Interview with solo musician Mike

Wagatame, the solo project led by former Blu-BiLLioN vocalist Mike, made a striking first impression at Nekocon 2024 with their debut U.S. performance. Joined by guitarist “mag.” (also of Blu-BiLLioN) and drummer KEIICHI (of Universe), the band delivered a vibrantly inspiring set that fused pop, city pop, and rock, captivating the audience.

Beyond their performance, Wagatame connected with fans through autograph sessions, a Q&A panel, and an exclusive VIP event, making their presence felt throughout the weekend.

Following their unforgettable debut, we sat down with Mike, mag., and KEIICHI to discuss their experience performing in the U.S., their perspectives on the music industry, and how visual kei remains a pillar in Mike’s career. They even shared some advice for aspiring musicians.

Read on for the full interview!

Solo musician and vocalist of Wagatame, Mike.

“Visual kei taught me about freedom of expression—through makeup, music, and more—and that’s something I carry with me to this day.”
—Mike

Thanks so much for meeting with us today, and congratulations on your U.S. debut! How does it feel to be performing here for the first time?

Mike: It feels like I’m living inside a dream. Whether I’m walking through town or traveling by car, it’s as if I’ve stepped into a TV show. One thing that stood out during the show was how much more expressive the American audience was compared to the Japanese audience back home. Hearing the crowd react to my words, cheering when I raised my hand—it was surreal. In that moment, I thought, “Wow, this is what it truly means to be an artist”. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience, and it’s all thanks to the amazing crowd at Nekocon.

mag.: When I first arrived, I wondered, “Are people really going to come see us perform?” [laughs]. But as soon as the show began, the audience’s response was incredible. I’m truly grateful for that experience.

KEIICHI: This is actually my second time performing in America. Like Mike, the first time I played here, it felt like a dream. Growing up listening to American bands, getting the chance to perform in the same country they came from fills me with so much joy.

KEIICHI-san, you said this is your second time performing in the U.S. When was the first time you performed here?

KEIICHI: It was an anime convention called Anime Weekend Atlanta, in 2015. It was an event similar to Nekocon.

Has this experience brought any new excitement or nerves? Like mag. said he was worried if people would come to the show or not.

Mike: I was a bit worried about the language barrier, wondering how I would overcome it and how it might affect things. But when we got such an incredible response from the crowd, it turned my nerves into excitement. I actually started looking forward to the events more than feeling anxious. Even back home in Japan, I get nervous sometimes. But here in America, everyone has such strong personalities, it almost felt like they weren’t human [laughs]. Sorry if that sounds strange! But it was like being in a video game, and that helped me shake off some of my anxieties and enjoy the experience more. It didn’t feel like the usual, everyday reality of Japan.

mag.: As I mentioned earlier, I was nervous about whether people would actually come to see us perform. But it was my first time in America, and the excitement of that experience far outweighed any of my worries.

KEIICHI: It wasn’t the performance itself that made me nervous, but things like dealing with immigration documents, getting on the plane, and going through customs definitely had me anxious.

Thinking back to this weekend, were there any emotions or special moments that stood out to you?

Mike: The most memorable moment for me was performing live, but what really stood out and left an impression started the moment I got off the plane in America. Everything was different—like even the toilet seat was higher! It felt so different from Japan. I was constantly struck by little things, thinking, “So that’s how it is here!” Even something as simple as washing my hands in the airport bathroom—the hand soap came out like pink slime [laughs]. Japanese soap is nothing like that, so I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was like mutant pink slime [laughs].

I was also really moved by the Americans here. Everyone talks so animatedly, almost like an actor or performer, and I was really impressed by that. Even during the Q&A panel this weekend—if we did something like that in Japan, people would probably stay quiet and not raise their hands. But here in America, people were constantly raising their hands, speaking their minds, and asking all kinds of questions. It was refreshing to see that level of expression and witness a different culture.

mag.: Of course, the live performance was the most memorable moment for me. But I also couldn’t help but feel that everything is just bigger here.

Mike: I was looking at photos of mag. from the concerts this weekend. Normally, he has this cool, almost stoic vibe, but when I saw those live photos, I could tell he was really getting into it and having a great time. It was clear he was enjoying himself. The photos surprised me because they showed a side of him I hadn’t expected—he was really having fun.

KEIICHI: Everything here, from the roads to the stoplights to the chairs, just looks really cool. Unfortunately, the last time I came to America, I didn’t have the best memories of the food. But this time, everything has been really great.

