Interview with NETH PRIERE CAIN

Congratulations on your 4th anniversary!!

At the end of 2022, NETH PRIERE CAIN finished their tour of the 5 major cities around Japan and the band released successful nice releases in 2022, which can be called a successful year! Another ONEMAN tour has started and the shows which have passed are also successful! At the end of last year NETH PRIERE CAIN turned four years old and in those years the number of people who discovered NPC and became fans are increasing everyday. Their music also gets stronger and stronger with each release and each time it amazes their listeners. Their concept? Well it changes with each appearance but it’s always a theme of old myths, which is interesting each time! Well let’s hear what they have to tell us in this interview! 

*祈願者 Kitousha (prayer): nickname of NPC fans.

■ When you started, how did you imagine where you would be in four years’ time? And how do you feel now, four years later, about where you thought you would be?

Itsuki: Although our concept is different from our own ideals, we were able to express our own colours very well. 

Syuri: The ideal image we had of ourselves compared to now was the exact opposite and our way of thinking has deteriorated from what it was then.(positive)

Chigusa: I never thought about it because it was all new to me.

Kenji: The most wonderful thing is that we have been able to continue with the four of us without losing a single member.

■ What has been your happiest moment in these 4 years?

Itsuki: That the number of our “Kitousha” has increased and that more and more people sympathies with our lyrics.

Syuri: I can’t decide what my absolute number 1 is, but every time we put out a new release, I’m always very happy to hear the voices of our Kitousha’s. 

Chigusa: Last year’s ONEMAN Tour (2022) was particularly rewarding. It really showed us that more and more people are interested in NPC outside of our main base in Nagoya.

Kenji: I have not felt such a “moment” yet, so please give me such a happy moment.

■ What has been the most difficult/hardest thing in these four years?

Itsuki: The constant battle with myself.

Syuri: I’m not very good in the mornings, so I always have a hard time getting up early on the days of the gigs.

Chigusa: To understand Itsuki’s Japanese. 

Kenji: Transport and assembly of the drums.

■ A lot of music has been released in the last 4 years. Please tell us how you get your inspiration for lyrics and compositions. 

Itsuki: It just pops into my head when I am walking around. The rest of the time I am often inspired by real life experiences. 

Syuri: When I write melodies for new songs, I create them based on my own emotions. So when we talk about inspiration, I can say it’s my own emotions.

■ A new chapter “Hokuou no kamigami-Hen-Joshou-Souzou no Seikaiju Yggdrasil (The tale of Norse Gods -Prologue- Yggdrasil the World Tree of Creation)” has started. Could you tell us a little more about what you want to convey with this chapter?

Itsuki: Our aim is to convey the grandeur of the myth, while retaining the uniqueness and addictive nature that only NPC can offer.

■ When you create new songs, do you write the melody first and then add the lyrics?

Syuri: That’s often the pattern for NPC! However, if I want to create a song with its lyrics in advance, I try to imagine the lyrics in my head while creating the melody. 

■ It is interesting that you have choreography videos on Youtube, how (who) comes up with the choreography?

Itsuki: The choreography is everyone’s idea.

■ Looking back at 2022, what was the most memorable event for you?

Itsuki: Every month in 2022 brought some sort of misfortune, most notably when I forgot my coloured contact lenses on the day of the shoot, I was totally in despair…

Syuri: When Itsuki lost his wallet.

Chigusa: When Itsuki thought he lost his earphones, but in the end he lost his wallet and not the earphones.

Kenji: The moment at the petrol station where Itsuki was temporarily stopped after being caught speeding on the highway, It was also the place where he had lost his wallet earlier and realised it at that moment.

■ You performed in various places in 2022, but is there a particular place that remains in your heart?

Itsuki: Our 2022 anniversary live.

Syuri: When we played our anniversary live at Electric Lady Land. It was an emotional moment. because we were able to shine on the big stage of ELL. Which also attracted the largest number of visitors ever.

Chigusa: I have many memories of each place, but I think E.L.L. is the most memorable, just as Syuri said. I wish I could have shown that moment to my old self.

Kenji: E.L.L. is of course the highlight of 2022, but otherwise I would say Rokumeikan and MUSE.

■ At the beginning of corona there was also a period of “not able to perform”. How was this period for you? 

Itsuki: It was a very boring time, but it made me realise that I felt thankful to sing on stage as well.

Syuri: I realised once again that I am an indoor person, so it wasn’t really difficult for me to stay home. 

Chigusa: I’m not someone who leaves the house often, so it was just my normal routine but with no gigs. 

Kenji: I’m also an indoor person by nature, so I have nothing to say about it, either. But I think I put on a bit of weight around that time.

■ Your new costumes look very nice and cool again. Please tell us some points about the new costumes.

Itsuki: It creates an overwhelming presence.

Syuri: Even though it’s wintertime, you can see my belly.

Chigusa: It’s simple and mature.

Kenji: My cloak looks likes “Kamen Rider Knight Guard Vent”.

■ On 10th August 2022 your 6th single “Yakusoku no Chi nite, Utsukushiku Mau。” was released. If possible please tell us something about this single as well.

Itsuki: I think AVALON’s high notes stand out. So, I want you to feel the resonance of my voice.

Syuri: This release has created a new world view of NPC that has never been seen before. So I hope you will pay attention to the symphonic instrumental sounds and melodies of the songs, rather than to the classical sounds.

■ On October 10th, RAGNAROK-Shuumatsu no Chikai- was released. Could you tell us a little bit more about this song?

