New long interview with Mana-sama about Dixanadu in 3 parts (with big image):
http://www.333music.net/archives/2007-04.html#20070416
http://www.333music.net/archives/2007-04.html#20070416
New 333music Interview about Dixanadu
- Thread starter hector
- Start date
thanks, i was wondering when an interview for dixanadu was going to happen..
now, first person to translate gets a cookie
now, first person to translate gets a cookie
Ok, we'll wait for you!!!
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2006
- Messages
- 902
Here we go, part one:
Moi dix Mois, Mana-sama interview 1/3
Sorry to have kept you waiting! We'll be posting the previously planned interview with Mana-sama in three parts. We'll be talking about the "Madousho Meeting" (an event limited to the FC, "Mon+amour"), his first full album released on March 28th, DIXANADU, Mana's musical roots, etc.
There's a lot of things in this interview you won't hear anywhere else (this is his first time going over these topics, he said.)
Please, read carefully.
☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
"The mood was like a party. Everyone's having fun and being noisy! --That's the kind of feeling we tried for"
--So, we asked you about your March 28th album, DIXANADU.
Mana: Indeed....
--Umm? Do you prefer not to speak much about your work?
M: I think it's best that you not have a preformed, strong feeling about it...If you don't mind, I'd like to talk about the Mon+amour event. [?]
--Well then, to go along with your request, we'll have to ask about that.
M: Yes.
--All right, then we'll start with the March 17th Mon+amour only event, "Madousho Meeting, The Fourth Night ~Mana-sama Birthday~". As the title says, it was an event to celebrate your birthday, but it seems as though it was as much an event for the fans' enjoyment as yours. There was a lot of stuff going on, a talk, a quiz competition, presents, a live.
M: The "Madousho Meeting" usually takes place in March, but last year, the live show was the main focus. Since Moi dix Mois had just been reborn and all, I wanted to show off each member of the band. But it's been a full year now, so this time we relaxed a bit and thought it would be good to show the other side of Moi dix Mois. As a matter of fact, this was Sugiya and Hayato's first event in which they got to speak in public (laugh).
--Really?!
M: Yeah, so it had a bit more of an 'event' feeling to it.
--I'm sure it was a big event for them, huh?
M: Maybe (smile).
--Well, I suppose everything was planned out very carefully?
M: Actually, no, we had no plans for the talk sections. I had told the members "Hey, let loose today, let's have fun!" This event's theme was "Get off track [?] and communicate with the fans", so the objective was to basically go along with the mood and have a feeling of spontaneity. A feeling like you didn't know what would happen next.
--Well if that's the case, I think you communicated that to K really well, I think you guys made it easy for the audience to understand the theme.
M: Yes, that's true.
--Now, about the question corner. Up to this point, you haven't had an event like this, so it's the first of the reborn Moi dix Mois. Were a lot of people surprised?
M: Yeah, I guess lately we are a bit surprising to the people who've known us so far. Because our opening SE was "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" (laugh), so I guess we never run out of surprises. It's been such a long time for me, I really enjoyed it. Honestly, I wanted to do more than all of that.
--Even more things?!
M: I wanted to draw more pictures. But if I had sat around thinking "Hmm, what shall I draw next?" we would have run out of time for the question corner (laugh). I was so surprised at how fast the time passed...
--So everything moved very crisply, there was no feeling of time dragging on?
M: It actually would have been better if it felt like that.
--Did the amount of talking you guys did exceed your expectations?
M: Yes, it did.
--But seeing some portion of the talks...It seems many people saw you as being a very playful person.
M: Yes, in the image I show to the world, it wouldn't really do to show that side of myself.
--But you said that back in your more Gothic Lolita days, you said "you'd like for people to try and read the expression in your lack of facial expression", right?
M: Yeah (laugh).
--I say that because for this event, you made so many faces (laugh). I guess you were bored of just body language.
