– For your convenience we have included the translators notes for clarification when needed.
M = Maya, T= Tatsurou
The two of you are close from long ago, right?
M: Yeah that’s right.
T: I wouldn’t say that we are really close. Back then Maya was doing band battles with “Sinners”.
M: That was more than 10 years ago?
T: 12 – 13 years ago? There weren’t any events in those days though. Usually we’d be booking a weekend at a live house or something. We’d appear in small magazines being published around that time.
Once, about 3 years ago, another magazine interviewed you. Have you contacted each other since then?
T: I have his contact information, but I don’t contact him.
M: Tatsurou’s contact information has changed hasn’t it?
T: I think the contact information is still the same.
M: I guess it has weird characters.
T: Ah, my address has changed, but I sent my new address to you.
M: (checking his phone) It’s true! (Laughs)
T: I sent it to you, right? (Laughs) I gave him my contact info so when we meet we talk, but we don’t hang out.
Do you go out drinking together?
T: No, but if I invited him, he’d wouldn’t come. (Laughs)
M: (laughing) It’s true. (laughs)
T: But recently you’ve joined with Takuya a lot?
M: Ah yes, UVERworld?
T: Aiji told me, and I was like, “Why they are grooving together?” Takuya and Maya are completely different; Takuya’s the type that would say “As a vocalist I have to lead the band.” He’s very motivated. So completely different right? (Laughs)
M: Right right. When working with contrasting people, it’s not that I want to be like them, but working with them inspires me. I think the only other vocalists I know are Takuya and Moriuchi. From my perspective it’s a miracle that I know two other vocalists. (laughs) There are vocalists that get along with each other, right?
T: Yeah-yeah. I mean, basically vocalists get along together.
M: Often there are “guitarist now” postings, right? (referring to Twitter)
T: No, no. (Laughs)
M: You don’t even talk about gathering? If you do come together it might be awkward. (Laughs)
T: So, usually friends gather together a lot.
M: I’m not invited out though! (Laughs)
T: Because you don’t come, ever. It would be a waste of the communication fee. (Laughs)
M: Yeah, true.
T: To mail you would waste the muscles in my thumbs. (Laughs) You don’t go to lives a lot, do you?
M: …I don’t.
T: If you don’t your perspective won’t expand, right?
M: Aiji sometimes takes me to them. When we go, it’s insanely fun. I like the atmosphere, even if it’s not my style.
T: There is a reason a band plays well live. I study the feedback I get.
M: Yeah. From now on I’ll go. (laughs)
Please accept Tatsurou’s invitation as well.
M: Last time I properly saw Mucc’s solo show was in the Shinjuku Loft.
T: That long ago?
M: That’s why I’m not invited a lot. Aiji doesn’t invite me either.
T: If Aiji doesn’t invite you, isn’t that gonna be your end? (Laughs)
M: The way I refuse may be rude. I’m not trying to be nice or say…lie about not wanting to go. If I don’t want to go, I don’t go. Leaving home is a pain in the neck.
(laughs) That’s why you don’t get invited.
M: (Laughs)
T: That reminds me, how long have you been a vocalist?
M: 6 years.
T: How many years were you are guitarist?
M: I played guitar in a band for 5 years.
T: Then you’ve been doing vocals longer?
M: If you’re saying so, yeah you’re right. Wow (laughs)! Recently, my interest in songs started increasing.
T: So you didn’t have an interest before?
M: I didn’t.
T: Then why do you sing?
M: I don’t know. (Laughs)
T: So what brought forth the interest?
M: I’m not sure how to say it. After 5 years of being in LM.C, I’ve set my eyes on singing.
T: We just talked about UVERworld and ONE OK ROCK; their vocalists are really like vocalists.
M: So I’ve encountered. I may be becoming more conscious about singing.
T: That’s good, that’s good. You’re stoic. Aiji has been mentoring Maya, right?
M: Yeah, that’s right.
T: Because you’re the vocalists, you should be the one leading Aiji. (laughs)
M: You’re right. (laughs) I feel like we’re embarking into a new place. Listening to Mucc’s songs I’m becoming more interested in how he breathes at the end. Then, I think about how his voice is changed by the microphone. I’m finally interested in things like that. Ah, you just released a new album, Shangri-La; I was listening to it a lot. Tatsurou, I guess you’re not listening to our songs.
T: I haven’t gotten the album yet.
M: Umm…the other day, I gave it to you….
T: Ah, I did get. (laughs)
M: (You forgot) again. Please write down this difference (he doesn’t listen to my album, but I listen to his). I was doing (listening) Shangri-La a lot.
