SEP / OCT ISSUE

K A N A B O O N MA KI NGT HE I RU. SDE BUT E

ROC KNROL LI SNOTDE A D

FUSION MAGAZINE

P ERSP ICIATIS U NDE OM NIS ISTE NATU S TEAM JERRY CORIA RIE YAMADA MONICA MAY RACHEL PETERSON LUNA STEVENS AKITA YASUNARI

JAMES CUEVAS MATT SHULTZ AMANDA HARDY ADAM WARREN RICHARD CHANVEZ MIZUKI KURWA

CHIEF EDITOR JERRY

CORIA

MARKETING JOEY MACLAREN MIKE ROGERS

CINDY MENDEZ LARA ROLLINS

CONTACTS EMAIL

INFO@FUSIONTVMEDIA.COM

04 SEP / OCT 2023

ACTORS STRIKE Actors’ Guild of America, Inc. (SAG-AFTRA) bargainers discuss the tense closing minutes before Hollywood bosses walked out of negotiations and their determination to maintain the picket lines.Whats Next for Hollywood ?

PARIS FASHION WEEK

36

The runways and the audience at any one fashion week may be dominated by a single hue. Instead than settling on a single color palette for the season, designers and shoppers alike chose to embrace a wide range of tones.

DEFTONES

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A new Deftones album has been in the works all of 2023, and the band hopes to release it in the spring or summer of 2024.

We take a closer look at what viwers can expect

LENNY KRAVITZ

14

Lenny Kravitz Announces the Release of a New Album and a New Song

EXCLUSIVE KANA-BOON

22

FEATURED 10 TOP

M OV IE STREAM S

It is now time for you to learn what is good and what you absolutely need to look into while you are streaming films this summer

02 ARTISTS SP OTLIGHT In this month’s Artist Spotlight, we provide a list of performers whose careers you should monitor.

18 U LTRA J AP AN It’s that time of year again, and that means Ultra Japan in Tokyo, Japan, where a number of internationally renowned DJs will be playing for the masses.

DUA LIPA T

I

T

Dua lipa sounds never keep stoping and now with her fresh new song from the Barbie Soundtrack Something about Dua Lipa’s music captivates me, and this new tune from the Barbie soundtrack showcases her signature blend of sexiness and pop perfection. You’ll want to play this song over and over again.

MILEY CYRUS

O

The song’s incredible popularity with streaming services and digital downloads demonstrates its indisputable commercial viability. There have been 178 million streams and 87,000 purchases of Cyrus’s hit in the United Kingdom. The song has become the year’s most popular in both streaming and downloads.

OUR PICKS

MUSIC YOU NEED

TAYLOR SWIFT CRUEL SUMMER

OLIVIA RODRIGO VAMPIRE

SELENA GOMEZ CALM DOWN

DAVID GUETTA

BABY DONT HURT ME

HOLLYWOOD

ON STRIKE AS THE STRIKES CONTINUE, IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. IN THE MEANTIME, YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS AND MOVIES ARE ON HOLD. WHEN WILL HOLLYWOOD REALLY MOVE ON? B Y T O M

A N D R E W S

■ P H O T O S B Y G E T T Y IM A G E S / S H U T T E R S T ICK

CREDIT: PHOTO: FRANCO ORIGLIA/GETTY

I the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) officially declared a strike after their contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired. In the first coordinated strike against the studios since 1960, members of SAGAFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union for actors and other media workers, joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

late night programs on the major networks, such as ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and CBS’s “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” go off the air and are replaced with reruns. there is a lot of concerns from both unions going on strike,

Actors are using their union authority by going on strike to ensure that their demands are included in the next contract they negotiate with AMPTP. The studios and It’s with a heavy heart the productions and corthat we’ve come to this crossroads. But there was porations will have greater incentive to put out a nothing more we could proposal and negotiations do. Fran Drescher, presiwill need to happen on dent of SAG-AFTRA, said the table that would bring as much during Thursactors back to work if acday’s union press contors (and striking screenference. “We are being writers, but more on that victimized by a ruthless entity.” It has been shock- later) withhold their labor and the revenues that la- CREDIT: JANET MAYOR/SHUTTERSTOCK ing to me how well our bor creates. business partners have treated us. I just don’t think it’s possible. We completely disagree on a wide range of topics.

They say they’re broke and losing money left and right, yet their CEOs are paid hundreds of millions.

Absolutely repulsive. They need to feel humiliation.

This places them squarely on the losing side of history.

Not only is SAG-AFTRA now on strike but they also join forces with the writers going on strike.

