Interview Room

Aroused Zen Monks,
Mountains of Fear
and the Energy Release
-The ATP Interview

In the City - Citizens - Performing Arts Center - Mayor's Office - Around Town - Traveler's Center

This Month's The Dreaming City Welcomes ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) to the Performing Arts Center.

It was an early Sunday Morning for the Sandman. Fixing his morning cup of coffee at 8:45 and heading into The Interview Room of the Performing Arts Center (PAC), he was feeling a little anxious about this interview. Afterall, ATP some of the first Dreaming City Citizens to be featured at the newly built PAC and what with all the perils and potential disasters that the World Wide Web could offer, who knows what could happen today?Anything might happen the first time you try something new. Especially if your guests where coming all the way from Tokyo.

Opening the door and taking a peek inside, a sigh of relief escaped him. Already waiting there for him where Hiroe Noonan and two of the members of ATP, guitarist Mug and the band's vocalist Taata.Hiroe Noonan was a friend of the Sandman's who graciously offer to translate from Japanese into English and vice versa should the need arise. She was already exchanging greetings in Japanese with pair from ATP.Sandman cleared his throat to gather the groups attention and was met by a chorus of hellos… and now to the interview portion of our program.

The Dreaming City: Who do we have online with us today?

Taata: Well, this is Taata, and Mug is right next to me sharing the keyboard.

Mug: Hi! This is Mug.

Hiroe: This is Hiroe. I am here to observe this interview today. I am sure everybody can write & read English very well, so I am just here for help just in case.

Mug: Thanks Hiroe! We definitely need you!

The Dreaming City: Great :) Is this the first you have done any online interviews?

Mug: Yes. We are not really computer wizards like you are.

The Dreaming City: Who are the rest of the members in the band?

Mug: Well, Kaz plays drums and Sugar plays guitar along with me. We also recruited Kohei to play bass recently.

The Dreaming City: Your group has a wonderful sound. What exactly is ATP trying to convey with their music? You seem to have 2 very different approaches. On one side very dark. On the other side very dream like.

Mug & Taata: Thanks for a compliment. We really appreciate that!Mug: Convey? Here comes Yoshie!!!

Hiroe: You mean me? He is asking what you intend to tsutaeru to the listeners.

Mug: Oops! Sorry Hiroe!

Hiroe: That's OK. Yoshie sounds better.

Taata: We would like to express lots of things in our music...Not only the musicality and sound (those are important too!), but also what we think. The things that we value. What we love and hate. What we question.

The Dreaming City: When was the first time you realized that music was the way you wanted to express yourselves?

Taata: Well, I am sure for mug, it was since he was born. He talks and lives in music.

The Dreaming City: Do you come from musical families?

Mug & Taata: Nope.

The Dreaming City: How did you meet? How did you get together as a band?

Taata: I happened to see Mug playing in the band in Chicago in 1992. I just went over and asked if I could join. Actually, I was rejected!! Then I met him again on the street in Tokyo. He was really struggling and depressed. Needing someone he can play with, so I asked him if he wanted to audition me!!! I guess I passed.

The Dreaming City: Well, I am glad you did. You've made a good combination.

Mug: Thanks. I do feel the same way.

The Dreaming City: In 1996 the band took a break. What was that like? Did you stop playing completely?

Mug: We never really stopped playing. We just stopped exposing the band. We did not like the way we were heading in the music business. Well, we realized that no one really cared about our music. And during 4 months of extensive marketing of our music, no one asked us about music. And not only that, even our people seemed like they did not care. We were on lots of magazines, for interviews, and we never even met them nor did we even do the interview. Our manager was writing whatever sounded good to portray us like teenage idols!! That made a very angry situation for us.

The Dreaming City: That must have been a depressing time. Okay, lets talk about music; I don't want to repeat history.

Mug: Yes!!!

The Dreaming City: Why do you compose the lyrics in English?

Taata: Well, first of all, English has become a universal language, and we definitely wanted to communicate with listeners (if any) outside of this small island! We are hoping that people understand me singing in English...I am trying.

Hiroe: Do you get any influence (eikyo) from a certain kind of music? When you compose your music.

The Dreaming City: Yes, who are the artists that inspire you, if any?

Taata: I loved Toyah Wilcox and Siouxsie & the Banshees. So our influences come mainly from so called new wave bands in 80s.

Mug: Well I was into contemporary classic when I was young. But then I saw the Psychedelic Furs...they just killed me.

Taata: The Cure!! Actually, we love all sorts. The Grateful Dead and The Beatles …

The Dreaming City: Actually I grew up with the same influences. I was lucky to see Siouxsie & the Banshees, and The Cure live.

Hiroe: I saw The Cure playing on TV last night. They were good.

The Dreaming City: Lets try some musical word association. Tell me the first thing that comes to mind. When you see these words. The Fall.

Mug: Great band! Check the record …Check the track record...you know that one?

The Dreaming City: No, not coming to mind. I love their early period with Hey Luciani! and Wonderful and Frightening World. Your band reminds me of them. Some of the guitar and melodic structures.

