hyl-san

When Shinya first heard Toshiya's bass style, hethought that it was one that really moves a lot. In reverse, Toshiya felt that Shinya was a drummer with multiple hands. Shinya clarified that in his previous band, their songs were all fast-paced and repetitive.

Shinya's drumming was inspired by bands such as X Japan, AION and Gargoyle, and he watched instructional videos from Kozo Suganuma.

Toshiya's inspiration was visual kei bands as well as Guns n Roses, with a little bit more western music too.

Toshiya finds that Shinya is a drummer with a lot of freedom, what with the unusual phrases he composes.

Shinya creates the drum phrases in his head.

Toshiya has been trying to subtract and pull back on his bass composition, after listening to Shinya's new drums. He feels that it will help make the most of each of their instruments, rather than combine them too closely.

Shinya finds Toshiya's bass playing rhytmic and elegant. He said that even when he watches their live footage, he's drawn to the bass the most. For Toshiya, he sees the drums as the core of any band. If the drums are cool, the band is cool.

Toshiya feels that they are a band made up of people who know how to present their own performance and instruments the best. For him, if you play a song too "normally", then you might as well replace your presence on stage with the audio from the studio recording.

For the past 20 years, Shinya has checked his live performances to assess his arm movements. If he deems something not good enough, he will change at the next show/tour.

Apparently Toshiya was most impressed by the fact that Shinya started wearing ankle weights during one of their overseas tours, to improve his drumming. He thought: "Cool, it's like that character from Dragon Ball!"

A director told Shinya (and the rest of the band?) to play overseas with a lot of power, like they're carnivorous/eating meat.

Toshiya genuinely admires Shinya and to him, the most fun about being in Dir en grey/working is when he pairs up with Shinya. He has never seen any other drummer playing such unique phrases as Shinya's. He also really respects his curiousity, about his interests but also still about drumming.

Shinya confirms that he's very particular about what he likes, but he also came to realize that he has zero knowledge about stuff that does not interest him.

Shinya said that while there are countless bassists who play well, he feels that Toshiya's aura and presence are at the top level in Japan. As for Toshiya, he reiterated that Dir en grey wouldn't be the same without Shinya, that nobody can replace Shinya.