interview SAGA Alice Nine

Saga's Keyword 1: Alice nine

Well, we're said to have different kinds of melodies...but when we first started out as a band, we didn't think about what kind of music we want to produce.

Originally, we aren't just a band gathered with the same musical interests, we're more like a group that have the intuitive feeling of wanting to do something together when we met for the first time; from the beginning we didn't decide on a certain kind of sound, nor did we decide on the rules that we want to go by, we have our mutual musicmanship and so we contribute jointly to the songs freely, and on the sounds that result, we consider various other things. So at first, we made songs that we individually liked, and while our performace have strengthened, after the time together with the band, we've come to understand the sounds and components that are not necessary. Without that selection process, I wonder what our music can become with the remaining pieces.

However even after 5 years, it feels like we've yet to solidify our band's sound, but we are gradually having a general direction in that our music's like "what we ourselves want to pursue" and "in the direction of evolving". What really finalizes our judgement really depends on the live. We watch the responses of the audience and get the feelings that, "this kind of sound is distinctively matched with the audience", so when we share these same feelings [with the audience] the answer's there. This kind of experience strongly influences our music direction.

Saga's Keyword 2: Bass Guitar

The instrument i started out was the guitar, but when i stood on the stage, it felt out of place. Personality wise, i fit the description 'where there is shadow, there is light', for example, in the case of ninjas and squadrons, the black feeling (laughs). Putting everything into consideration, i thought the bass is good and so i started playing the bass.

I'm not really influenced by the charms of the [bass] sounds nor do i have a certain bassist i admire. But the good thing about playing the bass is that I can clearly listen to the sounds around me, also learning the theory behind the instrument can be very applicable to song composition.

Using soccer player as an analogy?.. perhaps the mid-fielder. When given a pass so to speak, I'll leave it to the person in front of me.

Saga's Keyword 3: Live Tour

This year's release 「VANDALIZE」, the things on what we want to share with the audience through this work have changed since the past, in contrast, it's a powerful album with songs that convey our inner feelings to the people to listen to. If we're relating to our current tour, the album VANDALIZE is about what parts of our performance we want to vandalize, whether it's our band's core parts or our band's power, we want to thoroughly present them; contemplating the live, whether it's the band's desire, or the egoistic parts, it was a tour that we completely portray those factors. Also, on the other hand our new songs, are the same placing as the songs that the audience likes most, so when listening to them and getting heated up, if there's a moment where they understood [the meaning behind the songs], it will be beyond happiness at that instant for us too.

For tours, even though we go around many parts of the nation, the responses we get from the audiences varies quite a lot from place to place. For the audience from the countryside there are less chances for lives [to be held there] so we can feel their strong feelings having waited for so long. [what about us overseas fans...?]

Unexpectedly, intense and harder songs are more well-received in cold places like Hokkaido and Tokyo while conversely it seems that the soothing songs are more well-received in the South. In Fukouka, no matter what songs we played the audience naturally hold their hands and swayed to the songs and listened, which left a strong impression, i think things that happen naturally this way without the use of words is really amazing. The things that we learned by ourselves and the things that we learned from the audience was really a lot, so it was a very rewarding tour, the importance of the next tour is something that all our us members can feel.

Saga's Keyword 4: Staff

They are very important. The things that we want to perform were able to be realized because of the staff. For us, the members in the band bear the responsibiliity of the signboard Alice nine, but for Alice Nine in actuality, we are one team with all the staff included, capturing the meaning of an organisation.

Every year the things we want to do increases, the expectations also rise and in the midst of it all, i think that the burden that the staff carry also become greater. That's why during an event i can feel that the staff really helped us a lot when we hold events.

I don't have the stance of leaving everything to the staff; there are certain sensitivites in relationships between each person, so when there's time, i keep in mind about that [sensitivity] when having an active meeting. After deciding on what's to be done, I disseminate the duties to each and everyone to the best that i can. It's important that we all face the same final destination and cooperate so that we can create together what we wanted.

Saga's Keyword 5: Entertainment

I pondered quite a bit on what's the hit entertainment last year. Recently when i'm able to find time, i will watch various stage plays and shows, especially for example the script from the plays. Specifically when their script consist of heavy content, they [the actors] overwhelm the audience with their ability to talk on and on from the script, but the main element does not lie in the script, it's the actor's detailed expressions and movements, costumes; when i first watched them [plays] i was fascinated, overwhelmed and touched by their strong balance among the various parts of the play. When i see such an amazing stageplay, i thought 「Ah! I've lost!」

Now, we're conveying music that cannot be seen to the audience, if the audience are satisfied with what we provide them, is it considered a satisfactory form of entertainment? No that's not right. I often think that the appeal that we have is not really yet that strong enough. [sorry this sentence is really hazy T_T]

That's why recently i've always been thinking from whatever entertainment i see, the things that i can apply [to the band] and the things that won't fit.

