Exclusive photos by Ehud Lazin
In the heart of New York City’s Times Square, alternative/hard rock superstar Hyde (dressed in an elegant black suit and hat) settles onto a couch in his tasteful hotel suite. He’s in town for the latest stop on his world tour to support his new solo album, Hyde [Inside], which was just released in September (via Universal Music Japan). It was a highly anticipated release – especially in his native Japan, where he has already sold 40 million albums thanks to his acclaimed work across the past three decades with the bands L’Arc-en-Ciel, Vamps, and The Last Rockstars, as well as his solo career. His friendly, soft-spoken demeanor is in sharp contrast to the intensely ferocious performance that he presents at Brooklyn Steel the night after this interview. As he tells The Big Takeover, he is doing exactly what he wants to do as an artist – and he feels extremely fortunate that it has led to such extraordinary success.
What’s it like playing shows in America compared to when you play shows in Japan?
HYDE: The way the fans react to the shows is completely different in Japan, from how passionate they are to how loud they are with their voices and responses, so it really pumps me up for the shows. It’s louder here in America – Japanese fans are a little more reserved.
Are there any songs off the new album that you are especially excited to play live?
HYDE: All the songs on the new album are a lot of fun to play, but the track “Last Song” is a very complex and interesting song, so I’m looking forward to that one the most.
What’s the feedback that you’ve been getting about the new album so far?
HYDE: I have a lot of songs that are very aggressive, so I was actually kind of worried about how people would respond to it. But the melodies are very catchy, so I’ve had a really nice response so far.
It is very edgy – how did you know that was the right musical direction to take?
HYDE: So one stage in my life has ended as an artist. With my current stage as a solo artist, I’m really doing whatever I want to do, the way that I want to [do it], in a fun way, which keeps it edgy and aggressive.
How did you know that it was the right time to focus on your solo career instead of doing more band work?
HYDE: When you’re in a band, you really have to listen to the voice of everyone around you, and take everyone’s opinion into account. But working as a soloist, I’m able to do what I want, when I want, and I really wanted to be able to do more of that as an artist, which is what led to the shift.
Are there any themes or ideas in your songs that you’re trying to get across overall?
HYDE: With my current music, since it is very edgy and aggressive, the biggest message within it would be anger, sadness, and just darkness in general – that’s what I’m trying to bring across with it. Performing so many different concerts and many different festivals, I really wanted to be able to make music that would beat out the other artists – and those strong emotions led to stronger and stronger, and more aggressive, songs. And when your songs are aggressive, a message like, “I love you” or sweet words like that don’t really match the lyrics anymore. So the contents of the lyrics also became more and more aggressive as my career progressed. On a day-to-day basis, I don’t really feel that much dark and negative thoughts. But when it comes to music, it brings out the feelings of, “Why did that have to go that way?” or “Why did that happen?” And it leads to the dark route that it’s going.
What is it about your music that connects with fans so strongly, do you think?
HYDE: Because I’m so charming! [laughs] Because I have so many great people helping me out with all the works that I create, I’m always able to maintain the quality and create works that are of even higher quality – which leads to trust with my fans, and leads them to listen to all of my new works.
You’ve been very prolific throughout your career. How do you stay so inspired?
HYDE: I enjoy using art, like watching movies. And just all of the different artistic things that I’ve experienced over life have continued to inspire me time after time again.
That’s interesting because your work is used so often in film and television, so it kind of comes full circle.
HYDE: One of my songs [“Mugen”] was used as a theme for the anime Demon Slayer, a very famous anime. And when my songs are featured in works like that, it not only inspires me through the work that I’ve made music for, but also inspires the viewers of that work with my music, and with that anime or work of art, etc., so it really does come full circle.
You’ve become so successful that you have set the bar very high for yourself. So do you ever feel under pressure to live up to expectations?
HYDE: I don’t really feel any sort of pressure from the legacy I’ve set up until now, or with things in the future, either. Not even from my band, L’Arc-en-Ciel. But I just really hope, with the rest of my life, to continue to create really cool and fun works. And living a carefree and a cool life is my goal, so there’s not really any pressure behind that.
How did you know that you should become a musician in the first place?
HYDE: I always felt that I wasn’t the type that would be able to lead a normal life, like join a company and go to work nine to five. But I always really enjoyed creating and drawing. However, I have a bit of color blindness, so while I considered doing something like becoming a comic artist, I thought that my color blindness might get in the way. And while those things were going on, I discovered music, and it really drew me in with how, through expression with words and music, you’re really able to set yourself free, and express yourself freely. And that’s what led me to become a musician.
But when did you discover that you had this extraordinary voice?
HYDE: Even while I was drawing, I always thought that I had a good voice, so I just kind of believed in that.
What do you think as you look back on your legacy of your career?
HYDE: I think I’ve had really great luck throughout my career. I’ve been able to do what I’ve wanted, and it’s gone with extraordinary smoothness. With my band L’Arc-en-Ciel, I was able to perform at Madison Square Garden. Leading up to that, it wasn’t because someone told me, “You should do this” that led to my success. I’ve followed my heart and what I’ve thought to be cool, and that’s led me to where I am now, and I’ve just had great luck with my career. I think I’m a really lucky person.
Well, that’s good, but I’m sure there’s been a lot of hard work, too…
HYDE: I actually feel like I haven’t worked that hard. And if I had put in that level of hard work, I’d probably be somewhere even greater now! [laughs]
What’s coming up next for you?
HYDE: I hope to continue this world tour in countries that haven’t been included so far, so outside of Asia and America. And I also have some concerts planned with my band L’Arc-en-Ciel. I have offers to write music for many different things. And next year in Japan, there will be the World Expo held in Osaka. I actually have a lot of offers coming for things involved with that, so I can look forward to that.
