How did NICHE come together? How did the members meet?
Sui:
At the time, I often heard people say, “There aren’t many visual kei bands anymore.” Having grown up listening to V-kei, that really saddened me. Even today, there are still so many incredible bands active, and I felt that if there was anything I could do to help energize the scene as a whole, I wanted to be part of it. That feeling became the starting point for this band. I met Doku through an introduction, and I personally invited Shinobu to join.
What meaning or intention lies behind the band name “NICHE”?
Doku:
We originally started under the temporary name Shin’en (Deep Abyss), but when we decided to move into full-scale activities, I began thinking about how every person carries an abyss within their heart. I wanted to philosophically explore the meaning of life that exists inside the human mind, and that led me to suggest the name NICHE.
Which artists or works have influenced your music the most?
Doku:
DIR EN GREY, D, D’ERLANGER, DEAD END, Kuroyume, BUCK-TICK, among others.
Shinobu:
PIERROT… deadman… †
Sui:
Classical music. As for bands, X, MALICE MIZER, GLAY, L’Arc-en-Ciel, PIERROT, Janne Da Arc… I listen to everything, from the roots of visual kei to its more recent generations.
When writing songs, what usually comes first: the lyrics or the sound?
Sui:
So far, the sound comes first.
Which of your songs best represents who NICHE is?
Shinobu:
CROWS… †
How do the themes and messages within your songs take shape?
Doku:
I interpret and reconstruct Nietzsche’s philosophies and ideas in my own way, shaping them into themes that can resonate emotionally with the listener.
What is the concept behind the masks, veils, and elements that evoke anonymity on stage?
Shinobu:
Unconsciousness… †
NICHE’s live shows have a very distinct atmosphere. What do you focus on when designing the performance?
Sui:
Our concept is “a spectacle performed by the monsters of the abyss (the performers) and the beast tamer (the vocalist), awakening the emotions of those who dwell within the abyss (the audience’s subconscious).” We build our live performances around that idea.
If you had to express NICHE’s world in a single word, what would it be?
Shinobu:
Abyss… †
As a band based in Osaka, do you feel any differences compared to Tokyo? Or anything uniquely Kansai?
Doku:
I don’t know much about Tokyo, but in Kansai there’s a strong sense of interaction between bands. Since Kansai is still considered a “regional area” within the entertainment industry, we place a lot of value on those connections.
How do you view the current visual kei scene?
Sui:
Visual kei is an incredible genre born in Japan. Its musical freedom naturally leads to diversity as times change, but I believe it’s important to preserve its authentic core while expanding its reach. NICHE wants to be one of the driving forces contributing to that future.
Tell us about a memorable moment from a recent live show.
Shinobu:
A string… snapped… †
Do you remember your first live show? How did it feel?
Doku:
I had been away from band activities for about ten years, so I was extremely nervous. But the moment I stepped on stage, my mind went completely blank, and I focused solely on expressing myself.
Outside of music, what do the members value most?
Shinobu:
After-parties… †
If you each had to describe the other members in one word, what would it be?
Doku:
Sui: A leader who pulls us forward.
Shinobu: A mysterious alien. You never know what he’s thinking.
Shinobu:
Doku: …Multi-talented… †
Sui: …Boss… †
Sui:
Doku: A hyperactive elementary school kid.
Shinobu: A massive oddball.
What would you like first-time visitors to your live shows to know?
Doku:
We put a lot of care into making our melodies easy to listen to and our lyrics easy to grasp, so we hope people will dive into the world we’re presenting.
If you could collaborate with other artists, who would it be and in what way?
Sui:
For the songs I compose, I’ve already worked with various arrangers, such as Minagi from ZERAF, who arranged CROWS. Moving forward, I want to explore collaborations that bring excitement to the visual kei scene as a whole.
What kind of band do you want NICHE to become within the future of the visual kei scene?
Doku:
While Kansai is our base, we want to take full advantage of the digital age to communicate our expression nationwide and worldwide. And of course, we’ll come see everyone in person.
Lastly, please leave a message for your fans and for those who will discover NICHE in the future.
Doku:
NICHE has only been active for a little over a year, yet the fact that we’re able to speak through media and perform on stage is entirely thanks to everyone’s support. We want to be a band that consistently exceeds expectations.
Shinobu:
Don’t miss it… †
Sui:
We want to deepen both our musical identity as a band and our connection with all of you, so please come experience NICHE live.