“Normally, he has this cool, almost stoic vibe, but when I saw those live photos, I could tell he was really getting into it and having a great time.” –MikeChaotic Harmony

How would you describe your music in your own words for new fans who may have discovered you at the concert or through this interview?

Mike: Genre-wise, Wagatame is primarily a pop band. Since Wagatame is my solo project, it’s all about the music I love and want to create—my personal interests. The focus is on the vocals, and from there, I choose melodies I like and build songs around them. The name “Wagatame” itself means “for myself”, so in a way, it’s about being self-centered—but in a positive sense.

I know mag. and KEIICHI are both support members for Wagatame at this event, but would you like to share your thoughts too? How would you describe Wagatame’s music?

mag.: Wagatame is a heavy metal band.

Everyone: [Laughs]!

mag.: Just kidding! As Mike mentioned, Wagatame is a band that reflects what he truly wants to do.

KEIICHI: There’s a wide variety of songs—pop tracks and ones that reflect Mike’s style. I really feel that strong personal touch in his music, like you can sense the human heart behind each song.

Wagatame’s brand color seems to be orange—what made you choose this color, and how does it reflect you as a musician?

Mike: When I started this solo project, I wanted to pick a symbol that would visually represent Wagatame—something people could instantly recognize. As I thought about what would communicate this best, I realized that colors can convey strong feelings and messages. My former band, Blu-BiLLioN, was associated with the color blue, so I chose orange for Wagatame because it’s the opposite color. It was a way to separate myself and create something distinct from Blu-BiLLioN. Plus, I wanted a color that would stand out and shine. Orange is the color of the sun, and my name “Mike” actually comes from “Michelangelo”, the orange-masked character from the cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All these connections in my life pointed to the color orange, making it the perfect choice.

Vocalist Mike, clad in his power color orange.Chaotic Harmony

Speaking of cartoons and pop culture, they can sometimes shape music in unexpected ways. What are some movies, TV shows, comics, or other influences that have impacted your sound or style?

Mike: When it comes to music, it sometimes influences my songwriting. I occasionally ask others to compose for me, and when collaborating on a melody or offering suggestions, I’m often inspired by melodies in Japanese pop music. For example, I’m a fan of kayoukyoku (the Japanese pop music that was popular from the 1950s to the 80s) as well as other types of Japanese pop.

Your Instagram profile invites fans to “come and feel” your performances （感じに来て下さい）. What emotions or experiences do you hope people take away from seeing you live?

Mike: It’s probably different for everyone—some might think, “Wow, that was so cool!” or “That was so much fun!” or even “This makes me feel better”. With ballads, for example, they might soothe people or have other effects. Each person has their own unique experience, and I’m happy to let everyone connect with it in their own way.

You’ve just released your second mini-album, Gaga (我我-ガガ-). Could you tell us a bit about its concept and some of its influences?

Mike: The album was released for Wagatame’s second anniversary. One of the main themes was to celebrate and highlight the people who’ve been part of my life—not just in the past two years, but throughout my entire career. Many of those friends and connections contributed to the album by writing songs for me. Because of this, the album ended up being quite diverse, with various genres and styles. Essentially, I asked those around me to write a song they thought I should sing. So, in a way, each track reflects how these different people see me.

On that subject, you invited visual kei artists like UNiTE and DOG in the PWO to collaborate on Gaga. What did these guest composers bring to the album?

Mike: A lot of different people contributed to this album, which allowed me to create a wide variety of songs. For example, I toured with Shiina Mio from UNiTE before, so he was already familiar with Wagatame’s music. I asked him to write a song that would suit my strengths and style, something that really complements me. These guest composers also recognized the styles Wagatame was missing, so they created something unique that hadn’t been explored before. It brought together a great mix of perspectives and ideas, all coming together on one album.

You have a background in visual kei but your solo project Wagatame feels quite different. How has visual kei shaped you as a musician, and does it still influence your work today?

Mike: Rather than being tied to a specific genre, visual kei encompasses a wide range of styles and sounds. If you and those around you see yourself as visual kei, then you’re visual kei. So, I still consider myself part of it. Visual kei also taught me about freedom of expression—through makeup, music, and more—and that’s something I carry with me to this day. Whether or not people consider Wagatame visual kei is up to them, but I want them to also see Wagatame as something unique, like, “This is Wagatame”.

Your solo career as Wagatame marks a new chapter after your time as Blu-BiLLioN’s vocalist. What did you learn from Blu-BiLLioN that continues to help you today?

