Sho Kotani is a Japanese drummer and singer which you may know from the visual kei band Embrace, and in this last April he released his debut single as a singer “GOTHIC STAR”.
Please introduce yourself to the readers who discovered you for the first time, also please tell them why you decided to be an artist.
Well, I always feel embarrassed to introduce myself with much formality but I’ll try. I am a singer, drummer, songwriter, and not a comedian, Sho Kotani who dreams of performing at Glastonbury Fest. And why did I decide to be an artist…? I think I decided to be a drummer firstly, not an artist. It’s just a natural matter to be an artist without any decision for me, as same as a river flow.
How would you describe yourself with just one word?
GOTHIC STAR.
I also saw you playing guitar and piano, but what made you want to play the drums as an instrument in a band? Only because of X JAPAN song 紅 (Kurenai) or is there another reason?
It’s quite simple. A drummer uses only 2 arms and 2 legs. I’m serious! It was important for a kid who couldn’t play any instruments. Of course also because X (especially Yoshiki’s sincere playing) blew me away.
Please tell us something about your background, which bands did you support the past 2 years?
Basically I’ve never supported any bands since Embrace stopped all its activity in March 2018, but only at the end of last year, I temporarily joined Ryo Fujimura’s activity as a drummer. We did 1 recording work and 1 live performance together.
This year you launched your new solo project GOTHIC STAR which you also decide to be a vocalist. Why did you decide to go solo and to sing yourself? Why didn’t you decide to start a new band together with a few other musicians?
Ah actually “GOTHIC STAR” is not a title for my solo career. It’s just the title of my debut song and I sometimes use it as personification of me (mostly with hashtag on Twitter or Instagram). Okay I’ll answer the question. To be honest, I was feeling something like the “limit” of band’s possibilities, at the end of the Embrace era. To break through that situation, I’ve had to be a solo and make my 100% music only by my responsibility without any excuses. And you know if I would become a solo musician, I should be singing my song. It seemed a necessary decision for me. A drummer, who’s playing just like XJapan way, is gonna be singing just like Liam Gallagher. Don’t you think it’s gonna be more a fxxking original way for making my musical life, Innit?
What’s your biggest inspiration for writing your music?
Lately I seem to tend to get inspiration by just a word or two. I think GOTHIC STAR is such one of the typical cases. However I’ve made any type of songs just by melody or some playing of instruments which has been made just in my brain. So the basic way for making music for me is how I should try to make my music closer toward the sound playing in my brain. I mean, it depends on my mood or situation.
Beside “visual kei” bands/artists, are there any other bands you love to listen to too?
Dude there’s really a lot of my favourite artists!! Basically I don’t care what genre they are when I listen to music so I might not say sure thing but I really love to listen to Queen, Oasis, David Bowie, Suede, The Stone Roses and Motley Crue. And I recently listen to Of Monsters And Men, Asgeir, Novembers, Temples, Mansun, and Kid Wave etc… (Oh, by the way, Kid Wave has released only one album yet since their debut 2015. Are they still active?) Of course in Visual-kei, I love XJapan, Buck-Tick, or Ladies Room. Sometimes I like LUNA SEA too. And I remember that The Gazette made a really cool album in around 2013 or 2015 but I’m not sure when that was exactly… So soz to their fans. Please tell me if you like.
What’s the most difficult thing for being an artist?
To keep the balance between being an artist and a manager. And furthermore, I must have the view of an entrepreneur to keep on making new activities. Even so, I seem to tend to not care about profits when I’m making my music. I’m now 85% of an artist, 10% of an entrepreneur, and only 5% of a manager. haha
Why did you decide to play the music style you play now?
You ask me why am I singing / drumming separately in my videos? Well, I don’t want to be like Don Henley. (I love him and The Eagles though.)
What’s the meaning behind the name GOTHIC STAR? Please tell us in 1-2 sentences.
