Notre interview est disponible en français en première page !
On the occasion of several dates throughout Europe and a show held at the International in Paris March 4th, CKJ’s team had the opporunity to meet GOOD THRU DATE, an indie rock band recently created. Ren, Haru and Tetsuri, three friends and musicians, have decided to talk about the uniqueness of their group, moments they had with their fans and some other fun facts. GOOD THRU DATE began their trip in France with a stop at the Japan Tours Festival, and they surely hope to have drawn attention. More than a regular career in Japan, GOOD TRU DATE have the ambition to shake concert venues in the entire world.
Let’s dive in their universe with this little moment of lightness!
Hello! Could you present youselves at first?
Haru: GOOD THRU DATE was created with three different bands. We’ve known each other for a really long time. I already came to Europe and when we met, we told each other it would be great to go together to Europe. If we’re able to stand here today, it’s all thanks to our team.
What’s the meaning of your band’s name? And how could you define your music style?
Ren: We wanted to keep our respective initials (Haru, Tetsuri, Ren) in it and we added “U” meaning “you” [editor’s note: the audience] to make the word “Thru”. We wanted to do good music togather. “Good Thru”, it’s something that we can find on credit cards. After asking our manager, he told us to add “DATE”.
It’s a mix between rock and EDM with typical Japanese sounds, and even if we’ve known each other for five years now, it’s a music only ourselves could produce and that we want to share with the audience.
You told us you all come from different bands, did you face any problems with this brand new group?
Haru: We thought it would make things difficult but it ran really smoothly because we genuinely get along.
Tetsuri: Ten years ago, it would have created problems… But now, there are a lot of bands like ours in Japan. Musician changes can occur without it being troublesome.
Your initial music styles are all different, what do you do to mix them correctly?
Tetsuri: We respect one another. We organize things: we do live sessions, I play the guitar, Haru and Ren sing. Everything is really running smoothly.
As you are all experimented musicians, what are the advantages of your new band?
Haru: As of now, we didn’t have any activities in Japan yet. We didn’t even performed there. Going beyond the frontiers of Japan is becoming super exciting and challenging.
Tetsuri: We don’t have any drummer, so it was a real challenge. In fact, we first asked ourselves how we could produce good music without a drummer. But we are only three people, so we can write and compose songs way more quicker.
Haru: That’s right, and we all three also have the chance to compose music.
Talking about composition, how do you handle both performing and composing?
Ren: Our first step was this European tour. But we only had three months to prepare this tour. We met each other every week to work on the songs, and once we found songs we liked, we perfected it. Regarding our CD, we composed three songs overall.
It’s already the third travel to Europe for you Haru, but it’s the first time for you Ren and Tetsuri, so what did you think of the European audience? What was your reaction?
Ren: Unlike Japan, we can immediately see how the audience reacts. We can easily read reactions on people’s faces, to see if they are enjoying it… And this allows us to take notes of what was good and tell ourselves “Last time, this was nos so good, we’re going to put more here…”. European fans share their feelings really easily. But in Japan, people are shier, so it’s a little bit more complicated to determine how they feel.
Your first European date was the one at the Japan Tours Festival, how did it go with the audience?
Tetsuri: I agree with Ren when he says that we can immediately see the reaction of the audience when we’re on stage, if people are touched. We were put really quickly in the mood, and we got close to the audience in the blink of an eye.
What would you draw from these overseas and European experiences?
Haru: I already performed in the United States, but I didn’t travel throughout Asia. In fact, I’d like to cross the borders, for us to become an international group.
Most of the French concerts are held in Paris. As artists, you had the opportunity to perform outside our capital city. What do you think about the support you’re receiving in smaller French cities?
Tetsuri: As Japanese people, we never know what kind of welcome we’ll receive when we travel abroad, and here we’re getting a lot of love, of passion, of exciting energy, and that’s why we love our European fans and we’re grateful.
Do you have any little fun story to share about your travel in France and in Belgium?
Ren: After arriving in Brussels to have fun, we went to a big square that left us impressed, especially the architecture.
Tetsuri: We had to transfer from one airplane to another, and my luggage was lost and didn’t make it to China, so I arrived in Paris without my guitar and with no extra clothes.
CKJ: Really? (laughs)
Tetsuri : Yeah! (laughs) When we arrived in Paris, we went shopping to buy clothes.
CKJ: So, did the staff lent you a guitar?
Tetsuri: Yes exactly, the local staff lent us a guitar.
CKJ: And what happened with your suitcase?
Tetsuri: The suitcase finally arrived, but later. (laughs)
On stage, you cover anime songs. What do you think about the appeal of Japanese pop culture among French people?
Haru: We’re really happy about it. At the beginning of these anisongs covers, my band Universe was chosen to do a theme song, an ending for BLEACH. I was really glad. As a Japanese myself, it’s something I’m really proud of, because a lof of people like mangas and animes, and I’m really happy about it.
How do you explain that Japanese music inspires people despite the language barrier and the distance?
Haru: This is something we can feel a lot when we are playing music. I have the feeling that music transcends languages and borders. Each time I play in a foreign country, I feel proud. It’s probably the same for Ren-san and Tetsuri-san.
More and more people get interested in indie bands in a music industry that is controlled by big lobbies. How do you explain this growing craze about less popular bands in smaller companies?
Ren: I think people develop more advanced musical tastes, more refined. We start by saying that we love music, but what do we like exactly? R&B, jazz, rock? When you decompose that step by step, you can discover more and more other sub-genres. Whether it’s about music or other kinds of art, like animes, we can develop a more defined taste for a specific genre, or for the sub-genre of another sub-genre. In the end, people gathering here come back to see us because they like what we do, and not only because they like rock music. All the people who have seen us on stage so far can become friends with one another, because they already have a lot in common while coming here. This affinity is a really good thing.
What are the difficulties you faced and overcame in your professionnal careers?
Tetsuri: I came to live in Paris when I was 13, and I began playing the guitar. I’ve always believed in my own talent, but I didn’t get to seize opportunities. Haru-san believed in me as a guitarist. All three of us are survivors, there were more of us before, but we carried on and here we are today. Haru-san already made its debut and has more experience. But he believed in me and he trusts our talent.
Do you have any projects planned for 2019?
Ren: We will end this tour in Japan. We’re also planning to produce music, to do songs, and we’re currently thinking about a new format to share our work with our fans overseas.
To conclude this interview, do you have any special message for your French fans? Maybe some words in French one after another?
Tetsuri: “Oui”. (laughs) I was born in Paris, I stayed here until I was 2 years old and went back to Japan. At the age of 13, I came back to Paris for a year. I have a really strong link with Paris. I have a bond with Paris. The “ri” part in “Tetsuri” is the “ri” of “Paris”. It’s a city I adore, I like wine, cheese and French women. (laughs) I will come back. Support us and listen to our music! “Bon appétit”.
Haru: “Bonjour, je m’appelle Haru. Je suis japonais. Je vous aime France.” (laughs) I’m performing here today for the forth or fifth time. It’s always a surprise. There is a fresh feeling coming from all these encounters. I feel a lot of love and energy from the fans. I know I will come back. Let’s meet again!
Ren: I want some chocolate because I love to eat that with a coffee. I drank a coffee too this morning. That’s how life is. That’s all. (laughs) I love you!
We would like to particularly thank HIGHFeeL, Quentin for the translation, and of courses GOOD THRU DATE’s members for this wonderful interview.
