ALAN WALKER
Alan Walker talks about new music, a new tour, and a little history on how it all came to be, giving us everything as an exclusive for the very first time only here.
What are your top favorite songs? We are listing our most popular songs for July 2024. Who do you think should be at the top? Let’s find out!
We have an exclusive conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis, the cast, and crew to understand the excitement surrounding this summer movie.
Tyler Joseph captures the sheer essence of the musical duet’s voyage which is laced with mental health intricacies and personal growth. The song that is also a part of the seventh album in the band’s memorable discography makes it even more important because it mulls over the victories and defeats of our lives, which only makes the already very influential sets of music much more important for the musical menu. It is an album that marks an unmistakable presence which a lot of the band’s followers had missed during the time period of their last release.
The opening from “Holding On To You,” where he ponders the selfreflective times one tends to have more frequently in the quiet of the middle of the night, is an early example of his wrestling with the kinds of deep, existential thinking he’s always done.
He’s always been exceedingly honest in his songwriting, whether he’s been speaking to the more harrowing moments of life or the kind of “what-if” scenarios that can keep one up at 3 a.m. As the band has moved along, so has the range of subjects Tyler’s taken up, from the kind of vulnerability once exclusively the domain of the “tortured poet” to the kinds of journeys of empowerment and resolve we hear in “Leave the City.” Tyler contemplates the importance of unraveling these lived moments. He asks us, his audience, to accompany him toward a better understanding of ourselves and our life experiences.
Ty’s music has always been a signpost pointing to the oasis of empathy that lies just around the next corner, and his recent songwriting explores a kind of personal evolution—toward a space where the building of empathy isn’t necessary, because his music transcends lived experiences
and taps directly into the essence of the human condition.
The singer’s continued creative prescience is exactly what has kept Twenty One Pilots relatable and relevant to their fanbase throughout their now-prolific “Trench” era.
The unique blend of sounds is built into the very essence of the track.
Twenty One Pilots are the kind of band that gets lumped into supercategorization, but it’s almost futile to try to nail down what they sound like because they sound like so many things, often simultaneously. Here in “Clancy,” the main theme seems to be a deep dive into some kind of mental crisis, as seen through the lens of the band.
On one level, it’s a kind of therapy for the artist by way of cordial, intimate conversation; on another level, it’s an invitation for the listener to relate (cordially, if possible) to the artist’s experience. Take “Snap Back,” for instance.
This song’s rhythm, infectious as it is, attempts to mask the sinister undertones of a collapsing relationship. And the next song, well, secret’s out—the album’s first single, “Good To Be Bad,” goes as far as it can in the other direction. Now, where the lead single dug its heels in with a groove dirtier than what rainwater can wash off, the next song is upswept with a thumping beat. Together, the two are the ultimate Trojan Horse: they gain entry thanks to an alluring hook, but once inside, they commence an all-out heart heist. The band twenty one pilots is known for their experimental nature.
Each song from this album, Trench, feels like an opening to a new story; it leads the listeners in a totally different direction than the previous album. The fans—affectionately called the “skeleton .
clique”—are committed to deciphering Clancy’s world, the different characters, and what’s happening in each narrative arc. With “Clancy,” they’ve been given a few new pieces of the story to figure out. There is a distinct feeling of continuing lore and established narratives, making— at least for me—the album feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional album.
To wrap things up, Clancy is twenty one pilots’ way of pushing themselves forward as artists. They have found a balance that allows them to use both the affirmation-seeking at the core of contemporary music and the bridge-building power of experimental musicianship, leading to an album that is touching and simultaneously a little bit dangerous in a very exhilarating way.
That half-decade period leading to Clancy has Sheehan as its late-stage villain. Clancy is in many ways the apotheosis of what the DUO was able to do for itself— finding a nourishing middle ground between several very different strands of music. Taking the DUO at its word, one would believe that despite the dark places visited by its previous album, the oneman revolution known as Tyler Joseph and his comrade-in-arms Josh Dun are feeling much better.
Twenty One Pilots’ newest release, especially when considered in the light of the band’s developing narrative and musical profundity, presents a riveting encapsulation of where the group is at right now in its career. The LP can easily be seen as a direct thematic exploration that picks up right where *Blurryface* left off. Yet, the difference here is in the framework—the band is, quite simply, better at what they do than they were previously. Frontman Tyler Joseph’s private life serves as a direct inspiration for the track “The Craving
(Jenna’s Version).” The song is an affectionately poignant tribute by Joseph to his wife, melding simple, hushed electronics from the first album to the second, lush orchestral arrangements, all in service of their critique of a certain Champagne-sipping music industry. Indeed, in the second song of this tender two-bagger, the line about “sipping a Capri Sun, ...as if it were Dom Perignon” pretty much sums up their intentions and two-faced sense of humor without further ado. It’s a serious accusation made with a smile.
“Navigating” sticks out for me, with its frenetic drum beat and forceful vocals.
“Oldies Station,” on the other hand, offers a modicum of order amid the album’s sometimes riotous milieu. Whereas most of Brightside’s first disc is taken up with songs whose words tell of joy or sadness, elation or desperation, soporific trance or vivacious ecstasy, songs that tread the border between nostalgia and futurism, “Oldies Station” is very much a thing of the present age and a love letter in part to Tyler’s long-term relationship with his audience. It reinforces a relationship that by this point has lasted well over a decade. At last, the album’s final track, “Paladin Strait,” brings together all the narrative threads sewn into the entire project. Its six-and-a-half minutes alone display exactly how much work and detail has been put into twenty one pilots’ latest installment. For anyone who has been following the band’s progress, this track alone offers such an emotional depth, satisfying climax, The future is unclear about whether Tyler and Josh will go deeper into the complex ideas but for now this album is def a must grab for anyone that is a fan
MUSIC FEATURE MUSIC FEATURE
SABRINA carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter is the most talked-about artist of 2024, and so far she’s been releasing hit after hit. She’s been reaching high-level status with her songs Espresso and Please Please, and now she is on a tour that will leave fans swinging for more.
Carpenter is signed by Island. She is the first one to have two popup AirPlays at number one. If there is something that you should know, you should check out her songs. There’s a lot out there that you might enjoy besides her top hits..
ICE SPICY
Ice Spice’s popularity has grown since her breakthrough hit “Munch (Feelin U)” went viral in 2022. With multiple top 10 hits, Taylor Swift collaborations, and Grammy nominations under her belt, the Bronx, N.Y. rapper is ready to share her debut solo album, Y2K, with the world. The compilation, which was first revealed in January, comprises of ten songs, including the previously released singles “Think U the Sh*t (Fart),” “Gimmie a Light,” and “Phat Butt.” The LP will be released on July 26.
Eminem
THE DEATH OF Slim Shady is forthcoming as Eminem releases his new song “Houdini,” a single aimed at making his “career disappear.”
BEST
Post Malone got some more help on his country pivot. The hitmaker teamed with Blake Shelton for “Pour Me a Drink,” a statement that might make you want to pour yourself a round. But somehow, Posty makes a pasthis-prime Shelton sound good! The two trade down-on-theirluck lyrics on this rollicking, ’90s-ish country earworm that goes heavy on the fiddle. “Drink”
succeeds Malone’s chart-topping “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen, poised to hold the top spot in America.
Besides this, Posty has a mini album that came out in June 2024. This is Posty’s debut in all countries, and we are not disappointed. We truly believe anything Posty touches becomes a real gold and a classic hit. Let’s see what else is next.
POST MALONE
KENDRICK
LAMAR
Kendrick Lamar The rapper has been dead silent since the Drake battle. He performed the “Pop Out” show and dropped the “Not Like Us” video on July 4th. That’s been it. Everything pertaining to his upcoming album has been speculated and theorized on the internet. Kendrick Lamar’s lack of content is what makes this new leak so exciting. Tanna Leone, a rapper formerly signed to Lamar’s pgLang label, teased a brand new collab on July 24.
MUSIC
DAVID GUETTA
I DONT WANT TO WAIT BABYMONSTER
SONG: FOREVER
TWENTY ONE PILOTS
Tweenty One Pilots have done it again. I truly appreciate Backslide’s chorus, which echoes the cries for help present in Redecorate. The verses don’t offer much beyond the lyrics,
which I need to rehearse to fully understand. In terms of instrumentation, they stuck to the familiar sound of their previous albums, particularly Redecorate. I believe this is not a novel approach for them, yet I continue to appreciate the
quality of the vocal production and the bass sound. Drummer Josh Dun directed the music video, which is pretty fun, but it doesn’t really offer much for the fans beyond the cool visuals and subtle references to Scaled and Icy. Overall, it’s
for sure a song that has a lot of meaning and talks about a lot of his past that he needs to let go of; it’s almost a continuation of “RIDE.”voluptas nulla pariatur?”
Tweenty One Pilots have done it again. I truly appreciate Backslide’s chorus, which echoes the cries for help present in Redecorate
Courtesy of Alantic Records
NEW MUSIC, NEW TOUR, PLUS GIVING US
WALKER ALAN EVERYTHING
EXCLUSIVE
For the first time, we sit down and discuss a wide range of topics, including music, touring, and his passion for video games, while also reminiscing about how he began his journey in the music industry.
■ STORY BY JERRY CORIA ■ PHOTOS BY VICTOR GELIUS
FUSION: For the viewers in Japan and around the world please introduce yourself?
Alan Walker :Hey! I‘m Alan Walker, 26 years old, from Norway. I started making music when I was 14. At 16, I had my breakthrough with the song „Fade.“ Later, I reworked this song into „Faded,“ which became a hit when I was 18. Since then, I‘ve been working on music and traveling around the world. Even though my career has been relatively short, it‘s been incredibly exciting.
The new track is called „Unsure,“ featuring Kylie Cantrall. The idea for the song started when a TikTok creator named Jax uploaded a video, and some of my followers tagged me in it. We bounced the song back and forth before deciding to find a feature. Kylie accepted the challenge, and now „Unsure“ is out. We‘re all excited to share it with you!
FUSION: Discuss briefly with me the achievements you‘ve achieved through your music, and you understand the significance of drawing inspiration from your work.
Alan Walker: Being inspired by music is great. You can find inspiration from other artists and real-time events. For example, I believe music is a fantastic way to transform emotions into melodies. For me, having the opportunity to work on this fulltime is incredible.
