Hey! We are SUCO and for us, it’s an honor to interview I Don’t Like Mondays.! Let’s start?
One Piece is a famous manga/anime here in Brazil. Of course, to have your music as an opening, gives your guys more visibility here. That’s why your new fans are curious to know more about “PAINT”.
How was the creation process of “PAINT”?
YU (Vo): As a band, we talked about what kind of song would be most exciting as the theme song of One Piece, and then we started to create chords, rhythm, and sounds that would evoke the sea and adventure.
And it was very difficult to write the lyrics. I reread the One Piece comics. Describing the current times while using some words that reminded me of One Piece, I believe I was able to write lyrics that could motivate people in their daily lives.
SHUKI (Dr): All of us are One Piece fans, so one of our focuses, as fans, was to create the sound and atmosphere that would enhance the story of One Piece.
KENJI (Ba): Please check out our production documentary for more details. haha
Documentary: PAINT (Production Documentary) (English subtitles available)
What do you think this music means to your career overseas?
YU: As you know, One Piece is a popular work all over the world, so I hope that this song will become a bridge to bring our various songs to people overseas.
If you had to explain “PAINT” in just one phrase. What would it be?
KENJI: I suppose it would be a “fight song.” It’s a song to cheer people up and motivate them.
Are you guys fans of One Piece? Tell us more about this!
YU: I started reading One Piece somewhere around my second year in junior high school. Now I prefer reading it in book form, not in JUMP (weekly magazine).
KENJI: One Piece started around when I was in the second year at junior high school, and everyone followed and read it in JUMP. Although there were times when I stopped watching, it is an anime that I have always checked out at every turning point. So, I have memories related to the work since my school days.
SHUKI: Personally, I rarely cry watching or reading anything, but despite that, One Piece moved me so much as a student back then, and still moves me even now as an adult, almost to tears.
I guess it was around when Ace’s Story was released in book format. I remember spending two days or so reading all from volume one to the latest in one go at a manga café. haha
And then, if I choose my favorite character…I like the villain, so I would say “Crocodile” or “Doflamingo.”
KENJI: Yeah, they are so cool! One Piece has so many really fascinating characters that it is so hard for me to pick one…Well, in the beginning, the main part of the story was about more characters joining the crew, and I was most moved by the story of “Sanji” among them. I liked it a lot, so I feel emotionally attached to this character.
SHUKI: It may also be because you have a similar name. haha Mine would be Shanks. He always has a kind of relaxed attitude, and I think that is cool.
CHOJI: I would say “Zoro.” I find impressive the episode where he challenged “Mihawk” to a fight. That scene where “Zoro” was dodged by “Mihawk” with a small sword so easily. haha
YU: Yeah, I like that.
We want to know more about you! We heard that the band’s name was exactly because you guys hate mondays. So, a fan sand to us a question:
The band’s name was just because of that or Bon Jovi / BoomTown Rats were part of the inspiration?
SHUKI: Well, some people ask us that question sometimes, but that is not true.
YU: Of course, we know that song. It is based on the incident that happened because Monday is depressing. For us, it is that we hope we, and our music, can help people beat the Monday Blues.
We don’t have enough information about the band in our language. We’d love to know more about your trajectory.
When and how did I Don’t Like Mondays. was created?
YU: I Don’t Like Mondays. is based on a band which a classmate of mine formed in 2011. While some members came and went, SHUKI and KENJI joined, and then I was invited as a vocalist though I was actually the band manager. Finally, that classmate left, and we three looked for CHOJI to have him join us. This is how we have become the members of the band today.
What inspires you?
YU: As a band, we are inspired by all kinds of bands.
CHOJI: Each of us has different musical roots.
SHUKI: Rather than a specific person, we are influenced by all sorts of artists, including various solo artists, bands, dance and hip-hop groups.
If you had to choose just one music to introduce I Don’t Like Mondays., what would it be?
YU: Shall we answer one by one? I guess it would be “LEMONADE” for me.
I Don’t Like Mondays. / LEMONADE
CHOJI: “Millennials – just I thought -” for me.
I Don’t Like Mondays. / Millennials – just I thought –
SHUKI: “MR.CLEVER”
I Don’t Like Mondays. / MR.CLEVER (English subtitles available)
KENJI: I guess it would be “Fire.” I was torn between “FIRE” and “ROAD,” though.
What’s your expectations about the future of I Don’t Like Mondays.? Any spoiler of future songs, concepts or albums?
YU: One goal is to use this collaboration with One Peace as an opportunity to perform at many festivals and events overseas. Besides, we’re currently working on various songs.
KENJI: Thinking back to our old days, we never thought that we would perform this kind of music in 2022. Similarly, we will keep going beyond what we can imagine.
SHUKI: Wow! That overlaps with “PAINT” as well. It has a phrase like that in the lyrics.
CHOJI: Certainly, it is true that our goal is to keep creating works we truly like and believe are even better than our past ones.
YU: I wonder what the next song will be like…? Hopefully we can keep creating more timeless ones. haha
What album would you choose to represent your career as I Don’t Like Mondays.?
YU: Probably “TOKYO”?
KENJI: It would be “TOKYO” after all.
YU: It is our first album, so it is quite fresh and straightforward.
SHUKI: We spent a lot of time creating it. In that sense, I guess it is the most intense one.
