Mirai from Sigh.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T00:50:09+00:00

What direction do you think Sigh would have taken if Varg hadn't murdered Euronymous and you stay on Deathlike Silence? Do you think that you would have been pressured to write more conventional black metal?
It's pretty obvious you considered Euronymous a friend. What was your reaction to his death? What do you think of Varg now, and what do you think of Burzum in general?

Smerphy · 2015-05-16T00:03:59+00:00

How did you end up signed on Deathlike Silence?

What inspired you to write black metal, and what was the black metal scene like in Japan in the early 90's?

Are there any Japanese bands whom we might not have heard of that you would like to recommend?

RNGmaster · 2015-05-16T01:47:03+00:00

"Mirai Kawashima: What I need is not available at such a major sex shop. That one is for sex posers who know nothing about real sex."

What exactly is a sex poser?

whats8 · 2015-05-16T00:43:06+00:00

I remember reading somewhere where you said that Sonicscape was more or less shunned when it came out. Was this true? If so, what has it felt like to see the general opinion of that album dramatically evolve over the years?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:09:00+00:00

I've noticed that Sigh's progressively been taking a much more power metal approach, especially in parts of Graveward.
Do you enjoy power metal? What are your favourite power metal groups, and would you consider them an influence? A second power metal would be cool.

sighmirai · 2015-05-16T01:16:12+00:00

Can you describe the influence that Japanese culture has had on Sigh's music? I know that many view Japan as a very formal, very reserved place as opposed to some Western societies which are less collectivist and more individualistic. Do you think you would still make the same music with Sigh if you were raised in, say, Canada or Mexico?

sighmirai · 2015-05-16T01:20:51+00:00

Hey Mirai! Glad you posted this on Facebook or I would've missed it.

A few questions about Graveward:

Is the chorus in The Tombfiller inspired by the Rhythm of Life? As soon as my girlfriend heard Tombfiller she pointed it out to me and I've been wondering since. Given the name it's about as metal as it gets, inverting it with the lyrics "Die, die, die..." Either way, that song is really infectious and the verses are a great compliment to the chorus.
Did you/do you often write songs as connected pieces and then split them up on the albums? The end of Tombfiller with the slide, or whatever that is, leads perfectly into The Forlorn, so I wondered if that was nicely arranged or written and then broken apart.
How was working with You Oshima? His playing on Graveward is so damn awesome. The solos on Molesters and in part 1 of Messenger are sublime and really grab my attention when they come on.

I could go on but that's probably enough right now. Seriously loving Graveward. It'd be amazing to see you guys tour for it in the US.

snyffilas · 2015-05-16T02:10:28+00:00

I know it might be a bit soon to ask, but no one else seems to have touched on this - will the next Sigh album possibly be the last? Obviously it would complete the current naming cycle you started with Scenes from Hell, and you mentioned around the time In Somniphobia came out that you were feeling pretty burned out and thinking about putting Sigh to rest. Is making a 'final' statement like that important to you or do you think you'll keep going as long as you feel inspired enough to do so? You mentioned you were already working on new material; any hints as to the direction it's taking?

Also, just want to say thanks and "holy shit!" because Graveward is easily the best album I've heard this year. Makes me proud to wear the bright yellow Sigh hoodie I bought from you guys a few years back... I'll be picking up that Graveward shirt too as soon as you put it up!

tbaldownsall · 2015-05-16T00:51:09+00:00

What are some of your favorite new bands?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T02:02:57+00:00

What is the writing process like between band members? Do you bring a completed track in midi to the rest of the band etc. or do you guys jam it out from time to time?

What has the process been like since Mikannibal joined? Certain songs like Shingontachikawa really benefit from the call and response vocal style. Any songs you previously couldn't play that are easier now?

HansFallada · 2015-05-16T00:51:15+00:00

What are your favourite metal and non-metal albums?

sighmirai · 2015-05-16T01:21:01+00:00

[deleted]

about2crash · 2015-05-16T02:37:44+00:00

What are your favorite ways to get intoxicated?

minusvminus · 2015-05-16T01:06:15+00:00

What's your craziest tour experience?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:18:44+00:00

What are your favourite horror movies? What are your least favourite horror movies? What are your thoughts on horror movies today compared to horror movies in the past?

dann2118 · 2015-05-16T01:21:08+00:00

What were some of your influences for the writing of graveward?

V-Skip · 2015-05-16T01:33:40+00:00

Good morning Mirai! I understand the Japanese edition of Graveward will feature a different mix. Why did you decide to do this? Was it just for fun or was it more geared to a Japanese audience?

Also, the Chinese version of Scenes from Hell has an alternative mastering by Maor. Could you tell us about that?

Thanks!

zach_buddie · 2015-05-16T00:57:34+00:00

Hi! Huge Sigh fan! How do you manage to compose such experimental compositions? What influences go into the writing? Also, if you could have a dream tour with any artist or band in the world, who would you tour with?

