Newspeak is a four-member Japanese band that formed in Tokyo in early 2017. All members have different music background but they choose to put their strengths through this band.
Their motto “Stop thinking in the language they made just to clean out your mind. It’s time to create our own newspeak. Expect fun” !
Since last year, they released two singles, for a total of six official songs. The first was released in early 2017 and is called “What We Wanted”. It contains the titles “What We Wanted”, “Beat Goes On” and “Reveal It”. The second “July” was released in November 2017 and also contains three titles “July”, “Media” and “Watch Me Blaze”.
Since the beginning of the year 2018, we heard two new songs from their next album, which were pre-released. These are the titles “Lake” and “24/7 What For”.
We went to meet this group with a very interesting philosophy and were able to exchange some questions with Rei, singer of the group. Good reading!
Could you present the band?
The band consists of four members: Rei on vocals and keys, Ryoya on guitars, Yohey on bass, and Steven on drums
How was the band formed?
We used to play in different bands but in the same venues and same events, and we became friends. After my (Rei’s) band broke up, I left Japan for a while. And when I came back from Liverpool, the UK, we met up again and I showed some of the demos I had and we all agreed to start a new band together
What does your band name, Newspeak, mean?
The word, Newspeak, is actually from a novel called 1984. In the novel, Newspeak is a language created by a dictator to control people and brainwash them. But we basically just liked the sound of it. Also we wanted to add a different meaning to it, that our music becomes a communication tool among people, which frees their mind, not to control their mind like in the novel.
How would you describe your music style and the different sounds you are using?
I would say indie pop rock with bouncing rhythm section, funky riffs, and catchy choruses, influenced by members’ diverse music backgrounds including both Japanese and western punk, pop, indie, folk, hard rock, film music and stuff. Simply put, it’s quite mixture. (laughs)
What are your sources of inspiration?
I tend to write songs about my/my close people’s experiences in daily life, like relationships with people (partner, friends, family), jobs, trips and all that basic things that everyone goes through. I also often get inspired by watching films.
What do you like in music? How is it something important for you?
I really like when music reminds you of smells, views, thoughts and many things that you had at each phase of your life. And it’s important because that could make you take actions that you would never do without feeling it.
Do you make a living thanks to your activities as musicians?
In general, Yes.
Who is in charge of your songs’ production?
I compose most of the songs and write lyrics and we make arrangements to them together.
In terms of recording, Steven does mixing and sound engineering and Yohey does sound engineering too.
What do you want to share with your songs?
Life gets more and more complicated as the time goes by but I personally think there are not many actual things that really mean to you. And that’s what I often sing about, though it depends on the song. It would be great if somebody made any types of actions that make your life better by hearing our music.
What is the final goal that you want to achieve as artists?
To write a song that we all think that we can’t do any better than that.
Do you have any other hobbies you like to do on your free time?
Playing football, watching films, traveling
There are a lot of bands and artists in Japan who aren’t known yet, not much in Japan and neither in Europe. Did some of them inspire you when you created the band or even now?
Yes of course they do. Many people tend to think bigger artists are better than less smaller artists. But that’s not true at all. I really admire musicians who can only pursue their music as an art. But at the same time, it’s important to be heard. So we try to balance it all the time. There are lots of great artists in Japan but unfortunately, they don’t get promoted because there are artists that generate more profits like those teenager idols.
You will publish a new mini-album in October titled “Out Of The Shrinking Habitat”. What can you tell us about this album for now?
The lyrical theme is, as I talked a bit above, to make ourselves think what is really important in life.
In terms of the music theme, we wanted the listeners to feel like they enjoyed one day of a music festival from the morning till the evening after listening to the whole album.
Is there something else you would like to add or say to your European fans?
Japan is really far from Europe but someday we would like to tour around Europe. So please keep your eyes on us till the day comes.
Thank you to Newspeak for accepted to answer our questions
and we wish them good luck with the release of their new album !