Saga's Keyword 6: Visual Kei

The term visual kei was what our senpai created, but the way we captured the essence of visual kei is different now; currently the term is pretty much standing on it's own, there are people who depend on it and there are also people who dislike it, there are different kinds of people surrounding what's known as visual kei. Originally the appearance might be rather eccentric, but after delivering the music properly, the situation gets better; after sharing times together, the surface stigma is cut off, so showing just the essence [of the music bands produce..i think], hence, if we omit the "kei" from "visual kei", we can say that the number of visual bands have increased. [and not visual kei bands that just rely on appearances] Personally, i think the music should definitely be compatible with appearance. I started out in a band as a result of influences from LUNA SEA and Mr.Children, but i really liked LUNA SEAS's flashy constumes and admired their surrealness. In that case, it feels that i want to become that way, put on make-up, make costumes and get high in the band. That's why in the past I have conscious of being visual kei, and the first thing i considered was during time I put on make up but now, music forms the axis - the performance and the way of portrayal; the make-up and costumes are not something we're so conscious about, so currently honestly there's no fixedness about being catergorized under visual kei. [hazy...]

Saga's Keyword 7: Yourself from 5 years back

5 Years ago is it...I was young ne (laughs). I'll probably say the same things about myself 5 years later. [if they are asking this same question 5 years later]. And then...my make-up was thicker ne (laughs) because at that time i took 3 hours to put it [make-up] on. By the way in the past, the things or personalities related to make- up or costumes that everyone [in Alice nine] likes were scattered, but after we standardized our costumes, it's incredible that they were able to match with our individualities, i think they try to maintain a good balance of the band every time. This is probably one trait of Alice Nine.

Secret Interview

[Song Composition]

The most important thing about song composition has to be the live [performace]. The most important point is whether the song can become one with the audience.

[Rules you follow in everyday life]

Get my daily rest. As long as i rest, i will be able to look at various areas more clearly, and i think this is very important when creating exact rhythmn beats.

2 years ago, there were times that it was so busy that it's awful, i don't even have the extra time to figure out how to divide the tasks i'm assigned to everyday so i thought that was tough, and from then on, i learned a lot of things, so now I'm able to live with it.

[Yourself 5 years from now]

As long as i can create good music, i think i will be contented. I just want to be able to face music head-on, and be able to deliver happiness to the audience listening to us at the final destination. i think if these [wishes] can take shape, there's nothing more to be picky about.

Fan's Question

Q1. Saga-sama, have you ever being scouted in town before? Saga-sama is really beautiful so I'm really curious!

It happened in the past.

Q2. When the band [alice nine] is formed, i think you might have an ideal image for alicenine, so how close is the band to your ideal image at this point in time? Also, conversely which part of the band do you feel that it still lacks something?

We are increasing in years and experience bit by bit, that being the case, we need to review our goals and transitions.

Q3. There are rumors that Saga-san is quite air-headed, is that true? If that's the case, I will like Saga-san to tell us one air-headed episode you had recently ♪

Conversely please tell me about it. (laughs)

Q4. Recently which area do you feel you've improved in?

I noticed i have become more open-hearted. (laughs)

Q5. Any impactful dreams that left an impression?

Premonition dreams

Q6. Are there any thing that you used to dislike but later became your favorite thing? (Within the genres of music, fashion, localities etc)

Music --> Reggae
Fashion --> Parka [hoodie]

Q7. Do you have any deep memories of a certain live hall (staff) or place?

Saitama Super Arena

Q8. What is something that you were glad to hear from the band members?

You're huge. [really?]

Saga's Playlist - 「Songs I want to listen to in winter」

[This list is] limited to songs that can be listened to in the cold winter and goes well with warm coffee.

1. New Year's Day by U2

Even though this song has the air of Ireland, it matches perfectly with the winter in Japan

2. Fantasy of Winter by Cousin

Personally i will say the winter song of Japan's 90s music is this. It's a unit of formed by cousins. Good song.

3. Yubisaki by Grapevine

This song is probably closer to autumn than winter, but anyway, I love this song.

4. All you need is Love by the Beatles

Alice Nine did a cover on this as well. It's also often used in CM [commericals]. For some reason it's a song I'd listen to in winter.

5. Writing to Reach You by Travis

This is also a song to listen to in winter. It feels like a song to listen to when the snow is falling in the morning.

6. Gin no Tsuki Kuroi Hoshi by Alice Nine

An Alice nine song is here. If this song is played to pass winter, something good will occur. It's quite a mystery ne.

7. Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo (Winter is starting) by Makihara Noriyuki

My winter also starts with this song.

8. Holes by Mercury Rev

It's a song that i want to listen to in middle of a winter night

9. Come to me (Peace) by Mary J.Blige

It's not Wham! [a British duo], or Yamashita Tatsuro [a Japanese singer-songwriter] or U2 or the Police [English Rock band], it's this.

10. Silent Night by Trinity Boys Choir

This is also a song that Alice Nine covered. An eternally famous song.