BR Exclusive: Polysics Interview

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Filed in Music
January 24, 2007

"Polysics or Die!" is the rallying cry behind Japan's hottest Po Mo New Wave band to grace the global alt scene. Too busy laying claim to monikers like Nerd Tech Rockers, Polysics just doesn't have time to pretend being Aloof, Detached or Cool. The kids want to rock, and that's pretty much all they do. Multiple references to Devo on crystal meth seem to be wholly justified.

Polysics will be visiting Vancouver this Friday, kicking off a much ballyhooed North American tour. (Sorry to post so late, but with all the delays from the interview going from me to PR to the translator to the band and back... well you get the picture). So without further delay, I present to you ... POLYSICS!

It would be great for you to start off by introducing yourself, and what
you play in Polysics.

Hayashi -- Guitar, Voice, Programming, Vocoder
Kayo -- Synthesizer, Guitar, Voice, Vocoder
Fumi -- Bass, Voice, Synthesizer
Yano -- Drums, Voice

It's great that Polysics is touring North America now, and particularly
that Vancouver is your first date. Can you give us any clues about how this
tour might have different elements or a different feel compared to tours
you've done in Europe or Asia?

With this tour, you can count on us in experiencing POLYSICS live set which have evolved hundreds and thousands of times than last year.

We've never played in Vancouver that our amps are already high up before visiting.

When we visited Canada 2 years ago, we had great time!! The audience were first timers to see a POLYSICS performance, but their energy was so high it made us open up to them instantly. After that, needless to say, both the audience and us had a great party. It was really something! Also, we were so moved by the kids who couldn't get in due to age restrictions who came to support us by holding handmade "POLYSICS OR DIE!!!" signs outside of the club.

I am so happy too that we can start the tour from a country with so many
good memories and from Vancouver, a city we'll be playing for the first
time!
We'll be throwing a hyper live show that nobody's experienced so look out
for it!!!!

Some people think that it's natural for Polysics to come to North
America in order to pay homage to many influential artists who come from
here such as Devo and Nirvana. Other influences which have been cited as
your influences range from the B-52's to David Bowie. Although some
influences are quite obvious, do you find that all the comparisons with
other artists helps or hinders you?

It's true that we are more influenced by and compared to new wave from
the US than the UK. But however people may thing of us, or compare us with
them, it really doesn't matter to us.
We believe that POLYSICS is a band with originality and who doesn't relate to
any musical genre.
We are indeed heavily influenced by DEVO, but there's much more to our
music.
People who say "they are just a DEVO copy band" must be the ones who've not
listended to POLY's music.

POLY's live show consists of fans in a wide range of age groups.
Young kids who have no real time experience of new wave and punk are
finding "new sounds" within POLY and are going crazy by banging their heads
whilst their eyes sparkling. The real time new wave experienced ones on
the other hand are robot dancing with a beer in their hand.
I was so thrilled to see such people at our gigs.
Point is, it doesn't matter how people take it. The point is,
"Are you enjoying or not?"
"Is it cool or not?"
That's what it matters!

People always seem to compare you to western bands. How have Japanese
bands and culture played a role in shaping Polysics?

Japanese bands (indies, punk, new wave, etc.) and Japanese musical
culture (festivals, theme songs to anime and super hero tv programs,
nursery rhymes, etc.) influence heavily underlies POLYSICS music.
Without going through such musical experiences, which we were blandly in
contact with from youth, we could have not made the music of POLYSICS.

Like I said before, we are not just another new wave band.
POLYSICS is a band reflecting every "musical experience" of the four
members.

There's a lot of hype for you which got kickstarted via Youtube (yo, check the link. Shhh)., but apparently there's also a lot of copyright infringement happening regarding those videos. Any comment?

Not much to comment on. I use it as well to check out footages by DEVO and KING CRIMSON.
If video usage on Youtube is being a good publicity for POLY, then that's
good. We, of course, are happy about more people recognizing who we are.

Can you give Beyond Robson readers any clues about what we can expect
for the show on Saturday?

Our live show is a combination of a fast and technical Hyper Energetic
Band sound with high speed sequences and digital sounds.
Once you've experienced it, you'll be taken away into the sixth
dimension!!! It's a "must see gig" for sure!!!!

Thanks for the interview, I look forward to the show.

Polysics with guests Fun 100 and My!Gay!Husband!
Friday, Jan 26
Early show, doors at 7pm
The Plaza
881 Granville

Image courtesy of www.tofurecords.com