(A)ARCHE



Your first album in three and a quarter years will be released on December tenth. How do you feel having just finished it?



Kyo: Nothing in particular.

Kaoru: I’m glad it’s done…

Die: I’m simply happy that we were able to make a new album as a band while naturally facing towards our present selves, and without rejecting the past.

Toshiya: There are twists and turns but I think it’s an album of the present Dir en grey.

Shinya: Three and a quarter years seems like a long time but it went by in a flash.









What kind of existence has ARCHE become? What will it become?



Kyo: As always, an important existence.

Kaoru: Maybe an album in which you can see the future of Dir en grey. Not in terms of the content itself, but I mean we’ve created an album with a flow different from recently.

Die: Maybe an existence which connects the old Dir en grey with the future Dir en grey.

Toshiya: Up untill now and from here on too, I think it’s an important work as our ninth album.

Shinya: I think it’s a work in which we’ve shown yet another side of ourselves.



You’re been playing the new songs on your current tour BY THE GRACE OF GOD. Can you see The audiences’ reaction from the stage? And how have peoples’ reactions been in questionnaires and fan letters?



Kyo: I can’t say anything.

Kaoru: Not bad I think. But I’m most interested in what people will say when they listen to it at home.

Die: Even though the songs haven’t been released yet there’s songs which have had a very good response live and I feel like as our tour is continuing that response is growing bigger and bigger.

Toshiya: Of course, we hear what the fans have to say, but there’s no release that doesn’t get a reaction, so we’re listening but not listening.

Shinya: We’ve recieved pretty good feedback. I think people’s image of them will change again when they listen to them at home.

®REWARD



Did you give yourself anything as a reward after your long time working?



Kyo: No.

Kaoru: No. I don’t reward myself every time.

Die: For the first time in a while I went to Los Angeles. Although, while I was there I checked the albums mix sent by Tue Madsen (the person in charge of mixing and mastering) and did various desk work.

Toshiya: I slept.

Shinya: Nothing in particular.



©CHALLENGE



Have you challenged anything new on the release of ARCHE?



Kyo: Not in particular.

Kaoru: On the release? Well the songs were all made through trial and error so you could say it was full of challenges so yeah, I think so.

Die: I bought a few new compact effectors. I refreshed my mind and my sound.

Toshiya: I think life is full of challenges. Which isn’t bad nor good.

Shinya: Nothing in particular.



In trailers and adds you’ve been trying various things, collaborating with famous voice actors, and being turned into anime characters. How was it, from the point of view of a member of Dir en grey?



Kyo: Am I really that thin?

Kaoru: It’s interesting. The catchphrase “pain” was a little embarrassing though…

Die: I think they’re things we definitely haven’t done before, image-wise. Not just confined to that but I want to destroy our image, in a good way.

Toshiya: I’m happy if everyone watching enjoys them.

Shinya: I like that kind of thing.



(H)HONEST



Are there any songs on ARCHE that you had trouble with?



Kyo: All of them.

Kaoru: Apart from “phenomenon” and “the inferno” I had trouble with all of them. I want someone to tell me how to make songs without trouble.

Die: The arrangement of “kaishun”. I played around with it too much and Shinya got mad at me like “but the previous arrangement was good!!”.

Toshiya: All of them.

Shinya: I think now that the hard work is over I’ve forgotten how hard it was.



Are there any parts of your personal performance which you think “this is a good part!!” or “I want people to listen to this part!” Please tell me in detail.



Kyo: Everything maybe?

Kaoru: Nothing in particular. But anyway please listen carefully to all of it.

Die: The guitar solo of “tefutefu” on the second disc. It’s the same solo I made in the demo. It’s hard to reproduce that kind of loose and broken feel.

Toshiya: There’s no parts in particular. It doesn’t need saying that I put 100% into all of it.

Shinya: The hook of kaishun.



If your present mood were an ARCHE song, which song would it be? Please explain.



Kyo: magasou.

Kaoru: Ah that’s tough, I don’t know.

Die: I can’t compare my mood to any of them.

Toshiya: “and Zero”. Because I’m starting again from here.

Shinya: “uroko” Because I ate sushi yesterday.

(E)ENJOY



Do you have your own personal way of enjoying ARCHE?



Kyo: I don’t know.

Kaoru: Because I always remember how tough it was to make I can’t listen to it enjoyably.

Die: In making the album I listened to it a million times before it was released so since it was released I haven’t listened to it much.The more I listen to it the more I think things like “I should have done that part more like this…” . Things to reflect on and thoughts about our next work increase each time I listen to it.

Toshiya: I listened to in on many different headphones. I think there are still new things to discover in it.

Shinya: I want everyone to listen to it however they like.



Lastly, do you have any messages to the a knot members who are looking forward to ARCHE’s release?



Kyo: Sorry for keeping you waiting so long. No matter which part you listen to it’s all the present Dir en grey. I don’t know when our next release will be so please listen to it a lot

Kaoru: Thank you so much for waiting! We made it with our full power so don’t hold back on listening to it with your full power.

Die: Please love our ARCHE.

Toshiya: We’ve completed our 9th album. Please look forward to our 10th album too. Thank you.

Shinya: Sorry for making you wait so long. Please enjoy it.