M: (smile)
--Although I can't sum it up the success of your event in a single word, I felt that there was definitely good teamwork between the other members.
M: I agree. They all tried their best.
--Do you feel like you've come to understand each other's temperaments better throughout your year of activity?
M: Yes, certainly. Throughout this year I've come to see each member's character.
--It seems you also had 5 fans chosen from their ticket stubs to come by after the show and eat cake together.
M: Yes, we also took pictures together and shook hands.
--What a special present! Even though it's really supposed to be an event to congratulate you...What a great service (laugh).
M: Well I was trying for the feeling that, since it's a birthday party, we should all be as noisy as we like. I also tried to have the party have an American style, like in the '50s movie "American Graffiti"...or in other words, a Saturday Night kind of feeling (laugh).
--Like "Let's drink, dance and be noisy!" all night, huh?
M: Yes yes. The mood was American. Although our blouses with the white ribbon ties were really more European (laugh).
Moi dix Mois, Mana-sama interview 1/3
Sorry to have kept you waiting! We'll be posting the previously planned interview with Mana-sama in three parts. We'll be talking about the "Madousho Meeting" (an event limited to the FC, "Mon+amour"), his first full album released on March 28th, DIXANADU, Mana's musical roots, etc.
There's a lot of things in this interview you won't hear anywhere else (this is his first time going over these topics, he said.)
Please, read carefully.
☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
"The mood was like a party. Everyone's having fun and being noisy! --That's the kind of feeling we tried for"
--So, we asked you about your March 28th album, DIXANADU.
Mana: Indeed....
--Umm? Do you prefer not to speak much about your work?
M: I think it's best that you not have a preformed, strong feeling about it...If you don't mind, I'd like to talk about the Mon+amour event. [?]
--Well then, to go along with your request, we'll have to ask about that.
M: Yes.
--All right, then we'll start with the March 17th Mon+amour only event, "Madousho Meeting, The Fourth Night ~Mana-sama Birthday~". As the title says, it was an event to celebrate your birthday, but it seems as though it was as much an event for the fans' enjoyment as yours. There was a lot of stuff going on, a talk, a quiz competition, presents, a live.
M: The "Madousho Meeting" usually takes place in March, but last year, the live show was the main focus. Since Moi dix Mois had just been reborn and all, I wanted to show off each member of the band. But it's been a full year now, so this time we relaxed a bit and thought it would be good to show the other side of Moi dix Mois. As a matter of fact, this was Sugiya and Hayato's first event in which they got to speak in public (laugh).
--Really?!
M: Yeah, so it had a bit more of an 'event' feeling to it.
--I'm sure it was a big event for them, huh?
M: Maybe (smile).
--Well, I suppose everything was planned out very carefully?
M: Actually, no, we had no plans for the talk sections. I had told the members "Hey, let loose today, let's have fun!" This event's theme was "Get off track [?] and communicate with the fans", so the objective was to basically go along with the mood and have a feeling of spontaneity. A feeling like you didn't know what would happen next.
--Well if that's the case, I think you communicated that to K really well, I think you guys made it easy for the audience to understand the theme.
M: Yes, that's true.
--Now, about the question corner. Up to this point, you haven't had an event like this, so it's the first of the reborn Moi dix Mois. Were a lot of people surprised?
M: Yeah, I guess lately we are a bit surprising to the people who've known us so far. Because our opening SE was "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" (laugh), so I guess we never run out of surprises. It's been such a long time for me, I really enjoyed it. Honestly, I wanted to do more than all of that.
--Even more things?!
M: I wanted to draw more pictures. But if I had sat around thinking "Hmm, what shall I draw next?" we would have run out of time for the question corner (laugh). I was so surprised at how fast the time passed...
--So everything moved very crisply, there was no feeling of time dragging on?
M: It actually would have been better if it felt like that.
--Did the amount of talking you guys did exceed your expectations?
M: Yes, it did.
