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The Electric New Paper :
'Visual Kei' bands win hearts outside Japan
SOME say they look freaky. Others find them cool.
16 August 2006
SOME say they look freaky. Others find them cool.
But with their spiky hairdos and smoky eyes, the members of SuperBand finalist Lucify have undeniably drawn much attention to the Japanese 'visual kei' movement that inspired their distinctive look.
Simply put, it refers to androgynous Japanese rock musicians who don elaborate, cabaret-like costumes and slather on dramatic layers of makeup and hair gel to attract fans to their music.
Pioneers include X Japan, Dir en Grey, Malice Mizer and Luna Sea, each boasting its own unique gothic, opera or punk look.
The turn of the millennium saw the rise of a new generation of bands like Gazette and Alice Nine and solo act Miyavi, who are trendier and cuter in appeal but no less visually striking.
These bands are not only hugely popular in Japan but also command cult followings in Asia, Europe and the US.
We get Lucify's five members - vocalist Liang Zhiwei, guitarists Jon Misaki Ng and Kelvin Koh, bassist Kuek Kairong, all 23, and drummer Vics Mah, 18 - to talk about their biggest visual kei influences:
Gazette
Who are they? A five-member band formed in 2002, comprising vocalist Ruki, guitarists Uruha and Aoi, bassist Aoi and drummer Kai. Average age, 25.
Misaki's take: 'Their style is punkish gothic. They're experimental in music, creative and versatile. They have heavy metal numbers but also soothing ballads. But they can also be 'cute cute'. Like them, we keep our fringe long to cover our foreheads.'
Alice Nine
Who are they? A 2-year-old pop-rock band comprising vocalist Shou (left), guitarists Hiroto and Tora, bassist Saga and drummer Nao, all in their 20s.
Kuek's take: 'They do both heavy rock and strong ballads. They can be weird but also cute. One of them inspired me to wear horns on my head.'
Miyavi
Who is he? The 25-year-old former guitarist (right) of disbanded Due le quartz who went solo in 2002.
Kelvin's take: 'His striking showmanship makes him stand out on stage. He's expressive and he'd come up with all sorts of fancy poses with his guitar, which I have adapted into my own gigs. He used to be more visual kei cool but now he's more pop-rock.'
Luna Sea
Who are they? A rock quintet that split up in 2000 after 11 years. Vocalist Ryuichi and guitarist Inoran have formed a new outfit Tourbillon, while other members Sugizo, J and Shinya, all in their 30s, also have their own bands.
Zhiwei's take: 'Luna Sea started off with visual kei but as (the members) matured, they became more mainstream to reach out to the masses. They play with a lot of energy, and I used to kickbox while listening to them. When they disbanded, I felt heartache (sic). But their music remains.'
Dir en Grey
Who are they? A 1997 rock band that has thrown out its macabre image to do concert tours around the world. Comprises vocalist Kyo, guitarists Kaoru and Die, bassist Toshiya and drummer Shinya. Their average age is 30.
Vics' take: 'They used to wear PVC and heavy makeup and look fierce, but they've toned down their image. I started learning drums because of their drummer (Shinya). His beats are always so creative and forceful despite him being so skinny.'
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