FUSION: Now, you recently released a new track, which, from what I understand, is the first to feature a special guest. Could you please announce the guest‘s identity for all the viewers?
Alan Walker: The new track is called ‘Unsure’, and this song is featuring Kylie Cantrall. How this came about was that a vocalist called Jax made a TikTok. Once she had written a sort of top line, we started working on the song together. Then we thought we could maybe pitch it to see if we could find someone else that we wanted to feature on the song, and then we released it. We are all here today. The new track „Unsure,” featuring Kylie Cantrall, is out now!
FUSION: What was the inspiration for this song, and how did that come about?
my biggest challenge is sometimes finding the perfect vocal for the first DEMO
Alan Walker: The song‘s inspiration stems primarily from my desire to return to my roots. Coming from my past, like making music with a very distinctive sound and style, and that is what I’m trying to portray in the song with the drop. I believe Jax and Kylie delivered a vocal performance that perfectly complemented the song. Overall, I think the song has developed a really good Alan Walker sound.
FUSION: we want to know, because, you know, a lot of viewers have been asking us. What inspires you in terms of the challenges you‘ve faced in the past? And how do you overcome those challenges?
Alan Walker : My biggest challenge is sometimes finding the perfect vocal for a song. Often, it‘s actually the first demo vocal who feels right. Occasionally, I also encounter writer‘s block. It can be tough to break free from the habit of listening to other people‘s music and explore new styles and genres, but it’s essential for stepping out of my comfort zone.
I really enjoy traveling the world, taking in inspiration, moments, and joy, and then conveying it all into my music.
FUSION: A lot of artists are performing as producers. I won‘t name them, but when they perform at large festivals, they often experience exhaustion and a need for a short break. How do you challenge yourself when you‘re traveling around the world and need to continuously inspire yourself?
Alan Walker : Yeah, of course. Traveling frequently can lead to significant fatigue. Many people find solace in the joy they portray on Instagram. But it’s not always joyful. But still, for me, it’s essential to make the most of everything. I truly relish the opportunity to travel the world and perform in the universal language of music. Seeing the profound impact music can have on someone‘s life fills me with immense joy during the show.
I think it’s really cool. You also get to see and touch the world through a playing window. But still, it’s a really cool experience.
FUSION: Let‘s discuss some of the songs you‘ve developed. In the past few years, let‘s focus on the last two years, which have been the most challenging ones. has been the most favorable?
Alan Walker: When asked about the past two years, I must admit I’m not entirely sure. However, one of the more memorable songs I’ve worked on recently is probably ‘Better Off Alone’ with Vikkstar and ‘Dash Berlin’. Collaborating with Vikkstar, a good friend whom I aspire to see succeed in the music industry, was truly special. Meanwhile, working with Dash Berlin, a veteran in the industry known for numerous iconic songs, was an incredible experience.
Another standout track of mine is ‘Hero’. This song deviates from my usual style, featuring a very calm and soothing melody. The beautiful vocals perfectly complement the flow of the song, making it a unique and memorable piece in my catalogue.
FUSION: I noticed that you are planning a major global tour, which includes a return visit to the United States. And then you‘ll go to India. Is this intended to promote the release of your new song? Or is this just like a tour that you normally do every year?
Alan Walker We’ve been on the Walkerworld Tour for a while now, mostly touring in Southeast AsiaBut here‘s the exciting part—we’ve just announced new dates for the Walkerworld Tour in India and Europe, and there are even more dates coming up - so stay tuned! This tour is truly something special. It’s not just another festival or club show; we’re actually bringing fans into the immersive world of Walker. It’s a whole new experience, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it!
FUSION: So Alan Walker Now this is the part where it gets a little bit deeper. Our roots are deeply rooted in Japan. Japan has a deep affection for you, and they are consistently thrilled when you visit. What do you like about Japan?
Alan Walker: It was amazing! I can’t remember the venue name, but we went to Lencho, and the crowd was incredible. The energy and passion were unforgettable, and I had so much fun. Japan is one of my favorite countries to travel to because of the incredible passion of its fans. There’s an abundance of energy that makes every show special. I think it’s going to be really cool! Stay tuned, because we’ll be announcing new dates soon!
FUSION: In your free time when you’re in Japan, what do you think is cool? Besides the crowd and the music, what is cool about Japan for you?
Alan Walker :Sightseeing. Sightseeing around Tokyo, Japan. For example, I would love to visit Osaka to further explore and immerse myself in the local culture. It would be very cool. Indeed, the people there are incredibly kind and welcoming to foreigners, inviting them to immerse themselves in the local culture.
FUSION: So talk about the mask. What’s behind the scene, and how did the mask come about?
Alan Walker :When I first signed with Sony and released Faded, we had a big discussion about how to brand everything in a way that was unique from every other DJ and artist out there. Personally, I tend to stay in the background, which fits me well because I don’t always like being in the spotlight.
We came up with this idea inspired by gamers and programmers, my personal interests —cryptic and mysterious. People in those communities often wear hoodies and sometimes disguise their faces. So, I decided to use a face mask, a hoodie, and sometimes a backpack to create a distinct image. It worked really well, and I‘ve stuck with it for eight years now. I don’t think the mask and hoodie will be going anywhere soon.
For me, the mask and hoodie also symbolize the idea that anyone could be in my position. Anyone could do what I’ve done and achieve the same success. It‘s about showing that the dream is accessible to everyone.
FUSION: When I first met Alan Walker, I had the impression that he was a character who exuded confidence and strength. Alan Walker is a character who prefers to remain anonymous, and I truly appreciate your unique story and concept. But I heard that you were actually revealing yourself without a mask. Is that happening today?
Alan Walker:So, what we’ve just announced here in Vegas is something very special for the live show. Throughout my eight years as a DJ, I‘ve always performed with a mask. Together with LIV, we decided to have some fun with this concept and do something a little different. I wanted to create an experience that stands out from anything I’ve ever done before.
I hope this unique approach will appeal to the fans and audiences attending the show. I like it; it’s something fresh and unexpected.
FUSION: If that‘s how you want to phrase it, Now I know that I don’t know how sensitive this is for you. But if it’s too much to ask, there are so many great producers out there. You can tell that they are also performing. Is there anybody that you enjoy the most that you would like to work with or have already worked with?
Alan Walker:There is a vast pool of names that anyone could suggest as potential collaborators. I believe that today, with so many up-and-coming young people learning to make music at such a young age, a whole new market of potential collaborators has opened up. If I were to choose prominent figures, I believe Martin Garrix or someone like Tiesto would be a refreshing change. You could list names endlessly, but there‘s one thing a lot of people would love to collaborate with, and that goes both for producers and vocalists.
FUSION: As you sit down in the studio, you‘re actively contemplating the next track. How long does it take you to find inspiration for a track? You know, I mean, I’ve talked to several other producers, and they said that they actually need
to kind of explore and, you know, do things that are like regular and basically random stuff so they can get inspired. What is the process for engaging in such activities?
Alan Walker : I mean, sometimes I can just sit down on the piano, play around, and come up with a melody, and sometimes you just start making a song and you tweak the melodies, and suddenly, it just hits it, and suddenly you have the best melody that you‘ve made in maybe months.“ That is a wonderful feeling. But there are a lot of different ways you could go about it. When creating a song, there‘s no definitive formula for creating a hit or achieving a specific level of quality. It‘s just for me; I always try to put emotions into melodies and make that happen. If I was sad, the melody would be sad. If I‘m happy, the melody will be happy, too. Therefore, it resembles a melancholic song in certain aspects.
FUSION:Now let’s talk a little bit about your feelings towards music itself. Are you normally inspired by games because you talk about them? Do you find inspiration in listening to actual video game soundtracks? Or are you more like, Ok, let’s just see what comes to mind?
Alan Walker:Almost anything I listen to, including rock music, can inspire me, especially when I hear a section of a song that I find particularly interesting and want to explore further. At times, I find inspiration in listening to movie soundtracks, which can also be categorized under game soundtracks. There’s a lot of great pieces out there that could inspire and influence you to come up with something new.
FUSION: Speaking of sound tracks, our magazine covers a wide range of topics related to movies. Do you ever think you can collaborate with musicians you know only from Hollywood? But also around the world. If you are observing, is there anyone you might consider reaching out to?
Alan Walker: I mean, I am always open to collaborating with anyone from any market. Music is universal, so anything is possible. For example, I’ve been working with different artists from India to create more traditional Indian music. There are also many opportunities to blend electronic dance music with other styles, like traditional Japanese music. I’m always excited about exploring these possibilities and creating something unique.
FUSION: We’re almost wrapping up because this was a really great interview. I just wanted to basically touch a little bit more on what we can expect from Alan Walker throughout the entire year. And you know, obviously, right now you have a really big track coming. But is there anything else that fans can expect in the next couple of months?
Alan Walker : Well, for Walkers out there, there will definitely be more music coming out as we aim to release new music every single month throughout the year!. So using some time focusing on finding the right tracks and vocalists, as well as planning more shows. We’re aiming for around 75 to 100 concerts worldwide this year, which is going to be incredible. Besides that, expect a lot of interactive projects within the Walker community that I think you’ll really enjoy.
FUSION : Now, because you are going to be on the front cover of Fusion magazine. I wanted to know what’s the best advice that you can give people out there who are reading that maybe they’re having the thought of what it’s like to be in your shoes, and how can I get a little bit of that? Can you give a little bit of inspiration in the form of feedback?
Alan Walker: Indeed, my advice to anyone aspiring to become a DJ or music producer is to pursue both. Don’t just start DJing; start making music too. Many people mistakenly think DJing and music-making are synonymous, but they are distinct skills that complement each other. If you can establish a successful DJ career, you can also grow your music career effortlessly.
It’s crucial to discover your unique style, identify what sets you apart from others, and, most importantly, never give up. Success can come at any moment, so keep pushing forward.
FUSION :When you first started your brand, the Alan Walker brand, I’m sure you were juggling multiple roles such as a promoter, a marketer, a producer, and a DJ. In retrospect, do you perceive any potential changes that could have been made from the beginning to the present? Or do you feel like everything happened as it was supposed to?