After a final attempt to negotiate a new contract ends in failure, the WGA declares a strike. Tensions about streaming payments spark a statewide strike that has halted production and led to picketing in locations including Los Angeles and New York. The

CREDIT: CREDIT:JJADAM SANDLER AND BEN STILLER PHOTO BY GOTHAM/GC IMAGES

CREDIT: CREDIT:PHOTO: PHOTO: ERNESTO RUSCIO/GETTY But what does it imply for actors and performers, television and film producers and distributors, and viewers in the meantime?

As a result of the permanent closure of most film and television sets, the premiere dates of upcoming films and television series will be pushed back, and fans of these programs will likely have to wait longer to watch new seasons. (Following the screenwriters’ strike this past spring, late-night talk programs like The Tonight Show and The Late Show went on hiatus.)

Actors are not allowed to use their social media accounts to promote upcoming projects in any way (including by posting about premieres, press junkets, interviews, panels, etc.).

The strike will have no effect on televised news or shows

There have been many strikes by SAG before, the first in 1952 and the most recent in 2000. Which was one the longest strikes in history, lasting from May to October.

There was a breakdown in talks at the time about pay for appearing in television, cable, and internet advertising.

After 146 days on the picket line, the WGA and AMPTP finally came to a preliminary agreement on September 24.

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the union’s bargaining committee stated in a message to members. Leadership has halted picketing, but the strike is still legally continuing until the guild approves the formal termination of the work stoppage.

STRIKE STRIKE

The Writers Guild of America’s screenwriters went on strike at the beginning of May. WGA officials and the AMPTP were unable to settle their differences over media residuals and the use of artificial intelligence, two challenges that are also being faced by SAG members.

The Screen Actors Guild quickly issued a statement praising the WGA’s efforts and asking AMPTP to resume negotiations on the actors’ contract after the revelation of the preliminary deal.

We are happy to stand shoulder to side with you as creative partners in the entertainment business and would want to thank you for your hard work, commitment, and unity over the last five months. We are excited to examine the proposed agreement between the WGA and AMPTP. And we’re ready to pick up conversations with the AMPTP again whenever they’re ready to have a serious conversation about our suggestions. We will maintain our strength and solidarity till then.

CREDIT: /SHUTTERSTOCK

CHARLI XCX CREDIT: JOHN NACION / SHUTTERSTOCK

CREDIT: JOSE PEREZ/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES

THE EQUALIZER 3

S o m etim es D enze l W ash ing to n wants to quo te S h ake speare l iteral l y , and o th er tim es h e j ust wants to ki ck a . The latter kind is best represented by Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer films, which are inspired on a vigilante justice initiative from the 1 0s. Denzel’s Robert McCall wants to settle down in Southern Italy, but he has trouble with the local mafia and has to clean up his town in the third and possibly last episode.

EXPEND4BLES

just by looking at the title Expend bles. The narrative is secondary to the audience’s desire to watch a group of retired action heroes work together to defeat a global menace. In addition to Megan Fox, the cast also features Tony aa ( ng ak), Iko wais (The Raid), 0 Cent (The Massacre), Andy arcia, and...

THE CREATOR

G areth E d ward s ( M o nsters, G o d zi l l a) h asn’ t d irect ed a pict ure since 2 0 1 6 ’ s R o g ue O ne: A S tar W ars S to ry , wh ich is co nsid ered one of the greatest Star ars films in recent years. It’s no surprise that his next sci fi action adventure is the month’s most anticipated. In an uncertain future, ohn David ashington plays an ex special forces mercenary who must find a hostile AI that may kill civilization. The moral dilemma A child like AI. emma Chan, Ken atanabe, and Allison anney feature in this end of month release.

SAW X

e mentioned frightening things in the start. Saw , a direct sequel to the original film, returns to the franchise’s origins after a 2021 experiment with Spiral. Tobin ell returns as ohn Kramer, who ies to Mexico seeking a miraculous cancer treatment and gets deceived. The only thing to do is to become igsaw again and be avenged. The Saw films were a Halloween fixture for over a decade in the 2000s before slowing off, but this may revive the brand.

A HAUNTING IN VENICE Here, following Murder on the rient Express and Death on the Nile, we get Kenneth ranagh’s third Agatha Christie adaptation. Here, Hercule oirot, played by ranagh, is retired in the eponymous Italian city when he is summoned to a s ance, during which, of course, a murder occurs. oirot must once again determine not just who the murderer is, but also whether or if supernatural elements are at play. Fun for aficionados of the genre, this picture has an A list ensemble that includes Tina Fey, amie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, and more than a few more.

MAKE ME SCREAM

W ith h o sts T em pestt B l ed so e and D arryl M . B el l at th e h el m , th ree ce l ebrity team s h ead ed by Ja l eel W h ite, S h o niqua S h andai, and Lil an will fight against one another in an effort to remain silent throughout a series of terrifying haunted houses.

