Interview with Revaless

Revaless is a four-member band featuring ENA, Reiki, Kasumi and Jow. Originally known as ぶいぷろ (Vp), the project was officially renamed Revaless on August 26, 2024, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their evolution as a band.
The group’s name and artistic direction center on the concept of FREEDOM and transformation, a theme that will be highlighted in their upcoming 1st Anniversary Host Event, titled “Metamorphosis”, scheduled to take place on August 22, 2025, at Takadanobaba Club PHASE.

■ ■ ■ INTRODUCTION ■ ■ ■

■ Please introduce yourself.
(Name, part, Birthday, height, favourite alcohol/cigarettes) 

ENA: Vocal・6/20・173・Beer (especially Asahi Super Dry)・american spirits turquoise

れいき: Reiki on guitar・9/24・170・Beer・IQOS TEREA black purple menthol

Kasumi: Bass・6/20・169cm・I like sweet alcohol (recently, I am addicted to Amaretto Ginger Ale)・I don’t smoke

丞: Jow on Drums・4/28・175・I usually go for shochu, but once I’m in the mood,  I also drink tequila, wodka, whiskey,・SevenStars Medium、IQOS TEREA oasis pearl

■ Could you please tell us how Revaless was formed?

Revaless: Originally, ENA and Reiki were running a cover-based project as part of their livestreaming activities.
But at some point, both felt like doing something original.
So a message was sent Kasumi and Jow if both wanted to join, but we didn’t really knew each other yet.
So we decided to meet up at an izakaya for talking and some drinks and we really hit it off.
Even before we started making music, we decided to form an ongoing project called “V-Project” (“ぶいぷろ”).
We played together for about a year under that name and we naturally evolved into what is now Revaless.

■ Where did the band name come from and who came up with it?

Revaless: It was kind of random, to be honest…
While we were all throwing around name ideas, Jow happened to be wearing an adidas shirt.
For some reason, that vibe inspired the word “Revaless” and when I (Kasumi) said it out loud, everyone liked it.
So yeah, it was totally a coincidence.

■ Do you have a favorite Japanese mascot character? (e.g. Rilakkuma, Pokémon, Kumamon etc…)

ENA: not really…

Reiki: Gengar (Pokémon) 

Kasumi: Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, My Melody, Hello Kitty, Kiki & Lala and Sirotan. (sanrio) 

Jow: Kermit (but it‘s not from Japan) 

■ What made you want to become a band member?

ENA: Back in school, I wanted to stand out at our culture festival, so I started a metal band with some close classmates.
I actually wanted to be the vocalist, but I lost at rock-paper-scissors and ended up on drums.
I got really into it and was a drummer for quite a while after that.

Reiki: In middle school, I watched the music video for “Shunkashuutou” by ALICE NINE and the school/culture festival setting really struck a chord with me.
After watching it, my classmates and I got all excited and thought, “Let’s make something like that too!”
That moment became the starting point for everything I’m doing now.

Kasumi: I had a custom-made Bass and I figured I had to at least use it on stage once, right? 💦
But when I actually got up there, it was so much fun that I just kept going and here I am, still doing it! lol

Jow: I’ve always loved band-style music since I was a kid.
In my first year of middle school, I begged my dad to buy me a bass, calling it my “final request“ .
That’s when I started dreaming of being on the performing side instead of just listening.
As for drums, during my last year of middle school, someone was struggling with a drum part for the culture festival and I said, “Hey, want to switch? I’ll give it a try.” (I was playing bass at the time), but I just jumped in and figured it out by watching and that was the beginning of the drummer journey.

■ Why did you choose your current instrument/role in the band?

ENA: I used to be a drummer for a long time, but when I moved to Tokyo, my younger brother who was already there and in a band, said they didn’t have a vocalist. So I ended up switching to vocals and joining them.
Reiki: One day I just found myself holding a guitar… and voila here we are.

Kasumi: During a break in the brass ensemble club, one of my seniors started playing bass and I was like, “What is that low sound?! I wanna do that too!!” That was probably the moment it all started for me.

Jow: Honestly, I just love the whole “silent backbone” vibe of it.
That feeling of supporting everything from behind the scenes, that’s what drew me in the most.

■ What do you think are the strengths and challenges of the Visual Kei scene?

ENA: The good thing is that even if the form changes a bit, it still keeps its traditions alive. The downside is that the scene doesn’t seem to accept overall trends in the music world very well.

Reiki: The good part is that it doesn’t have to fit into any specific mold.
As for challenges, there are probably tons, but I personally feel the biggest one is how small and closed-off the scene feels, since it rarely gets mainstream exposure.