--But seeing some portion of the talks...It seems many people saw you as being a very playful person.
M: Yes, in the image I show to the world, it wouldn't really do to show that side of myself.
--But you said that back in your more Gothic Lolita days, you said "you'd like for people to try and read the expression in your lack of facial expression", right?
M: Yeah (laugh).
--I say that because for this event, you made so many faces (laugh). I guess you were bored of just body language.
M: (smile)
--Although I can't sum it up the success of your event in a single word, I felt that there was definitely good teamwork between the other members.
M: I agree. They all tried their best.
--Do you feel like you've come to understand each other's temperaments better throughout your year of activity?
M: Yes, certainly. Throughout this year I've come to see each member's character.
--It seems you also had 5 fans chosen from their ticket stubs to come by after the show and eat cake together.
M: Yes, we also took pictures together and shook hands.
--What a special present! Even though it's really supposed to be an event to congratulate you...What a great service (laugh).
M: Well I was trying for the feeling that, since it's a birthday party, we should all be as noisy as we like. I also tried to have the party have an American style, like in the '50s movie "American Graffiti"...or in other words, a Saturday Night kind of feeling (laugh).
--Like "Let's drink, dance and be noisy!" all night, huh?
M: Yes yes. The mood was American. Although our blouses with the white ribbon ties were really more European (laugh).
kewl! thanks for the translations!!
Lede wrote:
Mana TAKES CHARGE 
Thanks for the translation! Is it OK to put it on the main site?
And... Mana making faces?
XD- Joined
- Mar 31, 2006
- Messages
- 902
Part 2~
Moi dix Mois, Mana-sama Interview 2/3
Here we continue with the long interview conducted yesterday with Mana of Moi dix Mois. This time, we'll be drawing closer to the core of his first full album, DIXANADU. Our talk often digresses from the topic...but even with these digressions, please enjoy.
☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
"The process of making 'DIXANADU=Paradise', it was a thorny path."
--Well then, at your Mon+amour event you guys put on a performance of songs from DIXANADU. This new album has already been released in Japan, but this time it will also be released in Europe, right?
M: Yes, on a German record label. Although the German record has slightly different contents. Like there's a bonus track included--.
--Kind of like how foreign artists often have bonus tracks in the Japanese version of their albums, but not in the albums sold in other nations.
M: Yes, like that. The other big difference is that besides the disc containing the record, there's also 2 discs containing a singles collection. Also, the packaging is different. Of course the jacket and CD case are different. I hope people who are real maniacs will try and get it, definitely.
--Also, do you have a particular reason for choosing a German label? Is it because there's similar music to yours in Germany?
M: I don't really know if there are bands like us, but to put it simply, it's because they have a definite gothic culture. So it would be much easier for them to accept a band with our visuals, right? Over there, fans came to see our lives dressed in clothes very similar to our gothic fashion, but it wasn't cosplay at all. In the gothic scene, there's a lot of attention paid to the fashion. Our German fans were definitely showy.
--Of course Moi dix Mois has gothic elements, but do you think part of the reason you're able to be accepted in that environment is because there's something in your music particular to Japan?
M: I wonder...But I'm not really familiar with German bands, so I can't really say. But as for our being Japanese...Well, I'll say that may have something to do with it, but I've grown up hearing certain famous songs, so I think perhaps some of that comes out in the music I make.
--What kind of famous songs did you hear?
M: As a child, I liked shibume [?] things. More than so-called idol-types, I always liked things like Kubota Saki's "Ihoujin", and "Ameoto wa Chopin no Shirabe", which was covered by Kobayashi Asami. I liked that kind of music more than idols.
--Aah...They're not very cheerful, any of those.
M: I never really liked cheerful things. For example with idols, I preferred Nakamori Akina to Matsuda Seiko.
--Kind of a gloomy person (laugh).
