【Interview by Cure】Azavana――The Timeless Strength of Individuality and the Potential Sparked by Change
Original article in Japanese
Azavana, gearing up for their first solo show "Fireflies Swimming in the Sea of Ash" at Ikebukuro harevutai on October 24th, have gradually revealed more of themselves since their debut on September 2nd. While the band members have shared glimpses of their thoughts and feelings along the way, with the solo show just around the corner, we wanted to offer a space for them to openly discuss what Azavana truly means.
As these five unique individuals come together as one band on this journey, we set out to explore the essential questions leading up to their big performance. Through these candid conversations, we discovered the bold vision Azavana is crafting for the future—a vision that reveals immense potential. We hope to share this excitement with you as they prepare to take the stage.
“We’re aiming to embrace new themes moving forward. It’s not that we want to discard what we’ve done in the past.”
Interviewer: As we talk about the formation of Azavana today, I’d like to go through the story step by step. First, I understand that Ryō joined Ashmaze. after the vocalist left, which eventually led to the creation of Azavana. However, I sense that the idea of 'forming a new band' feels a bit different in this case. How do the members see the current situation? Could you share your thoughts on that?
Shiyu: Since Ashmaze. didn’t officially disband, it feels more like a new chapter for us now, after we did our best with just the four members of Ashmaze. left. The core people are still the same, after all. But bringing Ryō on as the vocalist changes everything—he’s not just someone who fits into an existing foundation; his presence has the power to transform the band entirely. Ashmaze. and Ryō’s former band, VIRGE, often shared the stage for two-man shows and the like, so we’ve always had a bit of a rivalry. Having experienced the same challenges and joys along the way, we’ve formed a bond through those ups and downs. We’ve always felt each other’s presence but have followed our own paths until now. That being said, we definitely don't want to erase what we've done up until now. Coming together, we want to create something new as a unified group, while still honoring everything we’ve built up to this point.
Interviewer: It’s not about starting from scratch; instead, its like a lucky coincidence of two rich experiences have come together for a fresh beginning.
Ryōhei: Honestly, I'm not sure how to put it, but to me, 'evolved' feels like the best way to describe it. We spent so long searching for the right vocalist, and now we finally have someone amazing in the band.
Яyu: With this change, it feels like our direction for expression has truly come into focus. Personally, I feel like we can now move forward toward the vision we’ve always aimed for. While there’s definitely room for lighter moments, like during encores, I want our core vibe to be clear—centered around an intense, gripping energy that holds the audience’s attention from start to finish.
S1TK: I’m with everyone on this. Everything we’ve achieved so far matters,
but I’m even more excited about where we can take our music and live shows from here. Changing vocalists naturally shakes things up, opening up new possibilities, and it's that unknown potential that excites me the most. There’s this feeling that we’re stepping into something fresh, with endless directions to explore, and I can’t wait to see how we evolve together.
“I think we all felt that with this lineup, we could really create something special.”
Interviewer: As Shiyu mentioned, Ryō and Ashmaze. had this intense, competitive connection. What was the journey like leading up to the decision to join forces?
Shiyu: Well... there were a lot of things that went down (laughs).
Interviewer: We'd love to hear some of those stories (laughs).
Shiyu: Honestly, Ashmaze. and VIRGE had different vibes as bands. For example, about two years into Ashmaze., when we did a support show together, we’d joke about things like, “Who pulled the bigger crowd today?”. No other band had that kind of dynamic with us. It was part of what brought us closer as friends.
Interviewer: It sounds like you naturally developed a kind of healthy rivalry.
Shiyu: Yeah, we, Ashmaze. lost our vocalist, and around the same time, VIRGE announced their disbandment. Since we were already close and understood each other’s strengths, the idea of working together naturally came up. But it wasn’t an instant decision. Even though we got along, each band had a unique identity. Plus, we both came from a scene where people often say, “These bands don’t last long.” VIRGE had been around for seven years, and Ashmaze. was approaching five—it felt like a defining moment. Our experiences had shaped us, and that would inevitably influence our direction. There were definitely uncertainties, but we also talked about how exciting it would be to combine our talents.
Interviewer: So, after Ashmaze. lost their vocalist in April and VIRGE disbanded in May, that’s when things started to lead to where you are now, right?
