An Exclusive Interview with PaleNeØ
PaleNeØ, the exciting four-member girl band, is making waves in the Japanese rock scene with their unique blend of diverse musical styles. Formed in April 2023, their name itself, a fusion of "Paleo" (ancient) and "Neo" (new generation), hints at their innovative approach. Their music seamlessly incorporates elements of metal, rock, classical, visual kei, VOCALOID, and anime songs, creating a powerful and all-encompassing sound that has quickly garnered attention. Their sold-out 1st-anniversary show in Shinjuku is a testament to their growing popularity.
In this exclusive interview, PaleNeØ discusses their debut album, 『SCØRE』, set to be released on December 4th, their musical influences, and the unique personalities that make up the band. Read on to discover what makes PaleNeØ a force to be reckoned with in the world of Japanese female rock.
The Interview
— What do you each think are the strong points and characteristics of PaleNeØ as a band?
Honoka: ...... (whispering) Everyone is cute.
All: Hahahahaha (laughs).
Honoka: No, I mean, there was a catchphrase on the obi of the self-produced CD "ØCTAVE" (mini-album released in June 2024) that sold out: "Are they just cute, or are they talented?" I didn't come up with it, but I thought it was pretty good, right? It fits, right? It's a bit creepy, isn't it? (laughs).
AYARI: The more you say it (laughs).
Honoka: Well, since we're a girl band, selling our looks might sound dirty, but I think it's definitely there. Plus, the guitar and bass are doing some pretty difficult things. I think our strength is that cute girls can do such things. Also, the name PaleNeØ is a coined word combining "Paleo" and "Neo." "Paleo" means "ancient," and "Neo" means "new generation." As you can tell by listening to our songs, we play various genres. There are songs that are a bit visual kei-ish, or have a nostalgic feel, and some with classical elements, and even some like pico-pico (chiptune) style. I think PaleNeØ's strength is that we can do anything and entertain our audience in various ways.
AYARI: I might be repeating myself, but I also think the breadth of our music is a strength. REOTO and two other composers (asanuko, cookie) create our songs, so there's a difference there because the composers are different, and even within each composer, the colors are quite different, which I think contributes to the breadth of our music. Personally, it's been about a year and a half since we started, but I feel like we've been consistently releasing things for our audience. We consistently release songs to entertain everyone, we have live shows every month, and we do live streams without fail, so I think our strength is that we think about various ways to keep our audience engaged and everyone contributes to that.
— Do you all discuss such content a lot?
AYARI: Yes, we do. Live streams have become a regular thing, but in the beginning, we thought a lot about how to do them. Also, for music videos, for example, Honoka thought a lot about the story for "aLiVE."
Honoka: I wanted to make a silly music video, so I thought, "This is my turn!"
AYARI: We packed a lot into it. Then, with the next music video, "Fantasy No. 1 in C sharp minor 'Melody Thief'" (from "ØCTAVE"), we completely changed the atmosphere, and I wanted to show that gap. "aLiVE" is a Neo song, right?
Honoka: It's more Neo-ish.
AYARI: After a song with strong Neo elements, we wanted the audience to see a different side, so we brought in the Paleo song "Fantasy No. 1 in C sharp minor 'Melody Thief,'" and so on. That's how we do it.
— So you have a distinction between "Paleo songs" and "Neo songs" among yourselves?
Honoka: I don't know if it's permeated the audience, but it exists among us and the composers. Many Paleo songs are created by REOTO.
AYARI: When we create setlists, we make sure not to have all Paleo songs, for example.
— That's a good distinction (laughs).
YONA: To put it nicely, it's "wide range of songs," but I think some people might perceive it as a bit messy. However, PaleNeØ wants to try everything. So that's definitely a strength.
REOTO: Mine is similar, but our strength is definitely the range of our music and the range of our presentation. Neo-classical metal has been around for a long time, but we have Paleo elements that show a different kind of feel, and Neo songs that have a strong VOCALOID feel, and even "CRAZY & NOiSY & CUTiE MAGiC!" included in this album, which is a dance tune that's not typically found in band sounds. So there's an interesting sound. Also, we've heard from our audience that PaleNeØ's live performances are very striking.
Honoka: Mm-hmm.
REOTO: Not only the members' performances, but also the impression that many of our audience members are good at hyping things up. I personally feel very fortunate in our year and a half of activities. We've created many fun live shows with our audience, and I strongly hope that those who haven't come yet will come to see a live show at least once.
— Honoka, you were nodding.
Honoka: Yes (laughs). Our recordings are good, but I really want people to see our live shows. I think there are many BABYMETAL fans among our audience, and some people who listen to metalcore go to our live shows and mosh. That's why "Gilgamesh Tousouki" (from the 1st single "PANORAMA" released on June 15, 2023), which we released early on, is a staple song for live shows where you can do a wall of death, and some people look forward to that, and there are also songs where you can do two-step, and there are several parts in the lyrics that I wrote hoping they would be performed live. So, our band's music is not just for listening to, but also for enjoying live performances.
REOTO: Yes. We aim for music that is fun to watch and listen to.
— Regarding your songs, REOTO, you write both lyrics and music, and you often create Paleo songs. Is that because you like that kind of music?
REOTO: Yes. Until I was in the middle of junior high school, I was solely focused on classical music...
Conclusion
PaleNeØ is clearly a band with a clear vision and a passion for pushing musical boundaries. Their dedication to their craft, combined with their unique blend of genres and engaging live performances, makes them a compelling presence in the Japanese rock scene. We eagerly await the release of 『SCØRE』 and look forward to seeing what else this talented group will bring to the world of music.
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