Alan Walker : I think the puzzle pieces have fallen in place the way they’re supposed to. I would never have predicted that I would be sitting here today. If you asked me 8, 9, or 10 years ago, I would never have expected my music to go anywhere. I just pursued what made me happy, and I made music for fun, with no financial intent of either making money or getting a huge following worldwide. However, it was driven by a pure passion for the music and a desire to have fun. However, I was simply doing what I do best. And it’s still the same today. I love working with music, and I love traveling the world and playing music for people and fans all around.
FUSION : Let’s go back to the early days of Alan Walker. When you grew up and got inspired to get into music, what were your favorite artists that you were listening to growing up?
Alan Walker: I listened to a wide variety of genres. For example, I had a huge punk-rock era. I adored the music of Linkin Park, Green Day, Metallica, and similar genres. However, we began to listen to Tiesto and David Guetta more frequently, as they were timeless classics from our childhood. Then, I began to explore the art of music-making, gaining extensive knowledge from YouTube. From that point, everything fell into place, and the journey began.
FUSION : So there’s a difference between liking somebody, like when you grew up and liking someone like a musician, and then when you actually work with that person. From my experience, you know, I feel that there’s a big difference. So for you now that you’ve stepped into the light and you’ve actually mentioned David Guetta and Tiesto, I’m sure you crossed paths with them or even became acquainted with them somehow. But how do you see that from a different perspective and in a different light?
Alan Walker : For me, I grew up listening to Tiesto and David Guetta. Artists like David Guetta, Tiesto, and Steve Aokihem my colleagues. I enjoy crossing paths with them at various festivals, and we’ve developed a close friendship, which I find really appealing. The EDM community is amazing—everyone is genuinely nice to one another. Artists like David Guetta, Tiesto, and Steve Aoki are not only great inspirations but also do a lot to support up-and-coming artists and producers in the industry.
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BARCELONA
“Barcelona,” the second single from Alan Walker and Ina Wroldsen’s successful collaboration, is another hit. Walker’s production skills turn Wroldsen’s demo into a polished, upbeat anthem that flawlessly captures the spirit of a summer night. Wroldsen’s heavenly vocals combine in perfectly with Walker’s distinctive futuristic groove, adding a cheerful and carefree soundscape to the song.
FUSION: There are many festivals happening around; I’m not asking you to choose your favorite, but which one has been the most memorable recently?
Alan Walker : Well, most recently, I think Ultra, which I only played last month, was pretty cool. It was my first time back in a few years.
FUSION : Are you talking about Ultra Miami?
Alan Walker : Yeah. My all-time favorite is probably Tomorrowland, for its unique design and the effort that they’re going through to make it unique and different every single year. All the stages seamlessly blend into the same universe style, which is incredibly impressive. If anyone wants to go to a festival, I would highly recommend Tomorrowland.
FUSION: So, looking at your videos, they seem very futuristic. It somehow reminds me of cyberpunk. It just kind of gives me that cyber punk vibe. Is that the goal that you’re trying to kind of make it more like a gaming kind of concept, or is that just like the Alan Walker concept?
Alan Walker: I would say it’s a mix of gaming and cryptic, with a futuristic vibe. It all started with the ‘Faded’ music video. We had the idea of creating a short series that follows a storyline, which unfolds over many episodes. Each music video continues this story, with a red line running through them that all the Walkers can follow if they watch closely. This approach makes our music videos unique,
telling a different story compared to the usual themes of money, cars, or other flashy elements.
FUSION: We’ve been discussing video games, but we haven’t given much attention to this section yet. Because Japan has a significant presence in both video games and eSports. your favorite games, and which ones do you like and which ones have you tried most recently?
Alan Walker : I’ve mainly played Call of Duty, though I like games like Apex and Valorant as well. There are a lot of different games out there, but I stick to Call of Duty because that’s what most of my friends play.
I’ve just released a partnership with Rocket League in Neon Nights, so I recommend everyone to check it out.
FUSION : Do you own a game console that you can take on the go, like the new ones, such as the RG Ally or anything like that?
Alan Walker : Yeah, I already have one, but I usually play just on my computer or physically. RG Ally is great. It’s literally like a desktop computer and in your hands so you could play a lot. But the is-
sue for me is that if I want to play with Friends then the distance from wherever I am on the road to Norway has a lot of Internet lag. So it’s not always the most convenient. So I would just stick to offline games.
Fusion : For Alan Walker, because you’re from Norway, right? So is there any Norway artist that you think the world should check out that you know. You want to give love out to?
Alan Walker : I mean, my fellow colleague Kygo is practically my neighbor and an amazing talent. He’s been touring all around the world as well. It’s really cool to have someone from the same city in Norway doing so well. If he’s in Japan, you should definitely check him out. He’s doing great!
You can catch Alan Walker as he continues his European tour. All the dates are officially announced, and you can check alanwalker.com/tour for more details.
EXCLUSIVE HYDE JAPAN‘S LEGEND ON THE RISE
A NEW TOUR AND NEW ALBUM, THE ROCKSTAR LEGEND TALKS ABOUT IT...
PHOTOS BY JERRY CORIA
FUSION: For all the viewers that don’t know about you please kindly introduce yourself
HYDE: I’ve been active in Japan for a long time. In addition to my solo activities, I have various projects going on at the same time, such as “”L’ArcenCiel” , ”THE LAST ROCKSTARS” and ”VAMPS”, and I
AUTHOR AMANDA HARDY TRANSLATION: RIE YAMADA
have also been to North America many times.
FUSION: About the planned new released album What is the overarching concept or theme of this new album?
HYDE: This album is a collection of all great songs that would get you pumped. Up until now,
I’ve often created ideas from both American and Japanese staff members, while listening to my team’s various ideas. “I thought it would be different to just make it as it is, so this time I put in all the things which are my favorite, and focused on making songs which also would be exciting to perform at the live concerts.
FUSION: Are there any specific topics or aspects that HYDE can discuss regarding the songs that are scheduled to be recorded?
HYDE: I’ve released quite a lot of songs so far, and I think everyone enjoys listening to them. But there are two more songs I haven’t finished recording, and I’ve been putting my best efforts on them right now. Well, good things are this recording has been progressing smoothly and going well.
FUSION: What are the standout or “catch” parts of these songs? What challenges is HYDE facing in creating this new album?
HYDE: The best part of this song is, of course,current songs like “This is HYDE”, like who I am. Those songs describe what the wild HYDE is like. Speaking of my struggles “now”. I’m struggling with the last part of recordings right now.
FUSION: Tie-Up Song “BLEEDING” for the July Drama: Could you describe the type of song “BLEEDING” is?
HYDE: ”Bleeding” is a song that talks about how popular current computer games are these days. There are many people who are doing it all the time without even working. The meaning of this song is that “Hey, isn’t the world of games, the virtual world, and the real world getting all mixed up? “ This song is about a messy worldview of the current social status of virtual video games and reality.
FUSION: Have there been any changes in your feelings towards making music and the process of producing songs from then to now?
HYDE: Up until now, I had been producing songs in America before Covid, but this time, I’ve been recording most of them in Japan. We sometimes have some songs sent over to America and mix it over there. But the point is basically we are now producing songs in Japan. Therefore, it may have a strong Japanese influence on them.
I CAN’T GIVE UP MY BEST
YET!
*Regarding the collaboration songs with MY FIRST STORY, “MUGEN” and “Tokoshie”
FUSION:How was your experience collaborating with MY FIRST STORY for opening and ending theme songs of the TV anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”, the HASHIRA training Edition?
HYDE: I perform with them relatively often and we get along with each other on the stage. So I feel relaxed when I join their performance. The song is also really great, and I think it’s a really cool song that is linked to the anime. So when I first got this offer, I thought I would be really happy to be able to sing this song. Hiro is also a really awesome vocalist. However, I felt like I’m
really fighting against the odds when I sing this song with Hiro, and I can’t give up to be my best yet, either. So I think this song has the influence of two vocalists battling intensely. meaning of this song is that “Hey, isn’t the world of games, the virtual world, and the real world getting all mixed up? “ This song is about a messy worldview of the current social status of virtual video games and reality.
* L‘Ar-en-Ciel’s current activities FUSION: What was the tour experience like for the band?
HYDE:It’s been 33 years since L‘Arce-Ciel was formed, but even now, many fans still come to see us.
This time, we performed many songs that we don’t play on the stage, including some that weren’t released as singles. The audience was thrilled, and it was heartwarming for me to see people from all age groups, from young children to the elderly, coming to watch our performances. Everyone was so adorable and enthusiastic.
* L‘Ar-en-Ciel’s current activities
FUSION: You have been in the world famous band, L‘Arc-en-Ciel. What can you tell us about your experiences from then to your experience now ??
HYDE: As I mentioned earlier, L‘Arc-en-Ciel has been active for 33 years, during which we’ve had countless experiences. This band has been the foundation of my career. We once held an incredibly grand outdoor live concert over two days, attracting 250,000 people, reminiscent of a legendary event like Japan’s woodstock. We’ve also embarked on several world tours, and we were the first Asian band to perform at Madison Square Garden. All these experiences have made us one of the most exciting bands today.
FUSION: Could you describe the differences between performing with L‘Arc-en-Ciel and your solo live performances as HYDE?
HYDE: As I mentioned earlier, L‘Arc-en-Ciel attracts a diverse audience, from young children to the elderly, even though our ticket prices are a bit high. However, for my solo concerts, I try to keep ticket prices as low as possible to cultivate a different kind of audience people who enjoy a more intense, energetic experience in live houses. Unlike
■REGARDING PREVIOUS LIVE PERFORMANCES OVERSEAS
FUSION: What’s HYDE’s impression of the audiences overseas?
HYDE: Fans from overseas seem to be incredibly passionate. On the other hand, Japanese fans can be a bit shy. They need a bit of encouragement to really get excited, but for overseas fans, it seems like they don’t need any prompting at all. They are already thrilled just to be there. Often, they start singing along even before the concert begins. In that sense, performing overseas is very exciting because of the immediate and enthusiastic response from the audience.
FUSION: Could you outline the differences between performing overseas and in Japan? Additionally, are there specific things HYDE keeps in mind when performing outside of Japan?