Shiyu: Exactly. After VIRGE’s final live and Ryō’s solo performances, Ashmaze. brought in guest vocalists and continued performing as a four-member band. As we adapted to our changing circumstances, we all went through shifts in how we felt. It wasn’t easy, and there were many times when our discussions seemed to go in circles. We talked a lot—sometimes we’d even gather every night to discuss things. I was always there, so it was honestly tough (laughs). Plus, we weren’t exactly newcomers anymore, so we couldn’t just act on impulse. We needed to involve the people who had supported us and have those important discussions. After all that, we finally decided, "We have to do this!".
Interviewer: It sounds like it took a careful decision-making process, and discussions must have been difficult, but in the end, you all came to a resolution.
Shiyu: Exactly, because if we don’t try, we won’t know. We all had our individual experiences, and while we were cautious about changing things, staying the same wouldn’t lead to anything. So we decided to return to our roots and said, “Let’s just try it out.” The good things will stay, and if something doesn’t work, we’ll adjust. But I truly believe that with this lineup, we can create something great.
Ryōhei: One of the reasons we talked so much is that we were still figuring things out. Ryō barely speaks at all! (laughs)
Everyone: (laughs)
Ryōhei: See, we really value communication.
Shiyu: While communicating verbally, there are just so many things you can’t fully grasp just by talking to each other. For example, if someone says, “I like intense songs,” there are so many different ways to interpret what “intense” means. In the end, we had to try things out to see what actually fit. I think if we had just kept speculating about what might not work without taking any action, we would never have changed anything. So, starting with the mindset of “Let’s just try it out” became our first step forward.
“I was seeking an environment where everyone in the band could come together as one and move toward the same goal.” — Ryō
Interviewer: So, after all that, Ryō became the vocalist for Azavana. What were your honest feelings when the idea of forming a band with this lineup came up?
Ryō: When we did our two-man tour, I realized that Ashmaze. and VIRGE were completely different bands. But at the same time, I could see that the members had everything I was looking for, and I knew we could create something great together.
Interviewer: By the way, what do you mean by the “things you’re looking for”?
Ryō: I was looking for a “band.” I wanted members who had a strong sense of responsibility and commitment, not just to their individual roles but to the band as a whole. You could really see that in how they performed and played on stage. Even back when we were competing against each other, I felt that way. I was seeking an environment where everyone could unite and move toward the same goal. That alone makes a huge difference in how persuasive our songs are.
Interviewer: After VIRGE disbanded, you also did solo performances. Did you have time to reflect on what “singing” meant to you during that period?
Ryō: I did. Honestly, when we decided to disband VIRGE, I was thinking, “Maybe I should quit music altogether.” But during our farewell tour, as the end date approached, fans came to me in tears, asking me to keep singing. That’s when I realized there was still so much I wanted to do. I also started feeling increasingly frustrated with where the band was and the way our final tour was unfolding. During a show in Kyoto, I couldn’t hold those feelings back anymore, and in that moment, I decided to continue singing and told the fans. That was in April, but even after making that decision, I still had no concrete plans for my future. So, to keep myself from falling apart, I started writing new songs. I shared this in my blog at the time. I wanted that song to be a light for myself, something that would guide me toward working with amazing members I could truly commit to in the future. I also wanted to make a promise to my fans, asking them to wait for me. At the final disbandment show, I played a demo of that new song. The lyrics were just placeholders, and it didn’t even have a name yet. That song later evolved with the contributions of the members and became “Azabana.”
Interviewer: So the desire to continue singing has led you to where we are now. It’s very clear that your wish to "still want to sing" has brought you to this point. Now that activities as Azavana have officially begun, how do you feel about it?
Ryō: It’s honestly just really refreshing.
Яyu: There are still some areas where we’re figuring things out.
Ryōhei: Even during the songwriting process, it seemed like Ryō was really enjoying that “freshness.”
Ryō: I don’t know why, but everything just flows so smoothly! (laughs)
Interviewer: It sounds like “freshness” is a feeling you all share, and that’s a really good thing.
Яyu: In some ways, things might have been a bit too predictable in the past. After being active for five years, you start recognizing patterns like, “Oh, this is how it’s going to go.” Even though you want to keep evolving, certain boundaries start to set in.
Shiyu: For example one time the demo Ryō sent over was really well-crafted. When I tried completely changing the riff or adding a guitar solo in a certain spot, he responded really positively.
Interviewer: It sounds like you’ve created a great environment where you’re inspiring each other.
