- gachapinfan
- Mar 1
- 6 min read
We didn't want to erase the aggressive side that all five of us have.
Their first album DOLLS APARTMENT will be released on December 12th!
Gacharic Spin, in their 2.5th generation, was active with support vocalists. One of the support vocalists was Fuki (Lightbringer). These five members joined forces again to form DOLL$BOXX. We take a closer look at their first album, which showcases a new individuality that can't be found in either band!
―――First, please tell us how DOLL$BOXX was formed.
F Chopper KOGA: At the beginning of this year, Gacharic Spin's vocalist decided to take a break and then leave the band, so we ended up having to carry out our scheduled tour with support vocalists. At that time, Fuki was the one who reached out to us even before we had even talked about looking for a support vocalist. Her passionate heart and the natural sense of unity when we actually started rehearsing were big factors. At the time, we had a lot of different people supporting us, but she was the one who we felt most comfortable with, and she was actually considered a big shot (laughs).
Fuki: I memorized the songs the best and performed the most times (laughs). Galmet's Miki-san and I were treated like big names, weren't we?
KOGA: So, Fuki and Gacharic Spin decided it would be nice to do something together again, and that's how DOLL$BOXX was born. So, it's not that Fuki joined Gachapin (Gacharic Spin), but rather the band was born from the idea of what would come out if Fuki and Gachapin combined forces.
―――When did you start writing songs?
Fuki: Around summer. As soon as we formed DOLL$BOXX, we decided to first make an album of original songs. We talked about musicality soon afterwards and we thought it would be pointless unless we create something that's not Gachapin or Lightbringer. Each band has its strong points, so we wanted to try things that each band couldn't do individually.
KOGA: Fuki wanted to do something that wasn't metal. However, we weren't specifically trying to challenge ourselves with a particular genre, but we thought that if we combined forces, we would inevitably create something new, and it might turn out to be something really cool.
Fuki: We avoided metal because we didn't think there was any point in delving into metal with these five members. We thought we had to do something that only the five of us could do.
―――What did you keep in mind when composing the songs?
Hana: I tried to avoid going too far in the metal direction, but I also tried to avoid going in a cute, overly pop direction. Also, I didn't want to erase Fuki's usual good qualities or Gachapin's aggressive side. That meant we went in a slightly harder direction.
TOMO-ZO: When creating the melody, I assumed that Fuki would be singing, but Hana and Oreo (Reona) can also sing, so I thought about how they would blend together and what they could do.
―――That said, you can still catch glimpses of a metal-inspired approach in the guitar riffs.
KOGA: I definitely think there are metal elements in there.
Hana: I've always liked metal, so I think those elements come in naturally when making demos. Then TOMO-ZO's old man (uncle-like) vibe gets mixed in (laughs), and that's what gives it that metal feel.
―――What are the elements that aren't in Lightbringer or Gacharic Spin?
TOMO-ZO: The solo in "Loud Twin Stars" is a twin solo with Oreo on keyboard and me on guitar, but that wasn't done in Gachapin before.
Fuki: The harmony between keyboards and guitars is what makes hard rock fans go crazy, right? Also, there are a ton of guitar solos, right?
TOMO-ZO: Yeah. The solo for "Role-Playing Life" was a bit of a struggle because Hana came up with such complex chord progressions (laughs), but I feel like I played a solo unlike anything I've done before. As a whole, the album has a more masculine feel compared to Gachapin.
Fuki: You can tell from the sound that TOMO-ZO isn't just cute.
KOGA: She plays with such intensity, it really screams "guitarist!"
Fuki: Speaking of the non-Lightbringer side of me, I really wanted to let people hear the side of me that isn't Fuki the metal vocalist. The first song I recorded was "Toy Soldier," and when I tried singing it, I felt that I was able to create a feeling that wasn't like Fuki from Lightbringer, even though I wasn't particularly conscious of it. The ballad I recorded afterwards, "Doll's Box," was also sung by Fuki as a pop singer, not a metal singer. No matter how I sing, there are parts that end up sounding powerful (laughs), but I've put away all the techniques I used for singing metal and am singing the pop parts in a pop style. So overall, my voice is pretty cute, I guess.