HYDE: As I mentioned earlier, the difference with the Japanese audience is quite noticeable. But it doesn’t mean that Japanese concerts aren’t good; it’s just that Japanese fans seem to really listen to and feel the music more deeply. They prefer experiencing the music over just shouting. Because of the language barrier, I try to speak in the local language as much as possible. I often do some last-minute studying to learn greetings like ‘Ola’ or other simple phrases to connect with the audience in their native language.
FUSION: Could HYDE share any stories about challenges and difficult experiences encountered during overseas live performances?
HYDE: There have been many experiences. While touring on the bus, it broke down and stopped, we got stuck at the site for a while. Another episode is when I woke up to find my hotel room flooded because I fell asleep after running a bath -I was just so tired. And another one is when there were extremely many fans that showed up that caused a panic, and the riot police had to be called, during a concert in Chile. Another time was we’ve also had power outages during our live shows, where the sound would suddenly cut out, except for my microphone. In the moment, the audience sang along with us, which was both fun and memorable. After all these negative experiences seemingly often turn into great memories.
FUSION: What are the essential items that HYDE always ensures to have for his live performances, both in Japan and overseas?
HYDE: The humidifier. Normally, I don’t really take care of my throat but I think dryness is the worst thing for my throat during my sleep. So I use a humidifier when I go to bed.
FUSION: HYDE’s Memorable Experiences from his time In the USA, Including His Private Life There.
HYDE: I once had my belongings stolen in Hawaii. I had left a window slightly open at night, and when I briefly looked away, my bag with my wallet and passport were in it and got stolen. It was really troublesome. Around 2 AM, the local police came and investigated my room thoroughly, but they couldn’t find anything. It made me realize that Japan has such great public safety, so I can’t have the same sense of security as in Japan when I am abroad. I need to be more careful.
*HYDE’s Ordinary Life In Japan.
FUSION: How does HYDE typically spend his time on his days off in Japan? Does he have any favorite pastimes or hobbies?
HYDE: On my days off, I drink alcohol, eat delicious food, and recently I watch movies.
FUSION: What has HYDE been passionate about lately? Are there any specific things, activities, or projects that have caught his attention?
HYDE: Since it’s getting warmer, I like open-air restaurants. In Japan, unfortunately this nice warm season is short. When I start feeling it’s getting warmer, it turns into the rainy season or gets too hot. So during this time, I’m looking for open-air restaurants.
FUSION: Could HYDE share insights into how he builds and maintains his physical strength? Does he follow any specific workout routines or engage in particular exercises?
HYDE: I regularly workout 1-2 times a week. If I don’t, I‘ll get out of shape.
FUSION: How does HYDE take care of his throat, especially considering the demand of his profession? Are there any specific practices or remedies he follows to ensure vocal health?
HYDE: I don’t really do any throat care. I use my humidifier, or my throat is not in good condition, I try not to drink alcohol. However, the highest priority is to avoid having a dry throat. So I take some candies for my throat, occasionally.
FUSION: Regarding HYDE’s current activities and future plans, as well as his vision and goals.
HYDE:From now on, I will be on the tour with this current album. I wanna get wild as much as I can while I still have the energy and strength, and I’ll enjoy the music more. Right now, my live performances are about releasing energy, but I want to become a vocalist who can enjoy music more. Currently, I feel like I have to keep running around while singing songs on the stage. But I want to become an artist who can sing calmly and touch people’s hearts with my vocals
FUSION: You been very active as HYDE for the last few years what are your wishes form the viewers from North America what can they expect.
HYDE: Please support us if you can. I definitely wanna go to North America. I wanna visit everyone on my US tour, so I hope you will continue supporting us. I think I can create a good album which is coming out soon. I definitely want everyone to listen to it.
*Regarding HYDE’s live performances in Japan
FUSION: Specifically focusing on his “HYDE[INSIDE]LIVE 2024” live house tour. What can fans expect from this year’s tour in terms of themes, setlists, or performances?
HYDE: The concept is going to change a bit from where it has been so far. Since it’s a tour for the new album, we’re separating from a previous concept and shifting to the worldview that I personally prefer. This tour will be a bit more devilish yet still cute. I hope you come and see it.
HYDE is participating in many venues this year(2024)
HYDE: HYDE:I think there’s a stereotype of HYDE from L’Arc-en-Ciel, which has been active for a long time. Because the name of L’Arcen-Ciel has always been there. It’s hard for people to understand what I wanna do as a solo artist. By appearing at festivals, I can forcefully show people, especially, who aren’t my fans, so that these new fans recognize that “HYDE is doing something completely different now.” I believe festivals are the most effective way to reach out to new fans. So I’m increasing the number of appearances at the festivals and trying to promote myself strongly.
FUSION: Memories of Past Live Performances at The Festivals in The US
HYDE: I’ve had the opportunity to perform at several festivals so far. But in 2019, there were quite a few storms happening. The biggest festival we were set to perform at, “Welcome Rockville Festival,” was canceled due to a storm, which was really shocking to me. It was truly frustrating. At that time, all the staff and members just said, ‘Let’s drink,’ and that’s all we could do.
FUSION: Differences Between Japan and Overseas Festivals: What are the key differences HYDE notices between performing at festivals in Japan compared to overseas?
HYDE: Yes, as I mentioned before, overseas audiences tend to be more passionate, while Japanese audiences come off as a bit shy. However, I don’t want this to be misunderstood. While it’s true that Japanese people can be shy,
they are raised with a strong sense of consideration for others. For example, Japanese houses are not built with thick walls but with thin ones.
This is partly so that people can be aware of and considerate towards their neighbors, understanding if they are in trouble. So, while Japanese people may seem shy, they actually have a strong sense of empathy and consideration for others, which influences their behavior.
This is a great aspect of Japanese culture. For example, in terms of natural disasters, which often occur in Japan, but Japanese people don’t panic from it. Although they might be used to it, they don’t rush or push others aside at the disaster sites. Even if there are children, Japanese people maintain public safety order and form lines nicely. This behavior comes from a consideration for others
and we’re thinking ‘I must not take away from others.’ This is a beautiful part of Japanese culture, and I hope this aspect can be shared through overseas magazines like FUSION. I mean Japanese people are not just shy.
FUSION: Many fans don’t have the opportunity to to meet there favorite artist from Japan but FUSION is the bridge to make the connections what do you want all the viewers to know about you and what to expect for this year and the future
HYDE: As I mentioned earlier, after being active in Japan for a long time and also touring overseas, I still aim to continue going around the world. I already introduced myself earlier, so I think I don’t need to talk about myself. Please continue to support me from now on as well.
FUSION: .You are the feature artist for FUSION magazine how does it feel to be on the front cover of FUSION magazines and what are your message to all fans
HYDE: I‘m so happy. I‘ve seen FUSION magazine before. Although I returned to Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had been living in Los Angeles for seven years, so L.A is a city where I feel very connected to. It’s the first time I‘ve lived somewhere outside of Japan for so long, and I love that city. Being featured in FUSION magazine is my great honor, and I hope everyone picks it up. I also need to promote FUSION magazine to everyone in Japan. It could be a great opportunity to go on tour in America again. I hope everyone listens to my new album and continues to support me.
Fusion has teamed up with Hyde to do a giveaway of autographs for all the die-hard fans. We will announce more details on the SNS.
Buy the magazine for a chance to enter the raffle giveaway, and stay tuned when watching the interview.
HYDE will be returning this fall with its most intense world tour...
THE LIVE AT THE ZEPP HANEDA, TOKYO
This would be my first opportunity to see HYDE live. I did have a chance to see VAMPS a couple of years ago when they played at the House of Blues on Sunset. The good old Sunset strip. Many music lovers have the opportunity to attend live performances. Well, this would be my first time seeing HYDE live in Tokyo Zepp Haneda. I knew of HYDE‘s strong following in Japan, but that is also true outside of Japan, where so many fans love his music. HYDE has been working on different projects, and tonight was no different. For those of you not familiar with HYDE, he is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is well known as the lead vocalist of the band L’Arc-en-Ciel and VAMPS.
The crowd was ready and was chanting HYDE‘s name as if they were there to see their leader. The band members came out first dressed in what appeared to be a mask; this mask almost looked like the mask that you saw in the movie The Purge. Their faces were adorned with X’d-out eyes and sinister smiles. Then it was time; Hyde finally made the stage, and they went right into making a performance that left the fans cheering and wanting more. The crowd loved it! HYDE came out, and the stage looked like a circus horror show. Immediately, it dawned on me that this rock show would not only delight everyone, but also captivate them with its outrageous appearance. Not to mention that the countdown was counting with crazy numbers, and I really don’t want to spoil it for you. I am sure that when you go to the live show,
you will know what I am talking about. Several songs were filled with energy and fist pumps. It was amazing to see so many people singing along to all the lyrics. He has a very loyal following, and you could see and hear it in the audience tonight. I think HYDE is true showmanship and knows how to put on a show for the crowd, whether you are a fan or if this is your first time attending a HYDE show. I believe you will have the ride of your life when you go see it live.
HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON
Deadpool and Wolverine It’s going to be the biggest blockbuster this summer. Zachary Levi established himself as one of the most engaging actors with Shazam!, and he’s back with a new concept for younger viewers. Harold and the Purple Crayon is a prospective adventure comedy film that serves as a sequel to the classic novel of the same name, in which Harold matures and emerges from the pages of the book into the real world.
In this movie, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about himself and the world, but when his imagination slips into the wrong hands, he must collaborate with his pals to save the planet. Harold and the Purple Crayon will release in theaters on August 2.
MAXXINE
Malesuada egestas Director Ti
West and Director Ti West and actor Mia Goth’s slasherhorror franchise (X $11.7 million domestic/$14.7 million global, Pearl $9.4 million domestic/$9.8 million global) completes its trilogy with the upcoming MaXXXine, in which Goth’s Maxine sets out to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles. Horror has struggled to find a foothold at the box office in 2024, with the majority of the genre’s titles ending their domestic runs in the $20–$30 million range. The Strangers: Chapter 1 in its fifth frame only surpassed January’s Night Swim, which held the highest grossing title for most of the year at $32.4 million.
DESPICABLE ME 4
With a summer
With a summer vacation release and little competition from other family movies, Despicable Me 4 is poised to exceed the $250 million milestone in its domestic run. With a three-day opening weekend already exceeding initial expectations, the latest chapter in the franchise is projected to perform similarly to the previous Despicable Me picture, 2017’s Despicable Me 3, which grossed $264.6 million domestically. The Despicable Me and Minions films, the largest global animated franchise in history, have grossed $1.5 billion domestically and $4.6 billion internationally.
DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE
Deadpool and Wolverine It’s going to be the biggest blockbuster this summer. Now that Wolvorine is coming back to the big screen, this is a big chance to welcome Deadpool into the MCU as Shawn Levy directs the threequel, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who returns to the character of olverine for the first time since s o an
BORDERLANDS
Borderlands, co-written and directed by Eli Roth, is an upcoming action-adventure film based on the best-selling video game of the same name. Remarkably, it took nearly a decade for the project to materialize, despite the initial announcement of a film adaptation in 2015. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, and Jack Black, the film tells the story of a ragtag team of misfits consisting of Roland, a mercenary, Tiny Tina, a teenager, Krieg, a bodyguard, Tannis, an oddball scientist, and Claptrap, a wise robot, who meet Lilith, an infamous bounty hunter looking for the daughter of a powerful man named Atlas on the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. On August 9, Borderlands will hit theaters.
ALIEN: ROMULUS
The Alien franchise has seen some of the most iconic films by outstanding filmmakers, like James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and David Fincher. While the film series has lost steam over the years, fans are hoping for a new, great installment in the sci-fi horror franchise. Alien: Romulus, the seventh installment in the franchise, set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), will now make its way into theaters with a brand-new storyline that might revitalize the franchise’s long-awaited comeback. The movie tells the story of a group of teenage colonizers who stumble upon one of the most terrifying life forms while scavenging an abandoned space station. Alien: Romulus will be available in theaters on Aug. 16
FILMS YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT
THE LAST FRONT
World War I gave rise to many patriotic soldiers who kept their country safe from invaders and to countless brave men and women who enlisted to protect their loved ones. The Last Front, cowritten and directed by Julien Hayet-Kerknawi, depicts a similar tale about Leonard (Iain Glen), a grieving father who leads his villagers to safety during the mayhem of World War I. On August 9, theaters will host the film, which also stars Sasha Luss, Leander Vyvey, and Joe Anderson.
THE CROW
Fans have long anticipated the revival of The Crow film series, and it is finally here, with Rupert Sanders directing it. Starring Bill Skarsgard, the film serves as the fifth entry in the franchise, following The Crow (1994), The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The Crow: Salvation (2000), and The Crow: Wicked Prayer.
OTHER MOVIES AND OTHER MENTIONS WORTH TO
IT ENDS WITH US
SEE
Based on Coleen Hoover’s bestselling novel,It Ends With Us, it depicts the tragic story of Lily, a woman in her 20s who tries to start a new life after falling in love with Ryle, a passionate neurosurgeon. However, due to the intervention of Lily’s ex-lover, their relationship quickly becomes abusive, eventually wrec in her life he film, which stars Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Amy Morton, and Jenny Slate,is due to hit theaters on Aug. 9..
TRAP
AM. Night Shyamalan has always been a hit-or-miss director, but when he succeeds, his films are unfor ettable, as evidenced by The Sixth Sense, Split, and Signs. This time, the acclaimed filmma er created a new concept with Trap, an upcoming psychological thriller that he wrote, directed, and produced himself.
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE
Earlier this year, Legendary released “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” a surprise juggernaut that topped $80 million on its opening weekend, making it the most successful movie in Legendary’s Monsterverse series of films In this film, a direct follow up to 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” a new threat emerges from Hollow Earth: a lanky red ape who, unlike Kong, wants to conquer the surface world. (He also keeps an adorable, ancient kaiju named Shimo under his spell; she has the arctic power to trigger a new ice age.) This forces Kong and Godzilla to form an uneasy alliance in order to take down the Skar King and free Shimo. Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry return from the earlier film, now oined by an tevens as an affable kaiju veterinarian named Trapper.
Enter the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now that Wolverine has made an appearance in this film, it‘s the perfect time for Deadpool to make his Disney film debut.
Whats next? We had a behind-the-scenes conversation with the cast and crew to understand how everything began and why fans should see this film and how everything is all connected to MCU.
ITS FUN AND FULL OF COMEDY & CRAZY
Kevin Feige: When Disney acquired the rights to hundreds of thousands of our Marvel characters, including Deadpool, from FOX, Ryan was the most enthusiastic about the project. He had great ideas for how to incorporate Deadpool into our cinematic universe. We were trying to figure out the right time and placement. Then, Hugh Jackman called Ryan and expressed his desire to return as Wolverine, which solidified our path to the movie everyone is about to see.
When Marvel Studios decided to make a Deadpool movie, many people asked if we would maintain the R-rated tone. The answer was clear from the start: yes, because those two movies had established a tone that was remarkably unique and stood alone. We were determined not to undo this, so we wanted to explore how we could take that tone with Ryan and elevate it to even greater, loftier heights.
Ryan Reynolds is one of the most full-rounded, wellrounded, intelligent filmmakers I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. He produces his writing and acting serially; he cares about all of it. I think there’s a perception that Ryan just takes action and starts telling jokes, but before that happens, he spends months or years toiling over the script and the movie’s concept in a very detailed way.
Shawn Levy and Ryan have a wonderful history together and have worked on a number of movies together, so Ryan asked him to join the project. We liked the idea; we hadn’t worked with Sean before, but we were fans of his work, and we got to know him and his enthusiasm and care for the craft every day on set. Every actor will say this was special, and he was always a favorite. The two of them carry the entire production on their shoulders, and Sean did a
Courtesy of Disney
fantastic job of combining what Ryan had previously done in the first two Deadpool movies and what we had done with our more than thirty MCU films into something that’s very cohesive and emotional.
Well, Ryan and Hugh have been talking for years about working together and bringing those two characters together. Hugh tells a story about how he announced to the world just before he started production on Logan that this would be his last time playing the part, and he said three days later he saw the first Deadpool movie and went, Oh, that would be fun to do, but you know they focused on Logan, thankfully because they made an incredible movie there, and I think years had to go by. You had to earn and respect that film and keep the ending of Logan intact until you brought Hugh back.
The entire plot of Deadpool and Wolverine focuses on upholding the integrity and legacy of Logan’s events while also leveraging elements from the MCU’s multiverse agencies to resurrect a different version of the character. Therefore, I believe Hugh found it enjoyable to portray this new Wolverine for the first time.
Hugh Jackman’s been playing this character for 25 years, and he’s covered a lot of ground and done a lot of great things from the comics, but there was one thing he’d never done, which was Don the original yellow and blue costume, so it was one of the very first things we said to each other when he decided he wanted to come back was we have to put you in that yellow suit for the first time, and seeing him on set in that was a very high sort of career for me.
I believe, based on what viewers have seen in the trailers and TV spots, the humor and action will resonate, but what will truly stand out is the friendship between the two characters, and the journey they embark on together in the movie, which is brimming with joy, optimism, and love. I believe we’ll be pleasantly surprised by the film’s emotional conclusion.
I think audiences can expect to laugh, which I think they know is going to happen in a Deadpool movie. What I don’t think they will expect is the level of emotion, how sweet the movie is, and how touching the movie is, and that’s what I’m most excited for them to experience.
Shawn Levy: Ryan assumed I would say no. I was so instantly stoked, I don’t know how else to put it, like I was a Deadpool fan and a Marvel fan long before I met Ryan Reynolds, and so I was thrilled. I was flattered because I know what these movies mean to Ryan and the fact that he was saying he’d only do it if I did it with him. I know the respect that is embedded in that request, and I was instantly excited to take on this challenge, which I knew would be big but I also knew would be an opportunity to do something different.
The thing is, everyone thinks that we were sitting there creating this team-up between Deadpool and Wolverine, but we didn’t have Wolverine when we started. Instead, we spent months working with our fellow writers to come up with a story that felt worth making and wasn’t just a rehash of Deadpool 1 and 2, deserving of the MCU because it’s the first Deadpool movie in the MCU but also grounded and rooted in character as a Deadpool movie. We weren’t succeeding, though, and we were going to tell Kevin Feige, “You know what? It’s not happening. Let’s punt a year or two, Ryan, and I’ll go do something else we’ll come back to.” Dopinder, Yukio, Negasonic, Shatterstar, and Colossus
Courtesy of Disney
Courtesy of Disney
I was directing Ryan and Hugh in this movie, I’ll never stop feeling fortunate that I got to be the one to get this pairing. You’re getting two layers of a gift. One is that you’re directing Hugh and Ryan, who are humble, talented, hard-working pros, so just getting to direct these two movie stars who have, you know, peerless work ethic and professionalism was a gift. But you’re also directing Deadpool and Wolverine. You’re crafting scenes with icons, and the thrill of that was never lost on me. Even by month three and month four, I still bounced to work because I got to see legends come to life.
before we had Wolverine in the movie we knew that Deadpool’s chosen family was imperative blind out and “Negasonic”, “Dopinder”, “Colossus” and “Yukio” and even “Shatterstar” and buck we knew that those earthbound real-world characters were a huge part of the DNA of the Deadpool franchise they are as close as wade has to family and they mean the most to him so bringing them back and shooting those scenes where I felt a bit like I was hosting a family reunion because these are all actors who work together since Deadpool one long before Deadpool was a thing and they’ve all been on this wild ride together and I just kind of sat back and watched the reunion happen and tried to capture in my movie some of the warmth and connection I was seeing on set
Well, I think that we, you know, people talk about superhero fatigue, and I’m not sure I subscribe to that, but I do think there’s CGI fatigue, and I think that’s not limited to Marvel; that’s in movies in general. We as an audience can feel the difference when something is created artificially and in postproduction versus something that’s baked in and real, and Wolverine is a real-world character. Deadpool is a real-world character. They don’t come from outer space; they don’t fly or have magic powers, and so the movie needed to be true to that authentic analog quality of these two antiheroes, and so that meant we’re not going to film on green screen.
We’re not going to shoot this whole movie on a sound stage like so many contemporary movies and other Marvel movies have done. We’re going to go into the world. We’re going to build real sets. We’re probably going to get photographed by Paparazzi, but that’s OK. It’s not ideal, but it’s worth it because we’re going to give audiences a movie that feels gritty and real, and that’s what we’ve done.
