Kana in France: Interview and Live Report
INTERVIEW - 29.10.2006
Author : Asagi and Niok ; translation : Sefs
Exclusive interview with Kana who found time for us after her first overseas appearance and a live report of her show.
It's Monday the 9th of October, the day after Kana's Showcase event at Glaz'art that she kindly meets with us for a small private and exclusive interview. Kana is dressed as usual in one of her self-made outfits. Though she looks impressive, she seems very shy. And this is how the interview begins:
Hello Kana
Kana: Hello!
Can you tell us about how your concert went yesterday?
Kana: Well, I had a lot of fun, everyone was content and happy. I am very pleased about it.
Why do you give the visual aspect of your show so much priority?
Kana: I feel good in my own world. I make clothes that only I can make, wear or create and I sing songs that only I can sing. My stuffed toys are my friends, I make them myself. I want to put a bit of my soul into each one. The stuffed toys that you find elsewhere are made with machines, they don't have a soul and I don't like that. That is the same for all my creations. I have my own style, beyond any rules.
Is your audience in France different from that in Japan?
Kana: The French audience is much more active and moves more. In some ways, they are more communicative, more present. Whilst I am onstage they motivate me to do even more.
What did you think of the European “gothic lolitas” that you saw yesterday night?
Kana: For me they are like the ones in Japan, they are people with the same hearts and they have the same approach. The main difference is in their gestures or the way they present themselves. Japanese are more... reserved.
Why did you come alone (without musicians)?
Kana: Quite simply because it was a showcase. I wanted to get to know France. Now that this is over with, I would like to come with musicians next time. A concert is planned for 2007.
We know about your extroverted personality during shows, but are you also like that in real life, or are there “two Kanas”?
Kana: In fact, I am much more shy and reserved in real life. When I step onstage I transform and gain confidence. I love communicating with my fans but in reality I'm not all that talkative (laughs).
We know you for your creations, mainly for your outfits. Have you considered starting your own fashion label someday?
Kana: I have already had some outfits made with better methods of production. I don't always do everything myself, but I add my personal touch to each creation in order to give it a soul, which I talked about previously. Concerning creating my own label, if I had the possibility, I'd do it. I'm not against it, far from it.
You said you were finding out about yourself during your break, what new things did you discover about yourself? Do you see life differently now?
Kana: Well, I wanted people to understand me better. So I decided to give them some time to do that. I want to tell my audience everything, which is why I'm mainly releasing full albums rather than singles. Each album is a sort of long story which I tell, something impossible to do with a single of one or two songs. I think that since 2002, the date of release of my last album, people have been able to understand me better.
What do you think of your music spreading to France?
Kana: Well, the more people there are listening to my music, the happier I am. I never thought there were so many people in France who love my music and that makes me happy to know.
And what do you think of Jrock in general spreading to Europe?
Kana: Quite frankly, I just laugh about it.
You are drawing something yourself for Japan Vibes, which will appear in each of the following issues of the magazine. Tell us about your work and how it came about.
Kana: I was contacted by Japan Vibes who proposed me to do something for the magazine. I am really very happy with this project because those who listen to my music will understand me better. I want to touch them, to tell them what I feel deep down. I want my heart and that of my audience to communicate.
Last night we were able to hear you speak French, is it important for you to address your fans directly without any obstacles in the way?
Kana: For me it's something very important. Also, I like the French language alot, it's “kawaii”! I'd very much like to learn the language so that I can share many more things with my French audience.
To finish off, have you got any last words for your fans?
Kana: I hope that our hearts can communicate.
Thank you Kana for giving us such honest answers.
Kana: Thank you too.
Thank you to JV store/Japan Vibes, Ganshin France and of course Kana for this interview.