Kobametal on BABYMETAL's concept: "Wanted to create something that was missing in the present world"

BABYMETAL and their producer Kobametal featured in November's issue of CD & DL Data Magazine with a special article about their concept. Kobametal explains why was created, what is the idea behind their style and the staff around BABYMETAL. Read the translation below! 

When I had to start a new idol unit, I came up with the idea of an 'idol and metal' theme, I picked the members, produced the songs and this way I got to the current situation [of the group].

Looking at the current idol scene, I noticed there's a lot of groups which aren't different than the rest, and thinking it was uninteresting, I wanted to create something that was missing in the present world, an 'only one' kind of unit.

Also, I thought about an unexpected approach for taking out the potential of the members. Giving importance to an unusual 'strange' kind of feeling, we chose such things as the songs and the performance on stage, all to achieve this result. We strived to achieve an image that could be enjoyable not only in Japan but also abroad.

We have a lot of songs with this image where the sound is metal, and the melody is idol-like. We gathered a staff made of people who really love metal, so they make a sound that it's genuinely metal, without any compromises. We pick the songs as a homage to the staff's love for metal, and so that people will grin when they hear them. The lyrics are chosen with themes that truly represent the members the way they are. And then the dance choreography and the performance on stage are arranged while taking everything into account.

Things like the members' dancing, the performance and lighting on stage, all these productions make BABYMETAL's world complete, so I would like more and more people to see them live.

In BABYMETAL, the personality of the group was built up thanks to the potential of the members and the love of metal from the staff. From now on, without destroying this theme of fusion between metal and idol, we want to push on, aiming at being the 'only one'. Personally I feel there is a similarity between the actual situation in the idol scene and the band boom of the past, and from this context I would be happy if I could create the next music scene.

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Interview by: CD & DL Data Magazine, November 2012

Translation by: Gakushabaka

Read: Sakura Gakuin concept and sub-units explained by Tomoyo Kishioka, read here.