Shiyu: I hope we can appreciate each other's unique traits while finding a new balance together. That’s something that hasn’t changed since our time with Ashmaze. From the start, we had bands we looked up to, but instead of forming a band with a specific image like “Let’s be like this,” we’ve focused on what we can create by blending our different qualities. Ryō has a vision he wants to express through his vocals, and within that, the way each member brings their individuality to the band has remained the same—and will continue to. Whatever message Ryō expresses going forward, I believe each of us has the confidence to fully be ourselves within that vision.
“I wanted to combine expressions of pain and suffering with something beautiful and redemptive.”
Interviewer: When focusing on the world the vocalist is trying to create, you started to wonder, "Is it right to keep the band name Ashmaze.?"
Ryō: At first, I thought about continuing under the name “Ashmaze.,” but I believe the only true vocalist for Ashmaze. was Sōma. I didn’t want to overshadow what he created with the band. Plus, if I just joined under that name, there would be a lot of unknowns for me, and I didn’t feel confident enough to step in. Doing that would’ve felt like I was losing my own identity. But if I’m going to be the vocalist with this lineup, I want to take full responsibility. After a lot of thought, I realized that if any of the members felt like they had to hold back, it would defeat the purpose of being together. So, we decided to move forward as a new entity, acknowledging our past while evolving into something fresh.
Ryōhei: After that, we came up with a ton of potential band names. I was pushing for DEATH MIST! (laughs) But the story behind how we became Azavana is something Ryō can explain.
Ryō: I wanted to express both pain and suffering alongside something beautiful and redemptive. So, I combined “痣” (bruise) and “花” (flower).
Interviewer: So, you combined elements that give off opposite impressions.
Ryō: Exactly. And since Ashmaze. and VIRGE were both bands with contrasting qualities, I wanted to maintain that contrast. So, I took the “A” from Ashmaze. and the “V” from VIRGE.
Interviewer: I see! That’s why the reading of “花”（flower） is “v”ana instead of “b”ana!
Ryō: Exactly.
Ryōhei: We kept saying we didn’t want to be separate; we wanted to blend together. I think that’s something Ryō really cares about.
Ryō: Just like there are fans waiting for me, there are also fans waiting for the other members. I think it’s important for us to share our music with both of our fanbases, even as we navigate this journey together.
Shiyu: Honestly, we’ve been discussing whether or not to change the band name for a while now. The name Ashmaze means "gray labyrinth," inspired by the themes Sōma used to sing about. But over time, it’s become more of a team name, one that’s evolved beyond its original meaning. There were a lot of differing opinions on what to do. Some felt it would be a shame to throw away something we’d built over five years, while others suggested changing it to all caps to mark a new chapter. But more than anything, Ryō’s desire to take responsibility as the vocalist really shaped our discussions. I understood where he was coming from—he wanted to honor the history and essence of what the previous members had built while also carving out his own path for the future.
Interviewer: Hearing that, it makes sense why you decided to change the band name.
Shiyu: Yeah, and when we recently performed at events in Osaka and Nagoya (Heaven’s Festival: Let’s Fly to the Sky!! 22nd Anniversary Tour in the Tokai Region), a senior who watched our set told us, “Changing the band name was a bold move, but after seeing the live show and feeling the energy the new vocalist brings, the overall vibe of the band feels completely different. In the end, changing the name was definitely the right choice.” That really stuck with me.
Interviewer: I’s impressive that you were able to convey such persuasive energy in such a short time!
Яyu: If we had kept the name Ashmaze., I think people would have expected us to stick with the previous style. That would have made it hard for us to fully showcase what this new lineup is capable of.
Shiyu: We consulted with a lot of people and gathered different opinions before making a decision. There were a lot of perspectives to consider, but from an artist's standpoint—especially as vocalists—the general feeling was that we should change the name. For example, if we’d had a 10- to 20-year career and were already well-established, bringing in a young vocalist might have led us to focus on recreating past successes. But that wasn’t our situation. While we’d moved beyond the beginner stage and had more to protect, we also needed to explore the possibilities of what we could create moving forward. At that point, the core of what we were as both the four members of Ashmaze. and as Ryō had evolved.
Interviewer: Given that, it makes sense that you'd choose a path of continuing to explore new possibilities. And your first song as Azavana was "Azabana." What kind of emotions did you want to convey through this song?
Ryō: We wanted to create a song that reflected the meaning behind this lineup. At first, since it was our debut track, we discussed making something energetic and upbeat. But in the end, we all agreed that the most important thing was to create a song that expressed our true feelings.
