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– This interview was conducted by Madmans Esprit Brasil. NIPPONGAKU has only contributed by providing the web platform for publication.
On April 21, Madmans Esprit played for the first time in Brazil for their Latin America tour, which started on April 18 in Mexico and passed through Chile on April 20. After intense and energetic performances, Madmans Esprit have left their mark on fans’ hearts and surely have also left a big impression on each country they’ve been in.
Now, we take this time to do a quick interview with the members, to share thoughts, experiences and more about the band and the tour.
【Interview】Madmans Esprit「The World As Collective Reflections」
First of all. Can you guys introduce yourselves for those who might not know about the band yet?
Kyuho: We are Madmans Esprit, a visual-kei metal band from South Korea.
You usually define the bands’ sound as “Depressive Suicidal Blackened Pop”. How did you guys come up with the term and what does it exactly mean for the identity of the band?
Kyuho: There’s actually a subgenre of black metal called “Depressive Suicidal Black Metal.” We gave it a twist. While our music is influenced by traditional black metal, it also contains more pop elements. For metal purists, it might be too pop.
But I also believe that “the most effective weapon of mass destruction is pop music.” So, I thought this term was fitting and fun in describing our sound.
Madmans Esprit started as a band with strong black metal roots, but now it’s also defined under the Visual Kei label. Was it always the intention to follow the visual kei path, or was it more of a natural progression?
Kyuho: I’m not sure we were that black metal from the start. If you look at our sound and visual direction now, the visuals really follow the music. As I wrote songs, I naturally created tracks that leaned into this style.
So, rather than it being a clear, intentional choice, I just happened to write those kinds of songs at that time. And I think other styles may come out depending on the songs in the future too.
Previously the band was also defined as a solo project of the vocalist Kyuho, but it was announced that the current members would be a part of the official lineup. Is there any difference between Madmans Esprit as a solo, and Madmans Esprit as a full band?
Kyuho: We write songs together now.
Juho: The members also participate in the band’s operations. We discuss our direction together.
Kyuho: In terms of sound, the biggest change is that each member’s playing style and preferences now influence the songwriting process.
Recently, you released the single “Please Stop Loving Me” featuring a Music Video filled with imagery and references related to a religious theme. What were the inspirations for the release? Musically and visually?
Kyuho: I’d prefer if people found their own meaning in it. Rather than explaining it in detail, it’s the irony of Jesus saying, “Please stop loving me.” I’d like listeners to interpret the music video and lyrics in their own way.
How did the multiple musical influences of the members contribute to the band? and what are the band’s main influences in general (music wise)?
Somyul: Each member’s playing style, taste, and habits naturally show through. If you listen closely, there are moments where you can tell who contributed what.
Limu: I think everyone’s individuality has started to blend together and show more clearly now.
Which song would you guys recommend for someone who just found out about Madmans Esprit? Could each of you give us a song that you think represents the band the most?
Limu: I’d recommend My Little Dark Paradise. I think it most strongly reflects our identity.
Somyul: I agree.
Juho: Then I’ll go with Please Stop Loving Me. It’s our most recent work with the full lineup, and it shows a new direction.
Geon: Same here. While My Little Dark Paradise is loved by all of us, Please Stop Loving Me really feels like the intersection of each member’s personal taste.
Kyuho: Maybe 妄誕詩 (Mangtanshi)? Or 해부 (Dissection)? Honestly, it’s hard to pick just one. Each song is so different in style.
Your music tends to address very sensitive topics. How is the lyric writing process and what kind of messages or reflections do you try to convey to the audience with them?
Kyuho: Rather than having a single, clear-cut theme, I try to write lyrics that can be interpreted through patterns-whether it’s about people, relationships, philosophy, or politics. I aim for lyrics that don’t confine themselves to one message.
That was your first time coming to Latin America. What were your expectations before the tour started?
Geon: Maybe it’s a stereotype, but Latin American fans are known for being extremely passionate. I was really looking forward to that cultural response.
Juho: I think I always feel the same before a tour. Going somewhere for the first time and meeting new fans in person-that itself is really exciting.
Somyul: Since it was my first time there, I was curious about what would be uniquely captivating.
Limu: To be honest, I had more worries than expectations. There were a lot of uncertainties-equipment, schedule, accommodations, our condition.
