Concert review and Interview: DJ SiSeN

For those who weren't there last weekend, DJ SiSeN played everyone off their feet at Coalescaremonium in Brussels. He was one of two J-music artists (the other was Gothique Prince Ken) to perform at the event, and after the performance we were granted our very first interview!

But first, a bit more about the performance itself. I had never been to a goth/cyber/industrial happening before, but I have to say, these guys know how to party. Alongside DJs like Chavakiah and Alchemy, SiSeN did not underperform by a long shot.

At first there was a small crowd of curious party-goers, but that number grew quickly when the sounds of this DJ's party started to fill the surrounding hallway and the smaller concert patio. The rhythms and beats made sure nobody even tried just standing still, transforming the crowd into a bizarre ocean of excited movement.

From what I could tell on the spot, DJ SiSeN was having as much fun as his crowd, which is something I always appreciate in an artist, be it traditional or other kinds of music.

When his own party was over, DJ SiSeN followed us into the smaller patio for Gothique Prince Ken's show, and was asked by GPK to join him on the little stage.. (photo below at the bottom)

He proved to be a very warm personality, with a genuine interest in the European goth scene as well as in the party people roaming the different areas of Coalescaremonium.

1. Can you describe yourself with a color?
Today it's black, but normally I like green and violet purple. I like nature, and purple is mysterious, I like strangeness, and strange atmospheres.

2. Why did you choose to be a DJ?
I didn't study any instruments, nor did I have any vocal training, so I couldn't be a traditional musician. However, I still wanted to write and make music.

3. Who or what are your big influences?
Mostly 90's Visual Kei, my style is not only gothic and cyber, industrial because lately I've started incorporating Noise elements as well. I like to make a strange atmosphere.

4. Name something you are particularly proud of.
When it comes to Japanese music, I'd have to say projects like Malice Mizer make me proud. It shows as well in the gothic scene all over the world, like in London you have Camden Market. They have a lot of gothic shops and cyber shops, like Cyberdog. My first overseas gothic party was in London, and it was very good for me.

5. What is your most memorable performance so far?
I'm now living in Germany, so I guess it would be my first gig in Germany. The goth scene is much larger here in Europe than in Japan, or maybe more socially accepted.

6. Do you remember the first time you played as a DJ?
It was in 2003, at “Aram Outo night” in Tokyo, a gothic lolita crowd party. It was my hometown, (laughs) so that was nice.

7. How do you feel you have evolved since then?
Well, my clothes haven't changed that much, I just wear what feels right to the occasion. Today it's more of a gothic style, but I also have very industrial and harajuku looking clothes as well. As for music, I'm mixing more mainstream and industrial sounds with noise. My image is cyber, but I like many kinds of strange styles.

8. Was it your dream to be a DJ?
I'm not really interested in becoming famous, I just mix Japanese subculture with with overseas cultures, and to grow in that as a DJ and as a person, that's my dream.

After the interview DJ SiSeN, his interpreter and I shared a casual chit-chat over the hamburgers they served at Coalescaremonium. This proves once again that he is rather sociable and very much approachable, and, I feel, a very decent start for JRB when it comes to interviews.