Indeed, the music in every movie exists in two dimensions. Rob Simonson, who previously worked on the Adam project with Ryan and me, as well as Darren Aronofsky’s films and Age of Adeline, is renowned for his nimble and unpredictable approach. Rob was given the task of creating a Dead-
pool anthem, something he was eager to do. I’ve seen both Deadpool movies many, many times. I couldn’t hum the Deadpool theme to you, so it started with Rob writing a Deadpool theme that we’ve now titled LFG that is contemporary. It has a blend of electronic and weird sound effects that Rob created and heavy emotional orchestra, all combined for a theme and an anthem that really hasn’t existed in the Deadpool franchise, but now very much does.
Another thing that was fun for Rob Simmons and I is that this movie is about legacy, and there are nods and in fact tributes paid to the history of Logan, the history of the MCU, and The Avengers, so the score at various points integrates melodic themes from those other franchises, so you’ll hear the piano Logan theme from James Mangold’s movie, and you’ll hear Alan Silvestri’s Avengers theme laced in at certain points, so pulling in those themes that are legacy themes in a movie that is about legacy was very fun.
Ryan Reynolds: I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on this Deadpool movie; however, this marks the first time that Deadpool is joining the MCU alongside Wolverine.
There are so many surprises in this movie, and I can’t wait to show you all. I have never been so proud to make such a movie. I know the viewers will love the surprises and the film, and I am very happy to have made this movie with my close friends (Hug Jackman).
Fusion: Describe the first time you crossed paths.
Ryan Reynolds: Who likes this doozy? I met Hugh Jackman in 2007 on the set of X-Men Origins Wolverine, the first solo Wolverine movie, and I was invited to come on and play Wade Wilson and the exact wrong version of Deadpool. Yeah, if you could invent the worst way to do Deadpool on a computer, it would be that, but I met Hugh there, and what I saw was, you know, he was so kind to me; he knew my name, and you know, he knew every crew member. He demonstrated to me what it’s like to lead a film set. As a producer on the movie, he not only showed up and worked tirelessly, but also ensured everyone felt seen and safe on set, enabling them to perform their best work. I thought to myself, “I hope I’m ever lucky enough to be in the position that guy’s in one day.” Since then, he has become my closest friend and the father my children wish they had. It was a significant moment for me.
Hugh Jackman: Well, I met Ryan, who had just flown into Sydney. We were shooting in Sydney, Australia, all night, so a 14-hour flight landed, and then he came to set and worked all night. He was funny, humble, hardworking, dedicated, enthusiastic, and at the end of the shoot, this was actually the next day. But it’s a good story about Ryan. He was sitting on the steps of his trailer when I approached him. I asked, “Are you okay?” and he responded, “Yes.” I realized there was something more I could have done in that scene. I suggested, “Let’s go back and do it,” and he immediately went back out.
On a movie set, Shawn Levy names one of Ryan and Hughes’ best and worst habits.
Shawn Levy: You ( Hugh Jackman) love a portable toothpick. Every time Hugh eats, he needs to get in his toothpick, so very often on set, I would be talking to you and you were still playing in his teeth, and I admire the dental hygiene.
And my answer is this: so that was his bad habit OK, but it shows a discipline that he applies to every aspect of his life, getting in shape to play Wolverine doing the stunts himself as Wolverine gives the best performance in every scene as an actor. He is just an incredibly disciplined man, especially with the toothpicks.
Ryan Reynolds: My worst habit on set is when I don’t go back to the makeup chair to remove the makeup, which looks disgusting. I slowly rip it off, forming it into a large ball, and then I usually throw it at someone. Sometimes, it’s Hugh. Indeed, Shawn Levy is occasionally the culprit. Occasionally, it is simply due to the fact that I am unfamiliar with an individual whom I have been observing throughout the day.
Hugh Jackman, can I say something? I want to share with you a personal secret and an aspect of myself that I’m not particularly proud of. I can be a little jealous, so I worked on a movie called Real Steel with Shawn. Shortly after, I was hanging out with Shawn and said, “You’ve got to meet Ryan Reynolds, you’ve got to work with Ryan Reynolds.” As soon as I said those words, I knew it was going to happen and that I might never work with him again because they would become best friends. They went on to make 19 movies together. Did you notice that when Shawn was given the option to confess a bad habit to Ryan, he didn’t say anything? LOL! No problem; it’s just real life, nothing bad about Ryan. That’s all I’m saying.
Ryan Reynolds: Epic nature to it because you get to act out certain elements that you wouldn’t do in your real life, like party with the great intuitive questions in the game. Yeah, I appreciate it for the aggression, like the comedy, whatever you’re doing in those moments. Because you’ve played these characters now for many years, I am curious what catharsis and therapeutic nature it’s brought to you as you in person.
Hugh Jackman: People literally go to anger rooms all over the city to vent their frustrations. If you get paid to put on a helmet and say, “I’m sorry, but I’m getting paid a lot of money to do this for three months at a time, and i am going to be working with my best friends one more time.” Oh, man, that’s exactly what I do. I’ve always had a mild sense that things come into your life to teach you something. Although, on the surface, I was never in trouble at school—here I am playing Wolverine—deep down, that’s pretty awsome if you ask me. I mean being in a room with people i call friends there nothing else i can
ask for.
Ryan Reynolds: But there’s also the fact that you genuinely wouldn’t find a kinder, more collaborative friend in this business. I first noticed this in 2008 when I worked with him on X-Men, which is a big movie star. Everyone understands the process, like is accountable and the least sexy word, but I think the huge hallmark of character is being conscientious people who are conscious and just make amazing things, and Hugh is that guy. At the same time, he has this ability
to completely transform into something else that is so remarkable, especially when you have a front row seat like I did
Fusion: What emotions does playing Deadpool evoke in you, and what do you believe you discovered about yourself?
Ryan Reynolds: I’ve never felt more liberated than when I played Deadpool. I think it’s the mask, and I think it’s under the mask. It’s another mask, you know, and I feel really free.
FUSION:When you posted the behindthe-scenes photo of the directors chairs on the set, Deadpool and Wolverine I understand that the obvious distinction lies in the mask, suit, and other details, but I believe there is an emotional difference between Logan, Wolverine, and Deadpool. Therefore, I wanted to ask each of you what that emotional difference is. What distinguishes Logan from Wolverine?
I AM WORKING WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND I GET PAID TO DO THIS, OH MAN THATS EXACTLY WHAT I DO
Courtesy of Disney
Ryan Reynolds: I believe it’s an impression. I believe there is a distinction between those. I believe that also applies to us, particularly when we’re performing for the camera. As we promote this film, we’ve been engaging in feudal jokes and similar activities for years, but I sense a shift in our demeanor, revealing a deep emotional connection when discussing topics that are typically unfamiliar to us. We all live near one another. These long walks are where we discuss what’s important in our lives.
FUSION: the wolverine vs. logan, what is the difference?
Hugh Jackman: The question, “What’s the difference between Wolverine and Logan?” is deeply rooted in the movies. I’ve always observed, and I believe one of the reasons I love him so much, even from the first movie I recall, is that he’s the individual who despises labels, positions, and titles, just as he despises the A-Team. He questions everything because he’s an outsider and he isolates himself. His defense mechanism is to not align himself with any ideology or team. I don’t want to delve into this further, as I believe this film will provide the answers.
FUSION: The final trailer includes a tagline that reads, “We all have a moment that defines us,” and I believe that one of the Deadpool films’ strengths is that they are deeply emotional. The characters are vulnerable; they are damaged people attempting to find their way back home, whether to loved ones or family. If I were to ask you that question, what would you say about a time in your life that you believe defines who you are today as you sit here?
Hugh Jackman: I called these guys to express my desire to join, and while it may seem like a direct reference to the movie, it evokes a deep-seated emotion within me. In my headIn my mind, I was thinking, “No, but you’ve already stated that you’re out, and now people might assume you’re going.” However, I responded, “I don’t care; it’s what I wanted.” I could see the movie, and if I had had any inkling back then when I called them, I would have realized how fulfilling and proud Hugh Jackman was: gut.
Ryan Reynolds: In my opinion, the greatest joy of my career extends beyond the tantric filmmaking cycle
I’ve been in with Shawn Levy. The video we created together has been truly remarkable. I’m deeply sorry for any embarrassment I may have caused. God, you know, genuinely, though Deadpool one kind of changed my life, like it was like called the mothership sometimes, like it really did change, but not just because the movie did well; that’s an easy thing to say, but because it was like that movie, that process of making the movie was when I really grabbed some authorship, which doesn’t mean like unilateral anything; I just mean like it was really me. I had a point of view, and I got to express it, and it was incredible.
Courtesy of Disney Courtesy
A MUST SEE
Ryan Reynolds: In my opinion, the greatest joy of my career extends beyond the tantric filmmaking cycle I’ve been in with Shawn Levy. The video we created together has been truly remarkable. I’m deeply sorry for any embarrassment I may have caused. God, you know, genuinely, though Deadpool one kind of changed my life, like it was like called the mothership sometimes, like it really did change, but not just because the movie did well; that’s an easy thing to say, but because it was like that movie, that process of making the movie was when I really grabbed some authorship, which doesn’t mean like unilateral anything; I just mean like it was really me. I had a point of view, and I got to express it, and it was incredible.
That really did change everything, and he did so in such a way that it was obvious. It’s effortless to exist in a situation where everyone provides answers to your questions, and performers in the entertainment industry often surround themselves
with a circle of representatives and various individuals. However, when you step back and begin interacting with them directly, it becomes clear.
FUSION: Of course, one of my favorite aspects about Deadpool is his sense of vulnerability, but when you say something like, “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this team up,” you can be sure that at the end of the day, I saw that line. I want to bring that up because I still find myself suspending my disbelief when I hear that line. Wade is saying it, and I can sense you saying it, too. To what extent does the character communicate this point more than Ryan Reynolds does?
Ryan Reynolds: Yeah, that’s where we’re that moment is meant to be, and we don’t see his reciprocal moment, but in the trailer, I mean, in the movie, it’s meant to be indistinguishable from: is it Hugh and Ryan having a conversation right now, or is it Deadpool and Wolverine, or is it weighed
or Logan? You know, I don’t know, it’s sort of meant to be slightly ambiguous, and I think that’s nice. I love, I also love movies that leave know, it’s sort of meant to be slightly ambiguous, and I think that’s nice. I love, I also love movies that leave you with some ponderance and some idea of, well, I wonder, I know what it means to me, what does it mean to you?