M: Yeah, I didn't like Matsuda Seiko's "on the beachfront kind of feeling" (<--Explanation: the image that "Balcony on the Beachfront" made), rather I liked Nakamori Akina's shadows (laugh). Because I have every album of hers, from the first, "Prologue", to around her fourth (laugh). In particular, I like the intro of the first song on "Prologue", called 'Your Portrait' (laugh).
--You're really familiar with her work, huh. (laugh)
M: It begins with a tragic piano part...It really affected me. And the tone is altogether dark (laugh). So saying that, I don't actually have any interest in Nakamori Akina herself. I just have interest in the gloomier songs. It's not that things should have to be dark, but as a boy I was always attracted to mysterious things...I think this is the first time I've ever mentioned Nakamori Akina in an interview (laugh).
--Well thank you very much for telling us. So these musical preferences of yours as a boy have continued into the melodies of Moi dix Mois, creating the gloomy sort of music you prefer.
M: They have, haven't they.
--As for the sound of Moi dix Mois, from the very beginning you've included the sound of the pipe organ and cembalo, right?
M While these sounds could be removed from the music of Moi dix Mois, they're still very much a part of me. Their tone is irresistible to me.
--You even include them at speeds that are impossible to play (laugh). Until it seems they come to have a disorderly sort of feel. Using instruments that you'd often find in a holy church that way in performances....You could almost say you might unwittingly run into some divine retribution (laugh).
M: Mm, I see (laugh).
--Feels like you might be breaking a taboo, somehow.
M: Oh really?
--I'll leave you to think about that. To you it seems DIXANADU (a coined word with the meaning of 'paradise') is not a place of brilliant sunlight, nor does it have the feel for a happy happy paradise.
M: Is that so. Well, DIXANADU is just one form of paradise. Paradise is something one continually pursues, because it's so uneventful to just stay in one place, and it's not acceptable to just stop making progress. Of course as for myself, I want to search for incentives, so I wanted to aim for the theme of a new, fresh fusion, a fusion of luxuriance and violence and express it in various ways.
--But there's no actual point of arrival.
M: Yes. One continually searches for paradise.
--Conversely, if it's a place impossible to reach, is it really paradise?
M: I couldn't say. I think that paradise is a world you must struggle to arrive at. I search for paradise, and as I struggle with myself, I think I also continue to search for who I am.
--As you progress down a thorny path.
M: Naturally it's a thorny path, right. I think if you continue to stay in comfort and ease, it's impossible to arrive at paradise. In the form of a CD, I'm suggesting a paradise with a certain meaning, but that's because until it was finished, I struggled with many things and brought them forth into the music. To put it simply, it's not as though I just made songs one after the other and then the CD was done. In order to create this CD, to be able to come nearer to the image of this world, I worried and suffered over it day after day until in the end, I was gradually able to make it a completed work.
--Because it'd be no good if you didn't suffer over it, right?
M: Perhaps. Because I was able to get overcome the struggle of making this album, I think I'm making my way to a greater sense of tranquility. I think if I had just made the songs easily, one after another, it would have been a work without any deeper meaning.
--So this work, DIXANADU, is a representation of what paradise is to you right now.
M: In the instant I finished the album, I thought 'this is the best!' but as I looked at it objectively, there would always be parts sticking out where I'd think 'but I meant to do it this way'. As much as I'd think 'it's good the way it is', I can't just stop there, can I? I still have doubts as to the things I make, so I think I'll continue progressing to whatever comes next.
Flowers: Of course it's okay 8D
Part 3 will have to wait for tomorrow, 'cause I'm 3 assignments behind in math O: XD
Moi dix Mois, Mana-sama Interview 2/3
Here we continue with the long interview conducted yesterday with Mana of Moi dix Mois. This time, we'll be drawing closer to the core of his first full album, DIXANADU. Our talk often digresses from the topic...but even with these digressions, please enjoy.
☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
"The process of making 'DIXANADU=Paradise', it was a thorny path."
