2006, SANA, more known under the name SANA-sama flew by himself after being part of the group Mask. Symbolic figure and initiator of the visual kei, this genre rooted in Japan, SANA can’t help but perform during European tour and conventions. After his performance during the “Japan Touch Haru”, SANA decided to reiterate the experience in Paris alongside korean rock band Violet Tree. From his numerous experiences in the music industry, Sana depicted his path as musician showing great maturity and charms to our team. Enjoy !
Thank you so much for being here, can you introduce yourself to our readers ?
SANA : My name is SANA, from Tokyo. I’m doing visual kei music. People say this music is from 10 years ago, this is very old but I still love the visual kei so this is not old music for me.
Sana-sama, one of your nickname, how do you feel about it ?
SANA : Sana is really short. People need more words. Even “Mr-Sana” is okay but this is a japanese way, that’s why I chose it.
Can you tell us a bit about your music creative process ?
SANA : Right now, for me, the most important thing is talking with people, that is where I get the inspiration from. Because people are very different in the way they think, they speak, foreigners, everything is different. It seems like only one song. The most important thing is to talk with someone.
You were in a band, and now you are performing solo. What is the main difference when you are performing alone on stage with your guitar ?
SANA : Solo is just only one person. The supportive members are behind me but Sana is only me. This responsability is the most important thing [to carry] on stage. I want to make the audience happy and have a really good time with them. Solo is only my responsability. For a band, this is a band responsability. But I need everything to be on my own, and I have my own responability.
Which one do you prefer the most : performing alone or with a band ?
SANA : It depends ! For our last concert in Liège, I played by myself, as usual, but Violet Tree invited me for an encore song, so we played together, with the drums, the bass, the violin and I just played the guitar. The feeling is more passional. I can’t say which one is the best. Both are good.
About Violet Tree, how do you feel about the tour with them ? Do you think you can complement each other ?
SANA : Yes ! Actually, we were already together last year, in agust. Before that, we both performed in Russia and we have the same experiences, really long and cold and hard tour. Then we met each other for the first time last year but I feel like they are friends, because of the same experience.
About Koisuru-chuni kun project, can you describe it ?
SANA : I was just making … then the director told me we had to talk a little, they gave me a story, [matching with] like visual kei.
Do you think that overseas fans react in a different way about the visual kei from the japanese one ?
SANA : Right now, it is almost the same, but ten years ago, it was really different.
This is not your first time in France, you have already been to Lyon for the “Japan Touch Now”, how do you feel about events and concerts ?
SANA : Both are different. For example, just tonight, people come for us, and I enjoy the atmosphere but conventions have many contents : food, anime, music, everything. Both are really good. For example, do you like coffee, do you like tea ? Both are the same drink.
What are you expecting from this stage in Paris ?
SANA : Paris is one of the most popular city in the world. People feel [something] about Paris. Sometimes maybe they go crazy, but I’m really interested in Parisian’s reaction tonight.
Do you have a little message for your fans ? Maybe in French ?
SANA :Putain is okay ? Je m’appelle SANA. Bisous. I really want to visit again and again and I feel like Paris is one of the most connected city with Europe, Spain, Italy. Everyone know Paris. I just want to say that I want to have more connection with Paris.
Last question, what are you expecting for the visual kei scene in the future ?
SANA : Actually, every year, new bands come to life. Maybe something new is coming.
We would like to thank AA Event and SANA for having us during this wonderful moment.