Kasumi: The best part is the unique live experience you can only get with Visual Kei! Nothing else compares!
The downside? Ticket prices tend to be higher than in other genres. 💦

Jow: I love how it grabs attention visually and lets you express so many things with just a single song.
But yeah, the amount of prejudice and stereotyping is still a big problem.

■ Do you have any hobbies besides music?

ENA: playing Games or watching streams
Reiki: Games or Anime, Genres doesn‘t matter
Kasumi: soccer, futsal, dragon quest and UFO catchers
Jow: Motorbikes, Bar hopping and Anime

■ What’s your favourite Kanji and why? 

ENA: 楽 (“raku” – comfort/fun). Because I want to live comfortably and happily.
Reiki: 闇 (“yami” – darkness). It just sounds cool.
Kasumi: 音 (“oto” – sound). Since I’m into music.
Jow: 探 (“sagasu” – to search). I have a habit of looking things up as soon as I don’t understand them.

■ Do you have a motto or favourite idiom?

ENA: Thoroughly (徹頭徹尾 – tettou tetsubi)
Reiki: none.
Kasumi: not really…
Jow:  Stick to your original intention (初志貫徹 – shoshi kantetsu)

■ Is there something you want to say to your future self?

ENA: Life tends to workout somehow
Reiki: It‘s great you‘re still alive…
Kasumi: You‘re glad you’re doing music, right?
Jow: Lose weight! 

■ ■ ■ 1^st ANNIVERSARY ■ ■ ■

■ How do you feel about the 1st anniversary live show “Metamorphosis” happening on August 22?

Revaless: It’s been a year since we started (two years if you count the V project period).
We’re really excited to have Toki join us as a guest guitarist for the first time as a five-member band.
We want to have fun ourselves and make sure everyone coming has a great time too!

■ What kind of meaning or feelings do you have behind the title “Metamorphosis”?

Revaless: As the word “Metamorphosis” means change and transformation, we often bring variety and change to our music.
After celebrating our first anniversary, we chose this title to express our desire to create even bigger changes going forward.

■ You’re performing alongside deva:ed, ma cherie, DANGER☆GANG, and うさぎらぁめん( Usagi Ramen) at this event. What made you decide to invite them? Was there any specific reason or connection that led to choosing these bands for the show?

Revaless: All of the bands we invited have some kind of connection with our members, we’ve all got friendships or past experiences performing together.
We’re really happy to have such amazing and reliable bands join us for the 1st Anniversary show!

■ What led to inviting Toki as a guest guitarist for this show?

Revaless: We really respect Toki as a senpai musician and we’ve had the honor of sharing the stage with him a few times in the past.
That connection led us to reach out and ask if he’d be willing to help us out for this show and he kindly agreed!
We’re incredibly grateful to have him on our side.

■ What do you hope your fans will take away from this anniversary live show?

Revaless: Even though we’re going through a lot of changes as a band, deep down it’s always been about enjoying music and expressing something real.
That’s what we want to share at this live, just being ourselves and giving it everything we’ve got.

■ Looking back on since Revaless was formed, was there a moment when you thought “This is bad!”, any major mishaps or surprises?

Revaless: To be honest, we’ve built up a pretty strong resistance to trouble and chaos, so we rarely feel like anything is truly a “disaster”, which is kind of a disaster in itself, right? haha. But if we had to pick one thing, it’d probably be that time when everyone except Kasumi got sick all at once.

■ Was there ever a moment when you thought, “I can’t believe this is happening!”, something totally unexpected? And how did you deal with it?

ENA: I had actually been away from music for quite a few years, so the fact that I’m in a band again with Revaless was a totally unexpected turn for me.

Reiki: Oh, there’ve been a lot of unexpected moments, haha.
I think sometimes it’s okay to stop or even walk away depending on the situation.
But no matter what, I’ve always held on to my core belief, there are some things I just can’t compromise on.

Kasumi: It wasn’t anything major or like a live show disaster or anything…
but on the day of a certain shoot, I totally forgot my boots.
Obviously I couldn’t go barefoot, so I asked to sit in the back row and somehow made it through. lol.

Jow: You can’t play a show without drums…!
Just that thought alone has gotten me to show up and play, even when I’ve been totally hungover.

■  Is there anything you always do before getting on stage?

ENA: Stretching… and also warming up by touching Kasumi’s shoulder and thigh
Reiki: I’ve got super cold hands and feet, so I always warm up my fingers.
Kasumi: using a looooot perfume
Jow: thinking about what to eat for dinner…

■ Over the past year, what’s one happy memory that really stuck with you?