Syuri: The title of the song was originally decided during the process of writing this song. It was very easy to compose the song because I could visualise a conflict with a sense of apocalypse in my mind, as the name Ragnarok implies. It’s so much easier to come up with good ideas when you have a clear image in your mind.

■ On 22nd February 2023, your 7th single “Souzou no Saki, Hametsu e to Itaru Koe。” was released. If possible please tell us something about this single as well.

Itsuki: It’s full of classics we’ve shown before and freshness we haven’t shown before.

■ It seems that all of the members are on good terms with each other. What is the secret of your good friendship?

Itsuki: Because none of us is normal, so I guess it’s because none of us have to worry about being “strange”.

Syuri: I think it’s because we can make fun of each other for whatever reason.

Chigusa: I think it is because we all have very different personalities. It might be a bit strange. But on the contrary, I think it’s a really good thing.

Kenji: I learnt it from a certain senior. He said that giving up is also important.

■ Do you have any new hobbies or interests other than music recently?

Itsuki: Currently I am obsessed with building and collecting nanoblocks.

Syuri: Sniffing things. 

Chigusa: Searching for shiny pokemon.

Kenji: I’m doing Poikatsu (collecting points).

■ Itsuki, because you use the word “Inori o(To pray)” a lot, it became a common word for a wide range of people. But are there any other words you might want to make popular in the future as well? Also is there anything you do to maintain your beautiful singing voice?

Itsuki: Inori o(To pray)… I don’t think there will ever be a word that goes beyond that, (wry smile)
I think it’s important not to accumulate strange stress in order to maintain my singing voice. I feel like I’ll have a problem if I disrupt my lifestyle in a strange way.

■ Syuri, you have composed one wonderful song after another and your guitar playing style is also amazing. In your fifth year, are there any styles you’d like to try out?

Syuri: I’ve recently been getting into and practicing slamming and slapping techniques on the acoustic guitar, so it would be interesting to be able to incorporate acoustic guitar sounds alongside the electric guitar.

■ Chigusa, you even supported SHIVA in 2022, which is very impressive. You also take care of all the NPC members.  Anyway, In this fifth year, what kind of bassist do you want to be? 

Chigusa: I was never really good at interacting with the outside world, but I was able to form a wonderful band and get various seniors. For this year I want to grow even more and become a more mature bassist. 

■ Kenji, we were very surprised about the release of the self-cover album. Since you always entertain everyone, what kind of plans do you have for the future and what kind of drummer would you like to be?

Kenji: Well, the album was my first so to speak, so I hope to continue things as Kenji but not only as a drummer in the future.

■ All your ONEMAN tour dates of 2023 have been announced. Isn’t it difficult to play all your songs in just one day or are you planning to split the songs over two days?

Itsuki: When I was making the setlist for our anniversary shows, I felt I really couldn’t choose the songs to play and it’s difficult to perform all songs in just one day. So we decided to split it into two days (bitter smile)

■ Which song would you recommend to people who haven’t listened to NPC yet?

Itsuki: It’s an endless list of choices, but please listen to Solomon-支配者ノ鍵-. There is a divine melody amidst the intensity. If you like this song, you might also want to listen to the rest of our music.

Syuri: Some people may be surprised by the intensity of the music on first listening, so I personally want you to listen to Judas-天紙-.

Chigusa: We have so many songs with different atmospheres, that it’s hard to just recommend one song. But if you watch all our music videos on YouTube, you’ll surely find a song you like, so please check out our music videos first. 

Kenji: As we are releasing different types of music each time, how about checking out our cool appearance on Youtube first? We want to increase the number of views.

■ Please share a message to your Kitousha’s.

Itsuki: I can’t go on stage without my Kitousha’s. Thanks to all your support we can continue to be cool on stage! Please keep on following us closely!

Syuri: Thanks to all of you, we are able to do what we do. Thank you for always supporting us. I also receive energy and hope, thanks to you all!

Chigusa: All of our Kitousha’s who always come, and those who can only come occasionally, are all important Kitousha’s to us. Thanks to each and every one of you, NETH PRIERE CAIN is possible to exist. Thank you very much for everything.

Kenji: Thank you for your continued support. I believe that NPC will continue to grow and eventually spread its wings, so please continue to support us!

■ For those who have never been to a live concert, what is the appeal of NPC’s live concerts?

Itsuki: We try to give a live show with strong habits and a heart-touching live performance, so please feel it directly. We have a very wide range of songs.

Syuri: The one-of-a-kind worldview and music!~

Chigusa: We try to make our live shows cool and fun, so please come out and see us!

Kenji: Once you see my face, you’ll fall in love with me!

■ Please give a message to your overseas NPC fans.

Itsuki: We have our sights set on overseas, so be sure to come to our shows overseas when it happens! 

Syuri: I can tell that I am very popular overseas because the number of overseas fans using my face as an icon is increasing! Thank you, I Love You!

Chigusa: When I see people overseas supporting me, I would like to do live shows overseas too. I want to do it one day!

Kenji: I would like to go to Hawaii or Australia. Well, best regards.

■ Please tell us how you would like to see the NPC evolve in the fifth year and further into the future.

Itsuki: I want to make the world full of people who know about NETH PRIERE CAIN.

Syuri: I would like to spend my time in a good way, so that the days when we can laugh about trivial things in our daily lives, unchanged from the present, will last forever.

Chigusa: I’ll do my best to meet more of you Kitousha’s out there!

Kenji: I would like to do a national tour.