Interview with KOKIA
June 20, Cologne @ Blue Shell
After her first German concert in Cologne on June 20 KOKIA took some time for our Interview. The likeable, Japanese pop singer and her manager welcomed us some minutes after the show in a adjoining room of the Blue Shell, where we sat down at a small table.
KOKIA understood our questions without problems and even answered some of them in English herself.
noi: Thank you for your time. It was a great Show!
KOKIA: Oh, thank you.
noi: You traveled through Europe for 2 weeks and today it was the finale, your last concert. How do you like this tour? Was it good?
KOKIA: Yes! It was really, really great and specially having Germany as the last one was probably good.
noi: What was the best show?
KOKIA: (she groaned acted) All were good. Each of them was great different and it's difficult.
noi: I can imagine.
KOKIA:There were different situations, like the audience are really activ or the venue is really nice or I have some fun on the show. It boots.
noi: You started your tour with 3 shows in France. You have been in France very often since you started in Europe. What makes this country so special for you?
KOKIA: France was the country I had ever the first concert here. Even so I extend my tours to different countries in Europe, France is always the country I had my first concert.
Adisa: How is it, when you play in a new country? Are you exited?
KOKIA: Oh yes.
Adisa: And how was today's evening for you?
KOKIA: Today's evening? It was a really great show, I think.
noi: Yes, of course.
KOKIA: Thank you.
noi: Your music, your CDs arrived America, but you haven't played in America yet. Do you have a message for our American fans?
KOKIA: America was always a country, that itching me to going. Now I was, you know, in some countries in Europe and I like to extend to America, but I have never done it before and it doesn't really seem to were yet.
noi: You are very open for influences of other music styles, for exable your album you made in Ireland (meant is "Fairy Dance ~KOKIA meets Ireland~"). You used music from Ireland and made your own style. It was a very great project. Are you interest to do this with an other country as well?
KOKIA: Yes! Very much. So for example Africa and Indien. So like that.
noi: I could imagine.
Since this album "Fairy Dance" there were a lot of other releases. Your lastest two albums (meant are "KOKIA infinity AKIKO~balance~" and "AKIKO infinity KOKIA~balance~"). There is this difference between the titles, but also very interesting is the difference of the covers.
KOKIA: Covers?
noi: On one you have still the long hair and on the other you have your new style.
KOKIA: Ah yes. (laugh)
noi: Can you explain why this differentiation?
KOKIA:Okay. Long hair is KOKIA, short hair is Akiko. The conzept for making this albums was to have people to know both sides of me. One as singer KOKIA and one the personal Akiko. So the visual are symbols for this differentiation.
noi:So they show a little bit, you grow up.
KOKIA: Yes.
noi: A lot of your songs are used as Anime themes, like your newest single „Karma". Animesongs were quite the first Japanese music, which arrived Europe. So it is important.
Was it your interest to make songs for Animes or was it a very new idea for you, when you were asked for it the first time?
KOIKA: There are 2 types of my work. The one is my original works, when I sing, working as a singer. And the other one is when I write something for somebody, who asked me.
noi: So 2 Jobs?
KOKIA: Yes. The second one is more like a composer and Animes belong to the latter one.
noi: Do you know all the Animes you have wrote for? Have you seen all?
KOKIA: Origin, yes.
Adisa: Is it more challenging to write for Animes or is it the same as with other songs?
KOKIA: I don't know. It is not specially challenging to write a song for a Anime. It is the same thing for me to compose music. I'm more well known as Anime singer hier in Europe, because of the influence of the animation here in Europe, but in Japan I'm not that known as Anime singer, more as a composer and song writer as well.
Adisa: When you write songs, which topics do you like most?
KOKIA: It is not a common for Japaneses that people express Love and Peace, but that is something I have as a topic.
Adisa: What inspires you when you are writing?
KOKIA: Movies. Maybe.
Adisa: What do you want to give to your fans by your music?
KOKIA:What I want to? (everybody laugh) I know that there are many people with different situations and different feelings and that they come to my concerts. I want each of them to feel something warm in their heart and there is something, that they go on tomorrow, something to cheer them up.
noi: Yes, we can feel it.
KOKIA: Thank you! (smiling)
noi:: You make music since you were a little child.
KOKIA: Yes.
noi: What brings a so little child to make music. What was there, that you said, I what to make music?
KOKIA: I don't know. How should I know? (laugh)
noi: Was it in your family?
KOKIA: In my family were no musicians, but they all love music. I was slow to start speaking, so even before I start speaking I started playing piano. With a little picture book, it informed me.
noi: Wow, great. So you startet with piano and later violin, but when have you started as singer?
KOKIA: I don't know. There was no really beginn as singer.
noi: So it was always once - music?
KOKIA: Yes.
Adisa: Your voice is very unique and you are known for being able to hold notes for a long time. How do you take care of your beautiful voice?
KOKIA: Nothing. Sleep well, trink olive oil. (laugh)
noi:Your artistic talent is not only music, not only singing. You also draw and design. Would you draw for your covers?
KOKIA:Oh yes, I did. I made almost myself "the VOICE" and "Christmas gift", than "trip trip", "Fairy Dance", "Infinity" ...
I draw and design.
noi: Great. I wonder whether you can draw something for us?
KOKIA: Yes, sure.(She drew an elefant for us, as she told the „German version".)
noi: Do you have a finale message for your fans?
KOKIA: Hello people in Europe. I'm KOKIA. It was a pleasure to come to Europe. What I think, is that it's more main thing to continue coming to uncase the small site of the concerts. And also when it's baring to some new countries, I want to continue doing this concerts.
noi: Thank you very much.
KOKIA: Thank you very much. Dankeschön! (German)
After the interview we prasied KOKIA for her good German during the show and she told us, she learned some operas and gave us a little sample!
We want to thank Xavier of Gekido tour and KOKIAs manager Miki for this opportunity.
author: noi und Adisa