Interview with quaff at Anime USA!

Written by: Pebbles
Interviewers: Cecilia and Megan Amos
Questions answered by: Seiya, Ukisemi, Makito, Takuma, Shingo and Hal

Kanzen ni Jrock: First off, could you please introduce yourself and tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

Seiya: I'm Seiya on vocal...umm... my interesting fact is...umm...what is it? Umm...I'm very bright and happy. Next, Ukisemi?

Ukisemi: I'm Ukisemi on vocal and MC. I'm not human.

Makito: Not human. He's not human.

(Seiya laughs.)

Is that funny? lol

Makito: I'm Makito, and umm...I'm guitarist. Now...my...interesting fact is that I'm very extreme, I have an extreme characteristic. I am sometimes happy, and sometimes sad. Okay Okay

Takuma: I'm Takuma on guitar. Umm...I'm open minded and positive.
Shingo: I'm Shingo on bass guitar and flute. Umm...everyday (everyone starts laughing) I drink over two liters of black coffee.

(Everyone laughs more)

Shingo: Without sugar or milk. Black.

Hal: I'm Haruhiko on drums. I sleep a lot. I eat a lot. I smile a lot. I'm healthy

Ukisemi: (nods in agreement) Yes.

...

Makito: My favorite is...It's been very fun!

Seiya: (nods in agreement) Yes, fun! Very fun!

Makito: We've been to America before, and we're very happy to be back. We like America.

Seiya: It's not that we have come to America, we have returned to America.

Makito: We are also much honored to be at Anime USA.

Kanzen ni Jrock: What made you decide to perform Michael Jackson's, "Beat It" at the encore last night?

Seiya: Well, all the members of the band really liked MJ. He is such a well-known and loved figure throughout the world that we wanted to perform a song that everyone would know and enjoy. It's a fun song.

Kanzen ni Jrock: It was a great surprise! (quaff chuckles)We really enjoyed it.

Shingo: We all sang and we all dance. It was the best.

Makito: We apologize for the dancing. (everyone laughs)

Kanzen ni Jrock: No, don't apologize! I really loved it!

Seiya: Thank you

(more laughing)

Kanzen ni Jrock: It was wonderful.

Seiya: Thank you

Kanzen ni Jrock: You are known as "quaff" and "quaff other side." Can you explain the differences between the two?

Makito: The quaff is from Shinto. I mean... it is very hard to combine Wa and rock. We arrange them and try to bring the music combined to as Quaff music.

Seiya: We have many ways of expression, and in order to distinguish the music from Quaff, we have "the other side of Quaff."

Kanzen ni Jrock: What are your inspirations for becoming musicians? Are there any specific artists that have inspired you?

Seiya: We formed quaff and formed the depth and "wonderfulness" of music. Our inspiration is quaff because from that point on they just wanted to be musicians. As for inspiration, it was Jimi Hendrix and quaff.

Kanzen ni Jrock: What do you feel is unique about your band?

Shingo: If you look really closely, there are a lot of little things that could be different, but the most comments we get are about how much fun we have onstage and how much people enjoy our concerts. That's probably the most unique part of quaff.

Kanzen ni Jrock: I can definitely see all the fun you have onstage.

Seiya: Yay~

(Everyone chuckles)

Kanzen ni Jrock: With each member being from a different part of the world and having experienced music from different cultures did it help inspire your unique musical style and sound?

Hal: I was born in America, but after 8 months I returned to Japan. I came back [to America] for high school and stayed for five years. From there, I studied drums.

Shingo: I was born in France, and then I moved to Italy and lots of different places after that. When I was three years old, I moved back to Japan and I don't remember any of it.

(Everyone laughs)

Kanzen ni Jrock: Upon your debut back in 2001 you released a full length album, was it difficult to take such a big leap forward so soon?

Makito: Hmm...that is...Seiya?

Seiya: Me?

Makito: Yes.

Seiya: The album we made back in 2001 was really an original quaff masterpiece and that was the first thing that we did. It was something that we wanted to make so I don't think it was difficult at all.

Kanzen ni Jrock: You have toured all over America numerous times over the past few years. What were your favorite places you visited and what do you enjoy most about America?

