The Official STEREOPONY Thread

[GUILD]

"Otome Gokoro Hey Hey Hey" from A Hydrangea Blooms

Edited September 5, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

"Nakanaide" (Don't Cry)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-X64HL4vGY

Edited May 6, 2014 by GuiLD

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"Nakanaide" (Don't Cry) Live

Edited September 5, 2014 by GuiLD

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Please support the official Draft King thread!

 

http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/66717-%E2%99%9B%E2%99%9A%E2%99%A5%E2%9C%AE-the-official-draft-king-thread-%E2%9C%AE%E2%99%A5%E2%99%9A%E2%99%9B/

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"Effective Line" & "Sweet Blue" Live

Edited September 5, 2014 by GuiLD

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This sweet beauty:

 

 

 

"Shiawase no Oka de Kurashitai" from A Hydrangea Blooms

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[WizardAlex77]

Hello! I became a fan of Stereopony through youtube, was upset to find out that they disbanded already   

Did any of the members have projects after the disband?

[GUILD]

Hello! I became a fan of Stereopony through youtube, was upset to find out that they disbanded already   

Did any of the members have projects after the disband?

I know, it is sad. But fortunately both parties are continuing forward with their agendas 

 

SHIHO and NOHANA are both part of the new band  Draft King! AIMI is a solo artist, and has her own website as well. Draft King is a four member group which, before the official final line-up, had 5 members, the fifth being guitarist and Lead Vocalist, Hiddy, who is now pursuing solo activities. In addition to Shiho and Nohana, the team holds Erica (the main vocalist) and Mao, who was previously Stereopony's temporary support guitarist, now leading for Draft King. Look through the thread for more information. Check back every once and a while for updates 

[WizardAlex77]

I know, it is sad. But fortunately both parties are continuing forward with their agendas 

 

SHIHO and NOHANA are both part of the new band  Draft King! AIMI is a solo artist, and has her own website as well. Draft King is a four member group which, before the official final line-up, had 5 members, the fifth being guitarist and Lead Vocalist, Hiddy, who is now pursuing solo activities. In addition to Shiho and Nohana, the team holds Erica (the main vocalist) and Mao, who was previously Stereopony's temporary support guitarist, now leading for Draft King. Look through the thread for more information. Check back every once and a while for updates 

Thank you so much for the info! Hopefully, they can have a reunion performance(or maybe concert) one day.

  

[GUILD]

Found these two pictures of Shiho and Aimi! I'm guessing these are from their highschool.

 

 

Thank you so much for the info! Hopefully, they can have a reunion performance(or maybe concert) one day.

  

Hopefully! That would be cool!

[pinkmelodiagirl]

Thank you so much, You are true their fan. Can you share their pre debut pics?

[GUILD]

 

 

STEREOPONY @Mezamashi 2011

 

 

 

The buffering is pretty daunting, but this is the only place to watch this power performance. SHIHO is goddess x3o . I'd let it play through while you do something else and then once it's finished, just move the cursor back to the start, or just press play, that way you can watch it at any point without interruptions.

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Thank you so much, You are true their fan. Can you share their pre debut pics?

I'll try to find some. That was kindof on accident finding those. But there are MIXBOX pictures that I've seen. MIXBOX btw is their former band name with four members. before they debuted as STEREOPONY.

[GUILD]

STEREOPONY – OKINAWAN GALS ARE READY TO ROCK SEATTLE!

 

 12 APR 2012   POSTED BY KEISUKE

 

Stereopony, an upbeat, hard-rocking band from Okinawa, will be performing at Sakura-Con this year. The band consists of Aimi on lead guitar and vocals, Nohana on bass guitar and Shiho on drums. Listen to them talk, and you expect their music to be demure and cute. But when they get on stage, they transform into rock stars. In fact, they take their inspiration from another hard-rocking trio from Seattle.

 

Stereopony has been around since 2007 and is signed with Sony Music’s gr8! label. Anime fans will probably recognize some of their songs because they’ve been featured on several popular series and in a Lipton ice tea commercial in Japan.

 

The young women say they love playing in front of American audiences, even if their English isn’t so great. When they played at Austin’s SXSW in 2009, they got a rowdy ovation. Let’s see if Seattle can top that.

 

Ibuki chatted via email with the band ahead of its trip to Japan. Here are excerpts from the chat.

 

Ibuki: How did your band form? Were you friends before you started the band?
Stereopony: There is a music studio in Okinawa where all the music lovers hang out, and that’s where Aimi and Nohana met. Then Aimi asked Shiho to play the drums. They were classmates in high school.

 

Ibuki: Your music is hard driving and energetic. Who are your inspirations and musical heroes?
Stereopony: NIRVANA!

 

Ibuki: Who thought of the name Stereopony?
Stereopony: We came up with the name together. It’s (an originally) coined word.

 

Ibuki: For your American fans who don’t speak Japanese, please tell us what sort of themes you like to sing about most.

Stereopony: We sing about our anxiety and the struggles for our generation.

 

Ibuki: What is your favorite anime?

Stereopony: Pokemon!