ENA: There are too many to just pick one
Reiki: Honestly, nothing really stands out. 
kasumi: I’d say the biggest one was being able to officially start this band with these members
Jow:  Realizing how amazing a drink tastes after a Live

■ What would you tell someone who’s thinking about coming to a Revaless show for the first time? What makes it worth seeing live?

Revaless: Our biggest strength is that we play all kinds of music across different genres, so our shows are packed with variety.
You’ll find yourself enjoying all sorts of vibes in one set.
Before you know it, the show’s over and you’re like “Wait, already over?”
Plus, you can really feel the bond between the members on stage, which makes space for some warm and wholesome moments too.

■ ■ ■ MUSIC ■ ■ ■

■ Visual Kei is known for its freedom of self-expression. Beyond the typical dark or “dark/menhera” themes, how else do you see that freedom showing up? And do you think Visual Kei stands out compared to other music genres?

ENA: It’s easier to share things that are tough to say outright, like personal struggles or frustrations with the world, by using unique imagery and metaphors.
Compared to other genres I’m familiar with, the way we build energy and connect with the crowd during live shows feels pretty different.

Reiki:  I haven’t thought about it deeply, but for me, Visual Kei means being able to just be yourself, without holding back.

Kasumi: I feel like Revaless really captures that freedom in our music, we can go from classic vibes to Japanese-inspired sounds, high-energy wild tracks and even some quirky ones. That mix is what freedom is all about.

Jow: I’m not great at thinking too deeply, but if I had to say, Visual Kei is a genre where you can enjoy lots of different kinds of music.

■ Visual Kei artists often have androgynous or feminine styles. Is this mainly to make female fans feel more connected or are there other reasons behind it?

ENA:  I think it depends on the band and the vibe or world they want to express with their music at that time.
Also, it’s about making an impact.

Reiki: Maybe it’s about becoming the self they want to be, which can lead to that androgynous look typical of Visual Kei.

Kasumi: I think the reasons differ for everyone, but personally, since I have pale skin and a somewhat feminine face, I purposely emphasize those traits in my look.

Jow: I guess it varies from person to person, but for me, I just wear whatever style I feel like without overthinking it.

■ How do you decide on Revaless’s visual style? Where does the inspiration come from?

Revaless: We all have our own style and preferences, so we just stick to what feels natural and true to us.

■ Visual Kei includes all kinds of styles, like kote-kei, Iryou kei, menhera-kei and more. If you had to describe Revaless’s aesthetic within that world, what style would fit you best?

Revaless: FREEDOM

■ Visual Kei music covers a lot of genres like rock, metalcore and more. If you had to describe Revaless’s sound, what genre would you say defines it best?

ENA: We all write music and come from totally different musical backgrounds, so our overall vibe shifts from song to song.
There’s a theme in the lyrics, but genre-wise, we don’t really stick to just one style.

Reiki: Yeah, just like ENA said.
Our roots are all different.
I just try to express what Visual Kei means to me personally.

Kasumi: Revaless doesn’t really fit into one specific genre, but if I had to sum it up, I’d say our core leans toward melodic rock with that traditional Visual Kei feel.

Jow: We can do a bit of everything, so each of us brings our own energy on what Visual Kei means.

■ Through your music and lyrics, what kind of feelings do you hope to share with listeners? Are there any particular emotions or reactions you’d love to share?

ENA: I just write from real emotions, no matter if it’s happiness, frustration, sadness, whatever’s going on.
People will take it in their own way, but if even one person connects with it, that’s more than enough for me.

Reiki: I’m not good with words, so I hope my music can speak for me.
If someone listens and says, “Hey, that’s a good song“, that’s honestly the best feeling.

Kasumi: If our music can bring something positive into someone’s life, even just a little bit, I’m happy.

Jow: Everything I create is based on the mood or instinct I’m feeling in that moment.

■ Could you please share some background or stories behind each of the following songs?

・DAWN (2024) lyrics: ENA music: Reiki
→ I actually wrote this when I was thinking about quitting music for good. |
I didn’t worry about what would hype up the crowd or what people expected.
I just made the song I really wanted to make. Honestly, this one probably shows the most of who I really am.

・Be Reborn (2024) lyrics: ENA music: Reiki
→ This is basically Revaless’s theme song.
I put my own vision of Visual Kei into it. It’s kind of like our way of saying, “Hey, this is who we are.”
Since it’s our debut, I made sure the melody is catchy enough to grab anyone’s attention, even if they’re hearing us for the first time.