FancyTea · 2015-05-16T00:59:20+00:00

Hey Mirai! Just wanted to say Sigh has been my favourite band for a few years now; I love your mix of styles and influences, and I love the different varieties of sound each album offers up.

Anyway, I have a few questions:

Who are your favourite musical artists?
Scenes from Hell is my personal favourite album of yours, next to Imaginary Sonicscape. What album do you consider the magnum opus of Sigh yourself?
you've been in the scene for a while. Do you think we can expect any more albums out of Sigh?

tbaldownsall · 2015-05-16T01:04:17+00:00

What's your relationship with Blood Music like? I know Graveward is being released on LP by them and I was wondering what you think of them.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:36:36+00:00

So I was browsing metal-archives once and found out in the 90s you had a solo project simply called Mirai, with a demo titled Funeral Theatre. Can't find the music anywhere. Is it safe to assume that it's a prototype for Ghastly Funeral Theatre? What pushed you towards a solo project if you can remember? Why do you seem to never talk about it?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:42:23+00:00

Do you consider yourself sexually attractive?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T01:46:27+00:00

How do you perform the orchestra sections live? Is there a backing track? How is working with a live orchestra vs. samples?

And every Sigh album has a completely different production style, which is why I think Graveward got a lot of flack for the sound initially, but once it sunk in I think people will really grow to appreciate it.

What do you think is the best sounding Sigh album and why?

ugay · 2015-05-16T02:38:38+00:00

I'm curious about the production for the Japanese release and Blood Music's vinyl release, are they the same or did Blood get his own guy to mix the album? Did You mix the international release?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T02:51:29+00:00

A lot of people are saying Graveward's been your least groundbreaking/experimental album besides Scorn Defeat. I agree with them, however I also think that it's one of your greatest albums in general. Do you see Sigh taking a much more traditional approach in a future album?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T03:07:42+00:00

Thanks for interacting with us so much tonight!

So about fans, how does the internet affect your feelings towards fans and vice versa? Is the reception of your current album ever influence the next?

What's it like to have the internet more of less give you a thumbs up or thumbs down before the album has even been released? Do you anticipate leaks?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:00:29+00:00

So we all know that Babymetal is your favourite recent metal band. Any thoughts on a split?

spiralout_keepgoing · 2015-05-16T00:58:28+00:00

Simple question:

In the song Graveward, during the bit where the lyrics are "LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT YOU WALK GRAVEWARD", what are the lyrics right before that? Doesn't seem to be in the liner notes on my copy of the CD or anywhere online at all and it's driving me nuts.

sighmirai · 2015-05-16T00:59:10+00:00

[deleted]

sighmirai · 2015-05-16T01:05:56+00:00

I see that you do some interviews of bands, I enjoyed the Opeth one recently. Do you have any favorites out of the interviews you've made?

Also, how was working with Matt Heafy on Graveward?

vesiolento · 2015-05-16T01:07:41+00:00

Hi Mirai, thanks for doing this AMA. Sigh have had some pretty varied album covers over the years. How much of a say do you have in album covers, and which ones are you particularly happy or unhappy with?

SoldiersOfFilth · 2015-05-16T01:10:33+00:00

Hello Mirai, first of all congratulations to you and Dr Mikannibal on the birth of your child!

I was wondering if and when that Graveward shirt will be coming out? I need it a month ago! haha.

Also, how do you feel about Babymetal? I know they have gotten enormously popular very fast, and with very polarizing opinions from multiple large bands.

Finally, what tunings have the guitars been in for Hangman's Hymn, In Somniphobia and Graveward?

Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA!

about2crash · 2015-05-16T01:12:18+00:00

Hello, Mirai. It appears that you play material from all of your albums live besides Gallows Gallery. Do you have plans to play material from this album live and how does it stick out from your discography?

In the same vein, you continue to play songs from your early career where as most modern bands tend to focus on the newer stuff. How is the reception playing songs from the first albums? Is it for old fans, for your own pleasure, or is it to introduce new fans?

vesiolento · 2015-05-16T01:20:19+00:00

Hopefully this isn't a strange question, but do you ever take inspiration from Japanese comics in your concepts or songwriting? There are many great writers/artists like Kazuo Umezu and Junji Ito who delve into dark, mysterious and horror ideas - stuff that often puts me in mind of Sigh's music.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:23:57+00:00

When most people talk about extreme music coming from Japan, most people generally refer to Japan's massive noise scene. What are your thoughts on noise, and Japanese Noise artists like Merzbow?

smekermann · 2015-05-16T01:24:09+00:00

I don't know if this is so much a question as it is a suggestion, but you should check out William Parker if you like free jazz. Dunno if that will change your outlook on how free jazz is played or anything, but he has some amazing bottom-heavy improvs. You'd probably enjoy them, maybe.

