Uniting People Through Music: An Interview with MIYAVI

​We recently got the chance the attend MIYAVI's concert at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles and were given the opportunity to interview him following it! While many of our readers may know MIYAVI for his work in Visual Kei, a very different MIYAVI rocked the crowd that night. The MIYAVI who performed that night spoke of the problems facing the world and how music can bring people of all stations and walks of life together. It is with this in mind that we step into this interview. While MIYAVI's musicianship and stage presence hasn't dropped one bit, it comes with a new level of maturity and responsibility that can perhaps be seen in the interview. Everything from his first visit to a refugee camp in Lebanon to the inspiration brought to him by young women like Sonita and Emma Gonzalez was discussed. So be sure to check out the interview and keep an eye out for more content like this coming soon!

MIYAVI is a world-renowned musician, actor and philanthropist, dedicated to bridging cultures across the globe with his music and work for numerous humanitarian causes. Often referred to as the “Samurai Guitarist,” MIYAVI is known for his unconventional style of guitar playing – performing not with a pick, but with his fingers in a method dubbed “slap style.” MIYAVI was celebrated internationally for his acting debut, portraying Imperial Japanese Army sergeant Mutsuhiro Watanabe in the 2014 film, Unbroken, directed by Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie. On the humanitarian side, MIYAVI continues his important work with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, which works to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. In 2016 and 2017, MIYAVI visited refugee camps in around the world and helped to spread the message of the ongoing global refugee crisis. In November 2017, he was appointed an official UN Goodwill Ambassador.

A-to-J: Your sound has evolved a lot over your music career, can you tell us a bit about how you've discovered your new sound.
MIYAVI: It's taken time and it's always challenging. I started my career in a band and then when I started touring outside of Japan I realized that it's important and crucial to find a distinct tone, style, and way to deliver a message as a guitarist. There are tons of great guitarists in the world and I wanted to find a meaning to playing the guitar. So I just started slapping the strings. It's still a process trying to find a new way. Now we are in a phase where we mash up new tones because we don't hear guitar music on the radio much these days and it's also one of my missions to bring back the excitement of rock music; guitar music. Especially now I think it's really important for people who are feeling down and losing hope, and I want to get rid of negativity with energy. So I'm trying to make something energetic, to energize people. Also now, being an Ambassador for UNCHR is an important role in my life. So to deliver meaningful messages and to support people who need music, my music, is my mission.

MIYAVI: Also, I really want my people, my fans, to be proud of themselves as MIYAVI fans. You might've known that MIYAVI was from the visual kei industry. There are fans of this and that's beautiful, but at the same time when they talk to their friends and family about what they like to listen to I want to rock even the people around my fans, so that my fans can be like: "These are the people I'm supporting". Do you get it?

MIYAVI: Anyway, it's still a journey to pursue a new tone. When people feel excitement I think it's a moment that people also feel hope. So I'm trying to create a moment where people feel "wow!" and then people get excited and that becomes energy for the future-for tomorrow. So that's what I've been doing.

A-to-J: You speak a lot about the concept of music uniting people on stage at your recent concert in LA. Can you tell us a bit more about that concept of music uniting people?
MIYAVI: As I said on stage, it's something that's easy to say, but hard to do. Some people even say it's impossible and I don't think that it's easy at all, but I've been seeing that people get united at my shows. In Japan Japanese people, Americans, British, Indians, Chinese, Brazilians, they all come to my show even in Japan and in that time they all share the moment and that's simply beautiful. I think at that moment people appreciate music and there is no conflict. Of course there are moshing and other kinda crazy moments, but people aren't hating; their attention is towards the music. Then the more beautiful the music is the more people come together, and the more people that come together the more they're united. That's what I believe and that's why I think we can get people together with music. Also, music has the power by itself to go beyond the language barrier. Especially me, I play guitar and I feel that my emotion is spread to the audience without language, and that's one of the most beautiful moments I can ever experience. Even now, as I've visited refugee camps as an ambassador I've seen that music can motivate people, energize people, and can support children and young people. So that's what I meant on stage.

A-to-J: You mentioned your involvement with UNHCR, can you tell us a bit about how this came about?
MIYAVI: It was through "Unbroken". I met Angelina Jolie, who is a Special Envoy, and I was impressed and got inspired by what she's done, what's she's achieving, and what she's facing as a Special Envoy. Such a famous actress and a great director but she's also fighting for the future; for the younger generation. So, I just got inspired and then she introduced me to UNHCR and I first visited a refugee camp in Lebanon in 2015. It was the first time I had visited a refugee camp.

​A-to-J: So you've mentioned you're a Goodwill Ambassador and you've done a lot of work with refugees, how have these experiences changed both you and your music?
MIYAVI: As I said on stage, the first time I visited a refugee camp I was really, really scared. I had no prior knowledge or experience, nothing. I'm not as famous as Angelina so I wasn't sure if people at the refugee camp would have any idea who I was. I just took my guitar-that's it, but from the first moment I played the guitar in front of kids, they went crazy. I was amazed, I was blown away by them. They are so energetic and I saw the brightness, the energy, the hope in their eyes and I thought: "I could do this." That's part of music. You know? Music can do this, especially with kids. Then after I got back from the camp I got messages from UN staff saying that some of the kids were saying that they wanted to be rock stars! We play music every night but for them it's a really precious moment. Even if they're not going to be rock stars in the future it's hope, it's motivation to see, to get out, to survive, and to get over obstacles in their lives; to see outside of their world. I was touched and I decided then to keep doing this because it's important. Even now I visit, witness, talk, and spend time with them and I get inspired and I create and spread. That's what I do. It's been affecting me a lot. Every single important track is about not only refugees, but also these issues in the world. It's a big part of my life as an artist.

