19 Mirrors
Published: July 4, 2010 1:38 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA
(Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight
July 2010 Edition
19 Mirrors
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Our Webzine recently interviewed the amazing indie band 19 Mirrors about their awesome sound and their musical journey. In this spotlight, we were delighted with what the band had to reveal about their music. Here is in-depth interview with the members of 19 mirrors.Isaac: Let’s get started with this interview. When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music?
Hannah Hypnotic: I've been interested in music for as far back as I can remember. I would play cassette tapes of Billie Holiday, The HellCasters, Billy Joel, Led Zepplin, Madonna, and Janet Jackson over and over when I was a little girl. My parents and grandparents encouraged me to play the fiddle when I was 4 years old, and I played in contests and festivals for about 9 years until I decided I just wasn't interested. (Didn't stop me from winning the Topanga Bluegrass Fiddle competition and getting on a compilation CD, but it wasn't really my scene.) I liked singing.
But, nothing ever came of it besides a brief, sulky stint in my High School Choir; I pined through High School and College, then finally sold my car and ran off to Japan to be a rock singer. It's been working out great so far.
So to answer your question, I suppose I've been playing music since I was 4. That's 18 years.
OHYA: At the age of elementary school; because of Japanese pop music.
OHYA: 25 years in some bands.
RADI: In 1986, a movie called "Breakin'" was passed examination entered China. After I see it, have begun to be interested in a western youth culture. Then in 1987, my older brother took a copy video of Michael Jackson's "BAD" that it was dubbed too much, and a picture already turned worse home, after I watched that, I would thoroughly not hear any Chinese music.In 1992, Chinese the first Rock band been debuted (was a heavy metal band). I thought, Oh! Our guys can like foreigner do band!! Well, I bought a guitar, started try be a rock star.
Hannah Hypnotic
Isaac: Who would you say are your biggest musical influences and why?
Hannah Hypnotic: Hoo, that's a hard one. Blondie, David Bowie, Led Zepplin, Gwen Stefani, Queen, Poe, The Misfits, Anna Tsuchiya, Cicada, The Love Grenades (Downtown LA homage!), Capsule, Tiesto, and Mika Nakashima. I think it's pretty clear that most of these artists are rock artists. I've been in love with rock for most of my life. I've always listened to it in some form or another. But the electro/trance/house artists are fairly recent. I suppose that's why I agreed (kicking and screaming) to let Radi and Ohya take 19 Mirrors in the direction of electro-rock instead of classic rock. I like the electronic artists. I also like rock. Merging the two makes sense.
OHYA: The guy whom I think to be cool in real time. There is not such a person now.
RADI: I think is RAMONES (even now I not listening them anymore).Until latter half of 90's, RAMONES was not known in China. In about 96, a friend bought Saw Gash* tape of RAMONES, I knew them for the first time. RAMONES is oldschool, but for me, was felt very new. They are simplicity, unskillfulness, but very pop and fast, and music very straight. Anyway, I can be happy like a fool if I hear them. Let me realized music again with RAMONES…
*Saw Gash : www.metafilter.com/66075/Dakou-Saw-Gash-CDs
Isaac: What has been the greatest highpoint in your career so far?
Hannah Hypnotic: Being privileged enough to travel to Beijing and do a mini-tour with a fabulous band, New Pants. They are Chinese new wave punk, and they are amazing. I got to eat duck tongue for the first time, too. That was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life.
OHYA: A composition royalty income.
RADI: I think is when I did punk in Beijing. In that age, China also had some rock band, but almost are heavy metal or grunge. Everybody only interested do things like that "dark". We at 1996, made a punk booms that were more positive scene. That was very interesting for me.
Radi
Isaac: What has been the greatest disappointment in your career so far? What did you learn from that experience?
Hannah Hypnotic: Ohoho. Meeting and being suckered in by one Dave Graham, a 'music manager' from New Zealand who took my money, was late to every meeting by at least an hour or two, promised me the world, then vanished. I learned to be less trusting, and that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. New artists beware!
OHYA: Fruitless searches for members; the times when there was not the Internet.
RADI: I think that there is not disappointment in my career. It is must succeeded even if I do anything even it looked like disappointment. Even sometime looking like disappointment, but if peoples can enjoy my music just a little, that is succeed. Maybe the top of disappointment is that not give people hear own music.
Isaac: What draws you to want to play the type of music that you do?
Hannah Hypnotic: I want to have fun onstage too. That's basically it. Many artists think only about what their audience will find amusing, and that's good; but I think that if you aren't having fun onstage, the audience won't be happy. So I strive to make and play music that makes me want to have a good time. Electro-rock accomplishes that nicely.