・BLACKWINE (2024) lyric: ENA music: Jinn
→ I wrote the lyrics with two different meanings behind them.
This one’s really special to me because it was composed by a senior I really look up to, someone I used to work with on a past project.
So yeah, there’s a lot of emotion wrapped up in this song for me.

■ Can you also tell us something about these unreleased songs? Or any others you haven’t shared yet?

・FRENEMY
→ This track blends EDM with loud rock vibes, and the tempo shifts all over the place, speeding up, slowing down to keep it unpredictable.
Lyrically, it’s about fake friends.
You know, the ones who act close but are actually working against you.
Most of us have run into people like that, so the song just calls it like it is.

・傾奇道
(Kabuki-dou refers to a way of life that defies convention, where one boldly expresses their individuality and aesthetics without being bound by societal norms)
→ This started as a demo I’d made back in my old band.
When we decided to use it for Revaless, I rewrote the melody and reworked the arrangement.
It has a strong Japanese vibe and a fast-paced, refreshing feel.

・君に贈る詩 (Kimi ni okuru uta – Song for you)
→ This one’s all about that nostalgic, catchy feeling.
It’s meant for people who are struggling, those who feel stuck or unsure about their path, even though they’re trying hard.
If that’s you now or it’s something you’ve gone through in the past, this song is especially for you.

・V.P.
→ This one’s a message: ignore the noise around you and keep going your own way.
Don’t blame others for your own life, face it head-on. Life is not sugar-coated, but it’s real.
The track was composed by a producer we work closely with, so it means a lot.

・obstacle
→ We mixed something that hits hard with something super easy to get into.
The theme is pretty raw. It’s about people who get in your way, drag you down or just bring negativity.
I really love this one personally.

・septendecim
→ It’s about how when you start chasing a dream or a goal, people who don’t really get it will throw all kinds of careless advice at you.
And sometimes you lose your way because of that.
But even so, there are people out there who genuinely care and walk that path with you.
That’s the message behind this one.

・自己顕示AMBIVALENCE (jikokenji – selfstaging)
→ I aimed for a jazzy feel with this one.
Like the title hints, it’s all about wanting to be noticed and stand out.
The vibe is bold and upfront, kind of saying, “Hey, it’s okay to be confident yourself without apologies sometimes.”

・Bring it on!!
→ This track’s full of energy, mixing EDM and rock vibes.
The message is clear, we’re not about sugarcoating or pretending.
We stick to what we believe in, no matter what.
If anyone has an issue with that, bring it on.

・承認欲求 (shounin yokkyu – desire for approval) 
→ “Shounin Yokkyuu” is heavy, intense and emotionally raw.
Like “AMBIVALENCE,” it’s all about that deep desire to be noticed and valued.
But honestly, who doesn’t want to feel seen and appreciated? That’s what this song’s all about.

■ How do you usually get inspiration when writing new songs?

ENA: When I’m writing a song, I try to turn the emotions that won’t leave my head into something real.
Then I think about what kind of sound would best express those feelings.

Reiki: I tend to create songs in one go when my built-up emotions just explode. If I try to force it, it usually doesn’t work.

Kasumi: Sometimes a melody or riff just comes to me out of the blue.
I’m still pretty inexperienced when it comes to songwriting, but I’m doing my best to bring more of my own ideas into Revaless.

Jow: Song ideas tend to hit me when I’m just casually listening to music.
When they do, I just grab onto them and turn them into something on the spot.

■ Is there a song of yours that you think could be turned into a movie? If so, what kind of story would it be?

ENA: „BLACK WINE“
→ It’s about someone raised in a tough environment, who holds on to the bond with their childhood friends as a lifeline. They struggle to survive while protecting that connection, but in the end, it all leads to a tragic BAD END. 

Reiki: “DAWN“
→ A film that reflects how big the world is and how small we can feel in it, but it ends with a sunrise, full of hope. I’d want it to leave people with a sense of optimism for what’s ahead.

Kasumi: „obstacle“
→ Maybe something like a rebellious action film of youth? Like street fights and conflict. Not the kind of movie I usually watch, though…

Jow: “君に贈る詩“ (Kimi ni okuru uta)
→ It’s about someone just drifting through life without any real goals, until they stumble upon something that truly inspires them.
From there, the story follows their journey: the challenges, personal growth and meaningful encounters that come with chasing a new dream.

■ Are you currently working on any new projects? If so, could you tell us a bit about them and what fans can expect?

Revaless: We’re always working on new stuff, but right now we’re focused on one big project, so please look forward to it!
The details are still a secret for now.

■ ■ ■ OVERSEAS CONNECTION ■ ■ ■

■ Are there any members who speak English or other languages? And do you feel confident using those languages?