 

Ibuki: We saw your interview on Crunchyroll. You all seemed so polite and soft-spoken. But on stage, you rock out.  Do you feel like you become a different person on stage?
Stereopony: We naturally get uplifted on stage and next thing we know, we are rocking!

 

Ibuki: You are all from Okinawa. Americans know that there are beautiful beaches there. We also know there is US military there. But what else can you tell us about Okinawa?
Stereopony: It’s very laid-back and will make you feel very relaxed. Okinawa is also known for the greatest longevity in the world.

 

Ibuki: What sort of things are you looking forward to doing and seeing in Seattle?
Stereopony: We heard that Seattle has lots of greenery and that the city is beautiful!  We’d also like to go visit Safeco Field where Ichiro is playing!

 

Ibuki: You’ve performed live in the US at anime conventions and elsewhere. What’s different about performing live in the US and performing back home in Japan?

Stereopony: Having to speak in English during our MC on stage is not easy!! But we try our best so we can communicate with our US fans as much as possible. American audiences are very direct and responsive. It’s always fun to perform in the US!

 

Ibuki: Do you have a message for your fans at Sakura-Con?
Stereopony: We love anime ourselves too, and we’re very excited to perform in front of all the anime fans in the US!

CR: Ibuki Magazine

Edited May 26, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Nohana's signed balloon made an appearance on DVD during the concert lol

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Read the interview where AIMI tries out the eband amplifier.

 

http://mnavi.roland.jp/works/200912_01.html

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

STEREOPONY Interview

 

JULY 23, 2010

 

 

 "It's very difficult to describe own music, and we don't want people to think that we can only do certain things. We hope to challenge many things and create our own STEREOPONY sound." - STEREOPONY

 

 

From the first time we heard their debut song Hitohira No Hanabira we knew the group with the oh so cute name was something we wanted to hear more of. With the good fortune of having that song featured on the popular anime show BLEACH and the backing of Sony Music, these three gals from Okinawa have been able to craft a style of music full of emotion and pop.

 

So come learn the story of the group who says, "All of our lyrics are about our honest feelings, so we never tried to be positive or expressed positivity too much as that wasn't necessary what we were feeling."

 

On June 16, 2010 the members of STEREOPONY were kind enough to give an interview to Andrew from J-Pop World. All photos courtesy of STEREOPONY. 
 

 

 

On June 18 you'll make an appearance at Somerset, New Jersey's AnimeNEXT. Can you tell us what you are looking forward to the most?

Just being able to play in America again, and this time at an Anime Convention!

 

How will fans get to interact with you?

We will of course have a live performance, and we'll also do photo sessions and signing events.

 

Do you have other plans while you are in the US?

We are going sightseeing to NYC now!

In March 2009 you got the chance to perform at SXSW. Looking back now what memories stand out?

Aimi: For Shiho and I, it was the first time going aboard so we were a little worried, but all I remember now are only good memories. It was so much fun!

 

How different do you find American audiences compared to those in Japan?

Shiho: American audiences are very direct. I think it's a great place to perform live.

Aimi: I can really feel their energy and power, so we try to respond to that on a same level.

 

Your latest single "Over Drive" just came out last month. Can you tell us more about the title track?

All of our lyrics are about our honest feelings, so we never tried to be positive or expressed positivity too much as that wasn't necessary what we were feeling. However, while working on this song, we were able to realize that we can turn our mistakes or frustration into something positive, and we also realized of all the support we get from everybody we met through our music. So this song means a lot to us.

 

Yume is a very beautiful song. Can you tell us something about it we don't know?

Shiho: I wrote the lyrics, but it's based on the actual dream "Yume" I saw. I wanted people to recognize about my pain, but I kept it inside me which was probably confusing for all the people around me. I wrote this song when I first realized that I had to open that key inside me myself.

 

Your album "A hydrangea blooms" and three of your singles are now available for digital release on iTunes?

Yes! We still can't believe it, and we never dreamed of coming this far.

 

Can you tell us the story of how the band first formed back in Okinawa in 2007?

Aimi: There is a music studio in Okinawa where all the music lovers hang out, and Nohana and I met there in the studio. Then I asked Shiho to play the drums when we were classmates in high school.

 

How did you each pick the type of instrument you play?

Shiho: I saw someone playing the drums from my school, and I just fell in love at first sight. I was wondering how it would feel if I played it.

Aimi: I just strongly felt that I wanted to play the guitar in high school.

Nohana: There was a band that I really liked in middle school, and I had the habit of checking out the bass players since then. There are many bassists who originally start out from the guitar, but my interest was straight to the bass.

Btw who came up with the name "STEREOPONY" and what exactly does it mean?

It's a coined word. We wanted to combine the word "stereo" which for us had a cool three-dimensional image, and "pony" which has a cute image.

 

Did any of you ever imagine you wouldn't become professional musicians?

Nohana: I always wanted to play music.

Aimi: I thought I'd be a hairdresser when I was very young, but since I started playing music, this was something that I wanted to pursue.

 

How did you first get hooked up with Sony Music?

The Sony Music staff approached us after a live performance event that the radio program "SCHOOL OF LOCK!!" was hosting.

 

How thrilled were you to learn that Hitohira No Hanabira was going to be one of the ending theme songs on BLEACH back in 2008?

