Interview with a vampire

IN T E RV I E W
KAMIJO
Special 20th Anniversary
Interview with
a vampire
« KAMIJO: singer, guitarist, pianist, keyboardist, writer, composer, musician, music producer, actor, model »... The list is long and there’s nothing new for purists. Nonetheless,
one « profession » is missing, one that is not to be forgotten! To complete this list, you
should add « narrator », because this artist clearly is one, always trying to recount, like a
modern times minstrel, the life of protagonists whose existence you may not even know.
They’re the ones who give a rhythm to each verse and chorus. Thanks to that, his songs
keep getting more and more epic.
One doesn’t become « King »: this right has to be earned. With that quest in mind, VYPER
Japanese Music is glad to present you an interview with a Vampire.
Text : Aurelie Amoretti - Pictures : Warner Music Japan Thanks to b7klan and Kamijo France
19 94 - 2007
LAREINE
It is inconceivable not to linger over the band LAREINE, for many reasons. One of them is its incredible
concept, which brings us beyond what is imaginable. We are going to make our first stop to ponder about the
romance between « Lillie Charlotte » and « Jérémie Florence de Jarger » that, paradoxically, deals with the
thin line between sadness and happiness.
V - For starters, could you tell us
more about the very first meeting
between « Lillie » and « Jérémie »?
K - At the beginning, « Jérémie»
was in love with someone else
who wasn’t « Lillie ». The meeting
between these two protagonists
might have been painful for the
young woman.
V - « Asphodel », « Jérémie » or
even « Illusion Blue » are all linked together. Can you tell us more
about that link?
K - « Jérémie » represents the past
life of « Asphodel ». As for « Illusion Blue », it’s « Jérémie »’s soul,
previously « Asphodel »’s at the
at the time he lived.
time. It’s not easy to count « the
time », that’s why he is skipping
V - Can you explain how to get to numbers. But if we admit that this
the « Lake of Reminiscence » if it child may have been a « God », it
existed for real?
must have been easy for him.
K - Well... This lake is in everyone’s heart. So, if you close your V - Before we finish, we’ll stay in
eyes, you’ll be able to see it, too.
this café and the people inside,
mostly with the woman who’s reaV - « 1, 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, 24... » says ding « Lillie »’s memoirs. Based
the little boy in « Café des Fées » upon the « third letter », which is
during the reading of the « Lettre an introduction to the song « Fiande Lillie ». In that scenario, each çailles », can we conclude that this
character has a precise role, and person is like the reincarnation of
we were wondering: who is that « Lillie Charlotte »?
child? Why is he counting? And K - Absolutely. This woman, reawhy is he skipping numbers?
ding what « Lillie » wrote, is her
K - In fact, the child counts the
reincarnation, indeed.
2001 - 2002
NEW SODMY
... Is, in fact, a metaphor of what could be evolution, the time that goes by, and the act of moving forward. Here,
we won’t focus as much on the visual aspect, but we’ll dive deeper into raw expressions of emotions.
V - Drifting away from LAREINE
with the track « Since J&L ». The
lyrics have us wondering if the man
who « leaves his quill in the book »
couldn’t be an anamorphose of «
Jérémie », transposed in another
world.
K - Bravo, that’s correct! The
«quill» man is another physical incarnation of « Jérémie ».
V - « Phantom » and « Are you
sodmy? », for example, seem very
far from the poetic universe we’re
used to. Those tracks have a more
« realistic » feel. Can you tells us
more about them?
K - For me, the song « Phantom
» represents KAMIJO’s deepest
nature. As for « Are you sodmy? »,
it is a pun!
that, and since NEW SODMY is
supposed to keep in touch with
modern times, can you explain
why you chose to have softer, more
simple look?
V - In all your works, each mu- K - At the time, we had decided
sician embodies a character, to change and go back to a more
whether it’s a subordinate role or «fashion » style.
not. In NEW SODMY, are the artists with you supposed to be a cha- V - Finally, if you had to choose
racter, feelings or even allegories? one expression that would fit NEW
K - I came to think of « AYA » and SODMY best, which one would it
« YOU» as lone wolves.
be?
K - Simply « Rock Fashion ».
V - Through your whole career,
you’ve always aimed towards aesthetics in its purest form. Knowing
2007 - 201 2
VERSAILLES
Through their songs, the quintet tells the story of the « Descendants of the Rose ». We are going to take a closer
look at the four albums of Versailles, which are the « chapters » telling, one after the other, the story of these
fictional characters. We’ve based this series of questions on the pamphlet published during the Europe Tour
2011, made to summarize this musical tale.
V - « Chap I: Lyrical Sympathy »
Hypothesis: « Louis » and «Flowery » chose to put an end to their
story on « The Day of the Red Carpet », named like this because it
reminds of the death of the young
woman. Did the two lovers agree
to this final decision? If so, why did
they choose this solution instead
of another one that would have
allowed both of them to « live »
together?