--Well then, at your Mon+amour event you guys put on a performance of songs from DIXANADU. This new album has already been released in Japan, but this time it will also be released in Europe, right?
M: Yes, on a German record label. Although the German record has slightly different contents. Like there's a bonus track included--.
--Kind of like how foreign artists often have bonus tracks in the Japanese version of their albums, but not in the albums sold in other nations.
M: Yes, like that. The other big difference is that besides the disc containing the record, there's also 2 discs containing a singles collection. Also, the packaging is different. Of course the jacket and CD case are different. I hope people who are real maniacs will try and get it, definitely.
--Also, do you have a particular reason for choosing a German label? Is it because there's similar music to yours in Germany?
M: I don't really know if there are bands like us, but to put it simply, it's because they have a definite gothic culture. So it would be much easier for them to accept a band with our visuals, right? Over there, fans came to see our lives dressed in clothes very similar to our gothic fashion, but it wasn't cosplay at all. In the gothic scene, there's a lot of attention paid to the fashion. Our German fans were definitely showy.
--Of course Moi dix Mois has gothic elements, but do you think part of the reason you're able to be accepted in that environment is because there's something in your music particular to Japan?
M: I wonder...But I'm not really familiar with German bands, so I can't really say. But as for our being Japanese...Well, I'll say that may have something to do with it, but I've grown up hearing certain famous songs, so I think perhaps some of that comes out in the music I make.
--What kind of famous songs did you hear?
M: As a child, I liked shibume [?] things. More than so-called idol-types, I always liked things like Kubota Saki's "Ihoujin", and "Ameoto wa Chopin no Shirabe", which was covered by Kobayashi Asami. I liked that kind of music more than idols.
--Aah...They're not very cheerful, any of those.
M: I never really liked cheerful things. For example with idols, I preferred Nakamori Akina to Matsuda Seiko.
--Kind of a gloomy person (laugh).
M: Yeah, I didn't like Matsuda Seiko's "on the beachfront kind of feeling" (<--Explanation: the image that "Balcony on the Beachfront" made), rather I liked Nakamori Akina's shadows (laugh). Because I have every album of hers, from the first, "Prologue", to around her fourth (laugh). In particular, I like the intro of the first song on "Prologue", called 'Your Portrait' (laugh).
--You're really familiar with her work, huh. (laugh)
M: It begins with a tragic piano part...It really affected me. And the tone is altogether dark (laugh). So saying that, I don't actually have any interest in Nakamori Akina herself. I just have interest in the gloomier songs. It's not that things should have to be dark, but as a boy I was always attracted to mysterious things...I think this is the first time I've ever mentioned Nakamori Akina in an interview (laugh).
--Well thank you very much for telling us. So these musical preferences of yours as a boy have continued into the melodies of Moi dix Mois, creating the gloomy sort of music you prefer.
M: They have, haven't they.
--As for the sound of Moi dix Mois, from the very beginning you've included the sound of the pipe organ and cembalo, right?
M While these sounds could be removed from the music of Moi dix Mois, they're still very much a part of me. Their tone is irresistible to me.
--You even include them at speeds that are impossible to play (laugh). Until it seems they come to have a disorderly sort of feel. Using instruments that you'd often find in a holy church that way in performances....You could almost say you might unwittingly run into some divine retribution (laugh).
M: Mm, I see (laugh).
--Feels like you might be breaking a taboo, somehow.
M: Oh really?
--I'll leave you to think about that. To you it seems DIXANADU (a coined word with the meaning of 'paradise') is not a place of brilliant sunlight, nor does it have the feel for a happy happy paradise.
M: Is that so. Well, DIXANADU is just one form of paradise. Paradise is something one continually pursues, because it's so uneventful to just stay in one place, and it's not acceptable to just stop making progress. Of course as for myself, I want to search for incentives, so I wanted to aim for the theme of a new, fresh fusion, a fusion of luxuriance and violence and express it in various ways.