Hitohira No Hanabira was our debut single, so we weren't used to hearing our music through TV or from the radio. And us being fans of Anime, it was very exciting for all of us that our music were featured on BLEACH. We were all sitting in front of the TV together when it first showed on air. (laughs)

 

Now that you've had a few more years working in the music industry, how do you think you've all changed from when you first started out?

I think the biggest change is our approach towards the recording sessions. In the beginning, we had more anxiety and fear, but we feel much more relaxed now and we're able to focus more on the emotional aspect of the music and the lyrics.

 

How would you describe the style of music you play today?

It's very difficult to describe our own music, and we don't want people to think that we can only do certain things. We hope to challenge many things and create our own STEREOPONY sound.

 

Do you think life on Okinawa had a major impact on your musical style?

Perhaps not too much on the music itself, but I'm sure there are some impact on our lyrics.

 

Who do you consider to be your major musical influences?

Aimi: Avril Lavigne. We use to do a cover band in high school.

Shiho: Maximum the Hormone.

Nohana: Namie Amuro.

What do you do for fun and relaxation when you're not working?

Shiho: When I really want to get relaxed, I usually first go to the studio and play the drums, and then I would go for a walk or go do yoga.

Aimi: I take a long bath.

Nohana: I eat lots of sweets!

 

Do you have any plans for the rest of the year you can share with us?

We will go on a tour in Japan after we get back from New Jersey!

 

Do you have a final message to all your fans?

Thank you very much for all your support!! Please check out our music on iTunes, and we hope to come back to America again soon! 

 

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

AnimeNEXT 2010: Stereopony – Music at the Speed of a Pony

 

 

Posted on June 30, 2010 by I-hsiu Lin

 

J-rock band, Stereopony debuted in 2008 with ‘Hitohira no Hanabira’ which became the 17th ending song to BLEACH and ranked #25 in Oricon charts. Their second single, ‘Namida no Mukou’ was the ending song to the second season of Gundam 00. It ranked #2 on the Oricon charts. Their singles are not the only ones to rank highly on the charts: their debut album ‘A Hydrangea Blooms’ was released in June 2009 and ranked #7 on Oricon. Their brand new second album, ‘Over the Border’ was especially sold at AnimeNEXT along with ‘A Hydrangea Blooms’.

AnimeNEXT was the second time they ever performed in the US (the first being at SXSW 2009 in Austin, Texas) and it was thrilling to hear them at their Friday’s June 18 concert. The songs ‘Namida no Mukou’ and ‘Tsukiakari no Michishirube’ (the opening theme to the second season of Darker Than Black) were sung with their respective anime clips shown in the background. The crowds were hyped up and dancing to the beat. The Q&A panel for the band was held on Saturday, June 19.

The panel opened up with the footage from the dvd live from Japan. The band entered the stage and took the stage. From left to right: Shiho (drummer,) Nohana (bass guitarist,) and Aimi (guitarist/lead vocalist.) Aimi’s first words in English, “Hello everyone! We’re Stereopony!â€. *audience applause* The first part of the Q&A were basic questions that the interpreter asks the band directly. (The answers below are sometimes combinations between the 3 members. ^_^)

 

• Q: How did you start the band?
  A: There was a studio in the Okinawa, where all the music lovers gather at. Aimi and Nohana got together first and then they met Shiho when Aimi thought, ‘She would be great on drums’ and so they formed Stereopony.

   

  Q: How was yesterday’s live performance?
  A: It was exciting and I was really happy to share such a great time together along with such great sounds together. There was so much emotions coming together with so much excitement. We all had so much fun.

  Q: This is the 2nd time in the US. How do you feel?
  A: Last year was our first concert in the US…and it was also the first time we were in a different country. We were so nervous. I can’t really speak English, but we still had so much fun.

  Q: Is this your first time in New Jersey?
  A: Yes, it’s our first time here.

  Q: What is your favorite food or most impressive food on this trip?
  Aimi: Lobster that we had two days ago.
  Nohana: Chicken.
  Shiho: I love vegetables so I have been eating alot of salad.
  (Me: I may have gotten Nohana-san’s and Shiho-san’s answers mixed up. XD)

  Q: What is your favorite anime?
  Aimi: I really love bands so I love series like Nana. *audience cheers*
  Nohana: I watched Pokemon since I was in elementary.
  Shiho: I really love Dragonball.

 

Then we saw their latest PV for ‘Overdrive’. I really like how the PV had an accapella break which took everyone by surprise. Then came questions concerning the PV and the albums, also asked by the interpreter.

 

• Q: Do you have interesting stories from the video shoot?
  A: For the PV ‘Overdrive’, we were wearing summer clothes in it. However, it was so cold that we were shivering. There was so much wind. For this new album, we put in alot of different feelings in it.

   

  Q: About the themes of the album ‘A Hydrangea Blooms’ and ‘Over the Border….
  A: When we started playing music, we were very happy and the music reflects that. For the second album, ‘Over the Border’, we want it to be about crossing the borders between people in the world.

 

Finally, the audience could ask questions questions….

