Psycho le Cému“First” is the new English vocabulary word of the day for Psycho le Cému. They were

special guest of the first Pacific Media Expo. They played their first concert on U.S. soil. And they came face to face with hundreds of their screaming U.S. fans for the first time.

BY GARLAND GEE

Nt2099 | JUNE 04

Article contribution by MOCHIPhotography by EDWIN MACARAEG & PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO

[WHAT’S HOT IN MUSIC]Getting to Know

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Members Lida, Daishi, Aya, Seek, and Yura make up the quintet of Psycho le Cému. In Japan, theyʼve sold out CD s̓ and concert venues since 1999. They are known for their ever-chang-ing look and for their para-para dance moves. (Para-para is a Japanese dance concept in which the crowd moves their hands in sync.) In the dark concert hall, Psycho le Cému fans can be seen by the neon glow of their luminescent bracelets. The glows blur as fans Jen Kao and Izzy Rosales move in unison, trying to copy the hand movements of the band. “You really feel a part of the crowd and music when you do the para-para,” says Kao, 18, from Rancho Cucamonga. “The concert was just amazing,” says 20-year-old Rosales. “Their perfor-mance was awesome. They really are top-notch entertainers. Their concert converted me into a fan. I immediately like everything I heard,” says the Los Angeles resident and Seek fan. It s̓ a sentiment shared by Kao. Not being a fan beforehand, the concerts also turned Kao onto Psycho le Cému fan who already has favorite band members. “It is a tie between Yura and Seek,” says Kao. “I love Yura s̓ ec-centrically happy personality and good looks with great drumming skills. And Seek is a monster. I like monsters.” Being a visual kei band, Psycho le Cému performs in outrageous costumes that seem of a mix between U.S. glam bands of the ʼ80s and sentai anime — but taken to an extreme. Psycho le Cému s̓ look has garnered them fea-tures and covers from numerous visual and Jrock magazines, including Fools Mate, Shoxx, and Arena 37c. Their style is often emulated by their follow-ers as costumed fans dressed as the band members can be found at every Psycho

le Cému concert. It s̓ evident that the members of Psycho le Cému are not what can be expected from a typical Japanese boy band. Piercings a-plenty adorn the face of Seek and long gone is the straight, black hair, instead replaced by more colorful hues of bright brown, blue, orange, green, pink, and bleach blond. To find out what s̓ behind the curious exterior, nt2099 and other press members got to sit down with Psycho le Cému and a roomful of their fans. [The following is a transcript of the press/fan panel with Psycho le Cému. Liberties were taken with the Japanese-English translation. What appears here is not verbatim of what Psycho le Cému s̓ transla-tor reported. The press/fan panel occurred during the day between the two Psycho le Cému night concerts at PMX.]

Q: What does Psycho le Cému

mean?PLC: There meaning to the name. “Psycho le” sounded cool and “Cému” was made up with letters from our previous band names.

Q: How did you feel about the concert?Daishi: Great! American fans are hot!Lida: Excited because the energy from the fans was so high.Aya: It was a very good experience with American Fans.Yura: We may have a language problem, but music has no language barrier.

Q: You have a vibrant style. Where do you get your inspiration?Daishi: Imagination.PLC: Since we don t̓ have girl-friends, we spend our time coming up with new costumes.

Q: Now that you are in America, do you prefer blondes or

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brunettes?Daishi: I like shorter blondes. Lida: Since my hair is orange, I like all hair colors. But most impor-tantly they must have [shapes large breasts on himself with his hands]Aya: I prefer brunettes.Seek: I want any girl that is OK with my blue hair.Yura: Because I have bleached and treated hair, it never feels natural. I prefer girls with natural hair color.

Q: Did you ever imagine you would get to play in the United States?Yura: I didn t̓ imagine so many people and fans would come see us.Seek: I had no idea so many people would come.Aya: I had no idea many fans would come.Lida: I didn t̓ expect so many fans. I feel honored.Daishi: I didn t̓ expect so many Lida cosplayers. [Daishi laughs]

Q: Where do you get your musical inspiration?Yura: I find inspiration from my surroundings. I can walk around and the street sounds will inspire me. Music is all around.Daishi: From Lida and Daishi.Lida: Yeah, we find inspiration

from each other.Daishi: Lida and I have been together since we were 2. [audience aww s̓] [To audience] Why are you reacting just because we were born?Seek: I don t̓ look for inspiration. I let inspiration look for me.Aya: From all kinds of music. I like a challenge.Lida: Originally, we had a core concept, but our musical taste is flexible. We want to have a broad range with our songs.

Q: Will you consider debuting in the United States?Daishi: I want to tour the U.S. I didn t̓ expect so many people to see us. I feel we could have a chance to tour.Lida: We will continue to raise the bar in Japan before a debut in America.Aya: I don t̓ know, but America is very fun to play in.Yura: I want to come back to the U.S.Seek: We need the U.S. fans ̓support to come back. [audience cheers]

Q: Are there any American musi-cal artists that you like?Daishi: Uh… Ask Yura first.Yura: Since Psycho Le Cemu is in

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America now, I love Psycho Le Cemu.Seek: Louis Armstrong.Aya: Slipknot.Lida: Metallica.Daishi: Yeah, I like them too! Metallica!

Q: How do you feel that so many U.S. fans enjoy Japanese music?Daishi: Ask Yura first.Yura: I never expected that Jpop/Jrock is getting so big with U.S. fans.Seek: Iʼm surprised too.Aya: I enjoy American music a lot. I think it s̓ good that U.S. fans like Japanese music. Because of the internet, it s̓ easier for Americans and Japanese to swap music and share ideas. I feel it makes us more connected.Lida: There is no borderline to separate U.S. fans and Japanese music.Daishi: There is no borderline, because no matter the language, a good song is a good song. I feel a positive feeling with American fans.

Q: Are you going sight-seeing?Seek: We already went to Disneyland.Daishi: I just stay in my room alone. [audience aww s̓] Should I leave my room? [audience cheers]

Q: How do you decide who plays what role on stage?Daishi: I always do a hero. Aya plays the girl. Yura plays the handsome boy.

Seek is always the special character. Lida is the fighter.

Q: Your concert was very suc-cessful. What can we expect at tonight s̓ concert?Daishi: Last night I was nervous, but tonight Iʼll be more excited!Lida: I made a mistake last night, but tonight I will fix it!Aya: I think we have good commu-nication with the fans. I think they will enjoy it.Seek: Because tonight is the last night, it will get me more excited.Yura: I was so nervous last night, but today, I think Iʼll be much

better!

Q: In your off-stage personality, are you the same as the characters you portray?Aya: I play a girl, but off stage Iʼm really a man.Seek: I change into a human.Yura: On stage I play a handsome boy, but off stage Iʼm not. [audience aww s̓]Daishi: Iʼm not the same.Lida: Iʼm the same.Daishi: [Looks at Lida] No, youʼre not! He s̓ not the same!

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