Interview with RAMPANT

Female-fronted hard-rock band RAMPANT was formed in Osaka in 2005, and earlier this year they made their US debut with a performance at the convention Tekkoshocon IX in Pennsylvania. After their visit to the United States, JaME had the opportunity to interview the band to get to know them a little better and to ask about their experiences at the convention.


First, we’d like to ask about the beginnings of the band. How did you meet each other to start RAMPANT?

HIROKO: RAMPANT was a band that I as a vocalist created with a fellow schoolmate, and at the time there were only two members. Pretty much immediately the guitarist left and KA+U came in as support as the drummer and became a member. Then KA+U's older brother Tomoya joined as a support member on rhythm guitar. At music shops, we posted fliers on their message boards about needing members, and then Atsushi contacted us. Before we knew it, bassist Tomoya became an official member, and then Kei contacted us after seeing my post for members on a cellphone site, which brings us to RAMPANT's full line up.

KA+U: Yeah, that's right!

HIROKO: Also -- not many people know this, but long ago, Kei was in another band that performed alongside RAMPANT. Kei seems to remember that really clearly, but we don't remember seeing him at all! (laughs)

The word “rampant” in English is a bit of a crazy word that matches perfectly with the style of your music. How did you come up your name? Did you consider the English meaning of the word when choosing it?

HIROKO: There was a random biography book of Sakamoto Ryouma just lying on the floor. Then I just started flipping through random pages and found the word "Shouketsu" which means to extend and grow unchecked, and I thought, "This is really good!" Next thing you know, we took the Japanese word and changed it into English and it was RAMPANT. After deciding our name, I found out in British English it can also mean a lion standing on its hind foot with its forefeet in the air... and it's also a name for some really perverted toys. (laughs) It's a crazy name!

Please tell us about your song-writing process. Who writes the lyrics and who composes the music? What usually comes first, the music or the lyrics?

Atsushi: In a song, each member brings in a section, then we all have a jam session, and then HIROKO eventually starts to add words based on the central feeling that's coming out of the music. HIROKO writes all the lyrics.

Tomoya: That jam session is so important -- it's the start of everything.

HIROKO: Usually right from the beginning, I get a clear image in my imagination from the music the guys are playing. It's a pretty fast process that gets me to the point of writing lyrics.

Some of your songs are a mix of English and Japanese. How do you decide which part is sung in English, and which part in Japanese?

HIROKO: It's whatever I feel when I'm singing! (laughs) There's really no plan.

KA+U: Yeah, there are times when we feel that Japanese doesn't compliment the melody and vice versa. Just going with the flow is best!

Kei: Whatever sounds the best, right? We try it out both ways sometimes.

HIROKO, would you like to write and sing in any other language? If so, which language?

HIROKO: That's a good idea! I should try doing that! I would like to make a song with lyrics from out of this world, like a song born from within me that is brand new. How about the "HIROKO Language?" (laughs) In the first mini album, one song has a lyric that says the word "ukika" -- when we wrote the kanji it roughly became "a flower that floats." That's actually a word that doesn't exist in Japanese! So that makes it one of the first "HIROKO Languages" in the world, right?!

Do you ever set out to write a "heavy" song, or a "slow" song? How clear is your goal when you start composing?

HIROKO: Usually, we decide on that before making the song, but it doesn't always go that way. We try to keep the music fresh, and our performance, too. Every song should be a song that only RAMPANT can do, which is the element we never forget.

Tomoya: Yeah, if you break it down... we start with the riff of the song, and when the riff is finished, we feel the impact of it. From there we're usually able to know how heavy the song will turn out. Especially with me, I usually go with the flow and feeling while making a song and really don't have a concrete idea in the beginning of "This is how it's going to be."

Atsushi: I'm the one who's in charge of adding the sexiness!

HIROKO: Really?(laughs)

Atsushi: Hey!

What is the craziest idea you’ve ever had for a song? Like a different musical style or subject for the lyrics.

Tomoya: We are a band that can't not do crazy...! Currently we're trying out different genres with the new songs we're working on, meaning you may get to see a new side of RAMPANT perhaps?

KA+U: As the drummer, to say it myself may sound weird, but I always feel the drums are crazy. When I'm doing it, it's like a marathon, and it never turns out the same. But in all seriousness, to be held back by a genre in itself is a bit crazy I feel. So I think we're always pushing ourselves to find something new.

Name something unique each about of you that readers might like to know.

