Interview

Interview with STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION: Crafting music without borders

23 April 2025

STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION, fronted by musician RON, is best known for crafting iconic anime theme songs and soundtracks for series such as "Food Wars!", "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime", "Beyond the Bound...

Interview with AILIFDOPA: From Disneyland metal to refined madness, a band to entertain!

Rin and NBT

24 March 2025

Interview

AILIFDOPA is a four-piece rock band from Tokyo who have gained popularity on their home turf thanks to their eclectic music and wild live shows. We had the opportunity to be the first English media to chat with...

Interview with Hikari Shiina: Exploring the electric underground where fashion meets music

Erica and NBT

22 March 2025

Interview

Discovered as a teen model and rising to fame through Popteen, Hikari Shiina—better known as "Pikarin"—has forged a bold path as a musician, fashion icon, and subculture trailblazer.Since her 2012 solo musi...

Interview with HYDE: Revealing Jekyll to the world

Nori, NBT and Sizergyia

18 March 2025

Interview

HYDE awaits JROCK NEWS in a private conference room near The Novo club in downtown Los Angeles. It's the evening before his HYDE WORLD TOUR finale, yet the legendary vocalist has graciously set aside time to s...

Interview with solo musician Mike: “This is Wagatame”

Erica and afaenia

22 February 2025

Interview

Wagatame, the solo project led by former Blu-BiLLioN vocalist Mike, made a striking first impression at Nekocon 2024 with their debut U.S. performance. Joined by guitarist "mag." (also of Blu-BiLLioN) and drumm...

Interview with ELFENSJóN: Bringing dark fantasy to life with music and art

NBT, Dorian and Kay

19 February 2025

Anime, Doujin, Interview

ELFENSJóN is a creative project driven by the musical compositions of Kurose Keisuke and illustrations by Ishizue Kachiru. Rooted in a dark fantasy theme, ELFENSJóN's collaboration delivers an immersive experie...

Interview with Aoi (the GazettE): Delivering an unforgettable live performance

afaenia and Nori

15 February 2025

Interview

This interview was originally published by “club Zy.” in Japanese. JROCK NEWS is partnering with club Zy. and Vijuttoke with the aim to popularize Japanese visual kei globally. Learn more about our partnership ...

Interview: HEY-SMITH’s Shuhei Igari on the power of live shows, personal freedom in ska-punk

Erica

10 February 2025

Interview, Lineup change

HEY-SMITH, the six-piece ska-punk band from Osaka, has captivated audiences worldwide with their high-energy sound, melodic hooks, and rebellious spirit. Blending the edge of '90s punk with ska's bright, punchy...

Interview: Matenrou Opera’s album “MUTSU NO HANA” explores chaos, hope, and modern metal

Erica

31 December 2024

Interview

Matenrou Opera, the genre-defying rock band known for blending modern edge with operatic grandeur, has captivated audiences since 2007. Blending the aesthetics of visual kei with the symphonic depth of heavy me...

Interview: MAN WITH A MISSION shares how “Demon Slayer” shaped their hit “Kizuna no Kiseki”

Erica and NBT

8 November 2024

Anime, Interview, Tour and event

In celebration of their hit single "Kizuna no Kiseki"—the electrifying opening theme for "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc"—the legendary half-man, half-wolf rock band MAN WITH A MISSION ...

Interview with PassCode: Global journey driven by fans’ passion and support

NBT

2 November 2024

Anime, Interview

PassCode is known for making waves with their unique blend of EDM, rock, and metal. With an early focus on the international market and having been signed to the UK-based record label, JPU Records, they've buil...

Interview: I Don’t Like Mondays. reflects on 10 years of music with EP “FOCUS”

Erica, Nori and Nexus

28 October 2024

Interview, Releases

Debuted in 2014, I Don’t Like Mondays. is a dynamic four-piece band that fuses vibrant dance-pop with alternative rock. The lineup—YU (vocals), CHOJI (guitar), KENJI (bass), and SHUKI (drums)—draws inspiration ...

Interview with HANABIE.: Rising to global fame as fans learn to pronounce their name

NBT

14 October 2024

Interview

The metal quartet "HANABIE." is rapidly making waves in the metal scene with their distinctive "Harajuku-core" sound, fusing heavy riffs with catchy, cute elements. During their 2024 EU tour, we caught up with ...

Interview with MAD JAMIE: Idol punk rock infused with visual kei essence

NBT

29 September 2024

Interview

Last year, MAD JAMIE made her international debut in Sweden, and this year she surprised fans by returning to Europe for a full-fledged tour! With her popularity rising both in Japan and abroad, we caught up wi...