TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tokyo-based alternative rock band GEZAN (下山) has developed a large following by hosting large-scale anti-war protests in Shinjuku and recording with legendary music producer Steve Albini. 

The band will perform at Legacy Taipei on Oct. 23. GEZAN frontman, Mahito the People, took a moment to respond to questions from Taiwan News.

Regarding the song, “Fight War, Not Wars,” and the protest you held in Shinjuku, is the world moving closer to World War III? Do you think musicians and artists can stop the madness? Are we causing more global conflict? 

I think we often imagine the differences between ourselves and other people. It's sort of like dealing with tangled threads. The harder you pull to find the end of the thread, the harder it is to find it. The speed of the Internet has only exacerbated the divide between us. We need to spend more time facing each other directly in a conversation. 

This is especially true at events like live shows or music festivals, where people with different ideas come together. At these events, there is a kind of communication that technology cannot match, a type of communal sharing of experience that is important even though it is not perfect.

You play many different genres of music, like punk, experimental, rock, and alternative. I am sure these categories don’t matter to you, but can you describe the influence from other Japanese experimental artists like EYヨ(Boredoms) or jam bands like Acid Mothers Temple?

I learned early on about the diversity of noise, which helped me better understand the world. This has provided me with a new perspective and has helped me face the complex, three-dimensional world, and making your own rules is naturally a matter, of course.

In other interviews, you said interacting with the audience is very important to you and the band. What type of energy do you get from the people, and what message do you want to share?

It gives me a real feeling of being "alive." Human beings are accustomed to being lonely, but at the same time, they can also coexist with others. This is the contradiction that I want to convey.

Is your music about rebellion? Is that why you wear red? Do people in Tokyo and Taipei need to wake up to the forces that are controlling them?

We need to realize what structures we are entangled in and stand up to change those structures. Our music is music of resistance, a peaceful movement against a complex world. To wake up, I will sleep.

In 2017, you performed in Taiwan with Ichiko Aoba as "NUUAMM." What was the most memorable part of that experience? This time, are there any unfulfilled wishes from your previous visit (e.g., places to see, foods to try, or shops to visit) that you'd like to complete?

There are a lot of stray dogs, which I find very interesting. It is no longer common in Japan. I might like to visit a secondhand market.

Your album Klue (狂) introduced dub sounds and was mixed by renowned Japanese dub engineer Naoyuki Uchida. We have always admired his sound, as White Wabbit released “Before Turning Off The Light,” an album by a group he collaborated with back in 2004. Klue marked a significant shift in your sound. Will this sonic direction be a foundation for GEZAN’s future work, or was it a one-time experiment?

We are constantly changing, so we cannot promise the future, but discovering dub music had a huge impact on the band. The basic principle of dub is "reconstruction," which is like the high-rise buildings in Tokyo that are constantly being demolished and rebuilt. We are always updating our lives and knowledge. Life is dub.

One of the saddest moments this year for alternative rock fans was the passing of legendary sound engineer and guitarist Steve Albini. During the recording process for “Silence Will Speak,” did he ever share any words that deeply impacted or changed your approach to music creation? If you could meet Steve again, what would you want to say to him?

Steve, thank you for leaving so many records. The traces of life you left in countless record grooves will forever inspire us. It is truly an honor for our works to be part of that eternity.

In a Japanese interview, you mentioned that during the All Senses Festival, a child put a flower into the donation box, which made you happy. After hosting so many editions of the festival, do you have other memorable stories like this to share?

It's a joy to see partners start families and feel each other change along the way. We hope to intertwine our live performance in these "moments."

What are your views on religious faith?

I think that contemplating something as invisible as music should be part of faith. While I don’t need a god or a religion, prayer is necessary in this devastated world.

This last question is a bit of a bonus, but what is your secret to maintaining such smooth and silky long hair?

I ride my bicycle quickly downhill at rapid speed, and my hair becomes naturally dry when I reach the bottom, as the natural wind has great power. Then, if you sprinkle a little salt on it, it will become like this.

GEZAN will perform at Legacy Taipei on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Follow this link for ticket information and other performance details.