Introduction Newcomers to the music scene 9mm Parabellum Bullet are wowing audiences and critics alike with their aggressive sound and massive live performances. They took a minute before their show in Osaka to talk to Keikaku about their music... and Norse Mythology. back to features		9mm Parabellum Bullet Keikaku: Ok, first, could you please introduce yourselves? Sugawara: I'm the vocalist, Sugawara. Kamijou: The drummer, Kamijou. Taki: The guitarist, Taki. Nakamura: The bassist, Nakamura. Keikaku: Nice to meet you. Band: Nice to meet you as well. Keikaku: So, about 9mm Parabellum Bullet... Long name, isn't it. Sugawara: Heh, kinda long. Keikaku: Anyway... The first time I heard 9mm Parabellum Bullet, I was really surprised by how well a band that has only been together for a little less than two years... that's right? Sugawara: Yeah, around there Keikaku: Surprised by how a band that's been together for a little less than two years can have such a tight sound. Everyone's parts fit together very nicely. So I was wondering, do you guys have much experience playing together forming 9mm? Sugawara: Hmm, before 9mm... Well, before forming this band, the three of us besides Nakamura were in a different band, and just did our thing and put out a CD, but besides that, we didn't really have any previous experience. Keikaku: Ahh, but I imagine you practice a lot. Sugawara: Well at university, the same university... Keikaku: Which university? Kamijou: The name of the university... Taki: Let's just forget about the name of the university. (laughter) Sugawara: Anyway, we all met at university and formed 9mm Parabellum Bullet, but before that we all played in bands in our houses during high school and middle school for people's birthdays or parties, etc. Keikaku: So is everyone from Yokohama? Sugawara: No, we're from all over the place, just met in college. Keikaku: Gotcha. So was the concert you did last night in Nagoya the first time you've played outside of Tokyo or Yokohama? Sugawara: Yeah, the first. Keikaku: Were you nervous? Kamijou: Heh, yeah... Keikaku: How was it? Taki: Incredible! Band: (Laughter) Incredible. Keikaku: Also, on your homepage it says that you've been influenced by artists in a number of genres. Could you tell a little bit more about your influences? Sugawara: Influential bands? Keikaku: Or artists... Sugawara: Well the entire band isn't influenced by any one artist, but I'm personally a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist. Hmm... And while we were in middle school, everyone listened to Japanese bands like Blankey Jet City or Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. After middle school, I pretty much listened to whatever was on the radio. Keikaku: And how about talking a little bit about the songwriting process... Who's the first one to think up the songs? Taki: Me, the guitarist, Taki. Kamijou: "The guitarist". (laughs) Taki: For the mic, for the mic. Sugawara: We don't make the song all at once. First, he comes up with the basic riffs, melodies, chord progressions. Basically, he brings the basic form of the song to the studio, then we all say "what do you think we should do next?" What can we make this into? Who has an idea? And revise it from there. Taki: I come up with something really basic, then we all mess around with it together. Keikaku: And do you write the lyrics separately? Sugawara: I write the vocals... Keikaku: Yeah, but do you write the vocals before hearing the song then match them to the song, or write the vocals after you've already heard the music? Sugawara: Ahh, we make the entire song first, well, the performance, only instruments, is made first. Then, while we're playing the instruments I also make the vocal melody. And once we've decided the vocal melody, only then do we write the lyrics. But there are also cases where the melody will change as a result of the lyrics. Keikaku: Ahh, yeah, I felt that in the music. It really feels like the vocals are matched to the music. By the way, how do you pronounce the album's name? Kamijou: Well, I don't really know if this is right, but according to the dictionary it's pronounced "Yalarhorn", but we pronounce it "Gararuhorun". Sugawara: Yeah, in Japanese it turns into "Gararuhorun". (Laughter) Keikaku: And what does it mean. Sugawara: Heh, about that... Kamijou: Well, I looked that up in the dictionary as well. (Laughter) But anyway, it's the name of a horn that appears in Norse Mythology. Heimdall, the guardian of the gods, blows a horn to summon all the gods together for the world-ending conflict Ragnarok. That horn is called the Gjallarhorn. Keikaku: Heh, that's a cool name. (Laughter) Kamijou: Actually, I first picked it just because I liked the sound, but it's lucky that it turned out to have a meaning as cool as that. (More Laughter) Keikaku: But anyway, Gjallarhorn is a mere 20 minutes. Sugawara: Heh, yes, a mere 20 minutes. 100 yen per minute. (Laughter) Keikaku: I loved those twenty minutes, but I want more. Do you have any plans to record a new album in the near future? Sugawara: Of course! Keikaku: But no date yet... Sugawara: We don't have a date for sure, but as the boss says, "might be out in 2006?" Kono: Heh, that might be tough... Keikaku: So you recorded Gjallarhorn with Kono from te'... Kono: I'm Kono... Keikaku: Ahhh! Really? I thought you were Kawano [Ed Note: I misread Kono's name when we exchanged emails before the interview] Kono: Ahh, no, Kono, Kono. Keikaku: So... Any chance we can talk later? (Laughter) But anyway, do you think this had a big influence on the album? Sugawara: Yeah, a huge influence. Keikaku: In what way? Sugawara: Basically, while we were recording he was always in the studio with us. But it wasn't like "do this here", "now, do this", but more just giving us the courage to do the things we already wanted to do. Kono: "If it's interesting, do it." Taki: "Do anything you want." Kamijou: "Do anything you want, (evil voice) wa ha ha ha ha." (Laughter) Sugawara: I think Kono was having the most fun out of any of us. Keikaku: Sounds like a good time! But anyway, that's the gist of the questions that I had prepared. Is there anything that you'd like to say to your non-Japanese fans? Sugawara: Hmm... Well, I've never met any of our fans from other countries... Keikaku: They do exist! Sugawara: But, we're grateful that you can accept our music despite the fact that it's written in Japanese. And we're only going to get better! Taki: It'll be great! Sugawara: And please, come to our concerts! Keikaku: I'm sure that if they can they will come. But unfortunately many of the readers are overseas. For example, the west coast, west coast of America. But if you get even bigger... Sugawara: If we can, we'll definitely go. Keikaku: For example, have you heard of SXSW? Kono: Ahh, South by Southwest! Keikaku: Yeah, South by Southwest. Kono: Actually, we didn't get in... Keikaku: Ahh, that sucks... But next year, definitely try again. I think your music would be received well. Kono: But actually, there's another band from Zankyo Records going to South by Southwest... Keikaku: Oh really? Which one? Kono: A band called "hologram". Keikaku: Yeah, well, I'm sure some of the site's readers will be there, so I'll make sure that I tell them to go. Kono: Thanks! Keikaku: Well, shall we wrap it up there? Sugawara: Oh... really? Keikaku: Yeah, thanks a lot for your time, and good luck with the show tonight. Sugawara: No, thank you! - Graham
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