I still try and educate myself as much as I can, but it’s more for lyrical inspiration than any kind of career thing.
Steven: Kaz, during Oblivion Dust’s break-up you began working on a lot of other projects, including Spin Aqua with Anna Tsuchiya and of course Hyde’s solo work. Was that your first time producing and writing for other artists?
K.A.Z: I’ve written and arranged for other artists in the past, but yes, as a producer, those were the first. The later releases with OBLIVION DUST were produced by us. Does that count?
Steven: RIKIJI, you originally left Oblivion Dust in 2000. What projects did you work on between 2000 and Oblivion Dust’s reformation last year?
RIKIJI: I was doing a band called MEGA 8 BALL
Steven: RIKIJI, what originally encouraged you to pick up the bass?
RIKIJI: At first I played guitar, but I wasn’t very good. I decided to start the bass guitar because it only has 4 strings and looked like it would be easier to play.
Steven: Ken, you are fluent in both English and Japanese. How important is language in music? Oblivion Dust has fans all over the world who don’t speak English or Japanese… do you feel that the music is capable of expressing the band’s message?
KEN: I guess it all comes down to whether the music is targeted for the mind or the heart. If you’re a band like Rage against the machine that have a message, then sure, I think it helps that people understand what you’re singing about, because you want to make the audience think and question things you’re singing about.
Most of the things I tend to write about have to do with personal feelings or emotion, so the message can be taken in any way the person who hears it wants, which I like. With OBLIVION DUST/FAKE?, I don’t think language matters at all, especially because the music and tone of the vocals help translate the lyrics to a certain extent.
Steven: Are there any other messages you’d like to us to pass on to your fans?
KEN: Just to say thanks for all the support from overseas. Hopefully we can get over to play live for you guys sometime in the future!
K.A.Z: I hope that a lot of people out there in different countries get to hear more from OBLIVION DUST.
J-Revolution.com would like to sincerely thank Oblivion Dust and their management for this opportunity!