--But there's no actual point of arrival.
M: Yes. One continually searches for paradise.
--Conversely, if it's a place impossible to reach, is it really paradise?
M: I couldn't say. I think that paradise is a world you must struggle to arrive at. I search for paradise, and as I struggle with myself, I think I also continue to search for who I am.
--As you progress down a thorny path.
M: Naturally it's a thorny path, right. I think if you continue to stay in comfort and ease, it's impossible to arrive at paradise. In the form of a CD, I'm suggesting a paradise with a certain meaning, but that's because until it was finished, I struggled with many things and brought them forth into the music. To put it simply, it's not as though I just made songs one after the other and then the CD was done. In order to create this CD, to be able to come nearer to the image of this world, I worried and suffered over it day after day until in the end, I was gradually able to make it a completed work.
--Because it'd be no good if you didn't suffer over it, right?
M: Perhaps. Because I was able to get overcome the struggle of making this album, I think I'm making my way to a greater sense of tranquility. I think if I had just made the songs easily, one after another, it would have been a work without any deeper meaning.
--So this work, DIXANADU, is a representation of what paradise is to you right now.
M: In the instant I finished the album, I thought 'this is the best!' but as I looked at it objectively, there would always be parts sticking out where I'd think 'but I meant to do it this way'. As much as I'd think 'it's good the way it is', I can't just stop there, can I? I still have doubts as to the things I make, so I think I'll continue progressing to whatever comes next.
Flowers: Of course it's okay 8D
Part 3 will have to wait for tomorrow, 'cause I'm 3 assignments behind in math O: XD
Thanks a lot, Lede! Good luck with your math work ^_^;;
for Lede!And a big THANK YOU! *huggles*
Same thoughtst here xDflowersofnight wrote:Lede wrote:
And... Mana making faces?
It's funny that Mana doesn't answer (at first) the interviewers question and instead talks of something else xD
And...really...o___o I know how I look making faces (horrible retarted and crazy ("O RLY?" "YA RLY!")) and I don't know what to imagine when Mana makes faces...o.o But I definately want to see that!
Has anyone of you ever heard of Nakamori Akina?
Poor Lede...you're really kind! THANKS so much!
Well, as usually, I'll translate to italian and put it on my website...I'll credit you for sure!
Well, as usually, I'll translate to italian and put it on my website...I'll credit you for sure!
thanks, lede ^^
Thank you so much for the translation *____*
Now, I just have to read XD
Now, I just have to read XD
^ I am curious about that as well.
I am not sure if it wasn't already mentioned somewhere *bit confused*
We know it has the Lamentful Miss single with it, but bonus track...
*goes to search on different sites*
I am not sure if it wasn't already mentioned somewhere *bit confused*
We know it has the Lamentful Miss single with it, but bonus track...
*goes to search on different sites*
Mana is surprisingly... smiley. I remember seeing a Malice Mizer fan event from the Voyage era--I kind of imagine that he must have behaved something like that again. I also wonder if this change in behavior is his own doing, or if his new project members have influenced it.
And highlight of the interview:
Thanks so much Lede for taking the time to translate such a long interview. It's really awesome of you, I appreciate it!
And highlight of the interview:
Thanks so much Lede for taking the time to translate such a long interview. It's really awesome of you, I appreciate it!
I must look into the German version, now... especially because I AM frickin' German and somehow missed this (my excuse is that I am not in Germany right now XD)
Damn you Mana! I am broke!
On another note, it's fun to hear Mana's side of the birthday event. Maybe I read this too quickly, but except for a few very surpressed smiles, I didn't see any facial expressions at all.
*runs out of the door* Late!!
Damn you Mana! I am broke!
On another note, it's fun to hear Mana's side of the birthday event. Maybe I read this too quickly, but except for a few very surpressed smiles, I didn't see any facial expressions at all.
*runs out of the door* Late!!