KR: Let’s start with the formality, briefly introduce yourself.
Yako: I’m Yako from Melt Banana.
Agata: Agata. I play guitar.

KR: How’s the tour been so far?
Yako: Very good. We’ve been out for about 5 days.
Agata: We started in Ventura, it’s outside of Los Angeles.

KR: Is it going to be a long tour?
Agata: Not really. Just one month. We usually tour about 2 or 3 months. It’s not too long.

KR: What's it like to tour with Fantomas?
Agata: Yeah. The people that come to show are more into music. They know about music and not just like.....(trailing off)

KR: I wanna start with your latest album, Cell-Scape. Who drums for this album?
Agata: da da da dum
Yako: Ano. Help. Drum in Japan

KR: So it’s a Japanese drummer?
Agata: (whistling)
Yako: (laughing)

KR: So it’s a Japanese drummer?
Agata: (whistling)
Yako: (laughing)

KR: Is it drum machine?
Agata: Ah yeah, machine in Japan

KR: So it’s Japanese drum machine?
Yako: (Laughing) Yeah

KR: How long did it take you to record it?
Yako: About one year. We’re kinda picky. We need to change lots of things on the album.

KR: Some songs are melodic. Is that a sign of the next album?
Yako: I haven’t decided yet for the next album. But for Cell-Scape I want to sing more

KR: (To Agata) You always wear mask on stage which I believe due to some
kind of sickness. Is that true?
Agata: Kind of. Ano, I started because I was sick. I still have the same disease. It’s a little bit better now but I’m not sure. Actually I don’t need to wear it now. Kind of a costume.

KR: How often do you record songs?
Agata: Every month. We tried. We do everything ourselves. We don’t work with engineers or producers. We use our own equipment. It takes time. Maybe if we get help from someone, it will be faster.

KR: What’s the process of writing lyrics? How do you come up with them?
Yako: From dictionary. I picture one word that's interesting to my ear, interesting meaning. It depends on the song. Some songs I just made from playing with the sound. Sometimes I think about the image

KR: How did u meet Jon Chang of Discordance Axis?
Yako: When he was doing his band, he came to Japan. It was 1993/1994, I forgot. But when he came to Japan, we opened for him. And we’ve been working with him since.

KR: And that’s how you met Dave Witte too?

Yako: Yeah

KR: So Dave Witte is not playing this time?
Yako: Actually we asked him but he has a plan to go to Japan with his band, Burnt By The Sun.

KR: Who are your influences?
Yako: With whom we play in Japan. But I also listen to many kind of music like hip hop or contemporary. I also play a lot of video games soI get my influence from there.

KR: What are you listening right now?
Yako: A band called The Pillow. They are from Japan and also The Transplants

KR: Who’d you like to work with?
Yako: Dave Witte. We hope to make an album with him playing drums.

KR: Since you come to US pretty often, any particular place that you like? And ever think of moving here since your band is very well accepted?
Yako: I usually enjoy playing in Austin Texas. People are different. They are very loud and seem to enjoy music a lot. Good city. American people talk a lot during the show compare to other country like Japan or Europe, American people is loud. Very talkative to the band. It’s fun. I hope to move here but right now I’m happy living in Tokyo also it’s kinda hard to live here because of the visa.

KR: You do quite a few cover. Any new one in mind?
Yako: Beatles.

KR: What happened to the “banana-peel sessions”?
Yako: Havent heard anything. I’m not sure. We haven’t talked to them for a long time.

KR: You seem to be inspired by insects from lyrics to the album cover. Any particular kind that you like?
Yako: Actually I don’t like insects. If it’s just image, I’m okay. I would never touch a real one. But maybe this one insect, it’s grey, round, I don’t know how to say in English (checks her dictionary). If I touch it, it closes. It’s dirty looking bug. I don't know.

KR: Last question. Any plan for a new album?
Yako: Maybe next year.

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