Mug: I take it as a compliment.

The Dreaming City: Next one, Bauhaus.

Taata: Kandinsky... Well, She's In Parties. I love them both.

The Dreaming City: Next, L'Arc En Ciel.

Taata: Hahahahahha.

Mug: Well ...no. It's a secret I cannot say.

The Dreaming City: Oh, come on. I love secrets. Don't be a tease.

Mug: I know them a bit... They are nice kids...ummm.

The Dreaming City: What is the music scene like in Japan right now? And how do you find yourselves fitting in that scene.

Mug: Well, corporations basically make music scene. We don' t have a good college stations playing music, rock or jazz. College students seem only to be following the trend, which are made & decided by corporations. You see, those corps can make a star out of scratch within a few weeks. College students are following that trend and not thinking. Well, we now have several scenes actually. Japanese R and B, Japanese Rap, Japanese Euro beat, and Okeshoukei. Okeshoukei is the one L'Arc belongs to.

The Dreaming City: What do you think of the Visual Kei bands?

Taata: Hahahah!

The Dreaming City: Is that the same?

Taata: We feel if they are (I think some are) thinking in terms of music enhancement, or a part of performance art.... it is ok. But I am not totally convinced that they are not producer made idols with makeup to attract innocent teenagers.... haha

Mug: Wait ...I love some of them Taata!!

The Dreaming City: The Visual Kei? Who like Laputa, Luna Sea and Rouage?

Mug: Visual kei!!!Mug: Well, let me just say on Visual Kei... while they may be innocent idols, the production is something I can be proud of as Japanese... some are at least...

The Dreaming City: Describe what your current shows are like.Mug: We have not done any show for a while... We were recording during the first few months of the year.... We are currently rehearsing to do a small tour in August. We are planning to play in Hong Kong. We are trying to be more straightforward this time.

The Dreaming City: Getting back to the music, "Moon Dance" and "Cracked" are on opposite ends of the musical spectrum.

Mug: Well "Cracked" and "Moon Dance" are certainly different. We always wanted to somehow do a mixture of totally different elements from diagonal line of music. Heavy and pop, cool and hot, Western and Eastern. Nostalgic and modern have been keywords for us in terms of composition. We feel audience still can find the distinctive sounds of ATP in both songs.

The Dreaming City: When you sit down to write a song how do you approach the songs? Who does the lyrics? Who contributes to the final sound?

Taata: Well, when we write songs we would like to express a lot of things in our music. This sometimes goes beyond just one song, we often found ourselves writing a story first. Such as a teen baby story… parade story... That way we can cram many of our life themes in it. After we all agree on the story... I write lyrics. Then Mug writes the songs. He is the one doing engineering for the final sound.

The Dreaming City: Have there been any creative differences and how do you handle those?

Mug: Hahaha... We argue a lot. We kill each other. I don't know if it is good or bad... We seem to argue on everything there is, but somehow we always forget what happened the day before. Actually our differences are in line of ATP s concept. Heavy and pop. Man and woman.

The Dreaming City: Sorry to interrupt - you sound like a married couple, are you married?

Taata: Gegegege (laughing).

Mug: No we are not married or anything like that. Taata is such a strange person. She does not act like a woman you know. All male members are in awe of her in fact...haha.

Taata: We produced all our songs by ourselves. Even the one we did for BMG. We have made several videos live.

The Dreaming City: Tell me about your imaginary movie… My Old Green Martian Baby.

Taata: Oh. It's a long story... Let me see if I can summarize. Well, this Japanese girl is wishing to change everything around her. She hates boys, and her friends decided to take her out to this concert. Then she falls in love with the band's singer. Who was actually an alien from Mars. He was also outcast from his Mars society. They fall in love… deeply. Then… change!

Mug: They found that their body structure are so different that they cannot really make love... life is not as easy.

Taata: Shall I continue?

The Dreaming City: Sounds like you all have a lot of fun writing, doesn't it Hiroe?

Hiroe: What happens then?

Taata: Well, if you want to hear Hiroe…

Hiroe: I have to buy the video?!

Taata: If want to hear Hiroe, the Martian was hit by a truck... and he was dead. The girl again must face reality.

Hiroe: Oh, no…

Taata: She is sitting at cafe... Wondering where to go tomorrow. Don't ask me, "is that it?" Coz that is it.

The Dreaming City: Taata do you do all the vocals on the recordings? They are excellent. "My Old Martian Baby" (The title track of the imaginary movie) reminds me of a group, His Name Is Alive. Did you hear of them?

Taata: His Name is Alive? No I never... How about you Mug?

Mug: No I don't either... Who are they?

The Dreaming City: A band from the USA, who were on the famous British 4AD label. They were very atmospheric and had gorgeous vocal arrangements floating over feedback heavy guitar and unusual percussion.

Taata: Vocals, all of voices are mine actually. Though I don't consider myself a technical singer. I am terrible in that regard. I am just trying to fit in that weaving sound of ours.