Shiyu: When a visual kei band starts out, there’s often a focus on creating catchy, energetic songs to get people’s attention. But with "Azabana," which is more melodic and has straightforward lyrics, we felt it was important to make it our debut song—a piece that truly represents who we are. I think that kind of "boldness" is crucial.
Ryōhei: The lyrics are amazing, right?
Interviewer: Yes, they really capture the present moment—looking forward, but not in a purely positive way. The lyrics and the melody really reflect that mindset.
Ryō: When I was talking with Shiyu, we both realized we shared similar struggles and experiences. Considering that, and the fact that we were about to start working together, I really wanted the lyrics to reflect something that everyone could relate to for our debut song.
Яyu: Yeah, you can only write lyrics based on your own experiences, right?
Shiyu: It’s definitely a direct reflection of our emotions.
Яyu: On the flip side, I’m curious about how the lyrics will evolve going forward. It’s like you can’t write them unless you’ve experienced some kind of pain…
Interviewer: That sounds like a pretty tough way to live…
Яyu: But I think we’ll still be able to express that sense of dealing with pain in the future. "Azabana" has a very fragile, transient vibe, and we built on that world by using effects and refining what we had in the demo. Originally, with Ashmaze. songs, I would try to bring change by having the bass move, but for Azavana, I wanted to keep things more straightforward. But in the end, I realized that my style is about movement, so I kept that in mind.
S1TK: The drums are complex and detailed, but not overly flashy. Finding the right balance was really challenging. Since it was our debut, we debated the approach, but now I’m more focused on creating harmony and using the drums to bring out the vocals and other elements. Also, it was really important to me to play and record the drums myself.
Interviewer: In today’s world, where digital production techniques have advanced so much, this is a policy that you really value, S1TK, right?
S1TK: Exactly. For me, it doesn’t make sense if the sounds I’ve played aren’t in the track. Nowadays, there are plenty of affordable studios if you look around, and there are so many things you can do if you really want to. So, I don’t get why people don’t try harder to make it happen...
Ryōhei: Looks like you're starting to take on the general public...!
S1TK: Especially with drums—yeah, you can do it digitally, but the feel of live drums is totally different. The subtle nuances of the dynamics are much more distinct, and you can see that in the waveform. So, to really express the emotions, I work closely with the engineer, watching that and making sure I’m playing with the right feel.
Яyu: I’ve also changed some parts to reflect the pain that Ryō wanted to express—like turning them into slap bass or using power to show the struggle. That’s something you definitely need to record live. It changes the whole expression.
Shiyu: Bass is also really popular in digital production these days. You can really see the rhythm section’s pride in that! In the end, it comes down to whether or not you can truly love the work.
S1TK: When you’re involved in something and put time and effort into it, there’s always love that comes with it, and your emotional connection to it becomes so much stronger.
Яyu: When I listen to those tracks, I think, “Ah, that’s how we felt back then.”
S1TK: I think the atmosphere of the recording session really comes through in the final track. Even though the world has become more convenient, we’re still a band at the end of the day…
Shiyu: In today’s convenient world, we’ve purposely chosen to do things manually as a band. Even with the guitar phrases, we collaborated and would say things like, "Try adding something here" while creating it. The lead guitar at the start was inspired by a guitar instrumental I played during my birthday live, and Ryō specifically asked for something in that style. Since he has been following us for a while, he’s been able to suggest ideas based on each of our unique qualities, like saying, "This might work well here."
Interviewer: The guitar solo really shows off the power of your twin guitars.
Shiyu: Yeah, exactly. Instead of filling it with lots of small phrases, I focused on playing it more broadly and with a flowing feel. Ryō also told me he wanted the guitar solo to seamlessly transition from the vocals. While working with Ryōhei, we created a flow where the guitar phrases start independently but then come together to harmonize. I think this really allowed us to showcase our strengths.
Ryōhei: The first thing that surprised me was getting a demo with vocals. That really helped me understand what Ryō wanted to express in the song and the nuances of his singing, making it easier to create guitar phrases that fit.
Яyu: Definitely, having the vocals was a huge advantage.
Ryōhei: The guitar phrases were already pretty well-developed in the demo. Some of them were things I hadn’t really played before, but I thought they sounded interesting, so I tried them out. For parts that didn’t feel like my usual style, I kept them really simple on purpose. There were some fun, quirky phrases, but since I often think about how the phrases will sound live, I ended up simplifying quite a bit. We had some chaos during the recording process, and I probably caused the others a bit of trouble, but in the end, we pulled it all together, and it turned into a song that I feel deeply connected to for many reasons.