K - The clan to which belonged
«Flowery » believed that death was
« the ultimate happiness », only
reachable during the last moments
of their lives. It is the complete opposite for « Louis », who wished
for eternity. That’s why he did it: reincarnation, to investigate on
for her...
these strange phenomenons. Her
researches lead her to the Vampire.
V - « Chap II: Noble »
We can guess « Louis » saved this
For « Louis », the red rose repre- little girl because he knew it would
sents true love. Which other sym- make the love of his love come
bol could he have chosen if the back to him. What do you think of
rose hadn’t imposed itself?
this hypothesis?
K - Concretely, for « Louis », the K - I think it’s good that there are
red rose also represents blood. So, many interpretations to this story. I
if he hadn’t chosen this flower as am really glad to see you’ve seen
his symbol, he would have chosen this truth.
blood, for sure!
V - « Chap IV: Holy Grail »
V - « Chap III: Jubilee »
In « Masquerade »’s music video,
« Louis » saves a little girl from we can see a little girl growing up
a certain death. This leads « Su- until she becomes elderly. We can
zanne », a nurse, also « Flowery»’s imagine that she ends up dying,
and that the little brown-haired
girl we see at the end of the PV
is her daughter. Thus, in « Louis»
and « Flowery »’s story, do these
female characters have a link with
the Vampire’s lover, or are they just
a figurative image of time running,
a metaphor of a life’s running its
course?
K - If we’re looking at the PV, the
story can be interpreted this way,
but also in a totally different, abstract way. Enjoy it with several
points of view.
V - Let’s close that « book » and go
on to the last question! Versailles
has been created according to a
precise concept. Going from there,
did the story of the « Descendants
of the Rose » exist from the beginning, or has it been created and
staged little by little?
K - At the beginnings of Versailles, there was only « The Revenant Choir ». Then, I’ve written
stories step by step to adapt them to
new albums.
since 2013
KAMIJO
This adventure has now reached its peak: this « Interview with a Vampire » couldn’t end without an ultimate
face to face with the King.
V - Can we say that, in « SYMPHONY OF THE VAMPIRE », the
Vampire to who KAMIJO lends his
image is, in fact, the representation
of a second life for « Louis XVII »?
K - Absolutely. But only if he were
alive... Keep that in mind to enjoy
this story fully.
V - In « Louis - Enketsu no La Vie
en Rose », based upon the importance and signification that have
the « Roses » as a symbol of immortality in all of your previous
works, can we suppose that this
track could have been entitled
«Louis - Enketsu no La Vie Eter-
V - To finish, at the end of the album « HEART », the eponymous
title announces the arrival of a
mysterious « Count ». Can you tell
us more about him?
K - That, however, is « Top SeV - « BASTILLE » and « YAMIYO cret »!
NO LION » can be considered as
engaged odes, created to abolish borders thanks to « Art » and
destined to touch the « Heart »
of everyone. Can you explain the
different stages that allow a song
to reach this goal?
K - Firstly, the Art transforms into
Love. Then, it overwhelms the
Heart of the main character.
nelle» (i.e. Eternal life)?
K - You’re right, this song could
have been entitled as such. As for
me, what I consider even more
eternal that roses is loneliness.
since 19 94
FANS
VYPER Japanese Music organized an international contest on social networks. Thanks to fanbases all around
the world on Facebook, it sparked a strong interest from many contestants. A random draw on October 1st decided who the lucky quintet would be, and here’s the answers!
Coralie - Hello KAMIJO! Is there
a particular French song you’d
like to sing in Japanese? If so,
which one is it?
K - On the contrary: I would like to
sing my own songs in French.
Clio - How does the creation of
your outfits work? Does someone
show you pre-made models, or
some kind of series (like a book)
that you can modify to your liking?
K - First, I draw my own ideas.
Then, I create them and make them
Mickay - What is your opinion on better with the designer.
Visual Kei these days? What kind
of future do you see for it?
Auro - First of all, thank you for
K - I don’t really understand to- everything, you are incredible! My
day’s Visual Kei. There is no artist question is: when you write songs,
by whom I feel threatened. But, do you happen to think they may
maybe, at some point, there will be save a life? Do you know that your
bands looking for beauty...
work can have a positive influence
on someone’s everyday life?
K - I keep writing more songs
while dreaming about that.
Aldo - In case you have surprises
in store for 2016, can you tell us
about them?
K - All I can say is that I’ll offer
a story that is purely beautiful and
fresh!
V - Do you have a message or a
last word for our readers?
K - I had a lot of pleasure answering your questions which were
very elaborate. I would be pleased
to do it again. Come and see my
show!