T: That CD, I left in my car!
M: Hey, hey, hey (laughs)!
T: I’ll listen when I return.
M: The impression I got listening to Mucc’s album is the combination of 15 years comes out in the album.
T: Yeah, in the end it came out, from heavy things to dance rock to emo; nostalgic feelings. We didn’t intend to make it that away.
M: The last album was dance-ish wasn’t it?
T: Yeah, it had an electronic feeling. This time we’ve gone back to a more band-ish feeling.
LM.C had its 5 year anniversary last year. How was it for Mucc when 5 years passed? How did you think about the band continuing on forever, or how did you think the future?
T: We didn’t think about if it would continue or if it would end. Because we had too much in front of us, we didn’t even think about the week ahead. We didn’t have the know-how, so we working hard. About 10 years passed and then I could finally come up to the surface. Oh yeah, I can see in the water when swimming with goggles! Until that time, it was like swimming without goggles.
M: Has your band had any difficult times since then?
T: Yeah. Here and there.
M: The number of years is just the result. I feel like if you continue like this you’ll transcend to a higher level.
T: Yeah. I’ve had a lot of time to go over things, little things and big things. Now things come together smoothly.
M: Yeah that’s right. If you go over mountains, barriers, difficult things, you’ll grow as person, or even a band.
T: Something like that. It’s like always leaving land for the Ocean, when you get there the waves are gentle.
M: Yeah, it sort of feels that way. So, I guess Mucc is going to be like BUCK-TICK.
T: Yeah yeah, the other day I saw them live. BUCK-TICK was perfect!
M: You’ve liked them for a long time?
T: I really like them!
M: Aiji likes them. We went to see them in Kyushu on their tour a while ago. They’re amazing. After all, keeping a band going is a dream.
T: They’ve matured a lot, but they’re still fulfilled by what they’re doing. They’ve kept their vitality. Even now when they release a new record there’s mixed reviews. To continue making that kind of work is amazing.
M: But Mucc’s going to be like that. Am I wrong?
T: Well, I don’t know about that. Conversely, what do you want to be?
M: I think we’re different because we’re not a 4 or 5 person band. I think I want be in a different position from other bands. Continuing for a long time is not a goal, hopefully we’ll continue.
T: But I think you’re smart because of what LM.C is doing.
M: Please, dig into that. (Laughs)
T: You are band, but you’re doing it with only 2 people. At lives there is an interesting atmosphere. The way you present yourselves with goods or apparel is interesting. You’re consistently making an image in your photos. I think it’s easy to understand.
M: That’s correct! (laughs)
T: I think if you were a 4 or 5 person band you wouldn’t be able to have that fashion sense. With two people you can focus more and define the character better. Then you easily understand the entire image. Well, but…Maya has been a vocalist for 6 years, so I want him to try his best and not use being a guitarist as an excuse.
M: So, every time I introduce myself on the radio it’ll be: “I’m LM.C’s vocalist, Maya!” (laughs)
T: Why don’t you just say singer (Laughs)? It feels like if you say “singer” you’ll kind of raise up a level.
Hahaha. If you are giving Maya tips and instruction the band will continue?
T: Yes they’ll continue.
M: We will continue.
T: Maya and Aiji don’t have a reason to fight. If the band were to end, it’ll be because they either cleaned each other out or wore each out, right?
M: I think so. That’s probably what would happen. There are times when young bands run into conflicts. In a two person relationship that doesn’t happen.
T: I don’t know much inside details, but they have a very profound relationship.
Maybe Aiji just really likes Maya. Maya has a lot of faith in Aiji.
M: We are Sempai and Kohai; maybe it’s a little special.
T: Yeah. You really are a homo-band (laughs).
M: Right. ….no, NO (laughs)!
T: From the beginning you’ve been Sempai and Kohai, I guess it’s working well.
M: Yeah maybe. My way of speaking doesn’t change; I call him Aiji or Sempai. I don’t want to get misguided.
T: But since only two of you, don’t you have a lot of bothersome things to do?
M: Yes (laughs). Speaking of myself, I only do what I want to do mainly, but Aiji has a lot more trouble, I think.
T: But don’t you write all the lyrics? The entire album, to write the lyrics for the entire album is tough work.
M: Though it’s become a little easier, it feels like I have more time to think about things. The lyrics should be directed towards me and then someone else!
T: Yeah. One phrase comes to mind, “YAY!” I have feelings like that too. You can’t write lyrics when your head is clouded.
M: As for the rest, you just have to make the deadline.
T: Right. But, if there’s no deadline I don’t write (laughs).
I Love You, LM.C Interview 