The Dreaming City: Some of the songs have a lot of backing, layered vocals...do you worry about recreating it in a live show?

Taata: Yes, definitely... It had been the main concern of mine. I wish we could recruit some back up singers, but since we don't have enough money we bought a sampler machine a couple of years ago and I am playing my chorus with the keyboard. Kaz hates it though, since he needs to wear headphones and play with a click [track] to keep up with timing. That is why we said we are going to be a little more straight forward playing live this summer. No samplers this time!!

The Dreaming City: Hiroe and I were just discussing last night what it was like for us to be far away from our birth places. Do you ever feel that you would like to live somewhere else, say, the USA, to help your music career?

Taata: Yes, like New York. We wish we could to move ourselves in the USA.

Mug: Hiroe I thought you were born in Japan?

Hiroe: Yes, I was born and grew up in Japan. I came to the States five years ago and never back to Japan.

Taata: We feel our music could be treated more fairly in USA.

Hiroe: You said you were in Chicago. What were you doing there?

Mug: We were both going to college in Chicago.

Taata: We are still afraid that being Japanese is good for us in the USA? What do you think?

Hiroe: I don't know... there are so many peoples from different parts of the world. But if you were really good, people would really recognize and appreciate you.

The Dreaming City: On the description of the song, Aroused Zen Monk, at your MP3.com website you make a reference to...

Hiroe: That is what I have heard from a man I met. He is studying at Berkeley Music School in Boston. Oops, I interrupted. Ignore my comment.

The Dreaming City: That's okay Hiroe. On that song's description you make reference to a peculiar site in the northeast-end of Japan, what place is that? It must be a very spiritual place.

Mug: Thanks Hiroe, as for Aroused Zen Monk, the place is called Osorezan. It is an unbelievably spiritual place. When I went there, I saw this old lady crying and piling up rocks... They say if you pile up the rocks souls of the dead can find a way home. Even an unreligious person like myself was moved a bit.

The Dreaming City: Wow, I just visualized that - it is a strong image. Hiroe, have you ever been there? Is it like a Shrine?

Mug: It is in Aomori prefecture. Itako. Osoerzan is famous for itako.

Hiroe: I've never been there. Osorezan means mountain of fear. It's one of the most sacred places in Japan, if I remember correctly.

Mug: Itako is a soul reader. You could talk to your loved one. Thru them the soul of the loved one would posses the body of itako and talks to you.

The Dreaming City: I researched some of the Japanese band sites, and all of the bands interviewed there had this as a question. So I have to ask you this question, what is your blood type?

Taata: Strangely, all our members are blood type B.

Hiroe: So am I!

Taata: What does that have to do with a Japanese band?

The Dreaming City: From the websites I visited, it seemed important for fans to know this. Seems like and odd question to ask, no? Maybe it is like the zodiac, astrological signs.

Taata: I can't honestly say. All Japanese with blood type B are cool persons. Right, Hiroe? They say blood type b is free thinking, and stubborn.

Hiroe: (Laugh) Sure.

The Dreaming City: I can agree with that. (Laugh). Even though I am type "A."

Mug: Sorry to hear that. So we like the blood type b and being Japanese.

The Dreaming City: What last message would you like to give someone who is just discovering ATP?

Taata: Well, we would like to cross a lot of sounds and styles and ideas and make it into one. Please join the experiments.

Mug: We are really excited about the Internet because it is such an excellent alternative. You will find far greater music on the Internet than you will ever hear in the radio sometimes. We received so many letters from all over the world. And it is great feeling to know there is someone, somewhere paying attention to what we have to say. We all need some encouragement once in a while. We may need to be kicked in the ass once in while also. So stay tuned. Listen to ATP. And maybe send us some email and kick our asses!!

The Dreaming City: Well, I think sites like MP3.com have certainly broken down a lot of barriers. Thanks for your time. I hope you enjoyed it.

Mug: Thanks!!!

Taata: Thanks, Sandman and Hiroe for this opportunity.

Hiroe: I enjoyed participating this interview. It makes me happy to think someone is making music to communicate. Good Luck to you guys.

Sayonara, thought the Sandman, pleased by meeting two talented individuals and hearing them reveal a little about themselves and the music they create. Already he was thinking about the upcoming interviews and the new possibilities that his ephemeral city, his dreaming city, could give him. Thanks for joining us this month. Next month We will be looking at Urban Abstract, a group based out of Charlotte, North Carolina (USA). Dream well. Dream big. See you there.

- The Sandman Mayor July 9, 2000

In the City - Citizens - Performing Arts Center - Mayor's Office - Around Town - Traveler's Center

ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP)

1. Is the primary energy source found in all living things. ATP fuels most cell activities, including muscle movement, protein synthesis, cell division, and nerve signal transmission.

Encarta On Line

2. Is a prime Japanese band releasing its creative energy as a source of enjoyment for many living things. ATP can fuel most listeners activities, including rhythmic muscle movement (dancing), mood synthesis, and signal transformations in your nerve centers.