--When did the two of you originally decide to start doing music together? Dada: At first we hardly had any plans for starting a band at all. We were doing a live event at a performance and choosing what songs we would cover, and we thought it would go a lot faster if we just made our own songs. That was the way we started. --With your demo tape sales and activities doing well, things have really started to move for you haven't they. Dada: We started out on the premise of not being popular at all, so we're a bit confused by it all.. (bitter laugh) --You have an extremely unique, different image. What would you say about the type of music you want to do? Kalm: Personally, something that feels good. Dada: I'm not sure of that. (laughs) --And what kind of image and atmosphere do you want to create? Kalm: An atmosphere that people try to put words to. Dada: (laughs) --Something people can actually see in their heads, you mean? Kalm: Even if we show them, I don't think they'll understand... Dada: (laughs) --(laughs) Is there anything you particularly want to convey to the audience? Dada: I want people to look not only at the music, but our entire image. I think we have a tendency to select our fans. Those who become interested in us will quickly become more and more obsessed, I think. --These fans who become obsessed, what part of Velvet Eden do you think they fall in love with? Kalm: That we never blink at our shows. [[recall VE's eye makeup; they had eyes painted on their eyelids]] Dada: (laughs) When we look at questionarres that's all we ever see. Kalm: A picture is worth a thousand words. --I guess I'd have to see it to understand. What kind of atmosphere do you have at your shows? Dada: We don't do any MC-ing at all. [[MC==talking to audience between songs]]. However, sometimes we leave the headset switch to our microphone on when we go backstage. (pained laugh) Well, I guess that's in exchange for an MC. So when the show is over, please keep listening (laughs) --You have very theatrical staging. Is there anything you are particularly conscious of for this? Kalm: Not to blink. Because our tears are amassing.. Dada: Probably how to do the staging though we're not playing most of the instruments. It's usually said of electronic bands that they don't play their instruments on stage and such. We want to reverse that impression; we got a child's grand piano and set it on stage, pretending to play it, though I think its obvious...... --..that you aren't playing it? (laughs) As Velvet Eden continues on, what is the thing you most want to express? Kalm: That there is a limit to what your pupils can see... Dada: (laughs) --(laughs) Musically? Kalm: I think that if our music isn't accompanied with performance and staging it will be incomplete. --It seems as though the side of Velvet Eden that can't be expressed by music alone is entrusted to Dada. Kalm: In terms of composing the lyrics, yes. I just make the music on my own. --So Kalm handles the music and Dada the lyrics, each person doing their respective part. Are the lyrics all based on the tales Dada creates himself? Dada: I don't write anything besides those stories. If a short story writer takes a year to write a short story, then he spends his life writing only fragments. In this sense, I am writing about the experiences of my life, which I think will take the rest of my life as well. --What has influenced you? Kalm: I only listen to very maniacal music. Music that probably no one in Japan listens to (laughs). That is an influence. Outside of music, I like plants and animals, insects and such. Dada: I've been influenced by many different things, musical and non-musical. For books, I don't like long volumes and series. One book should be over in one book. Although my lyrics have a lot of development and changing, I try to complete one story in each song, and give the impression that there is also a larger flow of events happening.. --What do you want to do with Velvet Eden from here? Dada: I want to expand our breadth more and more. I want to do that with the world of the lyrics as well, and I think thats a good thing. So my readers won't be bored at all... --Your CD "Ningyou Shoukan" is currently on sale too. Dada: The CD, like the title, is very direct and straightforward; there are many tales and side stories in the cd. If you listen to the demo tapes as well there is a connection. --Any message for the readers? Kalm: Someone, please take a picture of us at a show with our eyes closed. --(laughs) A challenge! Dada: Please wait. Something wonderful will happen...