, the Japanese scene is not exactly what I wanted, so I made up my mind to further develop my activities in Europe.

You play mostly western music genres, so I guess your music influences lay mostly in Europe. But as far as DJs are concerned, are there any you admire?

DJ Khimaira: If I have to think about it, the ones I admire belong mostly to other genres. Of course there are DJs like Tiesto early on. There is Paul Van Dyk in Germany. I love some DJs who play house music as well. Trance…there is Carl Cox. There are not so many DJs in EBM that I admire. It is usually genres like retro, progressive, trance, techno music...these kind of DJs.

When it comes to being a DJ, what do you prefer, laptops or vinyls?

DJ Khimaira: I first started my DJ carrier with a vinyl. I mixed some trip hop like Massive Attack. Six months later, I shifted my style of DJing. I am not sure - probably in near future I will also play with a laptop, digitally. Laptops are definitely becoming more and more prominent.

Do you prepare your playlist, or do you mix it on the spot?

DJ Khimaira: Like any other DJ, I guess, I have some remixes ready. But the selection of the songs is all done spur of the moment.

You often post verses and lyrics on your Myspace. Do you have any plans, perhaps publishing them as poems or songs?

DJ Khimaira: I cannot say anything for certain, or make any statement. What I can say though, is that in the near future I want to start my own EBM unit. I will handle the vocal parts myself, and it will reflect the standard EBM style.

What is the role of psychic perception in your life?

DJ Khimaira: Definitely a big role. All creativity comes from our subconscious, even more when it comes to music. For instance: fine art. We can visually perceive a painting, and this helps us understand it up to a certain level. Music on the other hand, we cannot touch or see, so we can only experience it with our ears. So I think music is definitely related to some higher functions. Me, myself, when I compose my music I can feel the inspiration coming from other places, from beyond.

Apart from being a DJ, what other kind of performances would you be interested in?

DJ Khimaira: I used to play in a death/black metal band. I composed music with a guitar and handled vocals. My grandfather from my mother’s side is professor of music in a university. Since childhood, I was forced to learn the piano, and I also started playing classical guitar at the age of eleven or twelve. Even when I am DJing; I consider mixing similar to playing an instrument. In any case, it is closely related to playing an instrument. In the near future I will play guitar and handle vocals by myself. So in one way or another, all my performances have to do with music.

Your style is distinctive and eye-catching. Is it your creation, and how important is it?

DJ Khimaira: I started going to the EBM/industrial events in Japan around early 2002. Since then my style was quite similar to my current style. I don’t mean to impress people, or make them pay extra attention to me. I simply love this kind of style - it is my spontaneous expression.

Future plans: could you give us a hint about them?

DJ Khimaira: In Europe, I have two managements. In Belgium I belong to Râmen Events. And my German agency is Diva Music, located in Koln. Therefore, in the future I will probably have more opportunities to perform in the Benelux area and Germany.

How about leaving a message for JaME readers?

DJ Khimaira: I am quite open minded to various things. Some people from the gothic/EBM scene are not open to the visual kei J-rock scene, but this is not the same with me. So please don’t hesitate to be at my appearances. As long as you are willing to speak to me and explore my music, all sort of styles are welcome. Please check out my schedule and be there.

Of course, JaME readers are fans of a vast variety of Japanese music styles; they are not restricted to visual kei.

DJ Khimaira: Ah, okay, then I will be waiting for you. Also I have plans to create my own music. I will soon launch my new website, so please check it out, thank you.

We will be looking forward to it, thank you.


JaME would like to thank Aurélie Vandecasteele from Râmen Events, Nozomi Ongaku and of course DJ Khimaira, for making this interview possible.