HEY-SMITH’s Shuhei Igari on the power of live shows, personal freedom in ska-punk

HEY-SMITH, the six-piece ska-punk band from Osaka, has captivated audiences worldwide with their high-energy sound, melodic hooks, and rebellious spirit. Blending the edge of ’90s punk with ska’s bright, punchy horn section, they’ve been a driving force in the scene since 2006. Known for their unfiltered authenticity and rousing anthems, they bring an unforgettable energy to every stage.

Their latest release, Feel My Pain, has drawn a surge of new fans, while their reputation for intense live performances—over 150 shows annually—continues to grow. With their major label debut on PONY CANYON in 2023, the band’s future is set for even greater success.

HEY-SMITH’s music is the creation of vocalist, guitarist, and frontman Shuhei “Shu” Igari, a relentless force who writes and composes every song. Onstage, he’s a whirlwind—magnetic, uncontainable, the living pulse of the band’s riotous spirit. Fresh off their explosive set at the Supernova Ska Festival, we sat down with Shu to talk about HEY-SMITH’s journey, their latest milestones, and the raw energy that fuels their music.

Frontman of HEY-SMITH, Shuhei “Shu” Igari.PIFPhotography

First of all, how was your show tonight? You got an amazing audience reaction!

Shu: I was pleased that so many people came out to see us, but more than that, I was overjoyed to find so many friends in a place far from my home country. Bands like Catbite, Ocho Kalacas, and even Mutiny, who performed yesterday, came out to see us. It was amazing to come to a place for the first time and already have friends there.

How did the energy and support from fellow bands influence your performance?

Seeing my friends’ faces helped ease my nerves and made me feel like I could return to myself, which made me incredibly happy.

What was unique about this experience playing at the Supernova Ska Festival? Were there any artists you enjoyed or were looking forward to seeing?

I love Mad Caddies the most, so I was thrilled to see them since we use their song as the opening theme for our show.

How did the Supernova Ska Festival influence your setlist choices?

Our approach is to perform the kind of live show we want, so we don’t often adjust our setlist to suit the event. However, since today we were near the ocean and the sky was wide open, we decided to play a song called Summer Breeze. That’s something we occasionally take into account.

Bassist and vocalist YUJI.PIFPhotography

How did you discover ska music and what inspired you to form HEY-SMITH?

Good question! Well… although they’re not ska bands, RANCID and NOFX.

So your early influence was more punk?

Right. I first got into NOFX and RANCID before getting into ska with horn sections. But since both bands have several ska songs, my earliest inspiration came from them. As for the horn section… it was more about wanting to do something similar to RANCID and NOFX but not sound exactly like them. I wanted to establish something unique that nobody else was doing, so I included a horn section. Inspiration? Yeah, NOFX and RANCID!

Saxophonist Mitsuru.PIFPhotography

When we think about ska music, it’s a really multicultural genre—how does it resonate with you as a Japanese musician?

Ska music inherently has a sense of unity. It carries a strong, positive energy that makes it feel like everyone can become friends through ska.

As HEY-SMITH’s primary songwriter, what’s your creative process? Do you start with lyrics, a riff, or a melody?

Well, it depends on the song, but what makes me happiest is when I wake up and the entire song is already complete in my head. Sometimes I wake up, and the melody and lyrics—everything—are just there. When I realize it, I’m like, “Oh, the song is done”! Then I grab my guitar and put it all together. Say My Name and Feel My Pain were born from those circumstances.

You not only compose the song but write the words, too. As the lyricist, what message do you want listeners to take away?

I just sing what I want, so I don’t really care what others think about it [laughs]. They’re free to interpret it however they like. There’s nothing specific that I want them to take away from it. I’m doing it for myself.

With over 150 shows a year and a 2022 tour across all 47 Japanese prefectures despite pandemic restrictions, live performance seems central to HEY-SMITH. Why is performing live so important to the band, and what do you feel when you’re on stage?

In any case, live performances are the most important. Music isn’t supposed to be about winning or losing, but I feel like there’s a definite sense of competition when it comes to live performances. Since the old days, we’ve always aimed to be the best at events where many different people perform. So, performing live is the most important thing for HEY-SMITH. We don’t want to release albums frequently. Instead, we play the same songs many times for the long term. That’s why, instead of immediately going on tour with a new album, we focus on performing the same songs at shows for the long term, which is our policy. But you can’t do that unless your live performances are good, right? [Laughs]. That’s why we’re extremely particular about performing live.

Trumpeter Iikawa Ken.PIFPhotography

You also host the “OSAKA HAZIKETEMAZARE FESTIVAL” in Japan. What initially inspired you to create this festival, and what is your main vision or goal for it?

Probably the Vans Warped Tour. I thought, “I’m going to do something like that when I grow up”, ever since I saw the Vans Warped Tour in Japan as a high school student. Bringing together lots of rock and punk rock bands, skateboarding, inline skating, and extreme sports—it’s that kind of fusion, right? “OSAKA HAZIKETEMAZARE FESTIVAL” even has a skateboarding ramp.

The 2024 lineup for your festival includes internationally recognized bands like SiM, Crossfaith, and coldrain. How do you choose and invite bands for the festival, and what unites these diverse acts?

