Introduction Although she now spends her time wielding a pen rather than a bass, Koyama Nao (ex-SEAGULL SCREAMING KISS HER KISS HER) still has a passion for music. She happily took a break from her illustrating job to share her experiences with the band over the past decade with English-speaking fans. According to Nao, "Music has no borders." NAOMI LEMON Official Site back to features		Koyama Nao You've been trying to become an artist since you were little, but somehow you became a bassist first instead. Why is that? I sent my comics in [to publishers] frequently in college, but I wasn't getting anywhere with them and started to feel bored. Around then, my friend's band was looking for a bassist. That was Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her. I'd never played, but it seemed like fun so I joined. Why did you want to play bass? Who influenced you most? The reason I started playing was just that Seagull didn't have a bassist. That's all. I've been influenced by many bassists, but Gaye Advert (The Adverts) is my idol! What was your first time recording like? Fun! Even though it was my first experience with recording, it was fun in that it felt like I was just going out drinking with my friends. I don't get nervous, stressed, or feel any pressure when I start doing something I like and find interesting. Even if little things went wrong, I'd forget about it once we'd finished something good. I don't remember what the first song we recorded was, but it was something on the maxi single "Swallow Up". Every day was a bunch of guest musicians, friends who came just to hang out, and, well, lots of people staying up all night drinking and dancing. It's already been ten years since then. What was your first live show like? The first Seagull live after I joined was a Kouenji 20000V all-night event. Was it 11 years ago? It was all hard-core, masculine bands, so what was Seagull doing there? It was a strange line up. But I don't get stressed, so I ignored that fact and enjoyed it on my own level. Because of that, my friends often told me I looked bored or angry on stage. I guess It's because I'm too relaxed. I don't tend to get stressed, so our shows were more like playing around with each other.They weren't very different from our studio practices. You did lots of tours in the US with SSKHKH. Any favorite memories? Shopping every day, playing shows, hanging out and drinking with friends... and making noise! I especially have memories of Seattle because I have so many friends there. What basses and equipment did you use? Mainly a Charvel Explorer and a Gibson Explorer. The charvel has a blue gradiation with a black outline. It's awesome. It's so heavy even guys are surprised by it, and I was always bruised and blistered in my left shoulder after lives. The Gibson is white with radically shaped black stripes. Its looks also have a real impact. I didn't really use effects. As for amps, a natural distortion born from the ring specific to the amp and connecting the bass directly is my ideal. If I wanted to make a song have an interesting feeling, I'd use things like a distortion pedal, fader, delay on certain parts. But there aren't really any songs where I used one through the whole thing. I used an Albit head a friend sold me. My favorite strings are D'Addarios. My favorite condition for them to be in is three days after I've changed them. Any plans to return to music? I actually played bass for a band called no T-shirt right after Seagull. My illustrating job got so busy that I had to leave, but I started a new band. But I really just started it, so it doesn't even have a name yet. You're famously a punk fan. What's your all-time favorite band? what recent bands do you like? The Adverts are No.1!! And recently I've been suprised at how cool no T-shirt has become. What's your favorite SSKHKH song? This is hard! But I think it's "Angel". Hmm... I also love "No Star" and "Evolution". As for basslines, "Sentimental Journey" and "Evolution" are fun to play. Please say anything else you'd like to tell overseas fans. Being in a band, I've made friends of different countries who don't even understand the same language. Music has no borders. I think it's great that all of [Keikaku.net's] visitors will have more and more interest in Japanese music. - Hana
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