fade's JON UNDERDOWN Exclusive Interview for venezuelan magazine Bravísimo!
Bravísimo is a pop culture magazine in Venezuela, and for August edition fade was featured in it, with an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.
Jon Underdown shared many things to the Street Team and the magazine. Trust me, this is a VERY interesting interview.
Rui as a singer? Who's the bossy one in the band? The one that acts like a parent? And who's got skills with the ladies? ...You're about to find out.
Bravísimo magazine is in spanish, but HERE we bring a translation for you. So that you can learn more about fade.
FADE
Meet the black eyed cowboys and their frontman, the blue eyed samurai. Who are they? How do they sound like and where do they want to get? Unavoidably, they draw global attention towards themselves.
Fade was born in New York in 1991 and debuted in Japan in 2002. Their songs are in english, with easy lyrics to memorize and enjoy. This band started with Rui, Kansei and Noriyuki, highschool friends. Born and raised in EE.UU, but their american nationality didn't stand against their loyal japanese roots. After moving their ambitious plans to Japan, they met Jon Underdown, from Seattle, who was in Japan due to a student exchange. To complete the quintet, 5° joined them (it's pronounced as GODO), who is the only member born and raised in Japan, and who is also a dedicated writer and painter, besides being a guitarist.
The Sound
The mixture of cultures and nationalities in FADE reflects their sound, and shows there are no boundaries that stand against the members' common goal: to make good music. Their sound is clearly influenced by the classic Hard Rock from the 80's, which undoubtedly inspires the quintet. Their leader, Rui, defines FADE in a very particular way "We are like the California Roll of Rock". An interesting way to explain their multi-cultural integration graphically (or rather, culinarily).
Jon Underdown, vocalist in FADE, was an open book when he spoke about the characteristic features in the band, in which he has been for 10 years and recently launched their album "Ten".
Jon: I feel like it's far and away the best album and the best expression of "fade" that we've made so far, so I really hope that a lot of people all over the world will check it out.
I think the vibe in the band while we were recording the album was the also the best that it's been in the last 10 years. That energy, along with the totally wide variety of songs really make this album special.
B: Which are the differences between FADE now and ten years ago?
Jon: This may sound strange, but I think we are finally really starting to come together as a band.
There are so many dynamics within a group of five artists that it can be difficult to have everything flowing smoothly in the same direction.
But this last year has been huge for the inner workings of the band.
It's also been a great feeling to have people from all over the world - like yourself- take an interest in fade, and to finally be able to go and play for them outside of Asia. It's something that we've been hoping would happen since we first started out.
10 years of hard work is finally starting to pay off a little bit, and it's only making us more motivated.
B: On the music field, what is something you haven't experimented yet as a band, yet you would like to try it out?
Jon: I hope that one of these days Rui will sing lead vocals on a new song. He'll deny it, but he's got an awesome voice.
B: You have the support of many important musicians and people in the business. How is it like to work with them? Have you learned anything with them?
Jon: Whenever you work with or jam with another artist, no matter how different their style is from yours, you always walk away with something that is going to help you grow and improve. I think it's one of the most important things you can do as an artist.
B: Do you have any impressions from latin american people? What would you expect if you were to perform there?
Jon: Most of the people that I've had the pleasure of meeting from Latin America have been very easy going, passionate people who know how to have a GOOD TIME and absolutely love music.
One of the things that's always impressed me about shows in Latin America that I've seen on DVD or the net is how much the crowd sings.
It's not just one line, or the chorus - people are singing louder than the band for the entire song sometimes.
I would love to experience that!!
B: Do you have any ritual to write songs, a special mood or you just wait for them to come up?
Jon: When it comes to writing lyrics, I try to let it happen as naturally as possible.
However, deadlines are the enemy of natural creativity, so I usually end up locking myself in a room for weeks on end to get things finished in time. lol
B: Do you think that your performance has changed after being in Yellow Fried Chickenz?
Jon: I think I learned massive amounts about a totally new approach to entertaining /performing for people.
It's been very interesting to take all of that and combine it with my own style and fade's style.
The reactions from people at our shows have been getting better and better, so I think it's a step in the right direction.
B: Besides music, do you have any other kind of special talents?
Jon: Rui is smooth with the ladies, 5° is a painter and a published author, Noriyuki is a bit of a fashion nut, and Kansei is a Hentai Eskimo.
B: What is your strongest feature/what you are mostly proud of?
Jon: As a band, I would have to say it's our sincerity.
B: What member gets easily bothered? Who is the one that acts more immature, and who is the most serious?
Jon: 5° is always moving at his own pace, Noriyuki is like the parent of the band, Rui is the generalisimo, and Kansei and I seem to be the ones always getting into trouble. lol
B: Tell us about your most beloved objects, something you carry with you all the time or you like to collect.
Jon: Before the release of our album "Age of Innocence" a few years ago, I rode my bike to a shrine called KUZURYU JINJYA at the top of Mt. Hakone - about 80km outside of Tokyo.
I got a good luck charm there that I've carried with me ever since.
B: What animal do you relate to and why?
Jon: Eagles - I've always wanted to be able to see the world from that perspective.
CURIOUS FACTS:
- The song "One Reason" is the opening theme for the anime "Deadman Wonderland".
- Kansei is called "Hentai Eskimo" thanks to him appearing dressed like a Esquimaux in one of FADE's USTREAM broadcasts, and also being a pervert.
- Jon sang a song for the Playstation game "Gran Turismo 5"
- Rui composed songs for the anime "Nana", alongside the singer Olivia Lufkin.
- Jon is the secondary vocalist in "Yellow Fried Chickenz", a band where Gackt also is.*
- For the moment, "Cosmicalism", is their only track in japanese.*
*By the moment this article was written, "TEN" hadn't been released and YFC were still together.
Did you like the interview??? LEAVE your opinion and also SPREAD it so everyone can take a look!
Credits for it and the translation go to fade Venezuela Street Team
And also Bravísimo magazine! If you wanna say thanks or tell them your opinion, throw them a tweet @BravisimoNews
PD: pedimos a aquellos ST's de habla hispana por favor no compartan ninguna traducción de la entrevista en español puesto que recién salió a la venta. Ésto será solo durante el mes de Agosto en el que la edición estará disponible para ser adquirida.
0 comments