What they saw at Fuji Rock in the rain.DATS / Kento Yamada | feature

KEEN IN FUJIROCKFESTIVAL

What they saw at Fuji Rock in the rain.

The 2017 Fuji Rock Festival was rainy. The conditions were truly terrible. . Nevertheless, no one lost sight of the attitude to enjoy the space, the music, and the festival. The vast field was filled with simultaneous live performances, and no one could possibly cover them all. . Therefore, the true identity of Fuji Rock exists in the individual experience. . HOUYHNHNM's approached the true nature of Fuji Rock as seen through the eyes of each of the four artists. Walking around with KEEN on their feet, they look back on the Fuji Rock as captured by their instant cameras, along with interviews.

Photo_ Shiori Takesue, Seijun Kato
Edit_Taiyo Nagashima

DATS
The band consists of Wataru Sugimoto (Vo./Gt.), Takuya Ihara (Ba.), Tomoki Hayakawa (Gt.) and Kazuya Oi (Dr.) from left to right In 2017, RED MARQUEE at Fuji Rock Festivals 2017 . and will be the first day's top billing act at the

I do not mean to affirm or deny, but to present the fact that such a phenomenon exists.

Does the band name DATS come from the recording medium "DAT"?

cedar treeI like that too. Originally, there was no meaning. I just liked the sound of "datz," so I named the band. Afterwards, I added the meaning of a digital-analog translation system.

While using words that remind us of the Internet , the live performance is still physical. The meaning of the word "live" seems to fit well.

cedar treeYes, we are. As you can see from our live performances, we are surprisingly physical people.

spacious country. I have a lot on my mind, but I will perform with energy and vigor.

I see . Despite the momentum, I think the appeal of your music is that it is imbued with a critical nature. This time at Fuji Rock, there were many people filming the live show, and that left a strong impression on me , how did you feel about it?

cedar treeAs far as our own gigs are concerned, I don't think we want them to stop. I think these are the times we live in, and there are good aspects to it.

large well. As you have just said, I am willing to raise the issue. I am neither confirming nor denying it, but rather, I would like to present the fact that such a phenomenon exists. We don't know whether it is right or wrong, and we hope that it will be an opportunity for people to think about it.

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cedar treeSpeaking of smart phones, when I was watching JET, it was amazing. The moment "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" started, everyone held up their phones, and the moment the song ended, people started to crowd out....

spacious countryThat was indeed amazing.

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I'd like to have fun with you if you want. We can have fun together if you want to.

. It is an event that symbolizes the post-Internet society that "Application" portrays. How did you decide on the theme for this album?

cedar tree. Basically, we are deciding on a concept on an album-by-album basis.

rapidsAll the members talked about it and decided to go with it this time.

large well. As for the concept, it is decided quite meticulously. This time, we asked photographer Neil Cragg to create the album cover, and I believe that we have created a jacket in which the conflicting elements of digital and analog coexist in perfect harmony.

Focusing on the music, titles such as "AMAZON" and "NETFLIX" are impressive, but what is the production process like?

cedar treeAll the lyrics are written in Japanese and then translated into English. Each member writes the lyrics.

large wellI think we were all able to do it together because it was in English, and since DATS is really a four-person band, I think this method of production suits us well. The Japanese lyrics are included in the liner, so please take a moment to read them.

. I believe that a live show is both a place for presentation and sharing. After seeing the live performance at Fuji Rock, I felt that DATS' live show has both of these elements.

cedar treeI'm glad to hear that. I would like to offer a sense of "follow us," but at the same time, I would like to offer a sense of "let's have fun together, if you like. I would like to offer them a sense of "follow us," but I would also like to offer them the sense of "why don't you have fun with us?

large wellBeing too satirical creates both positives and negatives, but while we are satirical, we are neither denying nor affirming it. No one knows the answer. I think it is important to find the right balance between the two.

The live performance was the culmination of DATS as of now .

This time, there was a project called "Find Takuya" in which Ihara-san had neither a phone nor money and received food and other items from fans in exchange for a badge, and I felt that the friendly aspect of the project was also appealing.

large wellI value the will that we all have to work together.

spacious countryThis time, I was really saved by my fans. People are warm.... I would like to go up together with everyone.

cedar tree. We also have a kind of male-on-male passion. We get along really well, and I think that is an important element of the band.

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How was the Fuji Rock concert?

large wellWhen we play at a live house, I usually know where the excitement will be, but there were reactions in places I did not expect, a feeling that is unique to Fuji Rock.

spacious countryWhen I saw the big names perform live, I thought it would be cooler if they performed as usual and without hesitation, instead of getting carried away at a big festival.

cedar treeFuji Rock was one of our major goals, and we have been imagining it ever since the new organization was formed, so we were able to perform a live show that can be called the culmination of DATS as it is now. . I have no regrets about the performance, but we have to think about how we will do it in the future in order to perform at even bigger venues. I would like to analyze in detail how I should go forward, how I should read the flow of the audience's consciousness, how they left at this point, and so on, and then move on to the next stage.

large wellWe are trying to work backwards to figure out what we need to do to get on the green. What do we have now and what do we need to gain in the future?

Isn't it rare to find a band that thinks that far ahead and acts accordingly?

military or naval officerI think there are quite a few. For example, Yogi New Waves . Satimos, for example.

. because of the bad weather, I experienced firsthand how good the shoes were.

They have that kind of awareness. Maybe those bands are gathered around them. Did you interact with other bands during Fuji Rock?

cedar treeYou met a lot of friends.

spacious countryAs I mentioned, I spent my time without a phone or money, but I still met a lot of friends. It was fun.

How was KEEN?

spacious countryIt was great. We didn't get wet in the rain. I think I was able to make it through the three days thanks to "Keen. They were so great, I'm still wearing them today. These are my NEWPORT.

Rave reviews.

spacious countryI have no complaints at all. I wore the Targhee Exp during Fuji Rock, and it's bad enough that water doesn't get in them anyway.

cedar treeDuring the course of the event, Ihara took the liberty of wearing my "Keen" shoes, and they got soaked, which was a problem.

spacious country. because of the bad weather, I experienced firsthand how good the shoes were (laughs).

large wellThe rain was really bad this time, so I feel like it was a good opportunity to show the appeal of Keane.