A-to-J: Speaking of issues you want to bring light to, you recently released an MV for the song "Long Nights" featuring Sonita. Can you tell us a bit about how you came to work with her and what the songs means?
MIYAVI: So "Long Nights" was the first track I wrote after I came back from the refugee camp in Lebanon. It's been a while, two or three years, and I wanted to create something. I wanted to combine my music with what I experienced and witness because humanitarian work and music have been really, really separated because it's not for profit. In the entertainment business you need to make money, so that's why it's been kind of separated. So I thought because I got inspired, I wanted to put a message into my creation. Even from the time I spend with my kids I get inspired-it's the same thing. I got inspired and I thought I could make a song with a message that could resonate with people. Our fans, those who are not refugees, all of us, sometimes we lose our destination. Sometimes we don't know where to go, but as long as you know that tomorrow will come, you can get over the long night; you can endure the long night. That's the kind of picture I got meeting refugees. They had to flee their countries and they don't know when they're going to arrive in a new country, a new place. Even if they're now in a refugee camp and they don't know if they can go back home, they are believing that tomorrow will come, that the time will come; that's the motivation. As long as you keep believing that you can keep trying. It's so powerful and I got inspired. It's the common message that I thought we could share with my fans. So my people, my fans, the listeners, even me, have hard times in our lives. Our message is very simple.

MIYAVI: Then I met Sonita. I saw her film, "Sonita", where she shared her life. She's from Afghanistan and she was almost sold by her mom for marriage. That's part of the traditions of those countries. She didn't give up on her dreams though and she made her own film and made a music video with her message. Then that became viral and she's now studying music in the States. I got inspired since that's not something that I've experienced in my life and I thought it was very meaningful for her to put her message into our creation, "Long Nights", because I think that's really, really authentic and it's really powerful. I think it resonates with everyone who listens to the music.

MIYAVI - "Long Nights" feat. Sonita (World Mix)

A-to-J: You mentioned your work in films like Unbroken, and you're going to be appearing in the upcoming Bleach movie. Is a career in film something you want to pursue in addition to music or are these just projects that come up?
MIYAVI: Actually both. The first priority is music, but at the same time there are many, many things I could learn as an actor. I want to build my career as it's a fun process. As long as I have time I want to try more try more. Actually it's not easy to handle the schedule as a musician and as an actor, but as I said there are many, many things I can learn from the experiences as an actor in a film. There's a sense of teamwork there. Of course in music there is also teamwork, but as a solo artist it's 100% me. In movies I'm just one piece of a creation. Basically it's really important to dedicate yourself to the story and to deliver its message. It's really fun and I'm learning many, many things. I want to keep doing this. Music, movies, fashion, they're really close. I think there's a lot of crossover and we can collaborate a bit. Like when I made the music for Mission Impossible, like me doing the Bleach movie, there are so many crossovers. For the "Long Nights" music video we worked with Joe Sill who is a movie director as well. So it's really, really cool and I've been enjoying it and I want to build a career.

A-to-J: Can you tell us a bit more about your upcoming music projects and releases?
MIYAVI: We've been doing digital EP releases. We just dropped a new video with Lia Kim who's a great Korean dancer/choreographer. So every month we've releasing the EPs and in May we're planning to release a song that I collaborated with my wife Melody. I had my daughter Airi on stage at the concert last night. Having a family and being a dad is a big part of my life and their support is huge. It's also important to show that I make a path with my family to my fans and I believe it's the right way. When you're young you don't appreciate the love from your parents. I was like that too. Now I feel that family are the closest ones and the people who love you most. Also, I simply love Melody's voice and I've been wanting to have her sing more and we finally have the opportunity to finally feature her on a MIYAVI song. Also the cover track, "Youth of The Nation", we've been wanting to release that track as well. Gun violence and racial discrimination, there are so many problems in the States, and in the whole world, but it's all about the future. The young generation, they're all fighting. Sonita, Emma Gonzalez, they're fighting, these young girls. So I really feel that we adults are more responsible to face those issues. With music we can support that. So we got inspired and covered the track "Youth of The Nation" in our own way. We kinda rearranged it but the message is really strong. We are the ones, the youth of the nation, who are making the future.

MIYAVI is currently in the middle of his "DAY 2 WORLD TOUR". Be sure to catch him on the road and follow him via the links below!

​For More Info on MIYAVI:
Website: http://myv382tokyo.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MIYAVI.OFFlCIAL/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miyavi_ishihara/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MIYAVI_OFFICIAL

The above interview was conducted by Manuel Figueroa with photography by Manuel Figueroa and Eunice Wang.

MIYAVI - "In Crowd" feat. Seann Bowe + Lia Kim