Haita-Amatubu are the grand winners of the Japan Expo ROCKS competition, which introduces to the public a rock band selected by fan votes. The group has everything to make us fall in love with them: a unique musical style, diverse inspirations, and genuine likeability. Formed in 2022, the quintet has one mission: overwhelming the audience with a tidal wave of emotions. Check out our exclusive interview below!
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Hi, could you please introduce yourselves first?
Chelln: Hello, we are the J-Pop group Haita-Amatubu! I’m the singer Chelln.
Sekimoto Mio: I’m Sekimoto Mio and I play the piano.
Yama: I’m the bassist, Yama.
Yuu: I’m Yuu, the drummer.
Kanbanben: My name is Kanbanben and I’m the guitarist.
Haita-Amatubu: Nice to meet you!
You are the winner of Japan Expo ROCKS, could you tell us more about this competition?
Yama: We really gave everything in this adventure to succeed in securing our place in the competition. If it didn’t work out, it would have been a shame. Suspense was up until the very end and we were really eager to know the final result. After that, when we found out we were selected, we were all surprised, but also very happy.
Kanbanben : We really want to thank the French audience, because we were told that it was the French fans especially who had voted, and not the Japanese ones.
Your music is based on « telling a girl’s story », and this concept could seem a little vague. Could you explain it to us?
Yama: We wrote the story of a girl who was placed in several imaginary situations and we created music that responded to and embodied the emotions of these situations.
What are your musical influences?
Sekimoto Mio: For me, it’s the Japanese rock band called Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.
Yama: In Japan, it’s the band Sambomaster. If we’re talking on an international level, it’s Marcus Miller.
Chelln: I like the idol group BiSH. I’m very influenced by them and I’m moved by the voice and the facial expressions of the member Aina the End.
Yu: I like the visual kei band Acid Black Cherry.
Kanbanben: Hum, it’s difficult to pick only one… I love The Beatles!
If you had to choose only one song to define yourselves, which one would it be?
Haita-Amatubu: Our latest song SPIKA? Or DAY BY DAY?
Chelln: The first song that came to my mind is Tarareba Quest. It’s the first song I recorded as a new singer from the second generation of the group. But I would also recommend this single because it conveys the message that we have to do things instead of regretting not doing them. This songs gives courage.
It’s the first time you’re performing outside of Japan. What are you expecting from Japan Expo and the French fans?
Yama: We want fans to like our music and let off steem, that they let go completely!
Each one of your singles has an original illustration on the cover, how do you select the artists you work with?
Chelln: Well, we take the decision altogether. For each single, we hire a different illustrator. We look for artists on social media, such as X or Instagram, then we contact them and share the story, concept and emotions of the song, and we ask them if they can illustrate the single cover.
Yama: We also play the song to the artists, who are given a certain freedom of interpretation.
Haita-Amatubu: We also organize jam sessions.
Do you have one last message to share to your French fans?
Yuu: Come see us live and enjoy! Also, don’t forget to listen to our songs once you’re home!
We would like to thank Japan Expo, Pachi Pachi and Haita-Amatubu for this interview.
