At the end of October, one of Japan’s most prominent rock bands – ONE OK ROCK – will return to the Czech Republic after several years. Despite the band’s busy schedule, our editorial team managed to secure an interview with their charismatic vocalist, Takahiro Moriuchi.
How are you feeling after your leg injury? Is it getting better? Was it difficult to perform with a cast?
My foot has been getting better. It was my first time going through something like this, so at first it was a little confusing. But in the end, being able to sing while going through such a rare personal experience turned out to be something really meaningful to me.
We know that you often cook for yourselves while on the road. But did you visit any restaurants in the Czech Republic and try traditional Czech food?
We basically don’t get many days off, and even when we do, I usually use them to take care of my body. So lately I haven’t really had the chance to go out, eat something nice, or explore the city much.
The collab with Paledusk is a very powerful one. I’d like to pause on it for a moment – it conveys a lot of emotions, just like the whole DETOX album. But here I feel a very energetic symbiosis between OOR, Paledusk, and Chico. In this song, I can hear the early days of One Ok Rock: a hard, energetic line that still has very gentle moments. Why did you choose this collaboration, and how did you inspire each other?
Paledusk represents a new generation in Japan’s hardcore and progressive rock scene. We also got to where we are because senior bands gave us opportunities, so now that we’re in this position, I want to support them in the same way. That’s why we’ve been collaborating and touring together.
As for Chico, he’s from the generation that grew up listening to ONE OK ROCK. We met during the dome show with Awich, had a great conversation, and really clicked. That’s what led to this collaboration.
Both acts are from different genres than us, but they’re incredibly talented and creative, and working with them has been really inspiring for us as well.
What was it like to perform on the same stage with Emily Armstrong? In the past, you’ve already collaborated with Linkin Park – was this experience different?
It was my first time meeting her, and I honestly feel so proud that she’s stepping into the role of vocalist for Linkin Park. I’m sure she’s a fan of the band herself — and I’ve been a fan for a long time too — so I’m really excited to see what she does next. I’d love the chance to work with her if the opportunity comes.
Do you have any specific tour experiences – funny or maybe unpleasant ones? Okay, let’s not count your broken leg.
This year has been really tough. This album deals with a heavy theme, and including the production process, it’s been about five years of difficult band life. But I want to take everything we went through as fuel for creating the next project.
Is it true that DETOX marks a return to your roots and at the same time expresses a certain statement about society?
We’ve never made an album this political before. But as I mentioned earlier, we started planning this four years ago, believing this kind of album would be essential in today’s world. From a musician’s point of view, releasing it at this timing feels right because we were fully prepared. At the same time, I believe the ideal world is one where we wouldn’t need to make an album like this in the first place. That’s the kind of future I hope for.
Every track carries a heavy but powerful theme. Was it mentally difficult to write and express something like that?
Mentally, it’s very challenging. When you create a powerful, confrontational piece of work, someone will always end up feeling pain. That’s why it’s important to be sensitive while choosing each word carefully, and at the same time express it with strength and clarity as an artist. We have to deliver a message that’s powerful but not one-sided, something that comes straight from the heart.
Could you tell us what’s next after this tour? Will you take at least a little time to rest?
I have absolutely no time to rest.
Would you like to send a message to the fans who are reading this interview right now?
Thank you so much for always supporting ONE OK ROCK. Today, we have people supporting us not only in Japan but all over the world. To us, all of you are family. I hope we can keep sharing that incredible view together at live shows, and that our music can continue to be a part of your lives. As long as we can create those moments together, it gives real meaning to what we do as a band. Thank you for being with us, always.
Source: Asianstyle, Taka from One Ok Rock
