MAN WITH A MISSION is having a great year. Riding on the release of the second installment of their double album, Break And Cross The Walls, late last year, the band took it to a new level by providing the opening and ending songs to one of the most anticipated animes of the year. gained fame. , demon slayer season three.
Released on April 10, the electric opening track “Kizuna no Kiseki” has already racked up over 18 million streams on Spotify, quickly closing in on other top hits.
Not resting on their laurels, the band are now preparing to embark on their first international tour since 2019, to a world that is in many ways similar to the one they traveled to pre-pandemic. They will also be performing at a venue close to the arena they regularly play at their home base in Japan, which will be a new frontier for the band.
But, as frontman Gene-Ken Johnny tells us, they’re armed with a manifesto of new hope they’ll be delivering to listeners in the UK and Europe this June. NME under.
This is my first overseas tour since 2019, before things like the pandemic were a concern. How does it feel to be out on the road for the first time in a while? Have any of your touring considerations changed since the pandemic?
“It’s been a long time since we last traveled and performed around the world. Even during this pandemic, some of our friends’ bands have traveled abroad. [overseas] It was completely different from Japan. So I am really looking forward to going out and feeling the atmosphere and seeing how different it is from this country. ”
MAN WITH A MISSION will perform at a much larger venue on this tour compared to their UK performances so far. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment after participating in a tour like this?
“It’s really nice to see the venue getting bigger and bigger and getting more people.” [are] Coming. Britain and Europe are definitely great places not only to perform, but also to visit and feel the atmosphere of the country. I’m really excited just to play. Since the last time I was in Europe, I am more fulfilled than ever. ”
What is your favorite thing about touring in the UK/Europe? Is it the energy the crowd brings? Are there challenges in reaching new audiences?
“All of the things you’ve said are elements that I really enjoy. A lot of my favorite artists are from England since we started the band, so it’s a real honor. It’s a pretty weird way of saying it, but we’re going to tour in that area.” It’s really a dream come true to perform with a band, it’s always hard to reach new audiences too, but as far as I’m concerned, what we’re doing now is what I had in mind when I started the band. I am chasing my dreams.”
What can fans expect from the band on this UK and European tour? Is there anything you’re looking forward to showing off?
“we [released] A double album containing about 30 songs in this pandemic. I’m pretty sure I haven’t played many of those songs since the last time I was in your presence. So you could say we play a lot of new songs. Let’s actually play the theme song “Kizuna no Kiseki”. demon slayer season three. ”
What has been your most memorable tour day in the area so far?
“I think the Leeds festivals we played in were really great experiences because I have seen videos of so many bands I admire playing at those festivals. It was really an honor to be able to do it.Where else?I went to France for the first time.As you know there is a really big fanbase of anime and Japanese culture in France so it’s really nice to see the emotions pouring out. It was wonderful.”
After a series of singles and EPs, MAN WITH A MISSION released “Break And Cross The Walls Part One and Two”. What is the inspiration for this large amount of output?
“I spent a lot of time in the studio due to the pandemic, so I was really thinking about what I could do without playing live. We were really focused on what the power of music could do for the audience, all those people who couldn’t enjoy a live house.
We were really happy when we made these two albums. It was really full of power, energy and hope for the future. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts to all the songs played. ”
Was that the main message you were trying to convey with these two albums? Because there is an uplifting and hopeful energy that runs through both parts.
“Yes, it was really about not losing hope. [COVID-19] It was a plague, but it was also a clash of all people with their views and ideologies.
While Twitter and social networking sites have had a lot to worry about, the truth is that the plague brought to the fore many of the problems humanity has faced since ancient times. That’s why the album itself was full of such messages. ”
“Kizuna no Kiseki” is well on its way to becoming one of the biggest hits of all time. What was it like to be contacted to provide a theme song for her in one of the biggest memorable animes of recent times?
“We knew both the anime and the comic itself. So, at the same time, there was a lot of pressure and a little bit of anxiety about what we could make, but we were really happy with what we came up with from our ideas and images.”
Were you already fans of manga and anime before you were offered the theme?
“Yes. I didn’t follow the whole story, but I did read parts of it. When I got the chance, I read it again and I love the philosophy this anime really has. Probably the last 10 years.” I think it’s one of the biggest hits in Japanese animation, but what surprises me the most is that although the manga itself is aimed at Japanese children, it incorporates a concrete and solid method and philosophy about the view of life and death. It’s been amazing, kids read the comics, but at the same time they get the chance to recognize some really unique and original ideas about death and life.”
What was involved in the process of creating the theme?
“The idea of a male and female artist collaborating came from the animation side, because this season’s story will feature boy and girl protagonists named Mitsuri and Muichiro. They left the creative ideas up to us, but we also discussed how the producers wanted to lead the audience with the lyrics.”
How did milet come up with the idea of collaborating?
“Actually it was not us who chose to collaborate with milet, it was all decided by the animation side.
When I first heard she was going to work with me, I wrote a lot of this song and the melody was perfect for the way she sang it and the vibe. ”
What are you looking forward to this season?
“I’m really happy to see the swordsmith Haganezuka. I really love the character because he’s so into creation. I feel like there’s a point.Actually, I have the same feeling.I’m really happy that the swordsmith’s village is the main scenery of this season.These characters are actually in this animation. He’s not the hero of the whole thing, but he’s a very good part of this whole story.”
MAN WITH A MISSION will tour Europe and the UK in June. Get your tickets here.