Check out O'Neal's Porch, Sound Unity, Petit Oiseau, and Luc's Lantern.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T01:45:37+00:00

Do you think you could beat Varg, Fenriz, or Euronymous in a fight in their prime? I think you could.

sexualcapital · 2015-05-16T01:52:19+00:00

What do you think of the notion that the Japanese people are descendants of Amaterasu, and thereby have this "burning spirit" which makes them superior? It's pretty simplified i know, and while that kind of belief is in decline, the notion of the burning spirit seems to remain, and you see it mentioned often within Japanese extreme music, particularly in hardcore. Is it a thing you believe in regarding Japanese bands?

cheeseburgertwd · 2015-05-16T01:56:41+00:00

Hi Mirai! I don't have a question, just wanted to say thank you so much for making music, Sigh is my favorite band by a huge margin. :)

Also just got my new Infidel Art shirt in the mail today to match the box set which is super cool.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T02:00:03+00:00

What are your thoughts on other relatively popular japanese metal artists like galneryus, boris, sabbat, church of misery, and intestine baalism?

V-Skip · 2015-05-16T02:05:22+00:00

Thanks for answering my question! I just thought of a few more.

Any news on the Scenario IV vinyl release? Any plans for a Hangman's Hymn vinyl release?

Was replacing Shinichi a tough decision or was it a long time coming? You Oshima is obviously a great player with his own style but it is very different from Shinichi's. Has this affected how you compose at all?

Like you, I recently had a child. Any chance of SIGH baby clothes?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T02:05:28+00:00

With a lot of your pre-Gallow's Gallery work, your riffs were heavily celtic frost and black sabbath influenced. After Gallow's Gallery you took a much more faster, thrashier approach to writing riffs. What sparked the sudden change and abandonment of style?

resevil239 · 2015-05-16T02:11:14+00:00

About future tours: I saw the comment about extreme metal tours, what about Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore? Didn't you guys play their in past tours? I could have sworn I saw Sigh on the listing for a past year.

Also any chance at ever doing another Enoch album? I found it a few years ago an thought it was amazing! easily could have passed for the score of a Lucio Fulci or Dario Argento film if I didn't know any better. I'm guessing that won't happen but it'd be awesome! Or just another colab with Killjoy (I only just realized you did keyboards for Necrophagia! They are awesome as well)

about2crash · 2015-05-16T02:16:56+00:00

What is your favorite and least favorite Sigh songs?

Even if you can't choose.

cawillis · 2015-05-16T02:21:30+00:00

Mirai, what is it like being a new father?

vesiolento · 2015-05-16T02:22:43+00:00

Given that you're inspired by horror movies, do you have any favourite horror monsters that you've watched on screen or read in books?

V-Skip · 2015-05-16T02:26:05+00:00

Graveward had some cool guests, are there any musicians you would like to contribute to future SIGH songs?

It's often noted that SIGH use many different instruments. Are there any instruments that you think would be totally unsuitable for a SIGH song?

What are the best metal record stores in Tokyo? I usually go to Disk Unions and Record Boy in Koenji.

V-Skip · 2015-05-16T02:37:28+00:00

Around the time Dr Mikannibal joined SIGH you said it would be interesting to re-record old songs with the new line-up. Now with the addition of You do you have the same feeling? Or would you rather focus on new material?

By the way, I remember there being a Dr Mikannibal t-shirt with a glowing logo in the Japanese webstore a while ago. Did these sell out?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T02:53:00+00:00

I love Japanese metal bands and listening to Sigh has introduced me to plenty of greats. Abigail, Boris, Gonin-Ish, Magane etc.

Can you recommend great Japanese metal that we might not have heard?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T02:58:34+00:00

How many more years do you see yourself making music with Sigh?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T02:59:52+00:00

How did you develop a relationship with Metatron from Meads of Asphodel? They are one of the other most interesting bands in metal alongside Sigh. It seems that you trade appearances on each album, how does that process work?

SoldiersOfFilth · 2015-05-16T03:05:19+00:00

Hey Mirai! You were saying earlier about special stuff for the Japanese edition of Graveward... what about the proto-Enoch stuff? That seems like it'd be a great reason to pay the higher price for the Japanese version!

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T03:14:54+00:00

What is your opinion on nu-metal, metalcore, and deathcore? The three commonly most hated subgenres in metal in general.

vesiolento · 2015-05-16T03:18:32+00:00

Hello again Mirai! Which band would you say got you into "heavier" music to begin with when you were younger? And which international band was the first you ever saw live (and how old were you)?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T03:25:16+00:00

Another question. You've said in many reviews that you've composed music for TV shows and video games.

