Interview

HEAVEN IN HER ARMS

Mardi 10 juin 2008

1. Hello. First question : introduce the band to us European people who don't know your band yet! (Persons, discography, etc)

Hello everyone, we are heaven in her arms from Japan. heaven in her arms are Kent (guitar, vo) taka(guitar.)Katsuta (guitar) kentaro (base) shunsuke (Drums). Here is sad news, our names are written on LP’s lyric card. But there are spelling mistakes…. These are correct names. Please do not mention it.

Ok, let’s move to main subject. A lot of people often think that we are dismal or ferocious because of our music style. But it is a misunderstanding. We are ordinary people. If we will be talked to people who come to our show, then we will reply it properly. Please don’t be afraid of talking to us at the venue if we could go back to Europe. And we have played about 6 years through member changes of how many times. And each member has different musical back ground and preference. So we have a variety of musical influences. This fact is important because we try to create our own music that ever existed. Our music must be the one and only. This is our attitude. But the goal is far. We will devote ourselves. And we release our first album named “erosion of the black speckle” Please check it.

2. How was your tour? I had the chance to see you play in Belgium when you were touring Europe with Daïtro. How was that experience for you and the memories you keep?

Europe Tour was excellent! This is not a lie. Everything was so great! Any words can not describe my mind. I don’t know how to express my thanks to Daitro for organizing the tour. We toured abroad for the first time. So we could experience a lot of things.

Almost of all things are different from Japan. For example, language, people’s appearance, food, law, social system, climate, Row of houses along a city street, venue, ,,,, To experience different culture was a good stimulus and opportunity to think about Japan again. And we could talk to people who came to our show. More over, we could meet old friend again in France.

Above all, it was good that we were able to get to know with many people through this tour. In fact, a lot of people sent messages after the tour. We want to go back Europe soon!

3. How did tour happen to be with Daïtro? Why them? How did you know them?

That was 2005,The guy from oto record,Yoshi told me "You want tour with DAITRO

DAITRO

Clique pour voir la fiche du groupe

??"I said "Of course Yes!"Actually daitro want to come Japan tour 2006 May. So We decided tour with them. Yoshi is one of my best friends. And He lived very near from my house. It takes 10 minutes by foot.
I think that was Fate. DAitro is best!

4. You surely have discover some nice bands on the tour that we might not know here. Can you name us some great band you have seen and played with in Europe?

Ok. Of course Daitro. They are great. We played some local bands. But I could not see them all. As far as I see, Aussot Mort has evil sound and unique phenomenon. And they are very good fellows. They are awesome. And I remember Black heart rebellion played quite beautiful Music.

5. And now almost the same question, but...please name us some great Japanese bands that we could discover? Some of your favourite ones.

Oh, this is a difficult question. Ok, I write the bands that inspired us.
“Naiad”, “ENDZWECK” and” State Craft” released their albums from GOODLIFE. You know this is One of the biggest labels in Belgium. May be you can get their albums easily. There are a lot of great bands in Japan. I’m sorry, I can not write every bands.

6. Why did you choose to play with three guitar players? Is it for a reason of friendship or any other reason like to have a "wall of sound" during a live set?

Because we love present formation of Iron Maiden. It is joking. But I like Iron Maiden. The reason is simple. We need three guitars to express our music. "wall of sound" is quite appropriate for expressing our big sound! Next time I will use that word to explain our sound.

7. You have self-released your album in Japan...And in Europe; you make it through Ape Must Not Kill Ape Records. How did you get in touch with Marianne, and how's your relationship with her? Did she release only LP format?

Because We hoped it.We really love ape must not kill ape records. And in Japan, making LP cost is so expensive. If We have to think about only Japan, We won't make LP.Because lot of Japanese buy only a CD. But We think LP format is have an important effect on this scene even now. So We felt we have to make LP. Maybe Daitro told to her about us. Anyway We really appreciate for marianne!
CD was released by our own label. That called "Liberation of butterfly records" LP was release from ape must not kill ape. And LP include english lyrics. Please check.

8.I have the CD format of the new album, the one you offered me in Sint-Niklaas show. And I've seen all lyrics are in Japanese...except few words I know in Japanese, I cannot read it! And I’d like you to tell us a bit what you are dealing with in your lyrics? Subjects, poetry etc. I often like to know what's behind the texts bands create!

About lyrics...Maybe it's so difficult to understand. Because That's too private things for everyone. I played in band a lot of years and It's not easy. About friends, job, school...
There was a lot of big matter for me.Sometimes that was grown my hate feeling. In a nutshell,The lyrics is "like a mature parasite.."

9. If I understand well what KILLIE, from Japan, have writen it seems the Japanese scene is not really DIY or politically driven scene? You told me shows are often like 300 people coming in...So that's really different to the small venue you have experience over here. Can you tell us more about your scene and the difference you with ours?

It's a complicated question.I felt defining difference between Japan and Europe.For example,In Japan,every live space have a good PA system.I think this is good point of Japanese scene.
But instead,We have to pay big bucks for rent live space.I think that's one of big problem for us.Because We have to sell ticket expensive. So We often organize using practice studio.I really want some communication with audience every time. So We will be thinking what is best way to organize show in Japan.
And In Japan,People don't drink so much beer in live space. So live house cannot manege only food and drink stuff.I think a lot of People come to "Just See" live show.Ofcourse I'm not deny that.I felt Japanese audience more get focused and devoted for show.I think that's good.But not easy to manege for live house side.
We will fight to the bitter end if we find a way.
Yes,Killie is one of our good friends. We will tour with OFF MINOR and Killie this May.

10.I have a question in mind. ENVY has become a big band now, playing big scenes and have records everywhere. How is the band seen in Japan. What do people think about them. And your opinion.

I’m sorry. Because I know little about ENVY. I rarely listen to ENVY.I have never talked to members of ENVY. And it doesn’t matter how Envy become, what Envy do, what people think about. We are going our own way.

11.The artwork of the album is really beautiful. Who made it? Is there a different artwork for LP and CD? Between European and Japanese version?

I agree with you. This art work reflects our sound image perfectly. This was made by hAkuchi. He has made every art works of us. We are entirely depending on him, and we trust his creations. He is a bassist of ENSLAVE and classmate of taka. We played together sometimes, and soon made friend with him.

Yes, there is a different artwork. Both artwork are beautiful. No differences between European and Japan version. There is Only LP and CD version. But second press of our CD has different art work from first press.

12.Do you have any plans for near future? New records? New tour?

Yes. On spring 2008. Killie will invite Off minor and tour together in Japan. We are going to take part in this tour. We are looking forward to this tour. It will be great definitely! And after this tour, perhaps we are going to create songs in studio for the next release.

13.Thanks for the interview and the time you give to us. I hope you liked the photographs I took. And hope to see you again in Europe!

You’re welcome. Did you take photographs? Can I see those? Please tell me about it! I want to see! We also hope we can go back euro again!