 

• Q: What does the name ‘Stereopony’ mean?
  A: The music contains many dynamics of a stereo (?) that moves at the speed of a pony.

   

  Q: Do you girls have boyfriends?
  Aimi: No…my boyfriend is my guitar.

  Q: What is your favorite vocal artists?
  Aimi: When I was little, I listen to Judy and Mary in Japan with my mother.

  Q: Which of your songs is the most fun to play?
  Aimi: Pieces that have alot of fast beats is fun to play. For me, I like our new song ‘Overdrive’ since the rhythm is very fast.

  Q: Will you have another concert in the US?
  A: We don’t have any plans, but we would love to come back here and play again. *audience cheers*

 

The last question was ‘Can you want to go out with me?’ but the translator said she couldn’t translate that. At the end of the panel, there was an ‘I love Stereopony’ segment where questions were asked and anyone who answered correctly receives a card signed by the three members. The questions were:

 

• ‘Where in Japan did they form?’ – Okinawa
  ‘What did Aimi say to open the concert?’ – “We can’t speak English.†XD
  ‘Where is their first live in the US?’ – Austin, TX
  ‘How tall is Aimi?’ – 4ft. 10in.

 

Of course, I didn’t answer any questions, but we applauded the winners. Their autograph session was on Sunday followed by a special appearance at the JHRE booth. There was a raffle for 3 large posters signed and presented personally by the band.

After presenting the posters to the winners, they bid us farewell. Hopefully, we can look forward to another concert in the US.

- See more at: http://www.liheliso.org/2010/06/30/animenext-2010-stereopony-music-at-the-speed-of-a-pony/#sthash.8qG7sTFW.dpuf

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Stereopony Interview at Neumania

 

Posted by: daibasu June 18, 2010

 

 

July 2010 when they went to AnimeNEXT. Interview from neumania.net. 

 

Could you please start off by introducing yourselves and your position in the band?
Aimi: I am STEREOPONY vocal and guitar, Aimi. Nice to meet you.

Nohana: I am Nohana on bass.

Shiho: I am Shiho on drums.

 

 

STEREOPONY is an interesting name. Can you tell us how you came up with it, and if it has any kind of personal meaning?

Nohana: It is actually a word split between stereo and pony. Stereo being a three-dimensional, cool, sound type and pony being the cute type, we are combining the two images together.

Aimi: Like a pony running. (Makes pony running gestures.)

 

 

Since two of you are from Okinawa, the other from Nagasaki, how did you meet each other?

A Aimi: Initially, Nohana and I were in Okinawa at the same school where all of the music related people would hang out. That is where we met in junior year. Shiho and I met in same year in Okinawa as well. We were in the same class, that is how we met.

 

 

When it comes to rock music in most countries, it is mostly led by male bands. What is your opinion of this, being an all female band?

Aimi: We are not really considering or thinking about being a three female rock group; we have a positive outlook and a unique sound that can only be made by a girl band.

 

 

I see. So, what kind of bands you like to listen to? What type of music do you like?

 

Aimi: Madina Lake. I went to their concert in Japan.

Nohana: Namie Amuro, she’s from Okinawa too. And Lady Gaga.

Shiho: Maximum the Hormone! You know? Rock and roll! And I like Red Hot Chili Peppers.

 

 

Do any of these bands influence your music? Or who are you influenced by?

Aimi & Nohana: Avril Lavigne. In high school we used to have a cover band.

Nohana: But we have different tastes in music genres; we want to combine that together to make our own unique sound in STEREOPONY .

 

 

Your songs have been featured in anime such as Bleach and Darker Then Black. How do you feel about that?

Aimi: I enjoy reading manga very much, so with our single being the theme song to Bleach, I was personally very happy.

 

 

Do you each have a favorite anime or manga series?

Aimi: Sailor Moon.

Shiho: Dragon Ball.

Nohana: Anything. Shojo and shonen, diverse.

Aimi: I like Cartoon Network – Spongebob, Powerpuff Girls, American cartoons as well!

 

 

A lot of Japanese rock fans pay close attention to the Oricon charts, and people were excited when your albums reached the charts. What were you feeling when you learned you made it to the charts? 

A Aimi: It was unbelievable. We were purely surprised.

 

 

Stereopony’s first appearance in America was last year in 2009 at SXSW. What was it like playing here for the first time?

Aimi: For Shiho and I, it was our first time going overseas so getting passports and everything was worrisome, but once we started playing we felt welcomed. We witnessed that music has no boundaries with any language.

Nohana: It was the first time performing in a different country, but the fans were very warm and welcoming. It was very comfortable and we were able to play well.

 

 

Do you have any different expectations for tonight’s show? What do you hope to convey tonight, compared to SXSW?

Aimi: This being a big concert here at AnimeNEXT, we are going to play some songs from our new second album. We are curious to see how the U.S. audience reacts to our music.

 

 

Any place you would want to see?

A Aimi: We are going to New York City tomorrow; it is very exciting since it is our first time!

 

 

I hope you will enjoy it! What do you have planned for the future and what goals do you have this year?

Aimi: After we go back, we have a tour in Japan, to follow up to the new album. We’ll be touring Japan this year.

