Since its formation in 1998, The Band Apart has had a major influence on the Japanese rock world and continues to be active even now. This time, we asked Mr. Takeshi Arai, the frontman of The Band Apart, who is also doing solo activities, to talk about the fan community he manages.
――First, please tell us how you came to know Fanicon.
I first learned about Fanicon when I performed with my friend, musician Yutaka Furukawa, on a live broadcast with no audience. The story of Fanicon came up during my conversation with him. So I heard the details and became interested.
――When was that?
It was the end of March last year. It was around the time that live shows with audiences were canceled due to the novel coronavirus, and I think that was the case for people with any job during that period, but our industry was also in a situation where we couldn't see what would happen or what we would do in the future. That's why I was thinking about a lot of things, so after listening to the story, I thought “I'll definitely do it,” so I started in May. The reason I opened it for about a month was because I was busy with production, so I decided to do it in the shortest time, so I proceeded.
――Do you mean that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered you to start Fanicon?
Even without the COVID-19 pandemic, they probably did it for some reason. The fact that we were restricted in what we could do due to the coronavirus has greatly boosted our backs. Anyway, I was fascinated by the fact that you can have a place to sing or convey something to people, no matter what form it is.
――Have you researched or considered other fan community services?
I haven't done it. Member Kogure is doing notes and stuff, so I don't know that much about fan community sites. Both as a band and as individuals, they came out unrelated to that kind of thing. I don't think The Band Apart is such a hard band to stick with, but it's self-paced (laughs). I think the fans are also enjoying their own pace.
――I wonder if it's Arai's personal FanIcon rather than The Band Apart because of the band's color.
Both the band and solo are fun, and I feel like the format of communicating more deeply with Fanicon fans fits what I'm aiming for in my solo career.
――How was it when you actually used it?
I simply wasn't able to sing with people in mind for a few months, so it was nice to be able to do it through streaming.
In addition to that, I went to live streaming events around summer, and my friend's musician who was watching our rehearsal told me, “Somehow I don't feel like I'm blank.”
At that time, the fact that “there is no voice because (the concert period) was open” was a hot topic among musicians around me.
Since they have been singing every week on the Fanicon broadcast since May, there may have been places where they were unknowingly able to keep up their condition.
――I'm happy that Fanicon was helpful in that regard as well.
There's one more thing I've noticed. Streaming began when live shows were not possible due to the effects of the novel coronavirus, but while they were doing it, I now learned that even if it wasn't the COVID-19 pandemic, there were people who couldn't come to the concert due to work or family circumstances, but wanted to listen to music and talk.
――When you're a student or young, you have relatively free time, but as you get older, your position changes again, and I feel that it becomes difficult for many people to casually go to live shows.
Yes, that's right. We've also been doing music for over 20 years, so hearing the voices of people who say “I haven't been able to go to live shows for years, but I'm glad there was a broadcast,” and I realized that there were such needs regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is probably the biggest harvest.
Until now, we've often watched the people in front of us at the live venue, and we didn't know how to go get information on fans from ourselves, so I feel like they taught me that.
――There are also unique broadcasts, such as radio-like talks and videos showing hands during performances.
It also started when we had a conversation while doing live streaming and hearing voices from fans saying, “How are they playing?” It's not “asking for help,” but there's a feeling that they're going out to listen to what everyone is looking for in the Fanicon community.
――Do you use Fanicon properly with other SNS such as Twitter?
In the case of a band like ours, in the case of SNS, it would be a one-way street from here, like “We did a live concert today, thank you.” In dry terms, it's probably an advertising tool. In the case of Fanicon, we've drawn a pretty firm line by going one step further and listening to various things from here and talking about private things we don't usually talk about.
――The main reason for drawing the line is that you know that there are only fans within Fanicon?
Yes. It feels like it's aimed at “people you know.” Also, by continuing to communicate through broadcasts in this way, even in situations where live performances cannot be performed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also a big part where they were encouraged and helped, so there is also a way to return the favor.
――Fanicon's philosophy is the phrase “With fans, more fun.” The concept is to have more “together” fun with fans, isn't it? Depending on the band's concept and musicians, I think it's difficult for some people to show that part. In that sense, what kind of musicians do you think would be a good fit for Fanicon?
Based on my experience of doing it for six months, I think I can recommend it to musicians who think about music and relationships with fans on a regular basis. Also, wouldn't it be nice for people who are cool when it's a public image, but it's interesting to talk in the dressing room, and have something surprising.
-- I see.
Speaking of practical matters, I don't think it will continue unless it's boring to a certain extent. I do live streaming at least once a week, but when I can't, I upload videos and radios. There are things like whether or not you can enjoy doing that kind of routine work itself. So I might not recommend it to people who are bored.
――Do you have any tips to keep yourself motivated to update?
Motivation, or rather, I continued to think that in my case, not to mention singing, I like talking quite a bit. I don't know how long the other artists are doing, but they do it for about 2 hours every week, and I can't finish it in 1 hour. I've caused the deflation of broadcast times myself (laughs).
-- Deflation (laughs).
I was insanely nervous at first, but recently I've gotten used to it, so I feel like I can do it casually. They even started singing and talking while drinking alcohol along the way.
Recently, “Please get drunk during the broadcast!” There were times when people said something like that. As expected, I can't do that (laughs). We're in a relationship where we can talk about that kind of thing.
――It's wonderful to be able to build that kind of relationship.
Nonetheless, we must not be spoiled by the “likes” of the fans, and it is necessary to make an effort not to get into a rut.
But it's not that difficult either; for example, try to memorize everyday events lightly. Recently, failures in daily life and housework have come to be viewed positively as “I can talk about this on the broadcast.”
I get stories like that from fans too (laughs).
The broadcast itself may be the motivation. So, I think the trick to continuing is to have fun without working too much.
――Would you like to do something like this through Fanicon in the future?
Well, I was also talking with my fellow musicians who use Fanicon, and I think it would be interesting if I could watch other people's communities and participate easily. It's an opportunity for mutual fans to get to know about our band, and I think communicating in that way will raise the overall level.
――There are a lot of people who like not just one band, but multiple bands, and by extension, the whole scene.
Yes, that's right. That's why it would be interesting if environments and functions that make collaborating a little more casual come out. Also, since we can't see other people's communities, we're simply insanely interested in what other people are doing.
-- Certainly.
For example, currently there are only plans for one artist, but it seems OK to have multiple plans to enter at the same time.
-- Like a paid BS channel pack (laughs).
Oh yeah (laughs). It seems that many people are actually members of multiple artists. If that can be put together well, it may expand even further. There is little power I can do, but it would be more exciting if everyone did it, and I think that might change for the better.
— Thank you so much! We will continue to back up the artists so that they can be excited!
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If you want to deepen interaction with fans and want to make running a fan club easier than it is now, then Fanicon is useful.