GET OUT A young African American visits his hite girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.

CHUCKY

In O ct o ber, D o n M anci ni’ s “ Ch ucky” wil l prem iere its th ird seaso n, wh ich wil l incl ud e th e return o f th e f am ed d o l l - th is tim e to th e hite House as a continuation of the “Child’s lay” film series.

.PAIN HUSTLERS

Net ix filmmaker David Yates debuted with “ ain Hustlers,” starring Emily lunt and Chris Evans. Emily lunt portrays Liza D rake , a sing l e m o th er wh o wo rks f o r a ph arm ace utica l startup to support her sick child. Liza is rapidly drawn into a racketeering scheme, even though she has no idea the organization is a bankrupt, illegal enterprise. ay Duplass, Chloe Coleman, rian d’Arcy ames, Andy arcia, and Catherine ’Hara co star. After seven “Harry otter” films, Yates directs a realistic picture that avenges the only fentanyl dispensing pharmaceutical company convicted for violating the law.

Autumn

LENNY

KRAVITZ HE IS BACK!

NEW ALBUM PLUS MORE AUTHOR: Am

a n d a

Ha r d y

PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK

SELIGER

T

he next Lenny Kravitz album, titled "Blue Electric Light," is set for release on March 15. If you have not seen the new music video titled "TK421," also Kravitz also shared the main the album's lead single, Kravitz can be seen completely nude from behind.

Kravitz's next album, "Blue Electric Light," will be published on his own label, Roxie Records, and distributed

by BMG. It will be his first studio album since "Raise Vibration," which came out in 2018.

The 59-year-old's 12th studio album will be his first double album and will include 12 new recordings from his studio in the Bahamas. Most of the music was composed and performed by Kravitz himself, with some assistance from guitarist and frequent Kravitz sideman Craig Ross.

From 1999 until 2002, Kravitz held the record for most consecutive wins at the awards ceremony by a male artist with four victories for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Fly Away (1998 hit), Are You Going to Go My Way (1993 hit), and It Ain't Over (Until It's Over) (1991 hit) are just a few of his most well-known tunes.

Last month, Kravitz joined TikTok and made headlines with a fivesecond video in which he wore his signature oversized scarf and said, "Grab your big scarf - it's the first day of fall." In 2012, he was first spotted wearing the item, which has since been the subject of several internet jokes.

The musician talk with Fallon back in 2018 saying : "You can put it on the person who manufactured the scarf.

That scarf was a gift from him, and he made it himself. I had no clue there would be photographers on the day I planned to debut it.

The Bahamas are my home, therefore..."The heat wasn't a problem for me since I had to go grocery shopping. I was out doing some grocery shopping and decided to wrap it over my neck for a bit of extra protection from the cold.

COU RTESY OF M ATHIEU BITTON This year, Kravitz played the piano version of his song "Calling All Angels" in honor of the late Olivia NewtonJohn, Vangelis, Jean-Luc Godard,

James Caan, Ray Liotta, and Angelo Badalamenti during the 2023 Academy Awards' In Memoriam tribute section.

It's possible that "TK421" is a reference to the Star Wars franchise. Wikipedia states that TK421 is "the designation of a human male Imperial stormtrooper who served on Lasan before he was stationed on the Death Star battle station."

After releasing Raise Vibration in 2018, Kravitz returns with Blue Electric Light, which contains the singles "Low," "Johnny Cash," and "Here to Love." However, if the album's first song is any indication, the rock star is taking a sexier turn with Blue Electric Light.

COU RTESY OF M ARK SELIGER)

We didn't have on our bingo card that Lenny Kravitz would have one of the hottest music videos of 2023, but we're not complaining. However, listeners were a bit confused by the song's alphanumeric title. They are curious as to the singer's meaning behind the mysterious number. An imperial alphameric from Star Wars who served on the planet Lasan is implicitly referenced throughout the characters.

The audio system from the 1997 independent film Boogie Nights is another possible allusion. However, TK421 may be alluding to ph*llic images in the context of the song's lyrics.

Lyrics about confronting one's worries are presented in an NSFW music video that starts with Lenny Kravitz sound asleep in bed. After that, he opens the drapes and stands there naked while the sun floods into the room. The 59-year-old man is seen n*ked throughout the first half of the film, however he covers his derriere with various household items.

The music video then cuts to Lenny Kravitz smoking a cigarette, showering, and brushing his teeth in a seductive manner. He gets dressed, puts on some tunes, and plays guitar while bopping his head.

