MY NEW GEAR: "Oscillate between the weight of reality and the absolute freedom of creation"
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
MY NEW GEAR is a multinational rock band where the sensibilities of Japan, England, and Italy converge, blending the raw power of classic hard rock with the complexity of modern progressive rock. The project stands out for its leader’s background in the video game industry, bringing a cinematic and innovative approach to composition. Following their successful 2023 debut, the band continues to gain attention for its technical skill, vision, and ambitious artistic direction.
"WE ARE HERE" explores existence and reality, while “GAME” celebrates playfulness and experimentation. How did you approach these two opposing dimensions during the writing process, and what emotional journey do you hope listeners experience from each side of the double album?
I view these two albums as the same phenomenon captured at different resolutions. In WE ARE HERE, I pursued a raw, stripped-back realism—the "Bourne" texture of bone and identity, much like Jason Bourne carving out his existence by discarding all unnecessary ornamentation. Conversely, GAME serves as a playground for experimentation, akin to a Guy Ritchie film where elegance and boldness thrive within established rules. Much like how traditional Kyoto sweets express the playfulness of the seasons within the strict discipline of craftsmanship, I hope listeners experience an emotional journey that oscillates between the weight of reality and the absolute freedom of creation.
Your sound blends the raw power of classic rock with the sophistication of modern progressive music. How has your background in game design influenced the structure and narrative of your songs?
While my sound draws from the aesthetics of classic rock and the immersive spatial audio of synthesizer-driven electronic music , the underlying blueprint is entirely rooted in "Game Design Logic". It is more than just a musical composition; it is the "design of an experience"—determining how the listener moves through sonic space and at what exact moment they receive an emotional "reward". Just as the long-take sequences in Extraction drag the audience directly into the battlefield, my songs utilize precise acoustic positioning to transform the listener into an active participant within the narrative.
As a multinational band with roots in Japan, England, and Italy, how do you merge such diverse cultural sensibilities into a coherent, cinematic musical language?
Despite our diverse roots in Japan, England, and Italy, we share a common "OS" in the form of cinematic aesthetics. Much like how philosopher Alan Watts interpreted Eastern wisdom through Western logic, we have integrated various cultural "spices" into a single, sophisticated musical language. Since our 2023 debut, we have internalized the influence of legendary bands, but with this release, we have finally sublimated those influences into our own vocabulary. This is not imitation; it is a unique language designed to play the "new instrument" that is MY NEW GEAR.
Many artists talk about "inspiration", but you speak of "game logic". How do you transform the rules and dynamics of video games into musical emotion, and is there a specific moment in these albums where this approach is most evident?
At the time of our 2023 debut, we may have still been looking up at the great musical legacies built by our predecessors. However, in these albums, we moved away from relying on vague "inspiration" and instead succeeded in extracting high-purity emotion through the calculated, precise filter of "Game Logic". Like the characters in The Gentlemen who hack their circumstances to seize victory, we have hacked the rules of music to establish a unique emotional curve that defies existing genres. This process is the definitive proof of our "step up" as artists.
Looking back at your evolution since your 2023 debut, what role does philosophy play in shaping your creative vision, and how do you hope the global audience immerses themselves in this multisensory experience?
Alan Watts once said, "Life is not a destination; it is a dance". Our evolution follows that same path—it is not about reaching a specific goal, but a process of deepening the expression itself. Through this double album, we have graduated from the stage of following others' narratives and entered a new phase of constructing our own philosophy through sound and vision. Through this global, multisensory experience, I hope listeners worldwide will reaffirm their own "existence (WE ARE HERE)" while simultaneously rediscovering life as a "playful game (GAME)".
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