Formed by members of different nationalities, NABLA9 is an up-coming metalcore band, based in Japan. With the recent release of their second single, JROCKONE had a chance to have a talk with the band.
Could you please introduce NABLA9 to anyone who is not familiar with the band.
Daisuke: We are NABLA9, Japanese heavy music band who started in July 2023. Incorporating elements from metalcore, rap rock, R&B, digital, and asian folklore . NABLA9 was formed by the drummer and composer Kaji since he recruited all the members himself.
Kaji: We want to provide music with a unique atmosphere, like no other band.
When you meet a new band and you think, “This band’s sound is very similar to another band” then that’s boring, right? lol
What is it that makes you stand out from other bands?
Kaji: I hope you can feel the mysterious Asian vibe from our music. Like, for example, this particular vibes you get when you watch old Japanese animated films. I think I’m greatly influenced by AKIRA and Ghost in the Shell. If you like that kind of Japanese culture, please give our music a try.
Who are the members?
Kaji: Our members are Vasili, a Russian vocalist; Daisuke, the lead guitarist, whose face looks more Indonesian than Japanese, so I don’t believe he is Japanese. hahaha
The Bassist is Ren, he is Taiwanese. I am the drummer and composer, and Japanese. Alan is American, and is the rhythm guitarist, as a support member. He is taking a break for a while because he is going to have a baby soon.
Does the band name have any special meaning?
Kaji: Nabla is the name of the lyre (ancient Greek instrument) that Apollo gave to Orpheus. Orpheus was an ancient musician. One day he took the nabla and played it in front of Lucifer and his wife returned to impress them. I hope we can be able to impress the more strict listeners too.
Nabla is also the name of a mathematic operator.
My favorite inventor (an electrical specialist) said “9 is a solitary number and it controls everything.” I hope NABLA9 is truly unique and has a good influence on different people. But don’t worry, we’re not trying to control you. hahaha
How did you all get into playing music? And how was the band founded?
Daisuke: I took piano lessons as a child and my teacher could also play the guitar, so I was influenced by him. This is how I started playing. I first got interest in rock music and playing in a band when I was in the sixth grade of elementary school, when my older brother bought a B’z best-album. Kaji and I went to the same music school and were in a band together at that time.
After we graduated, we have been playing separately for a long time, he must have been super busy because he didn’t seem to remember me until over 10 years later. Lol
Ren: I played violin and piano for a few years as a child because my parents wanted me to be a musician, but I wasn’t very interested.
Until I was a junior high school student, then I saw THE GAZETTE’s live, I felt like “holy shit, this is what I want to do!”. So I bought a bass and started my band life.
Then I immigrated to Japan from Taiwan and met Kaji after graduating from ESP music school.
Kaji: When I was a child, I used to imitate the drummer of the band X Japan with chopsticks at mealtime, and my mother warned me so many times, but I never stopped. She took me to drum lessons and told me to play as much as I wanted.
Daisuke and I were in a band together when I was in music school, and I always wanted to be in a band with him, but time passed and I called him just recently lol. I met the other members through the internet, and it was a very fateful encounter for each of us. I’m thankful for the chance I had.
Vasili: I don’t know how to answer this question right. Do you ask a fish why it lives in water? The same thing for me with playing music and singing.
You have released the songs “Transgressions” and “Watch of Nightmare”, till now, could you tell us something about those songs?
Kaji: Actually, “Transgressions” is sung by the previous vocalist, “Watch of nightmare” is sung by Vasili, so that’s the biggest difference. Transgressions is now called Future’s Freedom. We’re trying to release a Vasili version soon. Look forward to it.
Daisuke: “Transgressions” was the first song we started working on when we started this band.
It was one of the first songs that intrigued me the most among the first few demos that were sent to me, so I started working on it.
“Watch of nightmare” is one of the newest songs we’ve been playing at gigs, but it has our signature riff, melodic chorus, and heavy bridge.
I think both songs are a good representation of our music and vibes.
How does your writing process look like? Who is responsible for what and do you take inspiration from anywhere?
Kaji: The process is, hmmm, when I have a riff or vibe that comes to my mind, I immediately open my laptop to save it. If I don’t do it right away, I’ll forget it lol. From then on, it’s a repetition of flashes of inspiration and despair! hahaha
I think I get my inspiration more from other things rather than just from music. As I said a bit earlier, I think AKIRA and Ghost in the Shell have have a big influence on my music.
