HANABIE … Amazing Girl Band from Tokio! Interview

Hanabie (Japanese: 花冷え。Stylized: HANABIE.) is a Japanese nu metalcore band from Tokyo, formed in 2015.

The band consists of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu and drummer Chika.

They are known for combining loud and heavy music with contrasting Harajuku aesthetics in a style self-described as “Harajuku-core”.

Their songs incorporate elements of metalcore, hardcore punk, and nu metal, with a blend of hip hop and electronica.

The band was formed by four high school friends due to their shared admiration of Maximum the Hormone, as a part of their light music club activities.
Initially a cover band, they soon transitioned into writing original music, self-producing their first single in 2016.

After a period as an independent band, during which they released an album and an EP, they were signed by Epic Records Japan, a subsidiary of Sony Music Japan in 2023.
In the same year, their second album Reborn Superstar! was released, ranking 24th on Billboard Japan’s weekly album charts.

The success of the album led to international recognition and appearances at various music festivals outside Japan.

Discography

Mini Albums
Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming (2018)

Studio Albums
Girl’s Reform Manifest (2021)
Reborn Superstar! (2023)

AN INTERVIEW … HANABIE

June 2024 and at our favorite NOVA ROCK FESTIVAL in Austria, apart from the other bands we had seen, at the festival three stages,there was also the Japanese band… all girl band HANABIE!

HANABIE presented us a truly amazing visual and acoustic show!
We met the 4 amazing and beautiful girls there…and we had an interesting interview!

Athenscalling.gr: Hi girls it is a great time for all of us! I mean an interview with HANABIE…
The first interview in Greece! Welcome at Athenscalling.gr.

ALL (HANABIE): Hi everyone at Athens calling! We are HANABIE. A girl metal rock band from Japan.

Athenscalling.gr: Hanabie the name of your band and… who was the godfather of the name?

ALL (HANABIE): At first, we were all talking about how we wanted to use kanji and hiragana　(Japanese characters) for our band name, being a Japanese band.
Since Yukina (Vo.) was born in the spring and Matsuri (Gt/Vo.), Hettsu (Ba.), and the previous drummer were born in the winter, our previous drummer suggested naming the band “HANABIE.” using a seasonal word.

Athenscalling.gr: Hanabie a band from 2015, how did you meet… how did the band form?
　
ALL (HANABIE): Hettsu and Yukina have been hanging out together a lot since junior high school, and started talking to Matsuri as well. When we joined the band extracurricular activity in high school, the teacher asked if anyone already formed a band, then Yukina made Matsuri and Hettsu raise their hands.

Athenscalling.gr: Α band from TOKYO Japan, it’s easy to become known on planet Earth?
　
Hettsu (HANABIE):Thankfully, I think there are many opportunities for people to get to know us as a Japanese band! I think it would be a great honor if both the band and Japan become loved by people from all over the world!

Athenscalling.gr: America or Europe are for your band the ones who will love your songs more?
　
Chika (HANABIE): Europe seems to have more people who write messages and appeal publically! The U.S. has a large number of people who crowd surf, and at one venue, HANABIE.
Broke the record of the number of people who crowd surfed in one show! Both are so enthusiastic that it can’t be compared, so we are very happy to be able to tour to meet everybody!

Athenscalling.gr: What genre does your music belong to?
　
Matsuri (HANABIE): There is no one genre that I can say, “This is it!”
When explaining our genre to the media, we often focus on one genre, such as loud rock or metalcore, but we are actually influenced by a wide variety of music!
If someone feels it’s metal, it’s metal, if someone feels it’s loud rock, it’s loud rock, and if someone feels it’s mixed, it’s mixed.
Our genre is what the person who is listening thinks how it is. That is HARAJUKU CORE.

Athenscalling.gr: Tell us please about the lyrics of your songs…How they are created?

Yukina (HANABIE): After Matsuri and I decide on a theme for each other, we each make and bring our own parts to sing. Although it’s made separately, the parts fit together naturally.

Athenscalling.gr: Αnd your influences … and about your favorite bands…

ALL (HANABIE): As a group, we all have been influenced by Maximum the Hormone, as we started as a copy band of Maximum the Hormone.
Each of us has different influences and favorite bands.
Chika the drummer, loves the Japanese band, ONE OK ROCK.
Yukina is influenced by the Japanese band Hysteric Panic.
Hettsu listened to Maroon 5 when she first started listening to bands.
Matsuri is influenced by Gideon, who inspired her to listen to foreign music.

Athenscalling.gr: ”Reborn Superstar” … is your new album a years ago, tell us your favorite song of the album.

Hettsu (HANABIE): “Be the GAL – Early Summer version- ”
It’s a party song with parts where everyone can dance and jump and shout together at our shows! I think this song brings out the best sense of unity with the audience!

Athenscalling.gr: If I’m not mistaken it’s your first time playing at NOVA ROCK FESTIVAL… how do you feel about this performance?
　
Chika (HANABIE): Excited for our first time.
And also the first country where HANABIE. performed outside of Japan was Austria which was the first day of our European tour last year!
Since then, we have toured many countries, so we hope you can look forward to a more powerful HANABIE.

Athenscalling.gr: What have to say about my country Greece?
　
Yukina (HANABIE): For me, I haven’t been there yet but it’s a country I’ve been wanting to go before I even started playing in a band and hope to before I die. Especially I love that beautiful Santorini Island and definitely want to go.

Athenscalling.gr: Thank you all the best to your band!
　
ALL (HANABIE): 　Thank you for having us！