Nemophila: Out To Conquer The World
The Japanese metal scene has always been an eclectic collective but wherever you look, whether it be the sweet/savage sounds of BABYMETAL or the unbridled malice of BORIS, one thing remains consistent; a lack of restraint. NEMOPHILA, one of Japan’s hottest new supergroups, not only brings reams of pedigree, drawing names from MARY’S BLOOD, LISA-X BAND, and DISQUALIA, they continue the national scene’s disregard for restraint; only this time, fun is on the menu. With an unmistakable sound and a legion of 100,000 YouTube subscribers to their name, Oiran is the culmination of this super metal band’s story so far; and it’s a story worth telling.
Merely referring to Oiran as a heavy metal record from some of Japan’s finest only goes so far, it’s best to go to the source. So what is Oiran? Guitarist Hazuki sums it up appropriately saying, “I think the best way to understand it is by asking us what kind of band NEMOPHILA is, then you’ll get it! Powerful vocals are thrust out all over a solid sound that’s filled to the brim with highlights!” This is well reinforced by fellow axewoman Saki who adds, “we have seven-string guitars, a five-string bass, a double-bass pedal and multi-piece drum kit, and Mayu’s vocal on top of it all – this combination is all members pursuing what they think is cool, and the end result becomes NEMOPHILA.”
It’s a strong statement, one that easily translates into each of Oiran’s succinct and savage singles, but what resonates stronger is the band’s mission plan. Oiran is presented as an exclusive culmination of the band’s capabilities for their international audiences and their reach far exceeds their grasp. Bassist Haraguchi-San explains, “Oiran – Extended Edition is an album for overseas, yet I think you can feel a heavy sound mixed with Japanese elements, plus the colours of each member. I hope lots of people will come to know NEMOPHILA‘s music through this album!” Such drive and ambition is affirmed by guitarist Hazuki who adds, “Recently I feel more united every time we record, release a song or perform. I think we’re blessed to have members in the band with such strong aspirations. We want to create a new landscape, together with our fans and staff, that we can enjoy playing within. We’ll keep aiming higher until we can even play in outer space someday!”
The band’s astral ambitions match Oiran’s vivacious spirit and it is this spark that kept the supergroup soldiering through the blight of the pandemic, but it’s safe to say the team dynamic was certainly lost at times as a result. “The songs Oiran, Monsters and Life were recorded before coronavirus,” says drummer Tamu Murata, “while everything else was either recorded in a studio with the minimum amount of people or recorded at home and shared digitally. I really missed the pleasure of recording with everyone in the same place, watching the other members laying down their tracks, bringing in sweets for each other, ordering delivery food, asking members to hang out afterwards, or staying in the studio until the middle of the night. Those are some of the pleasures of recording. Yet, we had online meetings to exchange opinions on the progress of recordings and the image we’re after for a particular song.”
Yet, having fought through all the world could throw at them, Oiran reared its head from the studio confines to the light of the world and stands as a wonderful introduction to NEMOPHILA’s animated, grin-inducing incantation of heavy metal. From such an experience the band has taken many lessons, powerhouse vocalist Mayu remarks. “The English version of Dissension was really hard! Since it was a song with lots of lines in English anyway, I was already practising and careful with pronunciation. But when it comes to all in English, there’s much more to think about it and be careful with! At first it was so difficult, but while singing I started to learn more about English sounds, like vowels have smoother sounds, and I’ve been able to increase my vocalisation repertoire because of it!”
They’ve learnt plenty, they’ve expanded their legion of loyal subjects, and – most crucially – this entourage of talent has been brought closer in the name of music and family as Mayu explains. “I think all members have become like big sisters to me now, and have given me new opportunities in my life. I love all the members in this band so much that it’s difficult not to smile when we’re playing together.” This is the power music brings, creating families and forgoing hardships as one – despite being apart in this case – and from Oiran’s success, it’s more than certain that the NEMOPHILA dynasty will be long and fruitful.
Oiran – Extended Edition is out now via JPU Records.
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