Fusion: Overall what is your feeling towards everything this far for this film ?
This is truly incredible. I’ve never seen anything quite like this in my life. We’ve seen amazing things in Shanghai, Korea, Berlin, London, Brazil, and now we’re back in New York, on our way to Toronto in the Los Angeles area.I mean, it’s been incredible because, I guess, the expectation and enthusiasm for the movie are so infectious, and we are so proud of it. I just can’t wait for that, and I can’t wait for fans to see it.
Courtesy of Disney
WELCOME TO INTERVIEWS WITH CAST AND CREW BORDERLANDS
The static cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, was stunned. Kevin Hart Kate Blanchett, Jack Black, and numerous others are featured in the film. Thefilm Borderlands is an adaptation fofa very successful video game that s finally made its debut on the big sscreen.wWecaught up with the cast and crew and talked about what they liked about the movie ,what they liked about the ffilm,and much mmore. I can honestly say that this film is a great addition to all the other franchises that have developed great films. Not only is the cast great, but the story and the action are just as cool as you would want them to be. The film does justice to the video game itself.
FUSION: What is great about the script?
Jaime Lee Curtis: There’s a line in the script that describes a big explosion, and the way they describe it is however much money the budget will allow to make a big explosion. Like it took, it didn’t take itself so preciously and certainly didn’t take itself seriously. There were a lot of asides being made to the reader, saying this is a ride, this is going to be really fun, it’s going to have like really big booms, and the language in the writing made you want to read it. It wasn’t like, How am I going to find a story here? This story was laid out from the moment you meet Lilith.
Fusion: Borderlands is a classic tale. What are your thoughts about this film?
Jamie lee curtis: It’s the reason I left my family, and you know, kind of at the end of the pandemic, I came to Budapest, was because the story is well written and is a kind of classic movie. You know, you have a young girl who has no family and who’s on her own. You have a woman who also has no family and is on her own, and the two of them become very dependent on each other for various reasons, and they bring to each other the way relationships change us. The relationship between Tina, Tina, and Lilith is at the center of Borderlands. The movie
is about the relationship between Tina and Lilith, and the rest of us are there in support.
Fusion: How about Inhabiting Dr. Patricia Tannis
I’ve sort of gone into the tennis world; she’s funny; she’s funny, but she’s not a duck, and in our story, she really just serves as the catalyst to go find the vault; they are stymied, and halfway through the movie, they knock on her door, and she provides access to information, expertise, and some humor.
Fusion: How was it working with Eli Roth
Jamie lee curtis: He’s just funny and smart and super chill, super easy going, super totally knows what he needs and wants, isn’t afraid of collaboration, isn’t afraid of people coming well, what if there are a couple of moments of what ifs, and he’s been very open to it. He and Kate have worked together, and they obviously have a good relationship. He’s been really funny with Kevin; he’s amazing with Ariana; just he, I think, is related, like he truly is sort of Ariana’s age, and he’s just been a delight. I have had long talks about movies in a way that I don’t normally talk about the movies.
FUSION: Talk about the borderlands and the cast and crew?
Jamie lee curtis: These kinds of films work because you have a group of people who would never have known each other, and we can go back in time and learn about the history of movies. In our movie, seeing a group of people come together to achieve a common goal is incredibly satisfying. It’s, you know, an outlaw; it’s a mercenary; it’s a robot; it’s a sort of Cyborg bodyguard; you know, a broken person who’s protecting this little girl who’s a totally St. fed St. rat; and sort of nutty scientists, all of whom need each other in a codependent way in order to achieve the goal of the movie, which is the goal of the game, which is to open the vault.
FUSION: How was it working with Cate Blanchett?
I was honestly all in at Cate, and Kevin wasn’t cast yet, so it was Cate. It was just Cate when I first heard about it, and I was like, Yes, I will go to Budapest and make a movie with Cate Blanchett because she’s just an extraordinary actress, and how fun to be able to be in a movie like this with someone with that kind of talent, and she has just blown my mind open with her physicality and her dedication. She has just dived into the physical aspect of Lilith.
THE REASON I LEFT MY FAMILY—AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AT THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, I CAME TO BUDAPEST—WAS BECAUSE THE STORY IS WELL WRITTEN.
Fusion: And how about working with Kevin hart?
Jamie Lee Curtis: He takes his job very seriously; he is self-made; he has worked really hard to get to be Kevin Hart; he has an internal drive of confidence and ambition; and he’s fun to be around. There’s no sense of, you know, he walks
on a set and he says hello to everybody and wants everybody to be a part of it. You know, he brings a lot to the table.
Fusion: How about working with Ariana talk more about your experience working with her ?
Jamie Lee Curtis: You have this very talented young woman matched with a part that is legendary, Tina. The lore of Tina is this, you know, badonkadonk girl, you know, with bombs throwing bombs and like she is a street urchin, and she looks like a street urchin, and she acts like a street urchin, and of
IMAGES CURTESY OF LIONSGATE
course she’s an orphan, and therefore it has to have that beautiful soft underbelly underneath all of the bravado, and from the read-through on Zoom, I was like, Oh, wow, this is going to be fun because she was amazing.
IMAGES CURTESY OF LIONSGATE
Fusion: talk about the crimson Lance?
Janina Gavankar: The Crimson Lance is one of the many things that Atlas owns. It is the army, the Navy, and the Air Force that work for Atlas. We’re pretty good fighters, a lot of tech, some big cars, and some Stingrays, and you know, we got all the military gear.
Fusion: what is the stingray and share about this ?
Janina Gavankar: Commander Knox has her own pretty red bike. It’s called a Stingray; it’s like a hovercraft, and it moves really fast, and it can handle any terrain. The way that we’ve shot it is various gimbals and gimbal adjacents. My first day on it, I just had someone pushing on it to make it look like it was hovering, and it’s a $1,000,000 gimbal underneath you. You’re three stories up; it’s like a theme park ride; it’s insane.
Fusion: talk about knoxx what can you share more about this character?
Janina Gavankar Almost all the characters in this film exist in the game, but my character does not, which is pretty cool because I get to create something that is not
beholden at all to anything you’ve seen before but is emotionally involved with people that you know and love already if you’ve played the games, and I have, so that’s pretty neat
Fusion: how was it working with Eli Roth share some of your experiences while you were shooting on set ?
Janina Gavankar: Eli is pretty up for everything you know. If you ask him, Hey, can I let me get away with it? I’ll let you try it. When I showed up to Budapest, I had some ideas of what I wanted to do with Knox, specifically the way she looked, the way she moved her relationship to Roland, all of the back story, all the juicy stuff, adding in an homage to my father, and he was up for everything. I pitched him some looks I just never got to know, so I just kept going.
Fusion: how was it working with randy talk a little more about this and your best memories ?
Janina Gavanka: Randy is the ultimate authenticator on set, which is really nice because even down to the details of the way cups and glasses look, you know he can tell you if it feels wrong and haven’t really caught him clocking anything.
I’m sure he has, and I’m sure he’s done it in very classy collate ways, but you know he represents all of the game developers and writers and the hours and lifetimes that people have poured into making this game and its iterations, and he’s protective, and it’s really good to have him around.
Fusion: what about working with Cate?
Cate is obviously a movie star, but I think because she is really just like a theater lady, she’s actually very relaxed; she doesn’t need a lot. You know, she comes up when it comes to work; she’s prepared; she’s there to have fun. You know, there’s no pretense with Cate.
Fusion: We cant forget Jaime Lee Curtis?
She is one of the most affirming; she’s just so warm, and so come as you are if you will. You know, there’s this saying, Bring me your weird, which I say often, but she’s also like that, with a heavy dose of warmth; she’s like just a hug personified, and I think she knows that this is her skill and maybe her purpose on this planet, and she takes it seriously, and we’ve all really benefited from it.
Kevin Hart stars in the upcomingBorderlands movie as the soldier Roland, and while the casting may have caught those familiar with the games off-guard, it actually makes sense when considering key element of the games. While some Borderlandscharacter castings, like Jack Black’s Claptrap, satisfy expectations, other choices are more
Fusion: Roland is the underground force so share more about this character?
Kevin Hart: It’s a world where now I laugh at myself being in a world where now I laugh at myself being in it because Roland. Roland is a guy who has a narrative attached to an agenda of good right, Roland is a guy who who has a narrative attached to an agenda of good right and his agenda of good comes from Once Upon a time being a part of something that wasn’t so good that he felt that he had to detach from because of where his life has taken him, and in this new place of living in this new place of life, there’s a found respect for the place of Pandora and for the things that possibly could be attached in it or to it where he can be part of the conversation of making things better or making things good. And you know, when there’s a reason to hold on and care, he shows a true heart; he shows a side of humanity that I think grounds this space that we’re in. You know, you’re in sci-fi, so that moment or those moments where you’re able to ground the idea of what’s in this world of fiction are really, really good.
Fusion: How about re defining Rowland?
casting as Roland is actually brilliant,and it subtly highlights the liveaction adaptation’s attention to detail
Kevin Hart: The first thing that came to mind was how big he was in the game. You know, when Eli and I discussed the role, I said, “This is an amazing opportunity for me as an actor because you’re going in the complete opposite direction and with the fans of this world may expect or think Roland should be or who he should be.” And I thought, “Well, this gives me the opportunity to do is have a complete shock factor.” Now, here’s the crazy part: I wasn’t doing this for the audience; I was
just for myself. I spent a lot of time getting ready, so I went ahead and got some serious training. I got really physical Now that the character is genuine and alive, what you see and understand about how I took on the role has changed.
Fusion: how was it working with Eli Roth and share your experience.
Kevin Hart: I think Eli’s smart. I think Eli is smart as hell, and you know, I know people know how talented a director is, and that’s why he has this crazy budget attached to this crazy idea and why people are comfortable with putting it in his hands. He’s so calculated; he understands what he wants; he knows what he needs; and everybody around him and underneath him also understands what his goal is and what his
Fusion: How about the stun team, talk about that?
