Introduction SEBASTIAN X was formed in February 2008, Tokyo, Japan. With their own brand of indie-alternative-pop songs SEBASTIAN X brings a fresh perspective to the underground music scene. While inspired by literary lyrics that are written in perspective of a New Generation -- Their music can be could very well be described as a pop ride through a Broadway musical. Despite the lack of a guitarist and with the songs melodies mainly coming through the keyboard -- Vocalist Manatsu Nagahara, drummer Ryota Okiyama, Keyboardist Ariri Kudo and Bassist Yukata Iida bring SEBASTIAN X's high-energy live performances to life making them an extremely energetic pleasure that should be experienced by all. I talked to SEBASTIAN X about the band's latest album "Bokurano Fantasy," and some of the member's favorite movies and books. back to features		SEBASTIAN X Please introduce yourself -- What instruments and brands of instruments do you play? Manatsu Nagahara - Vocalist: My name is Manatsu Nagahara, I'm the vocalist. I just recently got my own mike. It's a Beta57 and It's got a sticker of the cartoon character Arare-chan on it. Ryota Okiyama - Drummer: My name's Ryota Okiyama, I'm on drums. Someday, I'd like to have a great collection of full drum sets. Right now for snare I'm using The Maple from Canopus. Ariri Kudo - Keyboardist: My name's Ariri Kudo, I'm in charge of keyboards. My main keyboard is a KORG TR MP5. Sometimes for a sub keyboard I use a KORG microKORG. Yukata Iida - Bassist: I'm Yutaka Iida, the bassist. I'm a pretty messy guy. I use a JB62-58 from Fender Japan. It's not too pricey. What is the musical background of the members of SEBASTIAN X? MN: I've mostly listened to a lot of folk, punk and hip-hop. RO: I can't say what music especially influenced me, but back in high school I used to go to the library and take out and listen to a lot of different kinds of music. AK: I think classical music is the closest to my heart. YI: I feel like I've been influenced by everything musical I've encountered in my life so far. Remembering back to your first time in front of a live audience, what comes to mind? MN: Hmmm - I can't remember. RO: I don't remember - but at the time of our first live I think tried my best to give them a good show. AK: I think I wasn't thinking anything at the time. YI: I don't know when that was. I'm sure I was having a great time though. Otherwise I wouldn't be doing it till today. Tell me a little bit about the songwriting process. Who is the songwriter and what inspires you to write music? MN: I create the songs. However, since I can't play any instruments, I create the melody and the lyrics a cappella and then have everyone else arrange the music. When writing a song, I do my best not to go against the flow of the moment, the way it's meant to be. So I feel like I'm just putting the melody and words to paper as they're coming to me now. RO: As for the drums, I go with what comes to me at the moment, but there are also parts that I've planned and thought out ahead. AK: Watching television, waking up at 10AM and immediately going to my piano yields good arrangements for me. YI: Whether it's a whole arrangement or a bass phrase, first I think about how to improve the song. How does the writing and recording of your 2nd mini album "Bokurano Fantasy" out August 4 -- compare to your earlier group projects? MN: I came to realize, The songs that I sang weren't very refined (good or bad isn't important). I felt like a lot of things were arranged one after the other without much care. Songs, money, work, life etc: these were difficult things to arrange and were being set up like that. RO: Personally I think it's honest. It's straight. It has no desire. AK: Our album this time was a very purposeful effort. Since we made it with the same amount of passion as when our albums just come to us, I thought it was a real challenge. Until now most of our stuff just came to us out of the air. YI: I've got a good feeling about it. What are fans going to hear on the mini album "Bokurano Fantasy?" MN: Oh, I'll be happy if they just enjoy listening to it! RO: I hope they'll listen to it once and find a part they really like, and listen to that over and over again. I'd be happy if they enjoyed the whole thing. AK: When the listeners just get it! YI: All of it! What has been your biggest triumph as a band? The band's greatest challenge? MN: I want to keep our music fresh (forever and ever). RO: Continuing to innovate as a band. That's our duty, isn't it? AK: Keeping my eye on the ball - so we can continue making our music. YI: There're lots of things I'd like to do, but I'm not sure I have a foremost goal. Let's hear a little about your tastes not related to music. Could you name some of your favorite books or movies? MN: Lately I'm reading a lot of mangas: Yumiko Oshima's Banana bread Pudding. Of the movies I've seen over the past few years, the one that really moved me was the film A Bright Red Lie by my friend, the director Takeshi Kobayashi. RO: Lately I enjoy a Do-It-Yourself magazine called; Make. AK: One of my favorite books is Rampo Edogawa's children's book "Youth Detective Team." A couple movies I like are Blues Brothers and The Neverending Story. Back in the day I had those two on heavy rotation. YI: I enjoy mangas. I have a lot of favorites, but I do like the works of Osamu Tezuka. What is your favorite SEBASTIAN X song to perform live? Why? MN: Sapphaia ni Tsugu and Aso. I enjoy the intense parts of Sapphire ni Tsugu, and Aso I can have a lot of fun with, so I like it. RO: If we're talking about recent songs, then it's Sapphire ni Tsugu. Since we're always developing our songs and thinking about how we can perform it each time, it's really fun to change our modes. KA: Mine are Live Pleats and Sapphire ni Tsugu.They both use a Honky-Tonk sound, but cleanly to raise the tension. YI: We recently started playing "Take me to the end of the World!," and I've really been liking it. This is your chance to promote your CDs, bands, tours, websites & gear? YI: August 4th we're releasing our 2nd Mini Album, "Our Fantasy". It'll be available for download on iTunes too, so everyone around the world will have access to it. Please, give it a listen! Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans all over the world? MN: Hello, Everyone around the world. We're Sebastian X from Japan. Buy our CD! I hope we can meet sometime, though it's kind of far. RO: Thanks for taking an interest in us in our little corner of the world. When we imagine our music reaching the ears of people all over the world we get a very magical feeling. The particular form it takes doesn't matter, we just hope that our music will always be there for you. KA: Nice to meet you everyone! Let's be good friends! YI: I love you. I would like to thank SEBASTIAN X: Manatsu Nagahara, Ryota Okiyama, Ariri Kudo and Yukata Iida for their participation in this interview. ~Denise Smith and Asa (interview 2010.09.01) official site - myspace - twitter - youtube - Tour Dates - Denise Smith and Asa
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