All Of You In My Memories
On February 1st , Kami’s birthday, MALICE MIZER released Shinwa (“Myth”) a piece Kami had been working on, lovingly completed and recorded by the remaining members.
The band says that the concept Kami carried within him “the mask,” representing duality, is vividly reflected in the two tracks included this time.
Through both sound and visuals Shinwa delivers a message from Kami and from MALICE MIZER themselves. Listen closely to the members’ words about this work which carries that message into the future.
CBC Radio Public Recording
“Byakuya no Sylphide Theater” 1999.12.18 – Kudankai-kan
Mana: I have a feeling this is going to be a year of new challenges for MALICE MIZER. And for me personally it’s going to be a year of even deeper self-exploration. It feels like it’s going to be busy.
Q: So, like a year of running like a workhorse?
Mana: Well in MALICE MIZER’s case it’s not about being chased and whipped by others, we chase ourselves. (laughs)
Q: Why push yourselves that far? (laughs)
Mana: Well… (wry smile) This time it’s the three of us working together in a form of expression we’ve never tried before. But because it’s something new, it becomes a kind of personal exploration and from that new things can be born, or new awakenings can happen. So even though it’s hard it’s also fun.
Q: Lastly, can you tell us a key point or even just a hint about the upcoming Second Chapter?
Mana: A hint? … Yume (“Dream”).
On this day MALICE MIZER made a rare public appearance for a radio recording complete with the chance to hear their voices in person. The event (already broadcast on January 2nd) was held at Kudankai kan, a Western style historic hall that seemed almost purpose built for their aesthetic.
The opening was a narrated journey through MALICE MIZER’s fate, beginning with Mana and Kozi’s first meeting in 1992, interwoven with the members’ own voices. It touched on their released works (yes you could even hear Ki to Sora), the departure of past vocalists, the loss of Kami, and finally, the path to their revival making it clear that this look back was also a declaration of determination for the future.
Then came the live appearances, in order: Yu~ki, Kozi, and Mana. They fielded clever banter based on postcards and faxes sent in by fans for the occasion. (And for those wondering, Mana’s “voice” in the talk segments came via sound samples from the voice actors of Revolutionary Girl Utena [male voice] and Seicha Shoujo [female voice] by Mana’s own request.)
The program was packed with variety: “My Town’s Big Boasts,” “Strange Experiences,” “Advice Corner,” even a cosplay contest featuring selected fans in the audience. Each member’s solo segment had its own unique flair Yu~ki’s original answering machine & alarm clock messages, Kozi’s original song (performed for the first time) and a radio drama of “A Day in the Life of Mana-sama” narrated by Noriko Shouji.
The two hours flew by with Kozi especially shining as the main host his quick wit dodging sharp audience comebacks with ease, revealing a new talent that left many impressed. The members all agreed that connecting with fans in person had been a joy, and their words “We will definitely return to the stage this year” carried a weight and sincerity that stayed with everyone there.
Q: Yu~ki, what’s the highlight of the footage for you?
Yu~ki: All of it really. It’s not about a particular moment there’s something you feel after watching it all the way through.
Kozi: In terms of where this work stands it’s in a pretty difficult position. But I think you can still sense the songs and concepts we’re planning from here on. It’s definitely not a “final work” it’s a forward looking release that leads into the future. If you listen i think you’ll be able to really take in the message Kami left behind.
Mana: While this release is technically “arranged by us,” I feel strongly that it’s more like a collaboration with Kami. I want people to listen to it as MALICE MIZER’s music. The video that compiles our history it really makes you feel the depth of everything we’ve done up to now. Even i, watching it felt just how much we’ve accomplished in such a short time. When the video was finally nearing completion and I watched it all the way through for the first time, there was a moment that truly hit me in the chest.
But this history isn’t over MALICE MIZER with Kami will continue. I don’t want people to see this as just a memorial piece, but as a visual work that connects to the future.
Q: For this photoshoot, your costumes have a stronger mix of Japanese and Western styles than usual.
Mana: Kami was deeply fascinated by the Japanese aesthetic. So i took that as the image and fused it with MALICE MIZER’s in our Western style. Also, there’s no color this time. Even the makeup is entirely monochrome. There’s meaning in that choice too.
Q: What kind of world will MALICE MIZER create in the year 2000?
Yu~ki: Specifically, there will be a “Chapter Two” and “Chapter Three” the works will continue. We’ll release new recordings and i think there will be times we appear in front of everyone in the form of live shows too. I expect we’ll be very busy… we’ll have to make sure the year 2000 doesn’t end before we even notice it! (laughs)
Kozi: We’re definitely going to be busy in 2000. Honestly, we’re already overwhelmed now at the end of this year. There’s a packed schedule ahead, so everyone should look forward to it.
Mana: I have a feeling this is going to be a very dense year one of new challenges for MALICE MIZER of blossoming and evolving…
Kozi: (quietly) …and maybe a little devolving too.
Q: What’s the meaning you’ve put into it?
Mana: I want people to discover that for themselves. Humanity is about exploration. Everything begins with the act of seeking. If you hand someone the answer from the start they’ll never truly bloom. This work carries a message from both Kami and from us so I want people to listen to the music, draw out their own emotions, and keep delving deeper. I think that through that process, you’ll come to understand the real meaning. I want everyone to always hold on to their sense of curiosity. That’s why I deliberately didn’t include the Japanese lyrics here.
Q: What about the Japanese subtitles that appear in the video?
Mana: Those were messages we, the members, came up with back when Kami was still with us so we included them plainly in Japanese.
Q: Watching the video, it feels like there’s a certain time axis or even a kind of vector at play.
Mana: Actually it’s not just a timeline , there’s a lot of meaning in the way things are arranged. I want people to try and uncover that as well. I won’t spell it out for you here, though.
Q: I thought you’d say that. (laughs) By the way, your activities resumed with the release of Saikai no Chi to Bara at the end of the year, but this Shinwa occupies a different place than the Second and Third Chapters that follow Saikai, right?
Mana: It holds many layers of meaning. It’s not simply a memorial box or a work of remembrance, it’s also tied to the concepts in the Saikai no… series as well as to MALICE MIZER’s history and as an offering to Kami. So it’s not a completely standalone piece. Its position is extremely complex.
Q: It’s like it contains the past, present, and future?
Q: If you had to sum up the defining feature of Shinwa as a whole?
Yu~ki: I really want people to hear the music first and foremost. This is the first time one of Kami’s compositions has been released to the world, so I want people to experience that before anything else. Through this you can feel what kind of music Kami, as an artist, was creating. From the video, you can also see MALICE MIZER’s history and feel many different things.
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