Kei: There are too many to even choose... I can't say! (laughs)

HIROKO: The amount Atsushi sweats is scary. Just in one song of a performance, it is like he sweats the entire gig from start to encore. He uses his friends like towels! Recently Kei burnt his glasses on the stove and now he comes to the studio in them. He's the type of person to use things till they fall apart. Up until recently he had jeans that he wore to death, and finally they ripped in the crotch, so then we kinda saw his ... (laughs) Tomoya can actually draw blueprints for things and has a license to handle medicine. Then there's KA+U... hmmm...

KA+U: Is there nothing?! (laughs) Hey, wait, then let me say actually there is nothing for HIROKO too! (laughs) We are far from people who are unique!

Tomoya: Here you go: since we were young, KA+U and I have done karate!

RAMPANT made its USA debut at Pittsburgh’s Tekkoshocon 2011. How was the experience of performing in front of a US crowd?

Tomoya: It was really fun! Out of everything, I was happy to see the American fans so happy. The people of Pittsburgh welcomed us warmly and I am so glad to have come here!

Kei: I just remember feeling overwhelmed with emotions. (laughs) Also to put American fans simply in one word, they are "enthusiastic."

HIROKO: Even before getting on stage the fans were calling "RAMPANT" and I was like, "What's happening out there?" Lives are the best time for me, and for our first American live, I was honestly really nervous. But everybody told us how much fun they had and it felt really good. Really everybody, thank you!

KA+U: To me this is something I'd been wishing for for over ten years. Since long ago, I have dreamed about America and was trying to become American! (laughs) Sometimes I'm still shocked by the thought: "Even a guy like me has finally set foot on American soil and done a live." And to have such a huge audience gather like that... to be honest I had goosebumps and had to really try and not cry. Thank you everyone! You have fulfilled one of my many wishes.

Atsushi: Above doing music, the most important thing to do is enjoy it! That moment was realized definitely through this live. It was so great that so many people were there to watch and help us out. From the bottom of my heart it was fun!

You were called back by enthusiastic fans for an encore, which wasn’t planned. How did this make you feel?

Tomoya: That's right. It wasn't on the schedule and really we were just planning to go back to the dressing room to say "We did it!" But the call for "RAMPANT" wouldn't stop, and when we finally got back on stage, everybody was in a such a frenzy. It was like we became one with the fans and it excited me so much!

HIROKO: In an encore, you're able to really connect with the audience and know their feelings. By having an encore, they were able to enjoy and want to listen more. This made me happy and I felt so relieved. I feel everybody really loved RAMPANT.

KA+U: It was an encore that really had a lot of strong emotion. But since it was ultimately the last song, I felt sad as well.

Did you have the chance to do some sightseeing in Pittsburgh?

HIROKO: We shopped at CVS and bought a lot of simple American daily-life products! Later we went to Pittsburgh factory that makes chocolate called Betsy Ann and bought it at the store like crazy. On the last day we went sightseeing on a tour bus that went underwater!

Tomoya: There was a lot of free time and I just walked around aimlessly. It was a really nice city and so much fun.

Atushi: We did a lot!

RAMPANT’s style with heavy guitar and powerful female vocals sounds similar to American alternative bands like Flyleaf and PARAMORE. Do you think you have anything in common with these American bands?

KA+U: Well... If there is a unifying point, it is that other than the vocalist everybody is a guy! On a personal level I really like PARAMORE, and in particular I love Hayley! I'm always very inspired by American bands.

HIROKO: I really like both artists but have never thought we were similar so I don't really know. (laughs) Do you really think we're similar to them?

Tomoya: KA+U and I have been really inspired by American alternative music and there are many points that we have in common, I think.

Are you working on any new songs now? When can we hear something new from RAMPANT?

HIROKO: Yes! We're currently in the process of making new music and by the end of this year we'll have something out! Please look forward to it!

KA+U: The more you support us, the harder we'll work for that support!

Lastly, please leave a message for the JaME readers.

Tomoya: Right now RAMPANT is currently working on new music. We are going to make something you can enjoy thoroughly and we hope to tour America again, so please keep cheering and supporting us.

Kei: Please support RAMPANT!

KA+U: I want to be able to have more time to have fun with you all! Please help us raise RAMPANT together!

Atsushi: Wait for us, America!

HIROKO: I want to go to America again, no matter what! Let's have another live where we're smiling together! Thank you!


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