Komorebi

6 hours ago, DerKnecht said:

 

The reason why the VK hype came to an end after 2010 was because of the lack of original music and ideas. There were tons of bands coming out with the same copy-paste formulas, both visually and musically. People including me just got bored of listening and seeing the same uninspired vk-copycat bands. 

 

There was a shift in genre and I’ve noticed most people tend to blend sounds they aren’t emotionally attached to in their minds. 

You might say every BTS song sounds the same while to a fan they all sound completely different. Most 90’s and early bands are totally cookie-cutter to me, it was just a different cookie-cutter. And if you ask me a ton of European epic metal bands sound just like Galneryus xD

2 hours ago, Saga said:

 

We always had the jornals scanning stuff and the blogs with daily updates, but at some point there was a "trading rare lives in p2p" thing going on that sucked. Btw, glad I did not sucked any cock for these hot Matina stuff, because a lot of them are on youtube right now.

I’ve seen elitism regarding clothing style and shit like that, which is far more stupid. 

47 minutes ago, nomemorial said:

That's the thing, though - I think that a lot of visual kei fandom is rooted in buying merch/etc. when that's just not how most music fans operate these days. The problem with visual kei's accessibility doesn't begin and end with their merch-selling capabilities - it starts with getting people on board in the first place and keeping them engaged. I think a lot of that is rooted in a strong internet presence.

 

As unfortunate as it is, we're not living in the era of CD sales and purchased merchandise any more - at least outside of live shows (and even then, arguable) - and while I understand the importance of those things (trust me, I spent 10 years of my life on the road as a down-on-my-luck-broke-as-a-joke DIY musician), I think we're expecting far too much of the average consumer to conflate fandom with opening one's wallet. (again, not arguing for rightness, just reality)

 

Past that, I still find that a lot of the lack of international interest in VK is that it is classically very difficult to enter and navigate as a fandom. Not only are fans classically elitist (visual kei is one of the only fandoms I've encountered where people have actively hoarded content from their faves with the explicit purpose of keeping it from others), the artists do not follow the same sort of cues that most other bands do and they don't engage their fans in the same way, either.

 

I mean really, this conversation can extend into the realm of photo-free gigs and cheki sales - things that I absolutely understand, but are likely doing more harm than good in the long-term nowadays (an easy buck to make from the aforementioned horny fan, but something that simultaneously makes these artists feel very distant and "unattainable," which just isn't sustainable in a world where the concept of the "rockstar" has basically been deconstructed entirely.) Add that to too-expensive albums and merchandise and no matter how interested one is, it requires a lot more cash and die-hard effort to support someone you enjoy. 

 

Again, most of this is being analyzed from a strictly Western point of view, but really just trying to answer the opening question. Japan clearly functions very differently from the rest of the world when it comes to music, but VK still feels even further removed. I highly doubt we'd ever see some major international renaissance focused on kote kei groups or something - stuff like that is and always will be incredibly niche - but there are a lot of bands in the game right now that have HUGE crossover potential and if paired up with the right artists would skyrocket in popularity on an international scale.

As much as we would like that VK worked like western pop in terms of marketing it's never gonna work and it's pretty futile to argue over a what if. That is the reality of Japan's culture and we've seen how reluctant they are to mingle with the west, much less adopt their customs.
As an example, Dobe did it right when engaging with the fans and easily supplying their music to the international fandom and for a while everyone was super vocal about them. Then the second Suica was fired no one was hyping them anymore. Merch or no merch involved,  teens just don't get invested beyond a cute member and/or lyrics that speak about their struggles (hence why they get popular easily among menhera chicks in Japan).

As someone who has co-organized tons of fan projects that require little to no monetary effort, what I've experienced is all those social media fans who talk non-stop about X or Y bandman disappear once you ask them if they want to take 10 minutes to write a message for a fanbook they won't even have to pay for. They generally don't care for any fandom activity beyond hyping looks and that drives away newcomers interested in music.
 

Is there any way for bands to market themselves (while remaining VK) to make people interested enough? I doubt it. Even for popular artists the fans who are a little bit more invested are a lot fewer than the ones who just comment on who was on Taylor's latest videos and leave it at that. Kpop artists do thrive on sales and western ones I'm willing to bet they live off advertisement rather than their music since everyone streams it to the point where music is their platform to jump to some unrelated brand to sponsor them and actually give them cash.
 

I see your points, however I disagree with artist seeming more unattainable. They are FAR more attainable and approachable than any mainstream artist. 
 

I'll agree with you on the elitism part, but not quite regarding sharing rare material.
 

Edit: something else came to mind. Most of the world is pretty casual about listening to music and won't go out of their way to even go to a gig. What makes people care on a deeper level about it? Habit. An early exposure and thus attachment to artists. Some sort of connection and/or the music somehow filling some void (hence why people tend to get harder into bands during their 10's and 20's). I think we can all assume that the more attached we are to an artist (whatever the genre, think about beliebers and directioners) the more fucked up we are somehow. It's been widely debated in other threads the common 'fucked-up-ness' most vk listeners had when encountering it and getting themselves attached to what we all agree is mostly crap we hate to love. That might just be another barrier. The rest of the world just doesn't have that hole in their hearts (mental health) that fits VK perfectly.

I don't quite get the obsession with teasers tbh.

2 hours ago, nomemorial said:

I know it's been brought up a lot already, but I think social media is probably going to be what sets the heavy-hitters apart from other bands in the scene from now on. I think it's part of the reason why gulu gulu has picked up so much steam so quickly (outside of just being really good) - they're VERY active on social media and also seem very interactive with fans. I've noticed a trend toward more activity (especially on Twitter/Insta) from a lot of smaller artists/bands, too, but it seems a bit further removed from their actual "craft" so to speak. I think there may be a bit more "hype" generated for these artists if they just get better at the social media part of the modern music "game."