OHYA: When I listen to cool music.
RADI: I entered the techno scene at end of 90's little by little, after punk. From about after 2000, I became only hear techno completely. I felt a lot new music possible from techno music. But felt techno some not good side too. Then I start remember old punk and rock. I think somehow, can let those 2style unite together. So, it is now this style. I think also now this style is experiment too.
Isaac: What do you feel it takes to play this type of music that you play?
Gisappe
Hannah Hypnotic: First, a keen sense of observation. And then, a creative mindset; ultimately a strangely dark, positive one. You have to be able to roll with the punches and deal with peoples' egos without flying into a million pieces and having a breakdown. That doesn't sound like it makes sense, but it does. There are plenty of rather dark, sadistic people out there who are perfectly chipper and content. I'm one of them, and 19 Mirrors benefits greatly from it.
OHYA: An image of the awakening.
RADI: While people can feel 19 Mirrors is like oldschool, but can feel new, fresh, and very stylish.
Isaac: What do you think you will create that will make your performances and who you are stand out in the music industry?
Hannah Hypnotic: I think we will create a hybrid of the really delighted feeling some people get when they listen to electro/trance/house, and the thrill some people get when they listen to rock. It's all about a feeling, and narrowing your eyes with a wicked smile on your face when you 'get' it. Our first full-length album should be out within this year, and I believe upon listening to it, many people will be making that face.
OHYA: Strong concentration is necessary.
RADI: I think 19Mirrors is a band doing authentic healthy music.
Isaac: If you had the opportunity to do one cover, what cover would you do and why? How would you put your own spin on this cover?
Hannah Hypnotic: Well, we only have one cover, and it's 'Fiend Club' by The Misfits, which is my all-time favorite band. That deep voice, those ridiculously amusing lyrics...but hypothetically? Hmmm...I suppose I would do an electro-rock version of 'Gimmie Danger' by Iggy Pop. I love how sexy that song is, and synthed up a bit? Yum.
OHYA: I put a guitar in the techno music that does not have a guitar. I think that it is cool.
RADI: We also did some covers. We did Misfits - Fiend Club and New Pants - Out Mode. Both song original was analog music. We made those have more big digital sound, played those with very different styles. In the future, I think we will try more songs at same way. Want see how some old rock music will change with 19 Mirrors style.
Isaac: What does it take to be a good songwriter?
Hannah Hypnotic: Innate talent is necessary above all. Radi gives me a track, and I listen to it and write the lyrics and melody within 10 minutes. It just comes.
OHYA: Feeling being deep.
RADI: Pop and fashion stylish is 2 big points of that. As in that communism China, some punk dudes borned, I think music is not only for music fans who also understand a part of music, music is more for all peoples of world. Because that, I think pop is very important. And, if only do scream my soul from heart that is not sense. If want have more fun, create style is very important too.
Isaac: How difficult is it to juggle music, family and work obligation, and life in general? Explain.
Hannah Hypnotic: The 'strangely dark, positive personality' really comes into play there. I constantly have to push the others and juggle their jobs, because I'm the kind of person who wants to do everything right now and I don't like people having lives when we need to be working on the band. I really have to learn to shut it sometimes, but anyway...it's always difficult, but I am one of those uncanny folk who finds the time for it.
OHYA: I think that the idea about using the Internet still applies; not so hard.
Ohya
RADI: Family, work obligation, and general life are very important and helpful for music. And, our music is made for them too. Both are not incompatible things.
Isaac: What is your definition of being an Indie artist/band?
Hannah Hypnotic: Making more truthful and amusing music than you would make with a major label, but of a lower quality and with no funds to do anything about it.
OHYA: Make time for music.
RADI: Do band, is kind of dream for pursuing. And then is called expression, a kind of communication with society.
Isaac: Where can fans access your music online?
Hannah Hypnotic: Glad you asked! www.myspace.com/19mirrors, www.reverbnation.com/19mirrors, and www.cafepress.com/19mirrors for merchandise. Check out the sweet design Radi made; he's a whiz!
Isaac: In five years…….
Hannah Hypnotic: In five years, I will be making out with the Japanese star of my dreams and riding a unicorn made out of 19 Mirrors platinum albums.
OHYA: With good vibration.
RADI: If earth not been Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) state, maybe I want marry. haha
Posted by Isaac J Davis Junior at Sunday, July 04, 2010 12:31 PM 
Categories: Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Tags: 19 spotlight music mirrors
Categories: Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
Tags: 19 spotlight music mirrors
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