Without hope of actually meeting him, I emailed his record label. “Can you come over? There’s still a spot left” And so it happened that I interviewed Japanese rock star Miyavi before his first ever Belgian gig. The best thing is, I didn’t even need a translator. He did it all in decent English.
This is the first time a Japanese artist that visits Belgium actually gets attention from the media. You’ve appeared on different radio stations and had different photo shoots.
‘I’m really honored to be here as a Japanese artist. I feel responsible to show the world what Japan can do. I believe you know that right before this tour started, a tsunami and earthquake struck Japan. We are collaborating with the Red Cross and are setting up donating boxes so that the people who come to these shows can support Japan if they want. We’re gathering comments and having a moment of silence on stage. But apart from that I’m really glad and happy to be here as a Japanese artist. I hope people in Belgium who like music , can like my music too.’
Studio Brussels (Radio Station) was impressed by your work. Does it happen very often that when you enter a new country, people are surprised of what you can do?
‘I don’t think it’s strange what I do. It’s a usual thing for me. But of course I’m really happy to get good reactions from people in a country I have never been to. I had moments on several radio stations and they were really supportive. I’m sure I can do something here. That I can make something happen.’
The biggest Japanese stars that performed in Belgium before you, were Dir en grey and Mucc. You can say that we’re not really used to having Japanese bands over, yet you managed to sell out the venue in just a day.
‘I’m really happy to hear that. It reminds me of what I should do and that is to keep on playing music. It doesn’t matter where we’re from. We can go across that border between countries. So even though we’re far away from each other, through technology we can relate. We can make things like this happen. I just started to make a strong team with EMI, so I’m sure more things are going to happen in the future.’
You have a distinct style. You’re known for mixing different styles through each other while in the meantime you’re creating your own. How would you describe “Miyavi”?
‘Miyavi is just a guitarist from Tokyo.’
Just a guitarist?
‘Yeah. It’s a responsibility of the creator of the music. Every creator is responsible to make something new. It’s just the same thing I’m doing. I’m just trying to make something new. Something no one has done before. That’s the job of an artist. You don’t do the same thing twice. You don’t just copy and steal from other artists. You have to be the one and only in the world. You won’t say that Madonna is an English artist. Madonna is Madonna. Just like Miyavi is Miyavi.’
So with all your different influences, what artists do you look up to? Where do you get your inspiration from?
‘Artists as Robert Johnsson, BB King, Robert Randall, Basement Jaxx, FX twins, Daft Punk, and many others. I’m also influenced by industrial music. By Rammstein, System of a Down. Fear Factory, Nine Inch Nails. I try to mix things of that in my music.’
So you take the best parts out of things and put them together.
‘Yeah, yeah. To create something original that no one has heard before.’
You started playing the guitar when you were only 15. You were in a band when you were 17. Do you often think back of the time that you were still touring with a band?
‘Being in a band makes you share responsibility, but right now everything is my responsibility. I’m not alone though. Right now I’m touring alone but I have my crew, and my drummer. I do feel kind of lonely on stage. But there are two people who are playing and that’s enough to rock. At the same time I have a lot more freedom as a musician. I can do what I want. I’m not stuck in a particular place or box in a musical way.’
When you left PSC (previous Record Label), did it change the way you make music?
‘Yeah. It changed everything. I’ve been changing ever since I started to make music; but that kind of system hasn’t changed so that’s why I needed to get out. To be free. It was a big change to get freedom. I started in the Japanese culture visual Kei. But over the years it started restricting me as an artist. I don’t want to be categorized.’
These days lots of people think of most VK artists as: “they all sound the same”.
‘I really respect them and Visual Kei. But I don’t want to be the same all the time. In any genre, whether it be Rock or even Hip-Hop. I just want to make something original. I want to be the one and only and that’s why I needed to get out of that system and do things on my own.’
Don’t you ever think about what it would feel like if people wouldn’t follow you around and wouldn’t want to know everything about you? Don’t you ever just want to take a break of all of that?
(Shakes head) ‘I’m totally OK. I’ve been enjoying myself and I thank the people all over the work. They’re so supportive, so enthusiastic. Without them I wouldn’t be here. That’s why I feel so responsible to make something new. I got to be distinct to give them a new musical experience they haven’t had before.’
Belgium was the last date added to the tour. How did it just all of a sudden come up to come and play here?
‘We are always trying to have concerts in every country in the world but without the audience we can’t do anything. Or without local people or some company we can cooperate with. We need somebody, and this time we found someone in Belgium and took the opportunity. If this had happened in Slovakia, or any other country, I’d be there. I want my fans to know I won’t refuse any option to play in any country.’
So if the opportunity would arise, we can expect you to show up again sooner or later.
‘Yes. I’ll come back. But in a bigger venue*.’ (Smiles)
*Miyavi sold out his concert in a day but because the other halls of the building were already in use at the day of the concert, they couldn’t move it to a bigger room. Miyavi ended up playing for 300 people. Booking officials made clear that the demand for tickets, however, went far above 1000.
