paradox-five

At the time when the interview took place, only five songs were ready for Dir en grey's next album. Toshiya feels like the album will be slightly heavy. That keyword came up in the discussion that the members had at the beginning, but since Toshiya didn't want all the songs to sound the same, he intentionally composed a song that strays from that theme.

Toshiya says that there seems to be less rearranging from the other members when someone submits a composition, compared to previous albums where there would be back-and-forth exchanges where all the members would contribute to a first pitch by one of the members. So they might unconsciously be going back to their beginnings, where songs are credited to the original composer rather than "Dir en grey" as it's been for the past few releases.

He confirms that they are a band who doesn't talk a lot. In venue dressing rooms, like Kaoru mentioned, they chat about some things that help them figure out what mood someone has. For instance, that's when they might mention that they liked someone's album or that they hope to go see somebody's concert.

Toshiya found that Los Angeles (and America in general) felt less safe in his latest visit than it did the previous time.

He thought of a melody while being driven around Los Angeles with a friend.

Toshiya said that he is grateful for the fans who travel to Japan to go see Dir en grey, because the band has been able to do stuff closer to what they want/imagine there.

Toshiya described himself as lazy a couple of times, for example when it comes to not composing songs earlier than now, not releasing his art projects until now, etc.

Regarding Kyo's diagnostic of Ménière's disease, Toshiya said that it was hard to tell how he was. He once asked Kyo how he felt, and Kyo said that he wasn't alright, but that he would do the show anyway.

Toshiya works out at least in part to reassure himself that he can keep touring. He gets anxious if he doesn't work out.