 

 

You just released a new album, but are you working on any new music again?

A Aimi: Not yet, we’re going to be touring from July, but we hope to get some inspiration from this tour for a new single.

 

 

Do you think you will be inspired by New York and the people you will see tonight?

A Aimi: Most definitely, we’re looking forward to it.

 

 

Just one last question. Can you please give a message to your fans?

 

Aimi: We want our fans to experience STEREOPONY and our music. We are from Japan and it is not often we can come out here. So we want to leave a memory that we are here and want to rock out, and just keep on doing it!

 

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Anime Boston 2011: Stereopony Concert

 

APRIL 28, 2011

 BY MIKE FERREIRA

 

Credits in title.

 

 

On Saturday night, the excitement of the convention boiled over as lines stretched 

across the Hynes, and people gathered en masse in hopes that they would be able to get into the night’s big event. Stereopony was scheduled to play, and it seemed like everybody wanted in. Impromptu Pokemon battles, card games, and cosplay photo shoots cropped up as people tried to make the time go by more quickly. As 11:00 ticked by, and people rolled into the main auditorium, fans began to chatter excitedly. Some were curious about the group, others were long-time listeners hoping to hear their favorite songs.

 

As the lights dimmed, a hush fell over the audience that was quickly broken as the band took the stage. The cheers grew to a roar as the stage lighting kicked on, and the band began playing Smilife, which flowed straight into Otome Gokoro Hey Hey Hey. The group then paused, to deliver prepared statements to the audience.

 

After the short interlude, the group continued to burn down the house, as they played a selection of titles from their two albums and the Chiisana Mahou single. Anime hits likeHitohira no Hanabira (Bleach) and Namida no Mukou (Mobile Suit Gundam 00) were played along with the group’s other hits, including Cherry My… and Nagareboshi. For their Boston audience, the group prepared a special treat. Midway through the show, the girls played two English songs: Wild World, a B-side from the Chiisana Mahou single, and a cover of Green Day’s American Idiot.

 

For the show, the girls brought their absolute best. Aimi’s strong guitar riffs and clean vocals were accented by Shiho’s proficient drumming and Nohana’s animated bass-work. The three girls seemed to relish their time on stage, as they poured their souls into each note. Even as the final song of the show wrapped up, and the band said their goodbyes, the room remained abuzz with electricity and excitement.

 

The trio provided, hands down, the greatest experience of the show. While the music no longer echoes through the halls of the Hynes, the memories are something that will be talked about for years to come. The concert was a magical experience, and one that will linger with fans going forward.

[GUILD]

Interview: Stereopony

 

 

MAY 1, 2011  BY MIKE FERREIRA

 

Credits in title.

 

This year, Anime Boston hosted girl rock group Stereopony as their musical guests of honor. Anime fans may recognize their music from the theme songs for a number of shows, including Mobile Suit Gundam 00and Darker Than Black.

 

Aimi, Nohana, and Shiho got their start in Okinawa in 2007, and received their big break on TokyoFM’s School of Lock!. Their debut single, Hitohira no Habaira, opened at #25 on the Oricon record charts, and was used as the seventeenth ending to Bleach.

 

I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to Aimi, Nohana, and Shiho for both their thoughtful answers, and for taking time from their busy schedule to speak with me. I’d also like to thank Mr. Ryu Takahashi from Sony Music for arranging the interview, and serving as a translator for our conversation.

 

Note: Interview has been edited for clarity.

 

MF: Earlier this month, your newest EP Chiisana Mahou came out in American digital storefronts. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: Chiisana Mahou literally means “small magic.†We wrote it while we were on a short break, where we weren’t performing for a little while. We were receiving a lot of warm messages from our fans and felt like we wanted to write music for them. All of those words were kind of like, really making us positive and feeling warm, sort of like a magic in a way. That’s where the name came from. We wrote it for the fans!

 

MF: You mentioned in a few interviews that you began as an Avril Lavigne cover band. What led you to begin writing original content?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: As you mentioned, we performed cover songs when we first started. But, seeing the reaction, we felt the need to write our own music, and pen that out for the rest of the show.

 

AD: Of your own songs, which would you say is your favorite, and why?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: (thinks for a moment)

 

Nohana: That’s a tough question! (laughs)

 

Aimi: (laughs) We like all of our songs, but Hitohira no Hanabira, being our very first debut single. We wrote it before the debut, so it’s been a long time, and that’s probably the one we have the strongest feelings about.

 

MF: Your music has been featured on a number of anime projects, including Bleach, Gundam 00, and Darker Than Black. How does it feel to contribute to such projects?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: We’re definitley very happy to be a part of such anime series, since we’re fans of anime in general and, in my case, a voice actress. Anime is becoming such a worldwide thing now, that can reach to a lot of audiences not only in Japan. There are actually people watching Cartoon Network in Japan, vice versa to anime being watched here. So, it’s a bigger audience, and a wide range of people, from kids to adults. That’s definitely a good thing.

 

MF: How would each of you describe your music, your feel?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: (laughs) Don’t know… (thinks) Colorful! (laughs) It’s not really descriptive of a word, but colorful is the way I’d describe it.

