Interview: DEATHRO (JPN) - Debut Tour of Aotearoa with DISPLEASURE

DEATHRO arrives in Aotearoa next week, treating us to a nationwide tour with friends DISPLEASURE (the synth-punk aspect of Unsanitary Napkin) plus special guests. Kanagawa Japan’s "#1 rock vocalist" spoke with DISPLEASURE guitarist Ru (also of Varda) about the Japanese high energy style of BEATROCK, the themes of political resistance and solidarity expressed on his new album GALAPAGOS, his love for touring, and more. There is a one hundred percent chance these shows will rip, don't you dare miss DEATHRO's debut tour of Aotearoa — brought to you by Wrought Material and Chain Punk Baddie...

DEATHRO (JPN) - Aotearoa Tour
with DISPLEASURE and special guests

Thursday 27th February - 605 Morningside, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland with Deb5000, Vigil
Friday 28th February - Mesoverse, Kirikiriroa / Hamilton with guests to be announced
Saturday 1st March - Porridge Watson, Whanganui with Fog, Bird Party, XRVR
Sunday 2nd March - Newtown Festival Creeps Stage, Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington*
Friday 7th March - Yours, Ōtepoti / Dunedin with ANN ARKII, Varda, Ram Raid
Saturday 8th March - Lyttelton Coffee Company, Ōhinehou / Lyttelton with Varda, High Alter
Sunday 9th March - Roots Bar, Tākaka with Varda

Tickets on sale HERE via UTR
*Newtown Festival info and lineup HERE

Ru: You've been described as a BEATROCK survivalist. Could you explain what BEATROCK is?

DEATHRO: BOØWY, PERSONZ, UP-BEAT, KATZE, early BUCK-TICK, JUSTY-NASTY, ROGUE etc... This style was the standard for Japanese rock from the mid-'80s to the early '90s. As you can understand by listening to DEATHRO’s sound, it is a fusion of simple and hasty beats like punk and chorus guitar with a post-punk taste, with bluesy lyrics and vocals that are unique to Japan.

Your new album, Galapagos was recorded entirely on a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder, and the album has a surprisingly raw, punk sound. What inspired you to record this album in a lo-fi format?

It's simple. I had a low spec laptop and it was much easier than using an audio interface, pro tools, or audio logic. This is how I made my first demo tape for my band in 2002.

One of my favourite memories from touring Japan with Unsanitary Napkin was digging for music gear in various HARD OFF stores with you. It’s much easier to find used gear in Japan than it is in New Zealand. What do you like about using older technology?

As I said, for me it was simpler and easier than DTM. And I was sure it would produce a unique sound. The results were better than I expected. For me, CASSETTE MTR and VHS are not retro technologies, but wonderful things that capture the present.

What inspired the title of your new album?

In Japan, “Galapagos” is a slang word that means a product that is isolated from the world’s mainstream or trends. I thought that it was a perfect word to describe the sound I create and the music I like. But where is the world in the first place?

What are some of the ideas and themes you write about in this album?

Scenes from my hometown, Kanagawa Ken-o area, and what I felt there. Anger and resistance against Zionism, apartheid, imperialism, and state violence and murder. Friction and misfits that arise from not being able to belong to something. And about love.

I first heard 'No Hyper' when Kohei was making a benefit compilation for Palestine in 2022, and Unsanitary Napkin submitted 'Catastrophe'. I understand that 'No Hyper' is about ‘hyper normalisation’, and the normalisation of violence towards Palestinians. Why do you think it is important for artists to protest against injustice?

That’s right. I’m glad you caught that. I don’t consider myself an artist, so I always protest as an individual. The reason I take them up as themes in my songs is because protesting against Zionism and all kinds of discrimination is not a special theme compared to singing about my hometown or love.

There’s another protest song on your new album, 'No More Blood'. Could you tell us what this song is about?

The song expresses anger at what Israel is doing in Palestine. It also talks about the importance of raising our voices rather than praying or mourning. It also talks about the many disabled people in Japan who are on the other side of the walls of detention facilities. Apartheid continues to exist next door.

I think it’s interesting that DEATHRO writes love songs as well as protest songs. One of my favourite punk lyrics is from a Crass song, Yes Sir I Will: “Our love of life is total, everything we do is an expression of that! Everything that we write is a love song!!” I feel like there is often a sense of solidarity in DEATHRO’s songs. Is that something you think about when you write your lyrics?

Ah! Thank you! However, when I come up with lyrics, I am often inspired by loneliness and isolation. I write love songs because I want to believe in love. I don’t believe in it, I want to believe in it. I wanted to be a rock vocalist who sings about rebellion, resistance, and love on the same axis.

DEATHRO recently toured in the US with The Breath, you played in Seoul last year, and now you are coming to Aotearoa. Will you keep touring, and where will you travel next?

My 2023 US Southern Tour was my first time outside of Japan. It was a series of exciting and new encounters. And last year, Park Daham, a dear friend of SLANT, set up a great night for me in Korea. I’m sure there will be great friendships and encounters in Aoteaora as well. For me, performing outside of Japan is not something special, it’s just an extension of the tour I did when I was 19, from Kanagawa to Tokyo, Osaka, and Shizuoka. I hope to continue expanding my range of activities.

What I remember most about touring in 2023 were the people we met, and I really feel like I made new friends and connections. The live shows can be thrilling too, and the sightseeing, but for me having good friendships with others is the most important thing. What do you like most about touring?

Playing in front of a crowd that doesn’t know about DEATHRO. And spending time with friends. Both are irreplaceable times. I want to always seek to encounter values and sensibilities that I don’t know. The mysterious grooves that are born during the tour are also the greatest pleasure.

Are there any bands from Japan you would recommend to people in Aotearoa?

THE BREATH
DREADEYE
Limited Express (has gone?)
UMBRO
KAGAMI
THE ACT WE ACT
M.A.Z.E.
KLONNS
YAHHO
PENISBOYS
THPY
Motherpill
Socio La Defekta
Sorry No Camisole
PUNKUBOI
J.COLUMBUS
TENGOKU CHUSHA
DESERVE TO DIE
The CORPSE
SIBAFU
HARD CORE DUDE
THE GUAYS
For sibyl
YOUR BOYS
BLACK AND WHITE
THE VIRTIGOS
FIGHT IT OUT
6EYES
UNSKILLED LAB
WRONGSTATE
And more more more

Thank you so much for this interview! See you in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland soon!!

I will deliver Japanese Beatrock that you will be hearing for the first time. Please be present when passion surpasses sense and skill.

Thank you so much to DISPLEASURE, Alex, Johnny, Allison and everyone I met.