Psychosomatica

Do not repost anywhere. Consider linking directly to this post instead and buying the magazine yourself.

(I was able to access this talk using Radiko's free trail option here)

The host starts by asking for a Deftones anecdote from Kaoru, so he gives one about bassist Chi Cheng.

Once during the 2007 Deftones tour the venue was right next to Universal Studios, and the Universal staff offered Dir a free bus ride around the park, picking them up from the venue. They got on the bus, and all the other regular visitors on the bus were excited because apparently Will Smith was somewhere in the park filming. The Dir members didn't know or care where he was, but as they were coming to the end of the ride, they saw Chi Cheng walking outside, and THEY got all excited, saying 'Waa, look, Chi Cheng!' All regular visitors were like, 'Who, who??' They had no idea who he was, but were trying to see after Dir got excited.

He explains how they first met Deftones at the Family values tour, got to know them, and then toured with them in 2007.

He first discovered Deftones around the yr 2000 when he used to go shopping for records like crazy at Tower Records in Shibuya. He would test-listen to a lot and buy cds whIch sounded good with cool covers. He got his first Deftones album White Pony in this way.

His first impression of their music was it was difficult to understand, and mysterious. It sounded heavy, as if Thom York made heavy music. He didnt fully click with it at first, but when he later came to realise its full power, he was very impressed.

As for his first song choice on this radio show, he wanted to play Pink Maggit, but decided its too long so he chose Change from White Pony instead.

He thought Change was unique because it mixed dark, heavy sounds with new wave, shoegaze and other genres which was rare at the time.

He tried playing Stephen's 8 string guitar once, but found it very difficult. Even one extra strIng was very different from his regular 7 strIng. Stephen has loads of 8, 9 strInged guitars.

Kaoru moved to 7 strings when Dir started gradually moving their tuning down. A 6 string couldnt hold enough tension in the strIngs .

He borrowed the 8 strIng from Stephen for a cover, but only that one time. He explains the low strings were really loose, but they are good for making those low vibrating 'doun doun' sounds .

Seeing Deftones live, he thought they were powerful. Also he thought Chino looked like he was always having a lot of fun on stage, jumping up and down and sliding about.

Chino asked Kaoru for japanese song recs after they discovered they were the same age. Kaoru thought Chino was older till then..So Kaoru burned a cd of his jp song recs and gave it to Chino. Kaoru said Deftones probably invited Dir to join their tour becausrle they hadn't had much contact with Japanese music up till then, and they probably found Dir interesting as a result.

Chino loves music so much, he would bring his own speakers backstage into the dressing room and play music he liked, eg. Faith No More, (Chino loves Mike Patton) , and they would all drink together while listening.

For Kaoru's next song choice for the show, there was one song Deftones would occasionally play on that tour which Kaoru loved, and he wished they'd play it each time, and even told them so. And they were like, hmm ok. Then once when Dir had finished the opening set, Kaoru went straight to shower, and Deftones started playIng that song. Kaoru could hear it while he was in the shower and thought 'waa, they are playIng it now??' He felt it was incredible to hear that song live in the shower, and felt it was a super luxurious shower. That song is Minerva.

Listening to Deftones' new album, he thinks they have the same power intensity they did 30 years ago.

As for a reccomendation for newcomers to Deftones, he suggests the album White Pony, but for a song, it would be Hole In The Earth, which is on the album Saturday Night Wrist, because its an easy listen. As a guitarist he was interested in how they made this sound when he first heard it.

The host wonders if it will be in the setliset for the Japan shows, but Kaoru thinks probably not,since they dont often play it.

His third song choice is Rocket Skates, its more recent that the other two, but still over 10yrs old. He thought he should include a more recent song in.his choices to show newcomers a wider range.

Some Dir talk came at the end, Kaoru hopes the new Dir album reflects a band that have been together for 29yrs. As for his thoughts on approaching 30yrs, the band dont know when they will end, or how long they will continue, so they are just focussing on what they can do now.

He says that his songs from 29yrs ago are a bit embarrassing to play now, due to their youthfulness, so one thing he wants to do is to see how to use them/change them going forward.

The new album title's meaning refers to finding the darkest place inside you, and figuring out what it is.

He says ppl can listen on streaming sites, but he personally likes getting the cd, reading the booklet etc, so if you want that feeling then please buy it!

The Tokyo Garden Theater live will differ from the tour in that it will take you deeper Into the world of mortal downer.

The host asks him if he has any pre-tour and pre-live rituals, he says he doesn't really have any, but he does need a bit of time to remInd himself of any songs whIch they havnt played for a while, it usually takes a couple of weeks to get familiar again.

Kaoru urges listeners to listen to the album and come to the lives.