 

MF: Who would your favorite musical artist be? What would you say your biggest influences are in music now?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: Do you know Judy and Mary? For me, it’s Judy and Mary. I grew up watching Rurouni Kenshin, and Judy and Mary sang the theme song, Sobakasu. So, probably they’re my first influence.

 

Shiho: Before I started the band, I went to see a local Okinawa band perform Deep Purple music. Even though it wasn’t the band, that was the first main influence I had.

 

Nohana: Do you know Namie Amuro? She’s a singer from Okinawa that I’d name as my influence.

 

MF: Do you prefer performing live, or recording in the studio?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: Live, definitely! (laughs)

 

MF: How you prepare for a show? Is there anything you do in particular in the lead-up? Anything to get ready?

 

Stereopony: Shiho: I stretch, to practice on the chorus.

 

Aimi: I need to practice on my MC, especially for this show since it’s in English. (laughs)

 

Nohana: We get together beforehand and share the same energy.

 

MF: You mentioned that all enjoy anime. Do any of you have a favorite show or manga series?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: Sailor Moon.

 

Shiho: Dragon Ball. I want a boyfriend like Goku. (laughs)

 

Nohana: Bleach.

 

MF: Are you enjoying Boston? Are there any scenes that you’ve seen or would like to see?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: I want to go outside! (laughs) Just walk around – I like the scenery and the buildings here.

 

MF: Are you currently working on new material?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: Yes, we’re planning on it.

 

MF: Where would you like to see yourselves in the future? What goals would you like to achieve in the next few years?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: We’re actually touring in Japan right now, so we’d like to make that a big success, as far as close future fans.

 

MF: Do you have anything you’d like to say to our readers, your fans?

 

Stereopony: Aimi: We may be far away from home right now, but just being interviewed by you, as US media, we’re just happy to have your readers get to know about us and get to listen to our music. We greatly appreciate that, and thank you for your support!

 

[GUILD]

Anime Boston 2011

 

They changed the thumbnail on this one, so it was so hard to find hahaha. Stereopony @2:10

 

 

 

[GUILD]

Very Good Days Interviews Stereopony at Anime Boston 2011

 

MAY 28, 2011

 

Credits in title.

 

 

Stereopony has returned for their third appearance in the United States to perform and greet fans at Anime Boston at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Very Good Days had the opportunity to give the last interview at the entire convention with the band on Sunday April 24th, given shortly before the closing ceremonies. Stereopony made several appearances throughout the convention including:

 

• Aa Q&A session called “An Hour With Stereoponyâ€
• Two autograph sessions
• A photo session
• And of course their concert, which was at 11:00pm local time on Saturday April 23.

First, welcome back to the United States. This is your third time back, and second anime convention. What are your thoughts on yesterday’s performance?

 

Stereopony: It was very exciting!

 

What is it like performing in America, and how is a live here different than in Japan?

 

Stereopony: Though in Japan there is a lot of excitement, in America, the fans also have a lot more excitement, but their reactions and gestures are more pronounced than that in Japan. For example, a small “yay†in Japan would be a great “YAY!†in America accompanied with lots of hand gestures and signals.

 

You are gaining a significant following here in the United States. I’ve met fans who have travelled across the country to be here. However the market for Japanese music is still quite small in America. Do you think Stereopony can be one of the first bands to open up Japanese music to mainstream America?

 

Stereopony: If we are able to accomplish this, I would be very happy, but if we cannot do so, we will still continue to do our best.

 

 Your latest single Chiisana Mahou had the B-side “It’s a Wild Worldâ€, your first song sung completely in English. Why did you choose to write a song in English, and will we be seeing more songs in English?

 

Stereopony: Last year, when we played in Animenext in NJ, with communicating with fans and signing, there were many fans who try to speak to us in Japanese in order to communicate their feelings to them. Even though it was just to say “thank you†or “that was such a great show†or “that was amazing!â€, we were just so happy that our fans spoke these little things to us in Japanese. So in return, we all thought to try and speak english for our fans. We all thought to ourselves, “we really want to do this!†and even though we are not very good at English, we still wanted to try and write a song that could still communicate across to our English speaking fans.

 

Beyond America, our website has fans begging you to visit their countries, for example, we have members in Portugal, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the Netherlands. Were you aware that your music has traveled across the world, and what is the likelihood that Stereopony will go on a world tour?

 

Stereopony: Ah! We would love to go on a world tour! That is something that we hope our manager will arrange for us one day.

 

 

Do you enjoy touring and performing live? What aspects of being in a band do you each like the most?

 

Stereopony: We definitely prefer performing live better.

 

 

How do you prepare for a live show and for going on tour. Is it hard to leave Okinawa?

 

Stereopony: With our hectic schedule, its actually a nice luxury to go back home to Okinawa, because that means that we have time to relax and escape. We rarely go back there because of our hectic schedule, and with the way Okinawan people are, laid back and relaxed, its best to go there when we finished doing a big tour or project so we can properly relax and take our time.

 

 You gave a great performance last night as well as last year at Animenext in New Jersey last year. Is there a possibility of getting a DVD release of either concert, and are there any album or single releases that we can expect in the future such as “thank you†and “shooting starâ€?

