Interview: MAN WITH A MISSION
MAN WITH A MISSION
As anticipation builds, Japanese superstars MAN WITH A MISSION prepare to embark on their largest UK headline show yet at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on 31 August, as part of their 'Kizuna no Kiseki' tour powered by Crunchyroll. The tour celebrates the success of their recent single, which served as the opening theme for the popular anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc. Known for their unique blend of rap, rock, and electronic elements, the band has become a formidable presence in the global music scene.
In our exclusive interview, MAN WITH A MISSION delves into their excitement for the upcoming tour, their creative process, and their experiences collaborating with artists like milet. They share insights into their journey from their debut album in 2011 to their current status as one of Asia’s most successful rock bands. Join us as we explore the world of MAN WITH A MISSION and what fans can expect from their dynamic live performances across the UK and Europe.
How do you feel about embarking on your largest UK headline show yet at the O2 Forum Kentish Town?
We feel great, we've been to the UK many times but not in a venue that big. It's really amazing and I hope everyone will share that moment with us.
What can fans expect from your upcoming UK and European tour?
More than you can imagine.
How did your collaboration with milet on 'Kizuna no Kiseki' come about, and what was the experience like?
The director of "Demon Slayer" had an idea for the song of the upcoming series to be a duet of a male and female artist, and luckily, we had the opportunity to take part in it. It was not our first time collaborating with milet, so we knew each other well. Actually, I am a huge fan of her creation and voice, so it was an honour and a pleasure working with her again.
'Kizuna no Kiseki' is the opening theme for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc. How did it feel to contribute to such a popular anime series?
We were already aware of how huge and well-known the animation was, so to tell you the truth, we were a bit nervous at first. But it was a challenging opportunity, and we are very satisfied and confident with what came out.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from the recording sessions for 'Kizuna no Kiseki'?
As it was a duet with milet, I wrote the song imagining how she would sing her part, especially the bridge after the verse, which I felt was totally her style. It was great that she immediately recognized that when I had her listen to the demo.
Your music has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and video games. Which placement has been the most meaningful to you and why?
I would say there is no order in the rank or pleasure we feel in each and every collaboration we've contributed. But as I myself am a big fan of the author, “Take Me Under” and “My Hero” for both the movie and animation of "Inuyashiki" were quite a blast.
How do you approach creating a setlist for your live shows, especially with such a diverse discography?
Mainly it's up to Kamikaze-Boy, our bass player, but I guess it's all about feeling and imagining the flow of the live show. And of course, thinking about the audience and giving them what they want or even more.
You've had a successful career in Asia and have sold out arenas across Japan. How do you approach performing in different international markets?
I guess there's no strategy to it. Even if there was, above all it's all about enjoying what we've dreamed of all along as being a band.
Your music blends rap, rock, and electronic elements. How do you ensure a seamless integration of these genres in your songs?
We were and still are huge fans of the music from the 90s. I believe the word "alternative" became huge and gained much more meaning among music itself, and had a diverse, experimental, free-minded spirit which nurtured the genre of rock in many ways. I think that's the mind and spirit we still inherit and carry on today.
The band has a unique backstory involving a mad scientist and eternal sleep. How do these elements of your mythology influence your music and stage presence?
It's only a backstory. It’s true but it sounds like a joke, but it’s true. Anyway, it’s only a backstory and the thing is, it somehow makes you focus more purely on the music. Same thing with the wolf look. Somehow not being a normal human makes people get rid of preconceptions and focus more naturally and purely on the music.
What are some of the challenges and rewards of maintaining a cohesive band identity while incorporating such a wide range of musical influences?
Digging in and outputting diverse genres is indeed one way to reach out to many people, but maybe sometimes reaching out to too many elements might risk making the core of the band’s music blurry and vague. I guess that is one of the things we should be aware of.
Can you tell us more about your experience working with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump on 'Dead End in Tokyo'?
It was such a great moment working with him. It was especially interesting when we wrote the lyrics of the song. Before we approached any kind of arrangements with the song, he started with questioning what I’ve experienced through life, what kind of hardships I went through, my philosophy, my vision of life, all kinds of general thoughts about one’s life. It was like talking to a shrink, but he said that it was important to know that so whatever lyrics came up, it would be spontaneously spoken and natural for one to sing about.
How has the band evolved since your debut album in 2011, both musically and personally?
Time flies and the trend and the music scene have been changing rapidly as well, so I believe we have been gathering new ideas and new elements all along. Technically, I was never a computer guy, but I have been using a lot more DTM than I used to, which really changed the way I make music. So far it’s really interesting and has been helping our creativity a lot.
How do you balance creating new music while touring and performing internationally?
Creating music doesn’t have to be always canned inside the studio and stuff like that. Every and each moment of our life is full of opportunities for new inspiration. So there is no balancing in that.
Your live shows are known for their high energy and visual elements. How do you prepare for such intense performances?
Eat well. Sleep well. Stretch your muscles before you get on stage.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
2011 in Kyoto Dai-Sakusen, a festival organized by our friend band 10-FEET. It was the moment when people didn’t know us as much as they do today, but the anticipation toward our band was kind of emerging and growing at that time. The moment we were going on stage, we never expected more than 600 people, maybe less, but the crowd was fully packed and the area was over capacity; people couldn’t fit in. It was the moment I witnessed the exploding anticipation for an upcoming band which was purely made with no big deals like commercials or stuff like that, but mainly by rumors and reviews of people. Luckily, we have the opportunity to face more people in bigger venues, but that moment was beautiful and glorious.
How do you connect with your fans during live performances, especially in different countries and cultures?
Mainly I speak in English but of course sometimes I try to speak the language of the country, talk about some episodes during the stay, try to blend a bit of humor, but above all, everyone is such a great audience I don’t need to worry that much.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for MAN WITH A MISSION in the coming years?
One day, I hope we’re welcome to be the main headliner of the biggest festivals out there. It is a scene I’ve been dreaming of all along and it is one of the scenes that I consider to be the true moment and a goal for a band to be regarded as an internationally, globally loved one.
Catch MAN WITH A MISSION at their largest UK headline show yet at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on 31 August, as part of their 'Kizuna no Kiseki' tour powered by Crunchyroll.