ENA: zero confidence
Reiki: Honestly, even my Japanese isn’t good.
Kasumi: I know school level English and a bit of German, but definitely not enough to say I speak them confidently.
Jow: Kasumi handles all the foreign languages for us. haha.

■ When interacting with overseas fans, do you feel any language barriers? Or does the music help break down those walls?

ENA: There are lots of handy translation apps now, so I think it’s fine.
Reiki: I‘ve never been abroad, so I am kinda nervous about it.
Kasumi: Even broken sentences and trying to understand each other works out somehow.
haha. And if worse comes to worst, we use translation apps.
Jow: I use gestures and body language. haha.

■ What kind of vibe do you think a live show overseas would have?

ENA: to be honest, I can’t imagine it…
Reiki: I have no idea, so I wanna experience it. 
Kasumi: We’ve got plenty of catchy tunes, along with some songs featuring traditional Japanese flavors like “Kabukidou” so fans would really get into it!
Those who are into Japanese culture would especially be excited.
Jow: First of all, I‘d drink the local alcohol.

■ Have you ever been abroad? If so, what was the purpose of your trip and what impressions did you have of the places you visited?

ENA: I’ve been to Guam, Germany, Italy, and France. Mainly for school trips and stuff.
I remember people who looked like overseas V-kei fans stopping me on the street, probably because of my bright hair.
At the time, I was still learning about Visual Kei, but even then I thought “Damn, this scene really has a reach.”

Reiki: nope, never been abroad.

Kasumi: I went to Switzerland in 2023 for an overseas show with a band I was supporting.
The crowd was super hyped and really passionate.
It was an amazing experience!
Also, the scenery was insanely beautiful.

Jow: I went to the Philippines as a kid. The weather was really warm. 

■ ■ ■ ROAD to FUTURE ■ ■ ■

■ How would you like fans to support Revaless for your 2nd anniversary?

ENA: Honestly, asking for support feels kind of weird. I just want people to have fun and enjoy the music with us.
Since we’re all about live shows, it’d be awesome if you came out to see one.
Reiki: I want both myself and Revaless to be recognized more. That would mean a lot.
Kasumi: Just come to our shows and have fun watching us do our thing, that’s more than enough!
Jow: Everyone should enjoy it however they want. Watch how you like, support how you feel. That’s totally fine with me.

■ What’s your goal as Revaless as you head into your second anniversary?

ENA: I want more people to discover us this year and for Revaless to become a band that makes people think, “I really want to see them live!”
Reiki: I just want us to keep growing in a way that makes everyone feel like Revaless is where they are  meant to be.
Kasumi: I hope we can level up as a band and put on even better live shows.
Jow: It’s important to me that everyone gets to do what they love and that Revaless stays a place where that’s possible.

■ What kind of feelings do you want to share with your fans moving forward?

ENA: More than anything else, I just want everyone to enjoy the music and the live shows.
Reiki:  I want to share the same emotions together through our performances.
Kasumi: I hope we can keep sharing that pure love for music.
Jow: I want people to feel all sorts of emotions, whether from the past or what they’re going through now, while listening to Revaless and just enjoy the ride.

■ Is there anything you expect or hope for your future self?

ENA: I’m hoping that after putting in more practice, my singing will be way better by then, because it really should be!
Reiki: It’s less about the future and more about living each day to the fullest.
Kasumi: Hopefully my bass skill and stage presence will level up. I’ll keep working on it everyday. 💦
Jow: I just want to be happy.

■ ■ ■ LAST MESSAGE ■ ■ ■

■ Could you please share a message for all the fans supporting Revaless from overseas? (English is totally fine!)

ENA: Someday, we hope to perform live in the countries of those who are supporting Revaless.
Even if we can’t visit right away, we’ll continue to deliver our music in some way—so please look forward to it.

Reiki: Love

Kasumi: 🇯🇵 応援ありがとうございます！いつかお会いできるのを楽しみにしてます！
🇬🇧 Thanks for all your support! I look forward to meeting you someday!
🇩🇪 Vielen Dank für all Ihre Unterstützung! Ich freue mich darauf, Sie eines Tages zu treffen!

Jow: Thank you!!

■ Last but not least, please share a message for our readers and fans!

ENA: I’ve been saying this since the project started, let’s simply enjoy the sound and music together and have fun at our live shows!

Reiki: I‘m looking forward to seeing you all.

Kasumi: Thanks for reading all the way through!
We’ll keep putting on fun shows, so whether you’ve seen us live or just know the name, please keep supporting Revaless!

Jow: We’re about to turn things up even more, so don’t miss what’s coming!