Mind Equals Blown

Interview: Crossfaith

Mind Equals Blown staffer Shaun Tan recently had the opportunity to interview two members of Japanese Metal/Electronica band, Crossfaith. He spoke to vocalist Kenta Koie and Terufumi Tamano, who handles sampler/panorama duties, through band manager/translator Rew Kubayashi.

How did Crossfaith manage to break in to the European market with their first album? (The Artificial Theory for the Dramatic Beauty was released by Zestone Records in Japan in 2009)

Thank you so much. We used to be with Zestone Records, in Japan, but as of right now, we’ve signed with Sony Music Japan. The Dream, The Space was released in Japan in April this year, and in September in the States and on iTunes. Crossfaith’s dream is to eventually have a world tour!

Speaking about The Dream, The Space, now that the band has gotten wider exposure, how did the sound shift from the first album to adapt to a wider market?

They wanted to create a more passionate, sensitive sound, which they felt they were not able to fully portray on their first album.

There are a lot of bands that combine metal and electro and hardcore music – like Asking Alexandria and Attack Attack! – so how does Crossfaith distinguish themselves from the scene? What makes the band different?

Crossfaith is completely different from Asking Alexandria and Attack Attack!. We’re taking it to the next level (laughs). We know the kids say our music sounds like those bands, but we feel that it’s completely different. After we released TDTS, we started writing new songs for our next release, which should be out next spring. There’s going to be a more “hyper” sound.

I have to ask about the cover of “Omen” by The Prodigy that the band did. Why cover The Prodigy?

We really love The Prodigy so much! We were thinking that if we were to cover any song by The Prodigy, we had to make it better than the original!

How has the 2011 Japan tsunami and earthquake impacted the band?

We’re from Osaka and didn’t suffer any losses from the tsunami or earthquake, but we did a charity concert to help benefit our friends in Sendai. We help where we can. Some of the venues for live shows have been wrecked because of the earthquake.

Do Crossfaith plan on touring in America though? 

Actually, we are speaking to booking agents right now, and we can’t say who or what company, but I can say that it’s going to happen early next year. We might be doing a full tour of over 30 shows – as much as possible.