Kevin Hart: you’re as good as the people around you and in this case the stunt teams second unit they set the tone you know for us as talent you know it’s about it’s about the people that truly understand this world of action and it’s about them placing you in positions where you can do what you train for and you can also be elevated and jimmy’z done a good job of that of for myself and Cate we’re doing a lot of action and they’re doing a lot of takes where you’re on me and Cate the stunt team is there to definitely do stunts which there’s a lot of there’s a lot where you need me and Cate to actually do a lot of the choreography be physical you know they want to make sure they get those passes and if we didn’t come in prepared or we didn’t look right it would show
H A R U
MODEL TVMC
ith the entertainment landsca e always shi ting resh talent rises and finds a new s ace in which to shine. n their de ut in the industry aru with her recent modeling wor orming the cornerstone o her image. he a anese model oasts an intriguing aesthetic that s not uite li e anything that had come e ore her she is determined to e the est and will dominate as a Model MC and now with her de ut as she a ears on the ront cover maga ine all while she s ound time to s ea to us a out her e erience and or all viewers to get to now her.
STORY BY AMANDA HARDY | PHOTOS JERRY CORIA | DIRECTOR HARUNA YAMADA
FUSION: TALK AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
HARU: Hello everyone!, My name is Haru, and I’m 33 years old. Currently, I have a deep passion for fashion, drawing inspiration from numerous online influencers. In my free time, some of my favorite influencers are Rire Gram, Suzuki Ami, and Saki Sato. I like to go out and try delicious cake treats. I love shopping, and I love meeting up with friends and having tea time. I am so honored to be here, and I hope everyone follows my journey as a model and TVMC.
FUSION: HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?
HARU: Ever since I was a young girl, I started liking entertainment, and I’ve always wanted to do entertainment by doing auditions, but I was really nervous, and I realized stepping into the entertainment industry was a difficult pathway, so at some point, instead
of participating in an audition, I decided to step back and look at everything from a perspective as part of the auditions, but my dream was to be known in the entertainment industry.
Now that i have that chance i feel so lucky and i want to do everything in my power to really make my debut a startline for what is to come in the industry.
My involvement stemmed from a conversation with the CEO. From there, we started to shoot content together and work together. By chance, he asked me if I was interested in doing TVMC. For me, this was the happiest moment, and of course I accepted.
FUSION: TALK ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATIONS ?
HARU: My greatest inspiration is entertainment and fashion. I get so inspired when I see high fashion photos and videos of models I admire. I feel the happiest and most excited to be involved in the entertainment industry, I am very much looking forward to learning a lot about the entertainment industry.
I’ve always been inspired by entertainment. That’s something I’ve never left alone, and it’s always in the back of my mind. As I mentioned earlier, I then had the privilege of meeting with Fusion’s director, and we began discussing
the possibility of working in the entertainment industry. Now, I’m very honored to be part of this team.
FUSION: IN YOUR FREE TIME, TALK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME.
HARU: I love wearing my favorite clothes at cute cafes and resorts, taking pictures, and posting them on SNS. i also love yoga. I have been doing it for more than 10 years. I prefer yoga with intense exercises, but I also like quiet yoga with little movement to unify my mind. It is very relaxing to do yoga when I am feeling anxious or tired. I have a dog, and I love to spend time playing with him. It is very soothing. I also like to watch anime on Netflix. What I like about anime is that I can forget about the real world and immerse myself in it. I also like to eat sweets. I also appreciate the opportunity to dress up and enjoy a girls’ night out at a charming cafe.anime is that I can forget about the real world and immerse myself in it. I also like to eat sweets. I also really like the time to get dressed up and have a girls’ night out at a cute cafe.
FUSION: TALK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE FASHION WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST IT?
HARU: I like tight style fashion. My charm point is my waist. So I choose clothes that show my waist. I also like classical fashion such as jacket styles. For casual fashion, I like wide denim. I like to wear wide denim with a simple T-shirt.
FUSION: TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE AT TVMC.
HARU: When I was first offered the TVMC position, I thought it was a dream. I still remember how surprised I was. I have always wanted to be in the entertainment industry. There is no other way for me but to capture this dream. I wondered if I would ever have such a happy opportunity to ask questions to the
artists and models of my dreams. Now I just want to learn a lot about TVMC and move forward.
FUSION: WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE VISION, AND WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE?
HARU: My goal and vision for the future are to continue to be part of Fusion. I am beyond proud that i can represent and enjoy interviewing your favorite artists and talent. It would be thrilling and inspiring if you followed my industry journey.
HARU: When I was asked to be on the cover, I was so happy that I jumped up and down. It felt like a dream to be on the cover of a magazine I admire. Additionally, I was surprised that it was released alongside other great artists. It was my first time shooting, so at first I struggled with posing well and making expressions. It was a difficult task to choose the cover photo from so many photos, but when I saw the finished product, I cried tears of joy. There are two covers this time, and for the first one, I chose an outfit in blue, which is my favorite color. I like the fashion of wearing a jacket over a casual outfit. For the second one, I chose a black turtleneck and made it cool and sexy. I really like both of them.
FUSION: TALK ABOUT WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO WORK WITH HYDE.?
HARU: My first job as a TVMC consisted of interviewing Hyde. On this day, I went to the scene for the first time and was overwhelmed by his charisma. I still remember clearly that I was nervous but still very excited and thrilled to be there.
Being my first time there, I felt a sense of responsibility to represent myself and my company, Fusion, and ask the questions that so many fans want to know about Hyde. I realized that everyone would give anything to be in my position and for them to be in my shoes to be sitting next to Hyde. I truly think it’s a dream for me to be interviewing Hyde.
I was nervous, but I think I was able to interview him with a smile in his eyes. After the interview, I learned the points of reflection through feedback from employees. I had a really wonderful experience and was filled with a sense of accomplishment. I will continue to learn a lot as a TVMC and do my best.
FUSION: AFTER THIS RELEASE, WHAT CAN NEW FANS EXPECT FROM HARU?
HARU: What do fans expect from me? That’s something I’ve been contemplating for quite some time now. Now that I’m excited about this new magazine release, however, I want all fans to expect bigger and greater things from me. I want to make sure that people follow me on my journeys through fashion and TMC, and at the same time, I want fans to support me and keep up with what I’m doing. I would be very happy if I had new fans from all over the world. I really admire everyone that I work with, and I would like to continue to become stronger, which would be a big challenge for me.
I WILL ONLY GROW STRONGER
AND MORE KNOWLEGEABLE
FUSION: You are working with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. What comes to mind when you think about this? What are the challenges and expectations?
HARU: As a TV MC, I will be involved with many big artists and projects. Therefore, I want to improve myself and make all my fans and viewers very proud. As a professional TV MC, I am very delighted to improve on my skills, evolve as a professional, and expand not only in Japan but also all over the world. It’s an honor to be along with the artists that I grew up watching on TV, and now I get to work with them and share a conversation with them to cre-ate great stories for everyone to enjoy. I believe that as I get more experience in this field,
I will only grow stronger and more knowledgeable to deliver more great stories to everyone who is watching me and sup-porting me. I am also devoted to spreading my wings, becoming thebest version of myself, and being
the person that the young people can see in me and be inspired by themselves to do something important in their lives.
FUSION: What kind of advice would you give to your younger self, and what would change?
HARU: When I was younger,I was humble about everything and lacked the spirit of challenge. I was afraid of failure before attempting to try anything. What I would say to my younger self is that not trying is worse than failing. I’m no longer afraid, and I want to challenge myself and become the best version of myself.
FUSION: What are the big-gest challenges you would like to overcome?
HARU: the biggest challenges for me in working in the entertainment industry? There are so many artists that I still need to discover, and at the same time, it’s a rewarding and challenging feeling, and I would like to learn about everybody’s journey. I feel
that working hand-in-hand with these artists makes me feel proud in the sense that a little piece of them becomes a part of me, and I become wiser, stronger, and more knowledgeable.
FUSION: What is something about you that most people might be surprised to learn?
HARU: Let me tell you an interesting fact about me. Most people don’t know this, but I love anime. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t watch it. I may be such an otaku that I have so many character goodies lol. The rest of the time I eat more than anyone else and I love to eat. I am a sucker for sweets. I always have a lot of sweets in my bag lol.
FUSION: Talk about the process and journey involved in creating the front cover of this magazine. Was it all you expected, or how was your experience?
HARU: It was my first experience to be involved in the creative process and editing process of what it takes to create a magazine. I am amazed at how much time and effort goes into creating a magazine. What I learned now forms part of my experience, and I cherish this as it marks my first time participating in something so significant to me. Creating a single page is a fascinating process, but
I really enjoy the experience of taking pictures in my favorite clothes and choosing them with my director. I’m very particular about it, so maybe I have bothered a lot of my team, but I am thankful that they gave me creative control over how I want to represent myself in the magazine. I truly feel blessed to have a team that stands by me in everything I do, which is very special to me.
FUSION: Talk about your team and and how was it working with everyone and You, the producer, and the CEO have been very close to each other. How has your experience been in this process?
HARU: In fact, me and the founder spend time together in a very interesting way, looking at and editing photos together, wondering which cover would be the best cover to represent me, and we spent very late nights together to ensure that we put the best version of ourselves on the front cover. By the way, this front cover took more than 5 hours to edit. The director and I collaborated to select the photo cover you are currently viewing.
FUSION: What has been the most memorable time you have spent with a team of professionals who have been in this industry for a long time, and what did you learn from your experiences?
HARU: They walked me through the initial process The entire process from production to finishing was a great experience I became veryclose with my team member Amanda Her advice helped me see the opportunity in a different light. I felt that her input guided me to think bigger than what I am usually used to Also, working with Jerry was a journey as he and I became very close to each other and we spent all our time to deliver a ne that all our fa
FUSION: What message do you want to give to all the viewers that are reading, watching, and supporting you?
HARU: I couldn’t believe it when I saw my finished cover. I was skeptical that this was me lol. But this is not a dream and I felt the reality hit me so hard that I am so excited this is all real and I am very much proud to be a part of this.
To everyone who is watching Thank you so much, and thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about me. I will do my best to give everyone the best coverage. I will also focus on rebranding myself, and I will update my SNS and website very often.
My website will be released very soon. It will have English and Japanese pages so that everyone around the world can understand everything that I am doing on my journey.