Liam Gallagher sings he’s a Rock N Roll Star and David Bowie sang he’s a Black Star in his last album. So what am I gonna sing about myself? It’s a Gothic Star. No more no less. That’s it.
What do you hope your listeners feel when they listen to your music?
What the REAL is. I’ll never lie in my music, my lyrics, and of course the sounds. Do you think that midi drums and unnatural fixed vocal pitch can blow your mind away?
What do you hope to archive with your solo project GOTHIC STAR?
Okay, I’ll answer as me, Sho Kotani, not “GOTHIC STAR” because it’s not the title of my solo project as I said above. I don’t know what the archive exactly means in this case but I hope my music will spread all around the world. I actually hate any borders.
What did you keep in your mind while you were composing GOTHIC STAR and Dear Diary?
That seems quite a difficult question but I can simply say like this. As I said, I’m trying to make my music closer to the sounds in my brain when I’m composing so I kept my mind listening carefully to it. Also while I was making Dear Diary, I really kept my prayer for all my friends, fans, sisters and brothers under quarantine. The lyrics are a message for them too.
For the Goldenweek you decided to create some videos with various musicians. Why did you ask those musicians to create a video with you?
I did choose “ RoA(革命前夜, Embrace)” because:
He was just also there, when I asked Atsushi to collaborate. And I know he loves to sing (as you may know or not, he was singing instead of Atsushi at the changing instrument session in our show once).
I did choose “Ryo Fujimura (The Betrayed)” because:
(Why did you want to sing a song of his mixing?)
Actually we’ve already tried to make some videos together before Covid-19 disease happened. So I asked him naturally.
I did choose “Shimpei Yamaguchi” because:
I thought I should make a talk session at least once! He is a gambler (aka investor) and has much knowledge for entertainment so we can talk about anything deeply.
I did choose “ Atsushi(Embrace)” because:
Atsushi and I were chatting on the LINE one day and we talked about what we should do in this Covid-19 disease. So I asked him to collaborate by making a video and he accepted it. After this decision I was considering what if I make 5 videos for all 5 golden week holidays. Then I also asked other friends above. That was the beginning of “Golden Collaboration Week”.
In all those years what’s your most valuable memory as an artist?
Wow I can’t choose easily… Being on Spring Scream in Taiwan, all Embrace era, and virtual European debut through Animecon @ Home showcase, but the most valuable moment is when I receive a message from fans or listeners about my music or performance.
What means rock music to you? Or is it for you more a “way of life”?
Whatever it means something for me or not, rock music is just a part of music as same as all other genres. I’ll sing hip hop or jazz if I want. Not only rock, music is a “way of life” for me.
Why should someone support your music? What’s the unique point about your music?
Because I’m not fake. I’ll never lie in my music and never use any type of fxxking plug-ins for cheating you out. And my two-faced style is gonna be unique points of my music, like “emotional drumming and cool singing”, “Catchy melodies and esoteric lyrics”, “seriousness and Playfulness”, or “Japanese and American”.
Countries are going back to normal slowly however, corona is not over yet, it’s still a hard time for an artist. Yet, how do you survive this time?
Just spending time for myself or my family, and trying to learn what matters with this world. Composing, studying, taking enough rest, or doing nothing will be fine if you need. There’s two important things, the one is how you face yourself, and the one is how you realise what happens in this world as fact right now. Do not be influenced by any ideology or desire. Just see facts.
Please tell some words of wisdom to your fans, something they can rely on, something which they can keep in mind.
Like I said in my previous answer. Don’t be influenced by any ideology or desire. You must see facts, when you think about something important. However when you think about yourself you have to face yourself. Never try to ignore your wish, hope, or dream. Please keep those things in your mind even if you forget my music.
Your final message to your fans.
I love you always. Stay safe. Love your neighbours.
Sho, Thank you very much for this interview!
Full Translation: Sho Kotani
Sho Kotani – BAND SEARCH
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