You have a lyric video for both songs, with the same female character, do the videos play a story? Is she supposed to be like a mascot for the band?
Kaji: Her name is Mikage-chan. She is a little different from our mascot, but I hope she is loved by everyone. We’d be happy if people get to know her enough to do fan art or something. She is a girl who lives in the world that our music represents. She is an high school student in Miroku City and her other persona is a ninja girl. Her story is very interesting and we plan to reveal some more, in our work, soon.
NABLA9 is a band with members of different nationalities, do you ever have trouble communicating? Were there ever culture shocks that happened between members? What’s the most difficult part of working together with people from different cultures?
ohhh hahaha this is a good question and yes, we had a very hard time communicating. I don’t know what everyone else thinks, but at least I do lol. After our debut, we changed two members. The reason for this were communication issues and cultural differences. I thought so at the time, but now I think it is not about nationality, but about whether or not the individual’s temperament and mindset fits with the way the band is going.
If nationality and culture have a significant impact on people’s perceptions, it’s strange that there are so many world-famous musicians out there, isn’t it? People all over the world “like” cute cats on Instagram and people all over the world are heartbroken by sad news from other countries, proves that we are not so different I think.
There may be personality tendencies from country to country, but I consider us all brothers and sisters, and it is easy to find reasons to deny that, like history, nationality, language barrier etc. However, when we are trying to create something with the members, all connected by music, I’m in a dimension where those things don’t bother me at all.
We share a common desire to make great music, so I think we are making an effort to communicate and understand each other. Perhaps, even more cordially than those who speak the same language.
Even though you’re still a young band, you have played alongside older bands already, like Dexcore and Sailing Before the Wind. How is it sharing the stage with those bands?
Kaji: I knew DEXCORE from my previous band. But they are not the kind of band that would play a 3-man show with an unknown band lol, even if they were friends. We were very lucky. Sailing Before the Wind, were approached by Mr. Ohara of the venue Antiknock. Apparently Mr. Bitoku was interested in us, so we are very lucky. Hahaha
If you could share the stage with any band you’d like to, which band would that be?
Vasili: If you ask my wishes, I just can say that I don’t mind if this band is popular or not, but I should like it if it is.
Daisuke: MACHINE HEAD, Slipknot, B’z, coldrain, KNOSIS.
Kaji: Slayer, Suns Owl, Pantera.
Ren: All my homies.
What do you listen to in private? Do you have any recommendations for our readers to listen to?
Vasili: I listen to different types of music, not only rock and metal. One of my favorites that I can listen for hours on repeat is Bullet for my Valentine and their album, “The Poison.” For recommendations, I think media platform algorithms can do it much better than me lol.
Ren: While She Sleeps, Architects, Novelist, ERRA, Within Destruction, Oceans Ate Alaska, Modern Day Babylon
Kaji: I often listen to Led Zeppelin, Lauryn Hill
Please tell us something about your future plans.
Kaji: We have about 15 unreleased Demos, and we plan to do a lot of live shows and releases for a while. Please look forward to seeing how many songs we can release this year ,and to see with what kind of artists we will be performing with.
Also, I want to do a lot of live shows outside of Japan. I want to share a great time with everyone around the world.
And last but not least, please leave a message for your fans, the readers and hopefully future fans.
Vasili: Don’t ask anyone’s opinion about the music you like. It’s really great when someone can share your interests, but you should not put someone’s opinion on top priority, even if they’re a great person. Don’t listen just by ears, but with your heart and soul.
Daisuke: First of all, I would love you to come to our live show and experience our live performance. I think you can get a good idea of what kind of band NABLA9 is, which you can’t get from our music videos or photosIf there are people overseas who would like to see NABLA9 show, please post on SNS. That kind of thing can be the catalyst for doing shows abroad.
Of course, you’re all welcome to our shows in Japan.
Kaji: NABLA9 calls itself a metalcore band, but we have no particular genre in mind. We promise to absorb all styles of art and will surely become a one-of-a-kind band.
Don’t miss it!
Ren: Without you, there won’t be us. To me, you guys are the seventh member of Nabla9. love you guys so much 
Thank you very much for taking your time to answer our questions. We are looking forward to seeing more future activities of NABLA9.
Follow the Band
Interview: @Rena