Melt-Banana has always been my favorite band from Japan. For over 40 years, they’ve been releasing some of the fastest and most furious guitar-driven music and show no signs of slowing down. In tempo or workload. On August 23rd, they will be releasing their first record in 9 years, “3+5,” which is available to preorder here. Shortly after the release, they will be touring the UK, and hopefully, they will join us back in the States soon. We had the opportunity to chat it Yasuko Onuki and Ichiro Agata during their break between US and UK tours, and I believe I was able to tone down my fanboy instincts to have a coherent chat:
It’s well known that Ichiro wears a medical mask on stage due to nosebleeds, which I’ve also found endearing, considering since COVID joined us, I’ve been wearing masks at shows, too. Have you ever learned the cause of the nosebleeds? If you were able to correct this, would you consider showing your face onstage?
Agata: I know the cause of my nosebleeds, of course. I’ve had a bone marrow disease since I was five years old, and it still hasn’t been cured. Researchers around the world haven’t yet found a cure for it, so I don’t know if it will ever be cured. But if it does, I would be very happy. However, I’ve gotten so used to performing with a mask that even if I’m cured, I might not take it off. Actually, wearing a mask feels quite comfortable, doesn’t it?
It’s been 11 years since Fetch. What inspired you to write and record again?
Agata: After finishing an album, we start thinking about the next one pretty soon. Though, we haven’t started thinking about the album after “3+5” yet.
Yako: I think this album summarizes our musical activities over the 11 years since Fetch.
Agata: We didn’t spend 11 years making “3+5,” but it feels like those 11 years made it possible.
Yako: Honestly, it doesn’t feel like 11 years have passed. It’s more like we just realized it later.
Agata: So, it’s not like we were inspired by something specific; it just came about naturally.
Do you write in English? Or do you write in Japanese and translate?
Yako: I basically write in English, and I often refer to an English dictionary while writing lyrics. I don’t think I’ve ever thought in Japanese and then translated it when I wrote the lyrics.
Will you ever tour with a live drummer again?
Yako: I don’t think so. We really enjoy performing live in our current style.
Agata: I agree. Personally, I still love playing with and watching live drummers, but I also enjoy playing live in our current style, and it allows us to try more things.
Will we ever see a Melt-Banana Lite Vol 2? Or possibly a record of “mellow” originals?
Agata: Both are great ideas. Especially, I’d like to try Melt-Banana Lite Version 2.
Yako: Yeah, that sounds good. I’m not sure about the mellow part, though.
Agata: Since the first album of Melt-Banana Lite was Version 0, the next one might be Version 1.
“Shield for Your Eyes, a Beast in the Well on Your Hand”
is my go-to song when I need an immediate mood switch. When either of you are feeling worn or down, what song do you use to help lighten the struggle?
Yako: When I’m tired or down, I just sleep. But if I’m driving, music always helps. During our recent tour in the U.S., I listened to the Katamari Damacy soundtrack when I was exhausted, and it really lifted my spirits.
Agata: During one long drive, we had already been driving for over 10 hours. After that, we ended up on narrow, dark roads, and we were extremely tired, but listening to the old Japanese punk band Stalin really revitalized both of us.
In 1992, did you think you’d still be making such ferocious, weird, and fast music 40 years later? Do you think Melt-Banana has an endpoint?
Yako: I never imagined what kind of future we would have back in 1992. We’ve just continued to create what we can and what we find enjoyable, and that feeling hasn’t changed, whether in the past or now.
Agata: I’m very grateful for having been able to work in an environment where we could do that. I don’t know how this band will end, but it’s certain that there will be an end someday.
Yako: I don’t know how this band will end, but we probably won’t do a farewell tour or anything like that. When it ends, it will likely happen suddenly, and we’ll just disappear without warning.
The Melt-Banana sound has been a strong influence on a lot of modern music, particularly coming through in HYPERPOP acts like 100 gecs and Charli xcx, dropping the guitars but keeping the chaos a bit. What are your thoughts on modern pop?
Agata: I’d be really happy if our music has even a small influence on such artists. I find it very interesting to see young artists making noisy music without using guitars. In our own music, I feel something is missing if there’s no guitar noise, but these artists are doing a great job without guitar noise.
Yako: I feel the same way. If I were a teenager now, I’d probably be making this kind of music.
Do you think the world is finally open-minded enough for Melt-Banana to have an actual mainstream hit?
Agata: You never know what might happen in life, so there could be a possibility. Since we started this band, there have been various unbelievable moments. For instance, performing live for nearly an hour on BBC with John Peel watching or doing a soundcheck at the Sydney Opera House with Lou Reed sitting right in the front row—those were things we never imagined, but they actually happened.
Yako: For us, those are miracles. Honestly, I don’t feel like we’re likely to have a mainstream hit, but I guess we don’t need to completely rule it out.
Lastly, you sold out of Cell-Scape vinyl before you made it to SF, and I’m gutted. Will you grace us with another pressing?
Yako: Oh, you were at the San Francisco venue during the recent tour. Our distributor, Revolver USA, is based in San Francisco and runs the site midheaven.com. I think they might still have the Cell-Scape vinyl available, so please check there. (Editor’s Note: I did check and was able to secure a copy. This record changed my life, and you should buy it, too)
Agata: I’m sorry to hear you couldn’t get a copy. This time, we are releasing “3+5” not only digitally but also on vinyl. Making vinyl records and sending them to record stores is quite challenging, and once they’re gone, it takes a long time to get them repressed. So, if you’re interested and find a copy, please consider getting it.