"Mother" is one of the songs that’s really important to me. I had high hopes for how it would sound with this lineup, and it turned out to be absolutely amazing. — Ryō
Interviewer: So, the new mini-album "0=" , which includes six new tracks like "痣花" ("Azabana"), and the re-recorded mini-album "回想録" ("Kaisouroku”/”Memoirs") will be released soon. I heard the tracks are being gradually made available on streaming platforms ahead of the November release.
Ryōhei: The re-recording process went pretty smoothly. Ryō, you managed to record everything in just one day, right?
Ryō: Yeah, for the existing tracks, I really thought about the melodies and how to put my own spin on them. I focused on how to make them feel more personal while staying true to the original structure.
Ryōhei: The new version of "三日月がただ遠い" ("Mikatsuki ga tada tooi”/”The Crescent Moon Is Just So Far Away") sounds amazing.
Shiyu: For the older tracks, we took Ryō’s interpretation of the lyrics and adjusted our approach accordingly. For example, in parts where the lyrics could be seen from multiple perspectives, we added three-part harmonies.
Interviewer: It really feels like a fresh take. I also heard that "回想録("Kaisouroku") " includes a track from VIRGE along with songs from Ashmaze., is that right?
Ryō: Yeah, "Mother" is one of the songs that’s most important to me. I was really excited to see how it would turn out with this lineup, and it ended up being so much cooler than I expected. I didn’t even have to make specific requests—they just understood exactly what needed to be done. The bass and drums were perfectly in sync, the groove was on point, and the guitar phrases were added in all the right places. It felt like they really got the song. I think understanding a song deeply is so important, especially when performing it live. We even added some synths to change the vibe, which was a lot of fun. Honestly, I always thought making music was really tough, but this time, it was such a great experience, and I’m really happy with the result. So in a good way, it feels a bit unfinished, because it wasn’t hard... (laughs).
Яyu: Well, we’re definitely feeling the pain at the live shows though! (laughs).
Shiyu: With the new setup and this being our first release as the new lineup, there was definitely a sense of wanting to meet each other's expectations. Plus, we didn’t want to be underestimated in a positive way. That energy made everyone really enthusiastic, which ended up putting a bit of pressure on ourselves (laughs). As a result, we all went through some tough times until the live performances started to feel more natural.
Ryōhei: Even Ryō said, after making the songs himself, “This is way too high” (laughs).
Interviewer: (laughs) But in a way, it’s a good situation, since it shows how everyone is pushing each other to improve.
Shiyu: For the new songs, we kept the sound and vibe from Ashmaze. in mind, but we also incorporated Ryō’s unique style. Like we mentioned earlier, sometimes I’d send Ryō a completely different arrangement for his demos, and he’d come back saying, “This feels more like the band’s vibe and works better,” so it’s been a lot of fun. When you throw something out there and it comes back even better, it’s really exciting. I think we both trust each other to make something great.
Ryō: It’s been so much fun, and I can really feel the potential. I’m really glad we did it.
Interviewer: For your first ONEMAN live, "Swimming Fireflies in the Sea of Ash" on October 24, you'll be performing all the new tracks from your Mini Album "0＝," right? I heard it’s already sold out.
Ryōhei: Yes, it’s really amazing. We’re so grateful.
Interviewer: Since Ikebukuro harevutai is where Ashmaze. had their first one-man live, this show must feel even more special, don’t you think?
Shiyu: I’m really glad we got to do the event tour in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya before our one-man show. Even though we’ve been in the studio, there are things you can only get from performing live. You could feel the energy building, especially from the first day to the second — the excitement was clearly growing.
Ryō: We were feeling our way through it at first, and we still are, but during the Osaka show, when we naturally made eye contact with each other, I really felt that connection between us as a band. It was so much fun, and it made me excited about the possibilities ahead. I’m really glad we did it. Honestly, I’m just looking forward to what’s next.
Interview／Ayako Hirai
[RELEASE Information]
[Song Pre-Release Begins]
11.13 (Wed) – Two Releases Simultaneously
Mini Album "0＝" / Mini Album "Recollections"
Tracks from both albums will be gradually pre-released on Apple Music and other streaming services!