 

Stereopony: We hope to, yea… We do look forward to going back to the studio and making more songs. Its been a while since we were back in the studio, with the tour and all, but all of us are very excited to record new songs.

 

How is Stereopony grown from when you started as the four piece band Mixbox?

 

Stereopony: We definitely grew the most when we finally debuted, meaning we left our hometown Okinawa and we hit the music scene all throughout Japan. The level was definitely a lot different-from local to national level. Also, it was a little different because we had another 4th member in our band originally…

 

What was your greatest surprises and disappointments as a band?

 

AIMI: Individually,for me, when we record the album, the process of recording, such as the procedures and every little detail is what I find personally challenging. It is a fun process, but at the same time, it can be exhausting and difficult at times to do.

NOHANA: For me, it is when we play live, and we have to worry about the issue of sound and playback. Each venue has a different sound and it is hard to adjust to them.

 

From those early years there are a few songs that have never officially been released. Will we ever see a release of “Sayonara no Kisetsu†or “Super Girl?â€

 

Stereopony: Hmmm. I don’t really think so, but at the live concerts, we do play them from time to time, so if you are lucky, you might hear them thenï¼

 

 

Your early singles included acoustic versions. Do you like recording acoustic version of your songs, and is it possible to see future acoustic versions released?

 

Stereopony: There could be potentially, an album for an acoustic version, especially the song, Arigatou, because it is very mellow.

The earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 has impacted people across the world. How has these tragic events impacted each of you?

 

Stereopony: We were in the middle of a live rehearsal and we played in the Tohoku region a few days before.. We saw on the TV later the aftereffects of the earthquake. We were not able to do anything. It was so frustrating, and we felt helpless. But things slowly became better, and we were able to go on tour and put up boxes for donations to do our part to help out as much as possible.

 

Do you have any nick-names for each other?

NOHANA: Hmmm. There really aren’t that come to mind. There is “Happy†but that is about it.

 

What equipment and effects do you each use?

AIMI: I use the Fender and telecaster that I used since high school. It really depends on the show that I am playing.

NOHANA: I use the Black and Gold Fender and I have been using since the debut.

SHIHO: The snares, and the pedals are all Pearl.

 

Some of our members try to contact you on Twitter and other social networking sites… Are you able to understand the messages that they send through translation software?

 

Stereopony: We always see them, and we get comments on our website, and we think they are cute, and we may not always understand them, but we try to reply as much as we can to do our best.

 

Have you heard YUI’s version of “I Do It,†and what are your thoughts on her rendition?

 

Stereopony: Yes, yes, we have heard it, of course. It is very cool! We were able to see it live in concert. We really loved it!

Thank you so much for sharing some of your time with me and answering questions for us. Would you say a final message for our members and your fans around the world?

 

Stereopony: We as Stereopony are amazed and cannot believe at how many people not only enjoy our music, but the fans we have overseas. Its like a dream to us. That’s why Stereopony isn’t composed of 3 people, but rather everyone. We are going to do our best to make more music, and play live shows for our fans, and especially, if there is a chance, we would love to come back and play overseas.

 

Download Stereopony’s EP
Chiisana Mahou on iTunes Now!
 
 
 
 
 

Very Good Days would like to thank Stereopony and their staff,  Sony Music Japan, Jamison Chew and Anime Boston for making this Interview happen. We would also like to send a very special thank you to Ryu Takahashi for his translation and additional assistance for this interview.

Images courtesy of Sony Music Japan. Interview by Zachary Kopp (Arcluna). Additional Translation by MaryAnn Celis and Hirokazu Tanaka (Hirotana).

Edited September 9, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

Sakura-Con 2012 – Day Two

 

BY  RSNITEBLAZE

 â€“ APRIL 8, 2012

Day Two of our STEREOPONY coverage at Sakura-Con 2012 was just as amazing as Day One. The STEREOPONY events that we covered today were the STEREOPONY Q&A panel, second STEREOPONY autographs panel, and our personal interview with STEREOPONY.

Today we (RSNiteblaze, arcluna, Elsuke, Drahc) were once again accompanied by gotchi (from YUI Lover) and fellow VGD member Destonus, as well as our other new friends, such as Tony, Rich, and Tom (new VGD member CelticSamurai201).

The Q&A panel is basically as it sounds. Convention attendees asked STEREOPONY questions, and STEREOPONY answered them. Among the questions asked were three, asked by gotchi, Drahc, and RSNiteblaze:

For now, VGD members can view the entire Q&A on the forum. Credit goes to Destonus for quickly posting to the forum. We will be making sure it is accurate, so we will be editing it in the near future. So check back here for it later. View Destonus’s Q&A post here.

NOHANA-san and SHIHO-san both often provide backing vocals and sometimes a more pronounced vocal performance as in Oshare Banchou. Did either of you ever have a desire to provide lead vocals on a track? (asked by gotchi)
NOHANA: If they ask me!
SHIHO: I like lead vocals, but I wouldn’t want to do them.

Would you ever want to play in New York City? (asked by Drahc)
STEREOPONY: We would love to play at Madison Square Garden!

