By Jade Jones
Published February 23, 2022
If your band went through hardships, lineup changes, project setbacks, on top of being international, would you keep going, or give up?
Photo by Masaya Fukuda
Tokyo based metalcore ensemble Sailing Before the Wind certainly put a new spin on "never give up". We had the band answer a few questions in a short interview to get the dish on this decade long journey.
What is it like marketing your band from across the world? The metalcore scene in Japan is quite small, so it's better to reach out to the world. We're independent; no label, no management, and I manage all social media myself. If I were to be honest, I [wish I could] only make music, but that's not enough to get people's attention in this day and age. That's why I focus on marketing, and I'm happy with the new listeners we're getting.
Bitoku, can you describe your experience working with Crystal Lake?
I did about 200 shows in about 4 years as a touring bassist for them. It all started when the previous bassist disappeared one day on the day of their show, so I was called in to play on short notice. I've been friends with Ryo since before he joined Crystal Lake. I've always respected them, so I was honored to be able to help. I couldn't go to the US, but I toured Asia, UK and Europe that all the experience was absolutely fantastic.
You guys have been through quite a few lineup changes. How do you keep the faith in the face of such adversity?
I write all the music, so the people may change, but the music stays the same. I've been in this band for 11 years while my friends have happy families, nice houses, and cool cars. But that's okay, because I believe in the music we make.
Photo by Masaya Fukuda
From your Facebook posts, you all receive a lot of hate. Why do you think it's so intense?
Because I am deliberately picking up 1 out of every 100 responses. The other 99 are good reactions. I mean I don't hate haters. They just see the music differently than I do; I'm interested in it. Whether they like it or not, I'm grateful that they're taking the time to check us out!
The videos of your performance look awesome! Have you been in a lot of fights over the way you perform?
We are often told that we look like dancers, but we have not practiced matching our moves. You know, metalcore has its own way of performing, and we're just following the vibe of it. It's just a natural alignment of vibes between members as a result of many gigs.
What is the plan for the band? Any releases or tours we should be keeping an eye out for?
We are not planning to tour soon because one of our guitarists Daisuke leaving the band. But we'll be releasing more new songs this year, so keep an eye out for it!
Photo by Masaya Fukuda
Be sure to check out Sailing Before the Wind on Facebook and Twitter, and go listen to their songs on Spotify!
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