{"id":4906,"date":"2021-04-13T00:19:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T05:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalstage.info\/promotion\/?p=4906"},"modified":"2025-01-22T03:29:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T09:29:40","slug":"choke-interview-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalstage.info\/promotion\/choke-interview-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"CHOKE reveals the emotions packed into the digital single \u201cHack to the basic\u201d!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Original interview by Tomonori Nagasawa<\/strong> vues.jp<\/span><\/a>. Published in Jan 2021.
English translation by Royal Stage. Also available in French<\/span><\/a> and Spanish<\/span><\/a>.
In collaboration with Crimson Lotus<\/span><\/a> and JROCK\u2019N\u2019ROLL<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The band CHOKE <\/strong>has recently released their digital single Hack to the basic<\/em><\/a>. With the world immersed in fear and panic due to the invisible threat of coronavirus, this year CHOKE <\/strong>is not focusing on the COVID-19 virus itself. The band is mocking the hysterical society and expressing the importance to evaluate ourselves, just as they did with the cynical approach on their past digital singles No problem at all<\/em> and The Human Anthem<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast to the alternative loud compositions, loaded with intricate elements and harsh lyrics, of \u201cNo problem at all\u201d and \u201cThe Human Anthem\u201d; CHOKE <\/strong>gets fully into nu-metal with \u201cHack to the basic\u201d and declares through the positive attitude framed into the lyrics and the melody that they\u2019re will continue making their way out no matter the circumstances. Hopefully, this interview will help others to understand what CHOKE <\/strong>wants to convey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than pointing out a problem like in our past two releases, I was eager to make a more optimistic and enjoyable song.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

CHOKE has declared through \u201cHack to the basic\u201d that music venues are your living space. Aren\u2019t they?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

REON:<\/strong> As a band, it\u2019s all about live performances. At the moment, every venue is implementing its own safety guidelines such as \u201cyou can only raise your voice if you\u2019re using a mask\u201d or \u201cmoshing is prohibited\u201d. We can\u2019t have the same atmosphere, so it\u2019s also difficult for the audience to have fun as before. In this case, CHOKE is taking the initiative to show a new way to enjoy concerts. That feeling was injected into \u201cHack to the basic\u201d and I hope all of you can feel it as well. At the same time, it is a remark of our determination to move forward. The music has an upbeat vibe, I think that serves as a good hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to the digital singles No problem at all<\/em> and The Human Anthem<\/em>, this new single is a lot catchier indeed.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

REON:<\/strong> \u201cHack to the basic\u201d is a groovy song. For this reason, rather than pointing out a problem like in our past two releases, I was eager to make a more optimistic and enjoyable song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you compose this song with the intention of having a \u201cgood hook\u201d in mind?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

KVYA NONO:<\/strong> At our beginnings, others often referred to CHOKE as a \u201cnu-metal revival band\u201d. Since last year, we have constantly performed along with bands from the metalcore scene and heavy visual kei acts. We realized that there lots of great metalcore bands. That made us reflect on which direction we should move next and what kind of music we should play. We talked about \u201cgetting back to our nu-metal roots\u201d, that\u2019s how this work was made with that intention. Actually, the idea of making a song with a nu-metal taste has been always in the air, but we missed the right time to release it. We were finally able to do it. Also, our support drummer Toshiya Sato has a style that emphasizes the groove. I was strongly inspired by that and gave me that boost to return to our nu-metal origins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toshiya Sato:<\/strong> When I got the demo, KVYA NONO told me that he wanted to make this song with a great focus on the catchiness. Thus, I tried to blend my own beat with CHOKE\u2019s world, without overlooking REON\u2019s rap and the rhythm from the strings team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B5:<\/strong> We formed this band because all the members shared the same music background and we were on the same channel regarding the kind of music we wanted to make. As the result of getting back to that point and approaching it in a new way, \u201cHack to the basic\u201d is the evolved sound of the style that we were carrying along since our beginnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHack to the basic\u201d was born from the scent of the nu-metal movement, which was popular in the early 2000s, fused with elements from the old-school hip hop and a mixture of the atmosphere of the Japanese style.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When I listened to \u201cHack to the basic\u201d, I got the feeling of \u201cmixture\u201d that is often used in the Japanese scene.  You can feel the aura of those days from the song.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

B5:<\/strong> \u201cHack to the basic\u201d was born from the scent of the nu-metal movement, which was popular in the early 2000s, fused with elements from the old-school hip hop and a mixture of the atmosphere of the Japanese style. We have been lived immersed in that air. We thought it would be great to bring out a band that delivers the vibe of those years but with a fresh style. We made \u201cHack to the basic\u201d with that in mind and I think that the song definitely pulls it off.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems like CHOKE is evoking nostalgia without being utterly retro.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

B5<\/strong>: We added scratching and brought over some of the typical touches, but it projects a modern groove too. But more than anything, the most important subject in \u201cHack to the basic\u201d is to have fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KVYA NONO: <\/strong>In my interpretation of nu-metal, the key point is the implementation of sampling in conjunction with a touch of hip hop. This release was focused on such elements; for this reason, the B-track, \u201cStay high (retake)\u201d, is a song that features scratching and samples of a female voice. Moreover, I deliberately prioritized a downer and loose mood in contrast to the slam energy from the 2000s and the characteristic \u201chey\u201d flow from classic hip hop. \u201cHack to the basic\u201d is a song with a shuffle feel; however, it doesn\u2019t feel like a bouncy beat because I tried to eliminate all the swing as much as possible. In particular, I think the guitar conveys an underground vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHOKE is not the kind of band that makes music for boisterous parties, right?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

KVYA NONO:<\/strong> No. I mean, I can\u2019t see REON shouting \u201cOh, yeah!\u201d at a concert. Can you? Certainly, the song has a strong taste of hip hop and it carries a cool vibe that resembles a party style, but the chorus has some influence of the loose mood and mature chords from city pop. CHOKE is the kind of band that can turn this into a downer. I was very conscious of this when I made it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B5:<\/strong> Nevertheless, in concerts, this song stands out from others because of its cool groove. The lyrics of \u201cHack to the basic\u201d are interesting since people can make different interpretations. Depending on the listener’s perspective, it can be positive or negative. I hope you can see it as a song which meaning it’s up to each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of making adjustments, even if we have to start all over, we need to create a new way to live. Otherwise, the situation where we and our close ones stand now won\u2019t change.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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CHOKE - "Hack to the basic"(OFFICIAL VIDEO)<\/div><\/div>
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