YU: It is also packed with the ideas that we had been developing before our debut.
KENJI: Right. Consequently, I think, it is probably “TOKYO” that went through the most failures to take the final shape.
Now, a game to know more about you! Give quick answers! 😉
My main dream is…
YU: To live slowly? haha
KENJI: A happy old age. haha
SHUKI: To travel around the world.
CHOJI: To die of performing live.
ALL: (Laughter)
YU: That would go down in history. haha
In 20 years I will be…
YU: I guess I will be living each day to the fullest.
KENJI: Is that all you every say? For me…I hope I will be more muscular than I am.
SHUKI: Hopefully I will be young, at least at heart.
CHOJI: A super guitarist!
ALL: Wow! haha
SHUKI: Great, you never let us down.
In 20 years I was…
YU: Well…a normal kid…?
KENJI: So quiet. haha
YU: Oh! 20 years ago, I saw Sadao Watanabe’s live concert for the first time as my father took me there!
SHUKI: You were pure.
ALL: (Laughter)
CHOJI: I played the guitar 20 years ago, too.
KENJI: I was on stage as a band for the first time!
When I was a Child I was…
YU: I guess I was a sensible kid. haha
KENJI: I was very shy.
SHUKI: I was bad at communication, too. haha
CHOJI: A genius gamer.
ALL: (Laughter)
SHUKI: It is cool that you call yourself a genius.
When I get old I will be…
YU: Hopefully, I will still be playing music. I want to keep being exposed to various kinds of music and instruments.
KENJI: I hope I will always be young. I think it is a privilege musicians have.
SHUKI: This is similar to what I said just then, but I hope I will stay unafraid of new things. I want to keep challenging myself.
Hopefully I will be living a stress-free life!
ALL: That is important. haha
I’m grateful to (someone or something)…
YU: Probably, the band members.
KENJI: Our fans.
CHOJI: I guess my family and the people around me.
SHUKI: Isn’t it more difficult to answer this at the end? haha
Maybe I am grateful for this era.
YU: It is now multi-dimensional all of a sudden. haha
When I go to Brazil I want to…
YU: I want to watch soccer! It looks so much fun!
ALL: Yeah! Certainly!
KENJI: Oh! I want to go to see a gym in Brazil! haha
I cannot work out, but just want to observe.
CHOJI: I want to go to a fancy cafe.
SHUKI: I want to have delicious food.
The last music I listened to was…
YU: Motoharu Sano / BACK TO THE STREET (ALBUM)
SHUKI: Kamasi Washington / Hub-Tones
KENJI: Benjamin Kheng – Fresh Feelings feat. J.Sheon
CHOJI: Ryuichi Sakamoto / The Sheltering Sky
If today was your last day on earth, what would you do?
SHUKI: I would like to have sushi.
KENJI: It would definitely be too late!
SHUKI: I would have even if I had to make it myself. haha
KENJI: I would like to perform a concert. Oh, but probably nobody would come even if we did. haha
YU: You are suddenly so realistic. haha Why wouldn’t we perform on the street?
CHOJI: I would like to go to Hokkaido.
YU: I would have a hot pot with my friends and family.
3 words to describe the band:
YU: “Freedom”
SHUKI: Maybe “Gratitude”? “Touching,” “Connection”…
KENJI: Oh, and “Irony.”
CHOJI: Yeah, that is a good one. Also, I could add “Dreams” and “Hope.”
YU: Okay then, “Freedom,” “Irony” and “Hope”!
3 words to describe the fans:
SHUKI: “Loving”
KENJI: “Regardless of age and gender”! Our fans are really diverse.
SHUKI: I could add “Freedom,” too.
YU: Then, maybe “Freedom,” “Loving” and “Regardless of age and gender.”
3 words to describe your career:
KENJI: I wonder what they would be.
YU: Maybe “Tokyo”?
SHUKI: Oh, “Humor” would be good, wouldn’t it?
CHOJI: That is really a good one!
*I Don’t Like Mondays. “TOKYO”: 1st ALBUM
*I Don’t Like Mondays. “Black Humor”: 4th ALBUM
YU: Then, “Tokyo,” “Humor” and “Adventure”!
Now, to finish: Please, send a message to your Brazilian fans!
YU: We look forward to visiting Brazil and seeing you all! Let’s have fun together!
KENJI: This will be our first time, so we will be happy if you warmly welcome us!
SHUKI: I have always wanted to go to Brazil. I’m excited!
CHOJI: Doesn’t that sound like going sightseeing? haha
I never thought we could go to Brazil at all, and I believe One Piece has opened up a lot of opportunities for us.
Hopefully, you will be listening to our music and waiting for us to come!
Comment from the members about the new single “HONNE” released on May 16.
Download and streaming links: https://IDLMs.lnk.to/HONNE
Lyric video: https://youtu.be/cfoqBt-v4yc
YU: This song has a pleasant sound. Also, I sing in a way that I have never tried before, so please look forward to it. I hope this song will reach the Brazilian audience, although we created it with a completely different approach from “PAINT.” It is a song about the kind of feelings that men would find it hard to say out loud.
SHUKI: We created it in a chill manner. I think it is a relaxing song.
KENJI: Its bass sound has turned out very pleasing to the ear, so please pay attention to that while listening to the song!
CHOJI: I will be happy if you listen to it with a focus on the groove as well.