Ah, this is very simple—it’s almost entirely about whether they’re good friends of mine or not [laughs]. Since I oversaw booking, anyone can’t participate if they’re not on good terms with me [laughs]. In fact, I directly called everyone and skipped their agencies. So, I genuinely like bands who are cool in live performances, and that’s pretty much it.

Speaking of live music, you’re currently on a pretty long US tour. What has been your favorite part so far?

Well, Detroit’s St. Andrew’s Hall was the coolest! It was super cool, the sound was great, and it felt like a place that was fun both to watch and to perform in. Plus, since it’s the hometown of Suicide Machines, many of their friends came, which made it even more enjoyable.

Has anything surprised you about the US?

I knew it was big, but I didn’t realize just how big it really was. Like, America is huge! When I actually came here and started traveling around, I was like, “Wow, it’s massive”! It honestly feels like there are so many different countries within the United States. In Japan, even places like Okinawa and Osaka still feel kind of similar, but in America, people are totally different depending on the state. That’s what I found really interesting. Like, there are areas with lots of black people or lots of white people, and it’s just so diverse. Even though it’s all the same country, each state feels completely different. That’s what surprised me the most. I really had no idea it was this big! [Laughs].

Trombonist Kanasu.PIFPhotography

In 2023, HEY-SMITH signed with the major label PONY CANYON and performed Say my name for the anime Tokyo Revengers. This year, you followed up with your second anime tie-in, Feel My Pain for the anime series Kengan Ashura. How have these milestones impacted your career?

What I notice the most is just how many fans there are overseas. The response from abroad is way stronger than in Japan. When PONY CANYON came to us, they pitched the idea of doing theme songs for Tokyo Revengers and Kengan Ashura, and as soon as I heard that, I was like, “Let’s do it”! So far, I think we have made the right call. But honestly, we can always go back to being indie if we want to. Right now, we’re just taking on challenges and seeing how far we can push ourselves. And hey, if it ever gets to the point where people are like, “These guys aren’t cutting it”, we’ll go back to being indie [laughs].

When writing a song for an anime or other franchise, how much do you adjust your songwriting to match its tone or storyline? How do you balance staying true to the anime while adding your own touch?

After watching them, I realized both Tokyo Revengers and Kengan Ashura are all about fighting [laughs]. As a result, we went with intense songs—tracks that perfectly matched the vibe of punching and aggression. That was the image we started with. Especially with Kengan Ashura, since it’s practically nothing but fight scenes [laughs], we aimed for a song that captured that energy, like “bam, bam, bam”!

Blast beats!

Yes! So, since writing songs is a hobby of mine, I write whenever I have time. From there, I bring in something that matches the anime. I would have made a slower song if they were more chill. But since both were all about fighting, the songs ended up being high-energy.

Drummer Task-n.PIFPhotography

Looking ahead, what’s next for HEY-SMITH? What are you looking forward to?

Our trombonist, Kanasu, will take a break from activities starting next year due to fertility treatments or medical care. To continue, we’ll bring in a support trombonist and focus on ensuring everything runs smoothly as our top priority. That’s our main mission for now. We’ll go on tour with the support trombonist, and if everything feels right, we’ll start thinking about writing new songs or planning bigger tours. But first, we will focus on this—I’d call it an “Introduction Tour” or “Nice to Meet You Tour”, and we’ll put all our effort into making it happen.

Many discovered HEY-SMITH for the first time at the Supernova Ska Festival and left impressed. For those reading this interview worldwide, which song—new or old—would you recommend as the perfect introduction to HEY-SMITH?

Hmm… I’d have to say, Say my name. I genuinely feel like it’s the best song I’ve written in a long time, and it has received proper recognition. It’s like the ultimate HEY-SMITH track, capturing all of HEY-SMITH’s musical essence—melody, ska, horns, and a guitar solo. So, I’d definitely recommend starting with Say My Name.

When I was waiting for your set to start, there was a guy standing next to me, singing Say my name at the top of his lungs [laughs]. So maybe that is a good choice.

[Everyone laughs].

Any final messages for now, to our readers?

Anyway, I hope people give forming a band a try. I think being in a band is the coolest job, which is why I’m doing it. Playing an instrument is, of course, fun, but beyond that, you can make friends, travel to unfamiliar places overseas like this, and experience so many things beyond just playing music. That’s why I hope more people try it. Also—how should I put this—when you’re in a band, people don’t get too mad at you even if you fool around with girls [laughs]. I really want everyone to try this amazing job! [laughs]. All the boys out there should definitely be in a band.

Since our interview, HEY-SMITH has welcomed trombonist UME as a supporting member, filling in for Kanasu. UME, who is also a member of the band Kill Lincoln, will join them this April for the WELCOME TO “CAFFEINE BOMB” TOUR 2025, performing across Japan with SHADOWS, Dizzy Sunfist, and more. We wish HEY-SMITH, UME, and Kanasu all the best!

Last year, the band released Dear Freedom – Rest In Punk Tour Final, a live album recorded in Okinawa, as well as the world edition of their sixth album Rest In Punk. Both are available for streaming and download on major digital platforms.