But I was also looking forward to the passionate fans we’d heard about.
Kyuho: The food. The tacos we had on the first day were amazing.
If there was, what was the main difference between the public from Latin America and South Korea?
Limu: They’re completely different-almost like a 180-degree contrast.
Kyuho: They scream, move, and sing with so much energy. Korean fans tend to be a bit more reserved, maybe shy.
Juho: They were just so incredibly passionate.
Geon: That stereotype about their passion? It was completely true.
On this LATAM tour and also in the EU tour we had pretty different setlists, but with some similarities. How do you choose which songs will go to each country? or is it made randomly?
Kyuho: It’s definitely not random.
Geon: It doesn’t change dramatically by country.
Kyuho: We have some core songs that must be in the set. Then each member adds a few they personally want to play.
Juho: And we include recent releases, too.
Kyuho: Those go into the “must play” category.
Now, Somyul and I do have slightly different opinions-he wants to perfect what we already do well, while I always want to try something new. So we do have minor clashes, but we balance it out.
The monthly vlog “Latin American Tour” is out now.
Join and watch the full version on fan club and enjoy many other exclusive contents.
Patreon ➡️ https://t.co/6jgVRZV4Qq
Discord ➡️ https://t.co/CZN9JhqXOx pic.twitter.com/F1dQZj1zm8— Madmans Esprit (@MadmansEsprit) July 14, 2025
Did you have any worth sharing experiences during this time in LATAM?
Limu: Being sick overshadowed everything. I honestly don’t remember much else.
Kyuho: Same for me. This needs context though, fans should hear the full story. Our first show was in Mexico and I was already sick when we went on stage.
Then the next day Somyul and Limu also got sick. I think it really hit during the Chile leg of the tour.
We had to take a flight to Chile right after the Mexico show, with barely any sleep. I was shaking from the cold in the airport. I mean, shaking-in Mexico, in April. It was unreal.
Somyul: I started feeling sick the night after we checked into the hotel in Chile. I thought the hotel itself was the cause.
Kyuho: In Chile too, we didn’t rest after the show-we flew straight to Brazil. I think in Brazil, Somyul was practically dying. I was already done for by the Chile show.
Then when we arrived in Brazil, Limu also got sick. During that show, the three of us-Somyul, Limu, and I-were basically performing on the brink of death.
Afterward, it got worse, and I seriously thought, “Is this how I die?”
Limu: I started hallucinating-literally saw goblins. Took Tylenol to the brink of a lethal dose. I think I took more in one day than in my entire life. And the aftereffects are still here.
Kyuho: Same for me. Even now, I haven’t fully recovered. That sickness was so intense it erased everything else.
Juho: Well, one positive memory-I remember at the airport, the airline gave Kyuho a birthday gift when we were getting our tickets.
Kyuho: Oh right, it was my birthday on the day we left. And Geon and Somyul got to see the Sahara Desert and the Himalayas on the way back.
Geon: I was starting to feel really sick on the plane, and Somyul woke me up in time to see the Himalayas.
It was surreal-how we were all half-dead before the shows but somehow still managed to perform.
Somyul: Right before one show, during a meet-and-greet, I nearly fainted. I remember standing there and it felt like I was losing power-flickering in and out.
But seeing the fans’ faces helped me push through and play happily.
Geon: So in the end, it was a good experience.
The fans organized many projects to welcome the band for the first LATAM tour, featuring a fan magazine filled with fan art in Brazil and a surprise for Kyuho’s birthday in Mexico. How did you feel about that?
Kyuho: It was surprising and heartwarming. I was really grateful.
On this tour, we have noticed you performed two days in a row. How did you guys prepare yourself for the concert in such a short time?
Geon: Honestly, we didn’t.
What can we expect from Madmans Esprit from now on? Musically and visually?
Kyuho: It’s a secret, so I can’t say too much-but compared to our third album, what’s coming next will be very new and exciting.
This is the end of the interview, thank you so much for your attention and for the incredible performances. Is there a final thing you want to say for the fans?
Madmans Esprit: Thank you for always supporting us. We hope the music resonates with your soul and that this energy is delivered meaningfully.
Your love and interest are what keep us going. Please continue supporting us.
