The up-and-coming all-girl band Kimi to Band is in the middle of their first national tour in about a year, the "Record Release & 4th Anniversary Tour." With their new single "Thanks." released on August 4, their activities are gaining more and more momentum. Their upcoming Sapporo performance on October 13 will be their first live show in Hokkaido in three years. What's on their minds?

We asked Mai Ohno and Rio Kiyohara about their hidden feelings.

Gaining attention through solo activities, which in turn builds excitement for the band

――You've overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and are now celebrating your 4th anniversary. How have your activities been so far?

Mai Ohno (hereafter, Ohno): It feels like four years have passed in the blink of an eye. The first year or two were focused on the band, but from the third year, each member's individual activities started to increase, leading up to our 4th anniversary. This year, while putting effort into our solo activities, I want to give my all to the band's activities.

Rio Kiyohara (hereafter, Kiyohara): I was previously in an idol group, and I graduated after exactly two years. Now, thinking that I've been active as a band for double that time, there are moments I think, "Wow!" In the early days of the band, we were much less known, it was a period of struggle. But I feel like our 2nd-anniversary live show at Zepp Haneda was a turning point, and we started getting more attention. I think we've been able to step up little by little over these four years.

――Ms. Ohno, you've been active since Kimi to Band's predecessor group. Looking back on these four years, do you feel any changes in yourself?

Ohno: Continuing something is really difficult... The previous group didn't last, but we've been able to continue with this band, and recently I feel like our foundation has finally solidified. I'm filled with the feeling of "We finally made it!" to a place where we can aim higher. Little by little, I feel like I'm starting to see a future.

Mai Ohno, the leader and drummer of Kimi to Band.

――Ms. Kiyohara, you were originally an idol. Have you ever felt a gap between being an idol and being in a band?

Kiyohara: Of course, it's a completely different environment, but I think it's harder now, in a good way. Before, I was in a group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, so the ability to draw a crowd was overwhelmingly better. On the other hand, since becoming a band, we've started to think about everything we can possibly do ourselves, like streaming every day to attract people, handing out flyers, and talking to people one by one. I feel that this "gritty and relentless" style of activity really suits me.

Rio Kiyohara, former member of the idol group Last Idol and now the guitarist and vocalist for Kimi to Band.

――Including the other members, you are all active in various fields. I'm sure there are benefits and enjoyable aspects that come from that.

Kiyohara: Actually, I'm the type of person who gets anxious doing things differently from others... I don't think there are many other groups with a style like ours, so I used to worry about it. But recently, I've realized there are so many things we've accomplished and sights we've seen precisely because we've stuck to this style. Now, those worries are gone, and I'm enjoying it.

Ohno: In my case, I find it quite painful to keep doing one thing for a long time. I find it much more fun to do various jobs little by little rather than being told to memorize dozens of new drum parts at once. My head starts to hurt if I concentrate too much (laughs). It might be a bit misleading to call it a change of pace, but when I have other work, it helps me switch gears, so in that sense, I think the current style suits me.

Kiyohara: Because our range of activities is so wide, there are many new things, so every day is fresh! I think the reason we can always work with excitement is because Kimi to Band is this kind of group. Mai-chan has a lot of individual activities, and seeing her work so hard inspires me to do more. There's a sense of rivalry, but we're also "comrades."

From left: Yukitan, live streamer and bassist; Risako Morita, also active as a singer-songwriter; Kiyohara; and Ohno.

――While your individual activities are increasing, do you feel a switch flips to "band mode" when you get on stage?

Kiyohara: I want to show a cooler side of myself than I normally do, so there's a moment when I switch to "band mode." However, even during my individual activities, the core is always "for the band." I feel that I get these solo opportunities because of Kimi to Band, so the band is always in the back of my mind even when I'm working alone.

