Interview with Bugy Craxone

Photo © Bugy Craxone. Used with permission.

Date: Sunday May 24, 2009
Writer/Interviewer: Pebbles
Translator: Kyoko
Questions answered by: Yukiko Suzuki

Straight from Japans underground, an interview with punk rock band Bugy Craxone discussing their new albums, future plans and more... For more information on the band please visit their artist profile here.

1. It’s a great honor to interview you once again. Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and your positions in the band?

V&G: Yukiko Suzuki, G: Tsusaka Oikawa, B: Tsukasa Asahi, D: Monchi
We're all from Hokkaido.

2. I last interviewed you in 2007 after your promotional tour for Good morning, punk lovers. What has Bugy Craxone been up to since then?

We've been having live performances. We moved onto Northern Blossom Records in 2006 and we got used to the new environment. We're having the best time ever!

3. Your first released Good morning, Punk Lovers followed by Hello, Punk Lovers, are the titles a reflection of the punkish sound these albums exudes?

Those two albums had a short release span, so we came up with names that were somehow related.
It's more cheerful than "Good morning...". Since we released it in June, we included summer-like songs and we did what we had never done before

4. We are in a new year of 2009, is this a year of new beginning for Bugy Craxone and did you achieve all you wanted to in 2008?

Yes. It was unusual for us to release two albums in one year, but we did it in 2008, and we tried a few new things, so the year went by really fast. We hope to take it by day and make us more flexible and open for more new things in 2009

...

5. Was there anything particularly memorable that occurred in 2008?

It was the fact that we participated the outdoor event called "Rising Sun" in Hokkaido, and the recording of "Hell....". We made the songs while we were on the tour, so it was challenging not only in terms of songs but also in terms of mental sense. Especially I'm very conservative, so I'm good at making songs by taking a lot of time, but it took me a lot of courage to judge things in the limited time and go with the time and our feelings.

6. Having celebrated your 10th anniversary in 2007 you are now in your 12th year as a band. Where does everyone see Bugy Craxone 12 years from now?

Mmm... I wonder what we'll be doing... I don't really know what's gonna happen.

7. Do you feel in the 12 years as a band you have evolved and changed a bit from how you first were?

In a superficial sense, there was a change of members. Compared to the time when we first started, we're now being able to express ourselves better in songs and lyrics, and have better performances now. The fact that I think it's great that the band matures as we get older is a big change.

8. You are becoming more and more known to the overseas audience, do you have any plans to venture outside of Japan and perform in other countries?

We don't have anything concrete, but we're hoping to perform overseas someday. I think it will be different system, environment and how audience react to the performances if we perform overseas.

9. For our new readers who are not yet familiar with Bugy Craxone, what albums and or songs would you recommend they take a listen to first?

Since we don't play old songs anymore on stage anymore, I want them to listen to the ones that are a few years old. However, it's interesting to get to know the band by going back and know the history of the band, so I'll leave it up to the individuals.

10. Thank you for taking the time to speak with Kanzen ni Jrock. Is there anything you wish to say to your fans when they read this?

We don't see you very often in person, but I really appreciate your support and please stay with us!!