In my experience interacting with VK fans outside this forum this isn't really getting them much sales, just horny teens collecting photos who can't discuss the band's releases when you ask them to. That works well for the bands in Japan because those horny teens go to lives and spend a shit-ton on merch. Try offering merch to 'Murican teenage fans and see how many actually want/can buy.

2 hours ago, Cereal Killer 13 said:

The lack of translations is insane.  I can read/understand Japanese but even I sometimes just don't feel like dealing with having to look up a word(s) I might not know.  In the past translations for stuff was easier found but now, either you better know enough Japanese yourself or know someone who can translate for you even if it's a rough translation. Heaven help you if you are fan of bands that don't have a fandom with some translators. 

I translate for my fandom and no one reads nor cares and tbh it's too much time and effort I've invested over three years with 0 results for the band.

VK culture seems to be a huge turnoff for metal fans. I tried to lure a girl who kinda knew about MM and gazette bus is focused in western metal into modern VK and she got hooked on Dadaroma, Diaura and JLK. Lasted a few months and last night threw a tantrum after watching a few lives and claimed she was quitting altogether and when I tried to reason with her her reasons were "yelling encore is so tacky and I just can't with it" and "fandoms expect me to comment nice things on the members accounts and participate in fanprojects". Upon further reasoning as to why join street teams  if she didn't want to engage in fan activities the response was "I wanted drinking buddies". Every other male into metal I've tried to get into VK backs away as soon as they see the aesthetic, right after drawing every comparison possible with any Western act. There's just too much stigma currently around Japan's pop culture for normies to want to step in and a good portion of metalheads are apparently just too closed minded and stay within their own sub-sub-sub genre of metal (I've gotten complaints about bands blending genres and not sticking to one variant of metal) to want to give VK a chance.

44 minutes ago, sleepy coffee said:

I wonder if chile will be their next announcement since they asked about it the other week

I contacted them to offer them a producer to work with and they ignored me lol I haven’t heard back from the interested producer either so idk if they contacted him. 

My mother outdid herself. I changed my

phone number and she is now sending me emails with the classical abusive “you are nothing without me and no one else loves you” discourse. 

How do you deal with toxic exes? Because this is basic “I’ll belittle you until you take me back” shit. 

Another drummer falls to dystonia :S

Guys, there’s not much science as to why these bands are popular. They are fun and charismatic live and that is it. No one wants to see a boring, insipid artsi-kei band perform coughDimlimcough, but if you have a blast live who cares is they are “repetitive”. Yes, marketing can be a thing, but ultimately it’s the band that sells themselves live.

Just a heads up to everyone who is expecting br00tal stuff... keep waiting. 

Sena stated in a recent Barks interview that JILUKA will enter a third “stage”, so to speak, and this is the direction for said stage, with more emphasis on clean vocals.

15 minutes ago, Wakarimashita said:

I wish we could get something more than just band members playing instruments and dramatically overacting in empty, abandoned places lol. That makes it two in a row after Elice in slow motion... I really miss that little bit of storytelling from, say, Omelas or Mephisto

I was thinking the exact same thing. 

4 hours ago, sleepy coffee said:

Yep looks like moving forward in 2020 theyll be officially going as RAKUGAKI and under the actual AINS label 

Well, well, that might explain why they were so heavily promoted at Pure Sound when I went. I swear they were playing them every single time I went. 

I’m wondering about the title...

But I’m excited for a new relese 🖤

10 minutes ago, chocobuzz said:

I think he's between 23 and 25. Mio I think is 24, Yoh 29 and Issei old as fuck somewhere in his 30's.

Issei looks older in person imo. 

What I heard was that the new song sounded like new Dezert. 

12 minutes ago, Seelentau said:

Got a setlist for me? 😆

Yup. 

Kinda short if you ask me. 

1 hour ago, TheZigzagoon said:

How are they meant to afford going to this live in Mexico, produce and advertise this album and continue doing lives in Japan? Judging from what we’ve heard in this thread they aren’t that popular in Japan? I personally think this is a poor move financially 

There were 60-70 people at the oneman today as far as I know. 

I’m also wondering how is that trip to Mexico being funded.

1 minute ago, sleepy coffee said:

I would say this is really fucking random but it seems like theres even a small following of fans of starwave bands in mexico as well so who knows lmao

Versaille and it's low budget versions are super popular in Latin America for some reason.
But idk how Dimlim will do, I haven't seen many people be vocal about them around here. I hope they do well.

Looks like Dimlim is going to Mexico next year...

13 minutes ago, Saishu said:

And how often will a band encourage the crowd to make noise or sing along? I mean a live show by nature isn’t a quiet experience unless it’s a symphony or some shit. 

There’s moments and songs for that. Can you really enjoy a concert if you are acting like an enraged ape during its whole duration?

20 hours ago, Saishu said:

I don’t understand why these VK acts don’t realize by now that western audiences are noisy as fuck. It’s not like they tour here every year. People are going to get excited. 
 

 

I actually really hate that. I pay to hear the band, not a bunch of loud fuckers screaming over it. 

22 minutes ago, patientZERO said:

I saw him do something similar ages ago. He was in the middle of one of his Inward Screams and the crowd wouldn't shut up, so he just stopped completely, spiked the mic on the stage and just stood there as he stared deep into the eyes of every loud bitch interrupting his art. The mic was fucked, too.

I’ve never seen Diru live but rumor has it he threw a tantrum and left the stage over the noise in Chile. I gotta confirm it tho. 

Welcome to the forum!
I hope you enjoy your stay here. Jui rocks!

Bump.

list and prices updated.