Makito: When they started on their tour, it was a widespread tour. All the venues were different sizes-it could be a tiny box or a big box. In between, there were like 10 days of bus travel, so they were really pressed to remember everything that they could and they couldn't spend much time in each city either. They finally made it to NY and it was wonderful, but the journey to get there was the most memorable.

Makito: My favorite and most memorable place was San Antonio. We went there twice and fans were waiting there. It was a wonderful experience. We also visited the Alamo.

Kanzen ni Jrock: What does everyone enjoy most about performing live?

Shingo: We all exude positive power and it's so much fun.

(Seiya chuckles)

Kanzen ni Jrock: What does everyone enjoying doing in their off time when you're not on stage or in the studio?

Takuma: We all have different ways of spending our off time, but we like to do activities that to polish our skills as an artist. Shingo likes photography and graphic art. Ukisemi visits art museums. We also like to go out drinking with friends.

Makito: I browse YouTube.

(everyone laughs)

Makito: I look for footage of UFOs (while drinking beer?)

(everyone laughs more)

Makito: Absolutely.

(everyone laughs more)

Kanzen ni Jrock: What was your main inspiration for your latest album Shake Your Booty?

 Makito: Inspiration?

Kanzen ni Jrock: Yes

Makito: That album is actually based on our experiences in America. So while we were making the album, we were imagining the places in America that we had been to and put it all together to make the album.

Kanzen ni Jrock: Do you like using MySpace to communicate with communicate with overseas fans?

Considering its recent rise in popularity, would you ever consider using Twitter?Makito: We don't have twitter. Somebody tell me how to use it. (laughs) You want us to start it? (laughs) We'll try.

Seiya: I've never used Twitter.

Makito: You want us to start it?

Seiya: We'll start using it!

Makito: Yes, we will start!

(laughter)

Seiya: We'll think about it.

Makito: Yes

Seiya: We'll try

Kanzen ni Jrock: And communicating through social networking?

Makito: Love it.

Seiya: Love it.

Shingo: Love it.

Makito: Because I'm lonely.

Seiya: No don't say that. (laughs)

Shingo: Because we're in Japan, there aren't many opportunities to communicate with overseas fans so it's a great way to get closer with them.

Kanzen ni Jrock: What hopes and wishes does each member have for quaff in the new year of 2010?
Seiya: I want more people to be exposed to the sounds of quaff. We'd like to become a band that the entire world loves.

Kanzen ni Jrock: What do you like most about the person sitting on your left?

Makito: (to Shingo) We were classmates in high school. My first band was with him. From the start of the band; I like this guy (laughter) He's very nice and whenever I stray off the path of righteousness, he'll pull me back.] (makes hand motion to show pushing back on the path. Everyone laughs at his demonstration.)

Shingo: Seiya, right? Seiya really likes himself, but he takes into consideration the feelings of the people around him.

Seiya: haha

Shingo: Mm...I really like that kind part of him.

Seiya: Well, Uki-chan is...umm...that is...hmm...To put it in one word...

Ukisemi: Can you express me in one word?

Seiya: He's a genius. He really knows how to entertain himself.

Ukisemi: (puts his arm around Hal) Hal always has a smile. He is the youngest member and the happiest, and he's the mood maker. He can change the mood and make us happy. Mr. Funny Face. He's energetic. (loud laughter)

Seiya: You're the funny face! You're so stupid! (laughs)

Ukisemi: Funny face! Uhh...Big smile. Big smile. Big smile...

Seiya: Happy?

Ukisemi: Happy...happy face.

Seiya: How about Takuma?

(laughter)

Shingo: He'll talk about Makito.

Seiya: Ahh...Makito...

Hal: As for me...

Seiya: Ah! Sorry!

Hal: It's okay.

Hal: (toward Takuma) He has mind-blowing talent. He has the kind of skill to give one-word joke.

Shingo: Changes atmosphere.

Seiya and Makito: He makes our feeling high.

Seiya: Only members can see it.

Makito: Ah, you're right. Okay. Okay.

Seiya: Very special.

(laughter)

Hal: That's how much he entertains all of us.

Takuma: Makito is very kind. He is so concerned about all the members. He's also very energetic.

Kanzen ni Jrock: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. In closing please send a message out to the quaffkkos who will be reading this?

Seiya: (puts his hands together) Thank you so much for your support, and from now on, we will continue to send you our love and passion. Thank you.