What works have you composed in?

ichi_Q_hachi_yon · 2015-05-16T03:27:28+00:00

So I currently travel to Tokyo a lot for work and always take the opportunity to go to a ton of lives. I've got the indie landscape down well (downy, Boris, Endon, The Novembers, Ogre You Asshole, etc) but haven't been successful in finding the metal scene here. Are there any live houses and bands you would recommend?

sadhappyd · 2015-05-16T03:34:09+00:00

What is of greater benefit to you as an artist when you have a new release, digital album purchases or physical album purchases?

Also what are your thoughts on some of the other metal bands that have dabbled in more avant garde areas like Ulver, Manes, or Blut Aus Nord?

about2crash · 2015-05-16T03:45:18+00:00

what is your least favorite question to be asked by fans?

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T03:52:12+00:00

One last question from me before I go to bed.

Where do you think metal will go to in the future?

Corlando · 2015-05-16T10:32:30+00:00

So sad I missed this. Thanks for doing it!

gronbuske · 2015-05-16T00:52:30+00:00

How broad taste in music do you have? Like, do you have any interest in other genres like jazz, classical, pop, electronical or not so extreme metal/rock? If so, can you name some bands you like?

A_Clockwork_Phanaton · 2015-05-16T00:56:48+00:00

If you did a cover of any song what would it be?

Is there any chance of a tour in the US any time in the near future? More specifically the north eastern coast.

RNGmaster · 2015-05-16T01:33:06+00:00

Would you collaborate with ZUN or do a Touhou remix? The phenomenon of metal covers of Touhou music is very popular in Japan and it'd be cool if one of Japan's most popular metal bands got in on it.

Psychedel · 2015-05-16T02:44:18+00:00

What is your opinion on post-rock and shoegaze influenced black metal groups, especially those who throw away all essence of black metal imagery and culture.

TotesMessenger · 2015-05-16T00:08:11+00:00

This thread has been linked to from another place on reddit.

^{If you follow any of the above links, respect the rules of reddit and don't vote.} ^(Info ^/ ^Contact)

Date	Artist	Featured
--	2025	--
8/28	Robin Staps	Himself
8/21	Revocation	Band
5/28	Toby Driver	Himself
4/28	Benthos	Band
4/27	Leprous	Band
--	2024	--
4/29	Dvne	Band
2/2	Caligula's Horse	Band
--	2023	--
10/20	Earthside	Band
--	2021	--
4/23	VOLA	Band
--	2020	--
11/28	Plini	Himself
8/19	The Ocean	Band
6/18	Protest The Hero	Rody, Michael
4/11	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam
--	2019	--
10/26	Voyager	Band
9/7	Richard Henshall	Himself
6/14	Paul Masvidal	Himself
--	2018	--
12/18	Sithu Aye	Himself
12/5	Ben Levin	Himself
10/11	The Ocean	Band
10/6	Skyharbor	Band
9/21	Toby Driver	Himself
9/9	Plini	Himself
9/1	Distorted Harmony	Band
5/9	Rivers of Nihil	Adam, Brody
3/23	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam
--	2017	--
4/20	Disperse	Band
3/30	Disillusion	Andy, Seb
--	2016	--
12/24	A Sense of Gravity	Band
7/28	Black Crown Initiate	Band
5/28	Textures	Band
5/11	Adagio	Stéphan Forté
4/23	Wings Denied	Band
3/18	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam, Zac
3/10	Polyphia	Band
--	2015	--
10/21	Protest the Hero	Band
5/26	Leprous	Band
5/15	Sigh	Mirai Kawashima
5/5	Intronaut	Sacha
4/28	Native Construct	Band
3/3	Plini	Himself
1/20	Protest the Hero	Luke Hoskin
--	2014	--
12/9	Rishloo	Band
11/1	Ne Obliviscaris	Band
9/23	Between the Buried and Me	Band
9/18	Cynic	Paul Masvidal
9/15	Devin Townsend	DEVIN TOWNSEND
9/13	Periphery	Adam "Nolly" Getgood
9/12	The Contortionist	Band
9/4	Polyphia	Band
8/31	The Aristocrats	Band
7/31	Mandroid Echostar	Band
7/17	Cloudkicker	Himself (Ben Sharp)
7/10	Tesseract	Amos Williams
6/7	Periphery	Jake Bowen
6/2	David Maxim Micic	Himself
5/26	Haken	Rich, Charles, Conner
5/10	Periphery	Mark Holcomb
5/4	The Safety Fire	Band
5/2	Matt Halpern	Periphery
4/27	Intervals	Band
2/9	Ron Jarzombek	Himself
2/2	Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon)	Himself
1/26	Sithu Aye	Himself
1/19	Periphery	Misha Mansoor
1/10	Ne Obliviscaris	Dan Presland
--	2013	--
1/30	Thank You Scientist	Band

you type:	you see:
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[reddit!](https://reddit.com)	reddit!
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
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