Interview with Jill of Rose Noire

Japanese Goth band Rose Noire was formed by Louie (Vocal) and Jill (Violin) when they were students at the Tokyo National University of Fine arts and Music. Although their band may be labeled as Goth, their music incorporates a wide range of genres with an emphasis on classical.

They won the ZOOM prize at SONY-ZOOM DEMO tape competition in 2007.

ASIANCE: Jill, it is a pleasure to meet you. When you were young when did you first become interested in music?

Jill: I started studying violin when I was two years old but I don’t remember exactly when.

ASIANCE: Were there musicians in your family?

Jill: Some were musicians.

ASIANCE: What kinds of music did you listen to back then?

Jill: At first, I listened to classical music only but when I grew up, I listened to many other types of music. For example, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Metal, Electronica, Club music and so on.

ASIANCE: Can you tell us how you and Louie first conceived of the band and how the name was created?

Jill: Louie and I like dark and beautiful things, from there, we created the concept of the band. The band’s name “Rose Noire” means “black rose”. The impression of a black rose is “dark” “beautiful” “imaginary” and we feel our sound is like that.

ASIANCE: How many years have you studied and played Violin? Do you play other instruments as well?

Jill: I started studying violin when I was two years old. I do play viola and violin.

ASIANCE: How would you best describe your music?

Jill: The concept of our band is “Aggressive and Luxury”. We are free from predefined genres and concepts and compose our own world in the image of our own existence and music. Our music is based on Classical Music and it is beautiful, heavy, hard, addictive, philosophical and elegant.

ASIANCE: Your first album, “Apocalypse” did well. What was the process you went through to make it and how long did it take?

Jill: “Apocalypse” is our first album, so there are so many tracks since we started the band until recently, but it took a long time. The whole process took over 1 year to make and the violin took 2 months.

ASIANCE: Do you have a favorite song from the album?

Jill: I like all the tracks but if I had to choose, “Driven” and “Perfectionism”. These tracks are very scenery and impressive.

ASIANCE: You recently released your first EP called, “Le Paradis de la Psychose”. What does the title mean?

Jill: It means “The paradise of psychotic patients”.

ASIANCE: Do you have a favorite track?

Jill: Same as “Apocalypse”. I like all the tracks, but if I had to choose, “OCD” and “Double bind”. In particular, the lyrics of “Double bind” are beautiful.

ASIANCE: I think you are admired by many women for your beauty and style. Is fashion important to you?

Jill: Yes, of course. Always, I have elegant, luxury, and a modern attitude in my style.

ASIANCE: When you were young, Jill, who or what did you admire other than musicians. Were there filmmakers, television shows or other things that you think contributed to who you are today?

Jill: When I was young, I admired many classical music composers. For example, J.S.Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Fritz Kreisler and so on. In recently, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park, Muse, Yoko Kanno, Tim Burton, Mamoru Oshii, and many others.

ASIANCE: If you could collaborate with any artists, who would be your choice?

Jill: If I would be choice, Marilyn Manson, Apocalyptica, Linkin Park, Lady Gaga, and many others.

ASIANCE: How do you feel the music industry is doing for independent musicians in Japan?

Jill: There are so many interesting artists, like Rose Noir, on the independent music scene in Japan. The music industry should be taking more notice of them.

ASIANCE: What do you hope to be doing five years from now?

Jill: I hope Rose Noire becomes more and more famous in the world! and more and more people know Rose Noire and love Rose Noire all over the world! I have a concert in so many places around the world.

And I want to try new things always. For example, theme music of movies, acting, collaborate with fine artists, and many others.

ASIANCE: Do you have any message you would like to give to our readers and to your fans in the United States?

Jill: Thank you so much. Please keep your eyes on us and support us. We had a concert in the United States in March 2011. American fans were fantastic! I want to have a concert in the United States and meet them again. Please invite us!

Thank you!!
For more information visit the Rose Noire official website at: http://www.rosenoire.info/