Interview with HITT

The remarkable solo artist HITT is known for his charming live shows, during which he entertains the audience with his own compositions, as well as cover songs, and accompanies himself on piano or guitar. HITT already had the chance to perform in Europe with his former band OTOKAGE last year, and he is back now as a solo artist with shows in the UK, Belgium, France and Sweden. We took this opportunity to ask the soloist a few questions in order to get to know him a little better.


For our readers who don’t know you yet, could you please introduce yourself?

HITT: My name is HITT and I’m a Japanese rock singer. I specialize in “Rock Entertainment” and I do this all by myself. Apart from that, I’m often told that I’m sexy. I call my lives HITT SHOWS, my fans are HITTERS and my motto is “YOU no HEART ni MEGA HITT!” It would already make me very happy if you could remember all of this.

How would you describe you music to make people want to listen to it?

HITT: The essence of my music is rock'n'roll. After that, I can play serious songs as well as agressive ones or even funny ones sometimes. I mix so many different styles in my music that I can’t really define it with one particular genre. I go from one genre to another. As well, something that surprises even myself is the age range of my fans. Some of them are barely 20, but others are over 60 years old ! Anyway, try to listen to my music at least once, that would make me happy.

How old were you when you started to be interested in music?

HITT: When I was already quite young, every time I’d see someone sing or dance on TV, I’d tell myself “I’ll be like them when I grow up.” I strongly believed in that. Then, when I was 17, that’s when I seriously started to do lives.

What motivated you to do music?

HITT: Nothing in particular. I actually started to compose and to sing very naturally.

How did your friends and family react when you decided to get into music?

HITT: They didn’t react.

Could you tell us about your musical career?

HITT: Hmm… I’m sorry, that’d be too long a story so I’d rather not say anything about it.

You belonged to several bands in the past, and then you decided to devote yourself to your solo career. What does a solo career bring you that a band doesn’t?

HITT: I love to play in bands. It’s always more fun to make music with other people then all by yourself, but when I’m in a band, there’s always gonna be a time when people aren’t looking at me. When this moment comes, I can’t help but think “No, you shouldn’t miss that, you should be watching every single one of my moves!” I’m unbelievably jealous and I want everyboby’s eyes to be laid exclusively on me. That’s probably the reason why I prefer going solo.

What artists inspired you, musically speaking?

HITT: Elvis Presley.

Where does HITT, your stage name, come from?

HITT: It’s very simple, it comes from the time when I was in a band called THE HIT MAN.

Where do you get your inspiration for your lyrics and your music from?

HITT: My inspiration comes from everything that surrounds me, the things that happen to me, the people I meet. As for love songs, they’re always inspired by real facts. I can’t write them if I don’t really fall in love.

How do you proceed when you’re writing songs?

HITT: Well, I don’t really think about it, it’s more like they’re a gift from the God of music.

You’ve just finished a new song called Face. What is the song about ? Will we have the chance to hear it during your European tour?

HITT : Absolutely, it’s my brand new song and I’ll sing it in Europe of course. The song is about a lost love. I made it very quickly but it has had a lot of success among my Japanese HITTERS.

What instruments do you play during lives?

HITT: I play the piano and the bass. I sometimes play maracas too.

You put a lot of energy into your shows. Do you improvise on stage or do you work on everything beforehand?

HITT: Well, the main aspects of staging are foreseen and rehearsed before. However, what I say to the audience is mainly improvised. I must say, I love technical problems and unexpected events. The more they happen, the more I get stirred up.

Your clothing style is rather unusual and could be seen as a mix of various styles of the Japanese music scene. How would you describe it?

HITT: I want to wear a style of clothes that a normal person wouldn’t be able to wear without looking ridiculous. That’s what it is to me, being myself; original and unique.

Who’s in charge of your stage costumes?

HITT: I’m in charge of it myself. If something about my outfit bothers me, even the slightest thing, I’m gonna lose my concentration and all of my motivation. If I have to have my clothes made by someone else, I’m going to make drawings of what I imagined and I’m going to meet that person several times so that we can exchange ideas.

You’re starting to build a very strong image towards your audience. Aren’t you afraid of becoming a prisoner of that image later on?

HITT : No, I’m not afraid of that at all. Up until now, the more I was being catagorized, the more I’d enjoy breaking out of those genres. I’m even wondering if I’m not the kind of artist who’s completely free and who’s allowed to do whatever he wants. The diversity of the songs I play proves it. I’m deeply convinced that I can play my music wherever I am, no matter what day or time it is.

Last April, you played at the US Festival Sakura Matsuri. How did it go?

HITT: The audience was really warm but unfortunately my throat was aching a lot that day. I have many regrets concerning that festival so I hope I’ll get the chance to make up for it.

What did you think of the American audience compared to the Japanese audience?

HITT: The American audience is completely different from the Japanese one. In Japan, the majority of my fans are rather shy girls whilst in America, the audience supports me and reacts in the best way to each of my requests. For instance, when I dance shaking my bottom, people over there are so impressed that they faint (laughs). It’s very stimulating.

You’re touring Europe in September. How did you get this opportunity?

HITT: It’s probably thanks to my fans and their desire to see me. Last April, I played with the band OTOKAGE in the states and in Europe, but I never would have thought then that I’d come back again. I have this feeling that there’s a special bond between this continent and myself.

How does it make you feel to export your music to Europe?

HITT: Simply put, it’s something that makes me very happy. I’m already very excited at the thought of what the Europeans will think about me when they see me.

What kind of image would you like to give in Europe?

HITT: I want people to remember me not only because of the way I look but also because of my music. I’d like them to think: “You can find rock singers like this in Japan too.” I hope they’ll keep a strong and surprising image of me.

What kind of message would you like to spread through your music?

HITT: I want to talk about how fragile the heart can be and about the strength that every human being possesses inside of them. By using various expressions, I hope I’ll be able to pass on my true feelings.

A few pictures of your drawings are available on your blog. Is this one of your hobbies and do you think you will use them someday to illustrate one of your CDs?

HITT:Yes, I’d really love to use them in the future. Drawing is a very important means of expression to me, just like music is. My clothes and my hairstyles for example, are also ways of expressing myself.

What are your plans for the future?

HITT: That’s a secret !

Do you have a message for your fans?

HITT: I love you my HITTERS. YOU no HEART ni... MEGA HITT !!!


JaME would like to thank Râmen Events and HITT for this interview.