AmberCrystal17

The other day I met YOSHIKI.  I was at a showing of We Are X in Oslo, Norway.  Norway doesn't have a huge VK scene so I was happy he had come.  It turned out to be his first time in Norway.
 
I asked him "Can western bands be visual kei?"  -  He laughed and replied "Of course!"
 
So I followed up with "If a western band is to be visual kei, is there something they must adhere to, in terms of style or aesthetic?"
 
He explained VK is more of a mindset, born out of them feeling like they didn't really fit in anywhere.  As he said, they played "super heavy" and "super soft" music.  He also told me about a festival he hosted recently where the bands were everything from metal to pop, and there was even a band that didn't play music (that got some laughs around the room).  He summed everything up by saying it really isn't a genre, but more of a mindset allowing yourself to be as creative as you want.  And it also generally has makeup.
 
I am summing these things up from memory.
 
So here's my take on VK:
1.  You must be influenced by Japan/Japanese music (because after all, it originates from Japan). 
2.  Make creative use of makeup/visuals. 
3.  Be somewhat diverse in terms of style. 
4.  Be doing your own thing confidently (basically:  be true to yourself, because people and fans can see through you being a cookie-cutter).
 
So basically, no you don't have to have a lolita in the band.  One member doesn't have to wear a surgical facemask at all times.  You don't have to have death-metal growls in your music.  Some music fans within genres and subcultures get really elitist and that gets irritating, especially when people say that VK is only Japanese (so is glam-metal only truly American?  Can you not make Brazilian samba music if you aren't from Brazil?).  VK is unique in that it is vague but also has a meaning.  A band alone isn't just "visual kei" but "visual kei rock" would be a better indicator.  I think in that sense, the addition of the term "visual kei" before "rock" to me would indicate the above traits I listed, like being influenced by Japan, be somewhat "different" in terms of makeup/visuals and potentially have a diverse musical style.
 
I had a blast meeting YOSHIKI.  He's a funny and nice guy, and it was an honor having him in Norway.

You have to get about 10 posts, if I'm correct ^^

The band plan to disband on 2018.01.12.
 
http://gameovera.syncl.jp/?p=custom&id=19740333

WTFFFF
 
they were REALLY good. They do good choruses like few others on the business, always liked their crazy composition style, even tho it may actually harmed their popularity over the years. this sucks

From their announcement, it appears that 0801弐209XX6 (former band of most of the members) will also perform at their live on November 20.

2 clips will be released :
one on 2017.10.01 called "Escape" and the other will be released on 2017.11.01 called "M.F.JAP".
 
Their album is planned to be released on 2017.11.15.
 
And an European tour is also planned for 2018.
 
 

KAZ has been hospitalised because of his poor health condition. The physician said that, in view of his condition, he was not able to continue the band for now. As for now, they did not know what illness he has and they are carrying out examinations to ascertain his illness.
Despite this, the band will continue without him.
 
http://chariots.xyz/2017/09/09/post1-2/

So who all listens to Dir en grey? I'm pretty sure everyone has or does. When I was getting into j-rock, I first started off on Dir en grey as well, "-saku-" was the song that caught my attention, back when I thought I was hardcore. I like Dir en grey, but they're definately not my favorite. They did do an amazing live though.
What does everyone else think of Dir en grey?

So, today news came out that Yonezu is gonna release a new album titled "BOOTLEG" on November 1st.
 
 
It's gonna have 13 songs, including the previously released:
- LOSER
- number nine
- orion (3gatsu no lion ED)
- peace sign (my hero academia S2 OP)
And self-covers of:
- Suna no Wakusei/Dune (Hatsune Miku "Magical Mirai 2017" theme song he released as HACHI)
- Uchiage Hanabi (originally released along w/ Daoko for this anime movie)
 
I wanna see how he's gonna go about this album, since it includes very different songs.
I hope it doesn't live up to its title though. Lol
 
oh and for anyone that cares, he's gonna start touring again
 
Source

So reading though all of it, it seems that although AYA and seek had no intentions of leaving MSI to continue with PLC, some or all of the other members had their reservations about them continuing with two bands at the same time, and finally in light of this, NIKA and Miki felt they could no longer continue to be a part of MSI. It doesn't seem like AYA and seek were slacking off any in MSI, just that some or all of the members felt everyone's hearts should be in the same place with just their one band.
 
If re-posting this/these translation(s) elsewhere, please link back here/credit me, yeah?

 
[2017/08/23]
Imporant Announcement from Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
Imporant Announcement from Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
We’d like to express our sincerest gratitude for your continued support of Mix Speakers,Inc.
Following the EX THEATER ROPPONGI performance on February 25, 2018, Mix Speakers,Inc. will disband.
We deeply apologize from the bottom of our hearts for this sudden announcement.
We are sincerely grateful to all of our fans, staff, and everyone who has supported us during these many, 11 years.
 
Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
[NIKA]
 
 [MIKI]
 
[AYA]
 
[keiji]
 
[seek]
 
[ S. ]
 
AYA posted some follow-up tweets in light of the disbandment announcement, and I felt like this one was particularly relevant:
 
 
"What’s next
After MSI’s disbandment was decided, I did a lot of thinking. I thought about retiring, and I also thought about devoting myself entirely to Psycho le Cemu, but I can’t help but still want to keep making my own music.
Nothing has changed about wanting to express myself and I still have much to give.
I’m not sure what form of activity this will take, but I want to create a new place to express myself."
 
So it seems like regardless of PLC getting back together, AYA didn't want to contain himself to just one outlet of expression. Perhaps seek feels the same way, although he hasn't posted or expressed any thoughts since tweeting about MSI's disbandment announcement.
 
 

They will also be releasing their last mini-album, "JACK IN THE TOY BOX" (2700 yen) on November 1.
 
[tracklist]
1,トイドールの行進 (toydoll no koshin)
2,”as same as…”
3,僕と君のうた (boku to kimi no uta)
4,うらめし屋敷　地下参階 (urameshi yashiki chika san-kai)
5,ダンデライオン (dandelion)
 

Actually I'll just go ahead and post a translation of the general announcement and NIKA's message first, because I think it offers the most insight into what is going on. I'll update with the others later.
 
[2017/08/23]
Imporant Announcement from Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
Imporant Announcement from Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
We’d like to express our sincerest gratitude for your continued support of Mix Speakers,Inc.
Following the EX THEATER ROPPONGI performance on February 25, 2018, Mix Speakers,Inc. will disband.
We deeply apologize from the bottom of our hearts for this sudden announcement.
We are sincerely grateful to all of our fans, staff, and everyone who has supported us during these many, 11 years.
 
Mix Speakers,Inc.
 
 
[NIKA]
Just as it says, we’ve decided to disband.
I’m sorry to surprise you all with such sudden news.
 
I know this must come as a betrayal to those of you who have supported us up until now, and were hopeful about or were anticipating more to come in the future, but as painful and regretful as it is, it can’t be helped.
 
We’ve been together for a long time.
We were able to forge many strong bonds during our activities, but we’ve also had a growing number of disagreements between us.
Although I’ve tried to bridge these disagreements once becoming aware of them, and it was my intention to put forth my best effort so we could continue together in the future, it was just too much for me.
For this I am truly sorry.
 
When we were together, stupid things would get blown up, but we’d stay positive through it all, and united on making our live shows and music the best we could.
 
It isn’t that there’s bad blood or anything like that between us.
This is the honest truth.
 
Even bearing the heaviness of these arguments on our shoulders, we pressed on with our band activities, because we love all of you bangya princesses and princes so much.
 
And because of that, I’d like to keep a bright, Mix Speakers,Inc.-like smile on my face until the very, very end.
 
I’ve decided that Mix Speakers will be my last band, so after our disbandment I have no plans to form another band or take the stage again.
So I sincerely ask that somehow, you come to say goodbye.
In order to make Mix Speakers, Inc. stand out, even if it's just a little bit more, all of us will be putting everything we have into our final tour.
 
Finally, to all of you who have supported us up until this point, you have my sincerest gratitude.
I hope you’ll continue to support us for just a little longer.

It could be a mix of those reasons. Perhaps just hunting down another vocalist was already trouble enough before. They're really a niche band and finding another singer could be more trouble than it's worth when PLC could possibly just have more activity to make for it.

They posted the news today on their official site:
 
http://www.mixspeakersnet.com/sp/news/report.html?id=767
 
I'll translate the member messages later tonight if anyone is interested. (Since every member wrote something it's kind of long and I don't have enough time before my lunch break ends...)

メガマソ (Megamasso)  announced that they will disband after the concert "世界が正しい夜に、ここにいて" (Sekai ga Tadashii Yoru ni, Koko ni ite) at 北とぴあ　さくらホール (Kita to Pia Sakura Hall) on November 23th.
 
 

UGH YEES

HypedT!! 
 
It's been awhile! 

Omgggggggg I am so freaking excited!!!

Can't wait for the new album ! may this be as great as Dogma
 
trailer for Spooky Box 2 is amazing also  it's too bad they don't actually record those shows, or at least last year they didn't...

Yeah but it's not a DVD for that 15th anniversary performance is it.
 
Seriously though, looking forward to seeing what they do now with this, I'm assuming it's gonna be dark and metal orientated, a successor to DOGMA more than anything 

""""""world""""""

http://chateau-agency.com/versailles/live/1854
 
Hizaki announced on Facebook that Versailles will be going on a short international tour in celebration of their 10th anniversary. Thus far, only 5 dates have been announced:
 
Sep 2, Sat / El Plaza Condesa (Mexico)
Sep 6, Wed / Teatro Vorterix (Argentina)
Sep 9, Sat / Carioca Club (Brazil)
Oct 15, Sun / Music Zone (Hong Kong)
Oct 28, Sat / Syntrend Clapper Studio (Taiwan)

This album will be released in spring 2018. There will also be 4 dates for Halloween called "HALLOWEEN 17 SPOOKY BOX 2" which can be seen in the images. The lives on 2017.10.25/30 will have the concept of Abyss while the lives on 2017.10.28/31 will have the concept of LUCY.