Interview with The Royal Dead

Can you give a brief introduction to The Royal Dead?

TRD is violin and female voice on the future pop sound and sometimes EBM

How would you describe the music and how did you come to the combination of electro and violins?

I think our music is Future pop.
Definitely, you think future pop and violin is a strange combination, but please look forward to you watch our show.

Which bands are influences for you?

I like VNV Nation. Then I aim like a VNV Nation's sound.

The Royal Dead

Japanese bands often sound very different from European or American ones, do you have a reason for this?

Maybe the Japanese audience likes a Japanese original sound. That’s maybe also the reason the j-rock was born. Also a lot of people in Europe and USA were impressed by it.

Before The Royal Dead the band name was Phantasmagoria, why did you change the name and why picked the name The Royal Dead?

Maybe almost j-rock fans know why we changed the name. Japan had 2 Phantasmagoria’s. Another Phantasmagoria was evading a tax. Then we had a big problem. Because we had to change the name. Do you know Erwin Olaf? The name of TRD is inspired on one his pictures.

With what line up will you tour this summer, when I read your bio it says there are between 2 and 4 female singers, do you have a changing line up?

We will go to Utrecht by me (violin) and main vocalist only.

How is the Japanese goth scene today, is there a good scene or not?

The Japanese goth scene is good, But it's very tight. I hope the Japanese goth scene becomes bigger.

The Royal Dead

The visual part seems to be very important for many Japanese bands, is it for you as well and do you want to make a statement with it?

Of course, it's very important for us too. I don't know about another bands. But our performance is entertainment. So the visual part is very important.

You will play at the summer darkness festival in the Netherlands, what can the people expect of your show?

I don't know... We hope the audience will enjoy our performance.

You already released 3 maxi singles, what can you tell about them, how were the responses? When will there be a full length release?

The new single has very good responses. Thank you very much!! We have already released a full album from twilight records.

You played in Europe and the USA before, in what way are things different compared to Japan?

Everything is difference. Japanese venue is NOT cooperative in promotion at all.

The Royal Dead

Any words for the readers?

We are looking forward to being able to meet everyone in SD 08!!