Ohno: For me, whether I'm doing a gravure photoshoot or a band interview like this, I don't really change; I think I'm always my natural self. But before a live show, the way I get fired up and my mindset are different. I always give my all in everything I do, but when I'm about to go on stage, I close my eyes... My way of getting into the zone might be quite unique (laughs). It's because I have the band that I can put my heart into my solo work, and vice versa. It's a two-way street.

The new single is a reminder of their roots and a glimpse into the future of Kimi to Band

The single "Thanks." released on August 4, 2024.

――Your new single, "Thanks.," was released recently. Isn't it unusual for a single CD to have a specific title like that?

Ohno: That's true. But we're able to continue our activities thanks to our fans. Now that it's been four years, we wanted to express our gratitude.

Kiyohara: It's not just for the fans, but also for the staff, and the members. At the four-year mark, it's easy to forget your original intentions, so this title is also a message to ourselves, reminding us that "we're able to do this now because of the support and encouragement from those around us."

――The concept for this single is "a slightly more mature, new Kimi to Band." Could you explain what that means specifically?

Ohno: When we've released singles before, they were always a set of three songs, and we always included one upbeat, sparkly song. But this time, all three songs are focused on being "cool." In that sense of commitment to the songs, it's "slightly more mature."

Kiyohara: It's an image that takes our previous image one step further.

――When I listened to the track "So Hight!," I thought it was quite emotional. Personally, it gave me a 90s J-rock vibe... What are your impressions?

Kiyohara: When we all listened to the demo for the first time, I immediately imagined it live! The image of how we would deliver it live and what it would feel like instantly swelled up; I thought it was a song that would really shine in a live performance. There's a long drum solo in this song, and from the first listen, I had a feeling that "this would be so cool live." I was really looking forward to seeing the drum solo live.

――Ms. Kiyohara is looking at you with such intensity. What do you think, Ms. Ohno?

Ohno: The bass drum is going the whole time until the first chorus, so my hands are free to hype up the crowd (laughs). During the drum solo, I'm so happy I can join in on the excitement. Also, the music stops for about three bars in the middle of the song. We've never done that kind of arrangement before, so when we played it live, it created a really unique atmosphere that was just incredible. Until now, "Koi no Monster" has been our classic hype song, but I think this one might become number one.

――The second track, "Midnight Scream," is also the theme song for the movie "Ghost Spotters ~Yume-Yu~," in which you both star. I imagine you have a different kind of attachment to it than the other members. What are your thoughts?

Ohno: I usually like movies with horror elements, but at first, I was thinking, "What's a theme song?" (laughs). But when I heard the finished song, it was cooler than I imagined, and the sense of speed was amazing. Our movie also picks up speed towards the end, so I was happy that the song matched the scene perfectly.

Kiyohara: When we performed this song at a previous live show, even though it was the first time the fans were hearing it, they perfectly rode the wave of its fast pace! That made me really happy.

――Ms. Kiyohara, you were also in the movie "School-Live!," so it seems you have a connection with horror films (laughs).

Kiyohara: In "School-Live!," I was in the movie, but the theme song was sung by my junior members. I wasn't singing it myself, so this is the first time our own song is the theme for a movie I'm starring in. I couldn't be happier. I also got to see the finished movie, and I was moved when the song started playing at the end because it fit the movie's atmosphere perfectly.

――Next, about "Koigokoro," which was written by your fellow member, Ms. Morita. What was your first impression when you heard it? It's not often that a member writes the lyrics, so did it strike a chord with you?

Kiyohara: I was in awe of how she could write so charmingly about the single feeling of love. There's a line in the song, "You have a cute face, but your coffee is black," and when I told Risa-chan (Ms. Morita) that "I love how cute that phrasing is," she said, "I wrote that part thinking of you, Rio-chan!" She also said there are other parts she wrote with the other members in mind.

Ohno: When I listen to this song, I can picture the scene, like "this girl is doing this in this situation," so it's easy to get into the song's emotions. At our live shows, I feel like the fans really get immersed in it. I hope everyone can soak in Risa-chan's world at the live show.