We aren't in the band because we want to release some works. Everything we do are connected to our live performances. If it isn't connected to live performance, then there's no meaning to it.
Q: Is your new album, 'DOGMA' packed with the true essence of the GazettE's music and spirituality?
REITA: Something like that. However, It's not that everything about the GazettE is reflected in 'DOGMA'. Rather, the album only zooms on certain aspects of the GazettE, and thus it's really one-sided.
Q: In order to create 'DOGMA', the 3-parts nation-wide tour 'NAMELESS LIBERTY DISORDER HEAVEN' 'PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIMS CENE' and 'GROAN OF VENOMOUS CELL' were needed.
REITA: Even though it was a tour limited to our fan club members, these three tours had a major role in it. During the tour, we came to understand what kind of expressions needed in the GazettE's live performances.
Q: 'DOGMA' is also an album which has direct link to your live performances?
REITA: We did have our live performances in mind when creating it. During the making, everyday the concrete image of "What kind of song this will be when performed live?" became stronger and stronger. But when thinking about how to reproduce the songs in 'DOGMA' in live performances, it's difficult. But, if we can overcome that, it means that we have levelled up as a band.
Q: For the GazettE, live performances are the crux of your activities.
REITA: Of course. If we announce "We won't perform", then we'll lose the meaning of being in this band. We aren't in the band because we want to release some works. Everything we do are connected to our live performances. If it isn't connected to live performance, then there's no meaning to it.
Q: The album 'DOGMA' is also one item to enjoy your live performances.
REITA: Yeah. It feels like a weapon that we use on stage.
Ideally, if we can have a pace of 1 live performance every 3 days and do it for a whole year, then we won't lose the feeling of doing live performances. But, if we do that, we won't be able to immerse ourselves in our next works (laughs). As expected, it's difficult to get that balance.
Q: You spent quite a lot of time in making this album.
REITA: While going on 'NAMELESS LIBERTY DISORDER HEAVEN' 'PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIMS CENE' and 'GROAN OF VENOMOUS CELL' tour, on days we didn't give performances, we brought the songs we had made and held song selection meetings. We took more than a year to make the album.
Q: Good thing you have an environment which enables you to do that.
REITA: Until then, no matter what we always ended up being chased by deadlines when composing songs. But, if we're chased by deadlines too much, we might have to release stuffs that we're not satisfied with. And that is the worst. We wanted to avoid being rushed to the point that it disturbs the band's pace, that's why.
Q: If you're chased by deadlines too much, you won't be able to focus on your music.
REITA: Even so, if there is no fixed time or deadline to some extent, then we might end up working on it endlessly. That's why a good balance is needed. A pro is someone who can make something he's satisfied with, in a fixed time and period. But while we also think that, if the period is too short... that kind of thing.
Q: Currently, you have an environment which gives you suitable period of work.
REITA: We didn't have this kind of environment in the beginning, so I think we're blessed.
Q: In case of international bands, they make an album and go on that album tour for years. Didn't the GazettE reach similar level now?
REITA: It's because they are international bands that they can make an album and go on tour for that long. In case of Japanese bands like the GazettE, Japan is unexpectedly small so even if we go on nation-wide tour, it will be over in a blink of an eye. Moreover, once the tour is over we have to work for our next release already. And in the end, I think that is one of the factors that can make bands only short-lived.
And that's why, we divide our upcoming tour into 2 parts, 'the GazettE LIVE TOUR 15 DOGMATIC -UN-' and 'the GazettE LIVE TOUR 15-16 DOGMATIC -DUE-'. As we're going on a longer tour than usual, we hope our fans can get immersed in the world of the album even more.
Q: And looks like it will still go on, and I'm looking forward to it. But first, as you gave a couple of live performances and spent more than a year in making 'DOGMA', you want people to feel its world.
REITA: In a tour, if there is a too large gap between the performances, my feelings will get reset. And that's why, we're trying to put the ideal intervals between each performances. Ideally, if we can have a pace of 1 live performance every 3 days and do it for a whole year, then we won't lose the feeling of doing live performances. But, if we do that, we won't be able to immerse ourselves in our next works (laughs). As expected, it's difficult to get that balance.
Q: And being able to get that balance is one point for the band to continue their activities.
REITA: To be honest, I just want to do activities related to live performances. But in reality, it's impossible (laughs).
We had a strong desire to get out from the "We won't be able to go on tour unless we release new materials" flow. If we didn't go on that tour, we might not be able to finish 'DOGMA'.
Q: As you said earlier, 'NAMELESS LIBERTY DISORDER HEAVEN' 'PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIMS CENE' and 'GROAN OF VENOMOUS CELL' had had a good influence on you.
REITA: First of all, we had a strong desire to get out from the "We won't be able to go on tour unless we release new materials" flow. If we didn't go on that tour, we might not be able to finish 'DOGMA'.
It's strange that "one can't do their activities (as musician) unless they keep producing new materials". Songs are not disposable things. Rather, it's such a waste to completely use up their worldview in only 1 tour. Even so, we can't keep doing the same things over and over, and that's why we created that special occasion. And it was a good thing we divided it into 3 parts and spent a whole year doing it.
Q: As you've been around for quite long, there are some songs which you don't have the chance to perform lately.
REITA: That's right. Eventually, we perform certain songs more often because they bring excitement to the live performance. But, if we keep performing those songs, the audience will get bored, like "Again, this song?" And that's why, (with this tour) we came to understand that we need to refresh our setlist regularly.
Q: How did 'NAMELESS LIBERTY DISORDER HEAVEN' 'PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIMS CENE' and 'GROAN OF VENOMOUS CELL' influence you?
REITA: Lately we haven't been performing at live houses, and by (giving performances at live houses) we reminded ourselves that "it's not good to be accustomed to concert halls". Because the audience jostle one another in live houses, there are people who don't come in fear of getting injured. But, isn't live performance is all about "jostling one another?" If we don't give live performances at live houses regularly, we may end up losing that feeling. We came to understand its importance.
Q: And in actuality, standing tour suits the GazettE
REITA: That's also how the GazettE started.
Q: And as expected, it's not good unless you feel it by yourselves.
REITA: "We want our fans to also feel that "A lukewarm live performance is not good"". Our fans are also sensitive about this. Even though we give a live performance with full intention to give our best, no matter what there are days when our movements are sluggish, or our voice doesn't come out, or our play not satisfactory.
We always give our best in our live performances. But, just like football players can't score a goal in every matches, while we always reach a certain standard for our live performances, if we are asked, "Can you give 100% every single time?" It's actually difficult to be perfect all the time. But, for our fans, that one performance is everything. And that's why it's obvious that they're demanding such a high quality from the GazettE's live performances. And because they all have good eyes, they are very strict. And that's why we try to give our best every time.. but that is quite difficult.
Translated by Val.
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