What is your favorite music video? (asked by rsniteblaze)
AIMI: Arigatou, because of the visuals of Okinawa.
NOHANA: Tsukiakari no Michishirube. It was a really hard video to shoot.
SHIHO: Hitohira no Hanabira.

At the end, the attendees were asked STEREOPONY questions, and whoever raised their hand first and answered correctly received an autographed More! More!! More!!! poster. One of these winners just so happened to be Elsuke, so congratulations to him!

Following STEREOPONY after the Q&A panel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuFJxDUhVo

 

Immediately after the Q&A panel was the second STEREOPONY autographs panel. RSNiteblaze and Elsuke got their white demos signed. Elsuke had the 2008.11.5 DEBUT demo and RSNiteblaze had the 11.9.24 DEBUT demo. Near the end of the autograph line, Elsuke laid out the banner for people to sign, out of sight from STEREOPONY since we wanted to surprise them with it at the interview.

 

We met a couple of nice guys in the line, Van and Johannes, who gave us their raffle tickets for the autographed posters that STEREOPONY would be giving away on Sunday.

 

At the back we also officially met Heather, the woman in charge of selling STEREOPONY tour goods to the attendees. On Day One of the convention, she allowed us to leave our business card flyers at the table, which was very nice of her. Today she kindly offered RSNiteblaze, Drahc, and Arcluna a STEREOPONY photo card, after we talked to her a little bit. Thank you again, Heather!

 

After this, we (RSNiteblaze, Drahc, Arcluna, Elsuke, and gotchi) returned to our hotel room and began preparations for our interview. Elsuke still had several messages from VGD members to write onto the banner, so we all helped him. We finished preparations, ate some pizza, and headed back to the convention to meet with STEREOPONY once more.

 

Currently, our interview is not ready to be published. We sent the recording to Hirotana to double-check the quality of the translation and translate some messages that the translator may have missed during our interview. Check back at a later time for the full interview in English and Japanese and then later in other languages.

 

After the interview, we retreated back to the hotel for some rest after another long day. That rest was cut short though since we saw on Twitter that STEREOPONY had finished interviews and actually went by the seaside to take photos and then grab dinner. After wasting much time thinking about it, we decided to try and pursue them. In the end, we didn’t find them. But we enjoyed a nice dinner at Ivar’s.

 

Please check back for more detailed information on each event when we make individual posts about them.

 

On a more personal note, I, RSNiteblaze, would like to thank all of the VGD members who have been supporting us while we’ve prepared for this event. And I’d like to thank all of those who we’ve met at Sakura-Con and decided to check out Very Good Days, some even joining the forum, and especially those who have talked with us individually and show their appreciation for what we’ve been doing.

 

We got one more day of Sakura-Con. We will be covering the STEREOPONY shirt photo event and the STEREOPONY poster raffle event. Wish us luck!

Edited May 30, 2014 by GuiLD

[GUILD]

MUSIC: STEREOPONY INTERVIEW & VIDEO!

 

 

SJ Alpha had a special interview at Sakura-Con 2012 with the special music guests, STEREOPONY, the all-girls J-rock band known for the Bleach anime theme "Hitohira No Hanabira." Also, we’ve got an exclusive members-only video of their performance at Amoeba Records in San Francisco. Check it out!

 

 

Q: Could you introduce yourself?

 

A: I am Aimi on Vocal and Guitar.
N: I am Nohana on Bass.
S: I’m Shiho on Drums.

 

 

Q: Ive heard that you guys just started your first headlining tour in the U.S. at Sakura-con last night. How was it?

 

S: It was SO EXCITING! And Fun!
A: Saiko!

 

 

Q: How are the American fans different from Japanese fans?

 

A: They are totally different. For example, we try to engage the fans in Japan by us cheering. Then the Japanese audience will match our energy and respond. But in America, all the fans are going super crazy and cheering all the time for us. It’s so fun to see how energetic they are.

 

 

Q: "Hitohira no Hanabira" is the Bleach anime ending theme song by STEREOPONY. How does the song relate to Bleach?

 

A: Actually, it was our debut song, and we’ve been making and singing this song before it was selected to be the theme song for Bleach. Since we were students, we’ve been fans of the Bleachmanga and read it with our friends all the time. So when "Hitohira no Hanabira" was chosen to be a theme song in Bleach, it made us very happy.

 

 

Q: Do you have any favorite Bleach character?

 

N: I like Renji.
A: I like Toshiro Hitsugaya.
S: I like Kenpachi.

 

 

Q: So you guys are on your first U.S. tour and will be performing at San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Ana. Are there any sightseeing plans while you're here?

 

A: I want to go everywhere.
S: I want to see the ocean!
A: I want to go to the very first Starbucks in Seattle's Pike Place Market.
N: I want to go to shopping.

 

 

Q: Any last words to the American fans of STEREOPONY?

 

N: STEREOPONY will have more songs in the future, so check us out.
A: It’s our very first time touring the U.S., and we were really looking forward to it. We would like to take this tour experience to Japan as a souvenir.
S: Hey American fans. I love you all.

Thank you very much STEREOPONY! We hope you had a great time on your U.S. Tour!

 

 

Edited May 30, 2014 by GuiLD