Mike: I learned so much during my time in Blu-BiLLioN, from writing song lyrics to understanding the vibe a concert should have. I pretty much learned everything I know about the music industry back then. Of course, I still want to keep moving forward and evolving with Wagatame, so I’ll continue to learn new things. But there’s a lot from Blu-BiLLioN that I still carry with me today.

Moving from a band to a solo project must come with big changes. How has the transition affected your creative process or approach to promotion?

Mike: When I first started my solo career and began performing live, I received a lot of advice. For example, in a band, there are multiple members on stage—vocalist, bassist, drummer, etc.—so there’s a lot for the fans to watch. But as a solo artist, everyone’s there to see just you. You can’t just stand in the center the whole time, since some people in the audience might not be able to see you. Instead, you have to move around the stage so everyone can enjoy the performance. When I was first told this, I thought, “Ah, that makes sense”. So, I changed how I move on stage as a solo artist.

Another thing I noticed after going solo: In Japan, sometimes fans come just to see a specific band member—maybe the guitarist or the drummer. But as a solo artist, everyone is there to see me, and that felt really good. It was a nice realization.

There’s also a difference when it comes to writing music and lyrics. In a band, we’d all decide together what kind of music to create, and sometimes there were disagreements, or the label would reject our ideas. Sometimes, they’d even suggest what kind of music we should make. But being a solo artist gives me much more freedom—I don’t have to worry about anyone trying to control what I write.

You said when you started out as a soloist you received a lot of advice. What’s the best advice you’ve received in your music career, and how has it helped you along the way?

Mike: I don’t remember all the specific advice I’ve received, but when I started as a solo artist, Mitsu from the band New was my senpai, as he had debuted as a soloist before I did. We talked a lot, and he shared plenty of advice about being a solo musician based on his own experiences. That guidance really helped me and prepared me for a lot of what came next.

mag. and KEIICHI, do you have any helpful advice you’ve received, that you’d like to share?

mag.: I was a big fan of the visual kei band Baroque, and eventually, I got to meet the guitarist, Kei. He was working on his own solo project at the time, and I really respected him. When I met him, I consulted him about a lot of things I was worried about. Kei told me, “You have free time to worry and vent about this? You just gotta do it”. I’ve carried that advice with me ever since—”You just gotta do it”.

KEIICHI: I’m not actually from a visual kei background, so I got a lot of advice from Mike and mag. about things like how to do my makeup and other details like that.

Support drummer KEIICHI.Chaotic Harmony

After this US debut, what’s next for you? Are there new projects, collaborations, or music you’re looking forward to pursuing?

Mike: In Japan, I have a gig scheduled for the end of the year that I’m really looking forward to. But after this experience at Nekocon, it’s made me want to perform more outside of Japan and visit places I’ve never been before. This experience made me realize I’ve come this far in my career without really leaving Japan, and now I’m inspired to travel to many different places. I want to bring Wagatame’s music to people in more countries.

mag.: I’m not currently connected to a main band, but I play as a support guitarist for several different bands. Fortunately, Wagatame has chosen me as the main support guitarist for this project, so I want to help Wagatame improve and become a truly great artist. I also want to keep improving my own skills and grow as a guitarist. My goal is for Wagatame to get more and more popular, so that my fee will increase, I’ll get paid more, and I can live a more lavish lifestyle [laughs].

Mike: You know, If Wagatame gets really popular, I might be able to hire a more famous guitarist [laughs].

mag.: I’m so sad…

Everyone: [Laughs]

KEIICHI: Just being able to play music with great people is pure happiness. I don’t necessarily have specific goals, but I’d like to keep moving forward on this path and continue growing as a person.

Thanks so much for this interview. Would you leave a final message to our readers?

Mike: I’m sure there aren’t many people who know about Wagatame yet, but I’ll do my best to become a famous artist one day. I’m looking forward to working with you.

mag.: Performing at this event had a big impact on me. I’ve been hearing from a lot of people around the world who say they like visual kei, and that really moved me. Not just for me personally, but for visual kei as a whole—Japanese culture seems to be spreading more and more, and I think that’s amazing. I don’t have a main band right now, but…

Mike: [Laughs]

KEIICHI: We are rock stars. If we can meet people from all around the world, that’d be amazing.

Keep an eye on Wagatame—on March 20, the solo artist drops a new digital single, Fukyou no hana (不香の花), available across major digital platforms. In case you missed it, you can check out our live report of Wagatame at Nekocon 2024 here.