KOGA: When I'm Gachapin, my phrasing and stage presence are boyish, with a straightforward, "go, go!" feel, but when it comes to Doll's Box, I think I have more of a feminine side to me. I don't really bring out the sexiness though (laughs). Rather than F Chopper KOGA, it feels more like F Melodious KOGA (laughs)?
Fuki: Not melodious, but glamorous or something (laughs)?
KOGA: Not glamorous (laughs). But I incorporate the masculine, honest side of Gachapin, while also showing that different side.
Oreo Reona: With Gachapin we do weird things to stand out, and we're a band that also thinks about fun and entertainment, so rather than playing hard we sometimes show off through our movements without playing at all. But with DOLL$BOXX we have a strong emphasis on showing off while also playing! Even at live shows. Rather than standing out like idiots with a "Huuu", I want to project a feminine, cool, natural kind of coolness, sexiness, and playfulness.
Hana: With Gachapin I don't make any sensible statements (laughs) and my drumming is a little strange, but with Dorubako (DOLL$BOXX shortened/Cash cow in eng.) I plays drums in a way that conveys straightforward coolness.
―――Even so, there are a lot of sounds, aren't there? Not only the number of notes you're playing, but there's also a lot of overdubbing, right?
Hana: Gachapin is a digital rock band that incorporates a lot of (synchronized) sequence phrases, but I wanted to do something different from that. So in Gachapin, we used a lot of the phrases that were done with synths or programmed tracks, but now we used guitar instead.
TOMO-ZO: There are harmony phrases and a lot of guitar parts, and there are also technical phrases at key points.
KOGA: Your hands are busier than with Gachapin, aren't they?
―――Was that a deliberate move to make it more technical?
Oreo: With Gachapin, we also consider things like dancing and choreography during live performances, so we sometimes simplify things.
―――Huh, is that it?
Oreo: Yes (laughs). But that's where the Dorubako is different, once you take out the silly parts, every other part actually ended up busier instead (laughs).
―――Also, you did a self-cover of Gacharic Spin's "Nudirhythm" on the album, right?
KOGA: We had a lot of ideas, and one of them was that we wanted to do an anime song or a cover of someone else's song. So we thought it would be great to sing a song from "Nudirhythm," the first single released as 2.5th generation Gacharic Spin. In particular, we wanted to hear Fuki sing "Nudirhythm," and we thought this would be a good timing.
―――When I think of the live shows that Fuki supported, the impression I got was of "Black Survival."
KOGA: That's too obvious (laughs).
Fuki: If we included "Black Survival," I'd feel like I'd lose (laughs), or rather, it feels like it's living up to expectations too much. I wanted to betray them. Also, "Nudirhythm" was my first rap.
―――So, what are your long-term visions after the Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka tour in December?
Fuki: Originally, our goal was to do things that neither of our bands could do together, so there's no point in giving up on Dorubako, and we'll continue doing it forever.
Hana: After all, this is a girls band made up of the best members from the best bands, Lightbringer and Gacharic Spin.In addition, we will be recording music videos for all nine songs except for "Nudirhythm." The music videos for "Merrily Go Round" and "Toy Soldier" will be included on the DVD that comes with the first limited edition, and we will be recording the other seven songs soon.
KOGA: Depending on the song, people may like or dislike them, but for us, they are all our favorites, and I think you can see that in the music videos. Also, while live performances are one thing, we want people to enjoy the visual aspect as well. We want to show them that everything is cool and fun. So, I hope you'll keep checking us out even after the Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka tour.
―――So, what are each band's upcoming plans?
Fuki: Lightbringer is planning to release their second album under King Records next spring. We have two live shows scheduled for March.
KOGA: Gachapin is planning to release their first full album in March. We'll also be going on a long tour from March to July. Both Lightbringer and Gachapin will be busy, but we also want to grow Dorubako, and we want to work hard and expand their presence.
