PLASTICZOOMS, a special band with post punk / new wave musical influences, is gaining more and more the attention and love of the audience recently. Shortly before the end of their second European tour, the band talked to Greek Otaku Radio about their music, their success and much more.

 

Hello PLASTICZOOMS, welcome to G.O. Radio! We are so happy to be interviewing you today. It’s the first time we introduce you to our Greek audience so could you please introduce yourselves for our listeners?

TOM: I’m Tom, guitarist.

JUN: I’m Jun, playing bass and synthesizer.

KANBA: Kanba, I’m support drummer.

SHO: I’m Sho, vocalist and composer. We’re glad to be able to be interviewed too!!

 

PLASTICZOOMS is a unique band that knows how to capture the listeners’ attention, both by sound and visuals. How would you describe your music? Who, or what are your greatest influences?

SHO: It's New Wave in a word. But it's current rather than 80's.

Due to popularization of the Internet, changes in sound quality, changes in some equipment, etc... We have been updating each time.

About fashion has also revival, something new always come out, so i' m always checking there and thinking about them, and output our own world view.

I'm influenced by 80's synth sound (e.g. New Order and DAF) and the image of 70's original punk rock (of course Sex Pistols and any obscure punk records), especially Malcolm McLaren who launched Sex Pistols. At that time, fashion and music were same line.

 

How were PLASTICZOOMS formed?

SHO: It all started when i was student of “Tokyo Mode Gakuen” (a famous college for fashion, design, and beauty). At that time, early 2000s’ Garage Rock, such as “The Strokes”, was a popular trend. But i had always wondered why Japanese bands didn’t link fashion and music. Punk rock and New Wave bands i prefer, created not only cool music, but also cool fashion. The reason why i started our band is because i knew i would have to create these kinds of band on my own as I couldn’t find one in Japan.

This is how the story of “PLASTICZOOMS” started.

 

How did you get into this style of music? You always seem to evolve, what makes you change your style so often? What affects you?

SHO: I guess, it is caused by the wide range of my favorite music. I hope that listeners won't be tired and always be in a fresh state, when we continue to change the taste of the songs.

Extreme argument, if i sing, it's just PLASTICZOOMS.

 

Each musician has their own way of composing music. What is it that inspires you and motivates you? What process do you follow while composing?

SHO: It's by all in my lifestyle. Songs come out naturally in my brain. Then i'll start to output them using DTM.

 

Is there a song or album out of your work that speaks to you mostly?

SHO: Minds. When i had been making the song, a big turning point that is not as a musician but as a person, had come. So this song that i sang as a single person is very personal one.

TOM: It’s Highway, because we could try new groove on this song.

JUN: It’s Breitenbach for me. This title is named by the place where was Sho's and my last staying in Berlin last year. I hope you feel Sho's personal lyrics, the sound and melody.

KANBA: Actually, the release party of this album was my support start so all songs are memorable for me.

 

Of course you are all in the band but apart from this, what else do you all like to do?

SHO: After all, fashion. I really love in fashion, about the same as music. Also, i like making clothes.

TOM: Drawing pictures. And looking at the photo of "Kamen Rider".

JUN: I love watching movies anyway.

KANBA: Me too. And drinking beer.

 

Moving on to your latest news. You released your latest self-titled album back in January. After having listened to it, we were amazed by how much the sound varies. How would you describe this piece of work? What was the process of creating it like?

SHO: New album "PLASTICZOOMS" is a comprehensive work of the past one. Especially, this was released even in EU. So we named it "PLASTICZOOMS" as the international masterpiece for us.

Therefore, we and our staff could spend time of excitment as well. I’m very pleased with that situation.

 

Also, you’re currently close to the end of touring Europe! How do you feel about being able to visit so many countries and share your music with your fans?

SHO: This is the life I imagined. And this tour makes me very excited. I was really impressed at every venue. The size of what I want to express to the fans has become bigger.

 

How do your interact with your fans at your shows?

SHO: When we stir the audience up, they become more enthusiastic. When they are more enthusiastic, we get more excited. So the fans and we are in a good relationship mutually.

 

Has anything interesting or funny occurred while touring together in this tour?

SHO: It's my first time to be with our members, many events are happening everyday. That's why I cannot tell you all. I hope to have a chance to talk a lot of our events someday.

 

What is your most memorable moment from touring so far?

SHO: A moment when our concert at Le Klub in Paris exceeds the excitement of the last tour. Also, the moment the street team of Poland gave us Polish flag writing "PLASTICZOOMS" while our live at VooDoo Club in Warsaw.

TOM: It's that there are some people who came many times. And they promised us that they will come again.

JUN: We were able to re-collaborate with Electrosexual and Autist that took care of us in Berlin last year.

KANBA: Actually, it's my first time to go to Europe. So everything is fresh and impressive moment. Especially the enthusiasm of the audience in French performance cannot be forgotten.

 

Do you have a favourite country you enjoy performing at? Any favorite souvenirs you’ve bought while here?

SHO: Everywhere is great. Everyone has different cultures and nationalities, it's fun to feel the goodness of each directly.

My souvenir is my memory. And there is something to feel every time for each concerts. It means we wanna come back again.

 

Besides the countries you’ll be visiting or have visited, what other places do you want to go to at your next tour?

SHO: We want to go everywhere. In this tour, we went to Eastern Europe and Western. So next time we hope to go to Northern Europe and Southern Europe. Of course Greece too!

 

What are your future plans? Any tours, new music or something else that you’ve been working on?

SHO: We have many new information. For example, MV of new song, the album "PLASTICZOOMS" web delivery.. And after the EU tour, we have Japanese tour. Release information is just about to be prepared. So please check PLASTICZOOMS every day! 

 

Special thanks to PLASTICZOOMS and HIGHFeeL! 

Questions by Dionisia Lampadariou & Linda Antonopoulou