Fans continue to speculate as to what Lenny Kravitz meant by TK421 since he has not yet addressed the subject. As the sole portion of his anatomy that is hidden from view in the song video, the vocalist makes it quite clear that TK421 symbolizes his ph*llus. While the alphabet is being chanted in chorus, Lenny can be seen covering his nether area and pointing to the digits 4, 2, and 1 with his fingers. Rather of being allusions to Star Wars or Boogie Nights, the chorus lines when Lenny asks the addressee if they can feel his "T-K-4-2-1" are more consistent with the ph*llic interpretation

.

A well-known monocular imaging device is a fourth possible example of this term's use.

It's single lens has led some to draw a sexual innuendo-inspired comparison to a phallus.

Lenny may have been alluding to the fact that TK421 symbolizes the portions of his body that aren't visible to the naked eye by making reference to the monocular model in this song.

If the singer didn't intend the monocular allusion, it's unclear how he arrived at that specific alphanumeric to describe male genitalia.

Similar to the phrase "champagne confetti" used in the new song "3D" by Jung Kook and Jack Harlow, which has gone viral. Fans were left scratching their heads about Jung Kook's meaning of the term after the music video and song were released. There were several absolutely innocent guesses at first, but then everyone realized the NSFW connotation.

SUMMER BIGGET FEST IS HERE

ULTRA JAPAN! Tokyo‘s Odaiba Ultra Park, Ultra Japan returned for its eighth successful installment.

The festival‘s renowned Main Stage and underground hotspot RESISTANCE stage hosted A-list power house performers, while the Ultra Park Stage featured up-and-coming artists from the surrounding area. DJs such as Hardwell, Axwell Ingrosso, Adam Beyer, DJ Snake, Skrillex, Peggy Gou, and Nicole Moudaber performed. Ultra Japan has always been popular in Japan, but this edition proved how much the locals and foreigners alike like electronic dance music. Ultra Japan 2023 is the summers best show to be in Ultra Worldwide is one of the world‘s most well-known events, but the Tokyo ultra japan stands out for its authentic representation of Japanese culture and society. this one takes the cake. Everyone was kind and polite; there was no rudeness or congestion. They were also quite conscientious about leaving the park in the same perfect state as when they arrived. And everyone who came had a great time and was really kind.

At RESISTANCE, techno legend Nicole Moudaber performed, and the audience went crazy for her set of underground bangers. She premiered a plethora of previously unreleased tracks, gushing over their superiority. While chatting with Edmtrain editor and writer Jessica Gail after her set, Moudaber said, „After about 45 minutes into my set, I saw the crowd that they were craving it and they wanted this kind more than the other commercial, predictable techno that is so accessible for people that are being introduced to techno.“ A broader and deeper scope... It‘s really astute, in my opinion.

Hardwell‘s concert on September 16 started early in the day, which makes sense since he had other shows that he was preforming

in other parts of Asia and even then Hardwell, who returned a little over a year ago, had Center Stage packed. He blended his characteristic gigantic room sound, which drove him to the top, and he unveiled his new large room techno approach in his massive return for Ultra Miami in 2022. But even then Hardwell will come back to Ultra Miami in 2024 with a Jam packed of other big acts and big names to preforming in the same stage such as Tiesto, David Guetta, and many others as he dropped a bunch of bangers, including a mashup of Combines Apollo and the Spaceman. Among the most remarkable aspects of his most spectacular performance was the debut of a previously unseen collaboration with Afrojack.

A large crowd gathered to witness Hardwell, and he did not disappoint. That‘s precisely what they needed.

On day one, after Hardwell‘s set, Axwell Ingrosso performed on the Main Stage.

Swedish House Mafia, now down to a duo, gave a pulsating performance that included hits from all three of their albums.

After putting their project on hiatus in 2018, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso reunited as Swedish House Mafia and recorded the album „Paradise Again,“ which was released the year after its completion. Axwell Ingrosso‘s performance at Ultra Japan calmed fans‘ fears that the duo was on the verge of breaking up.

The first day of the festival was topped off with a fantastic performance by DJ Snake on the Main Stage. To get the party started, he played some dubstep.

One of his most well-known songs, Lean On, was then published.

After DJ Snake waved the Japanese flag, he played „Let Me Love You,“ which featured Justin Bieber.

DJ Snake‘s Main Stage performance on the last day of the festival was a resounding success. To get the audience going, he played some dubstep. After then, one of his most well-known songs, „Lean On,“ was released. DJ Snake ended his set with „Let Me Love You,“ which included Justin Bieber, after he waved the Japanese flag.

The French producer documented his trip to Japan with a plethora of images, documenting everything from his performances with Skrillex and Peggy Gou to his indulgence in Japanese delicacies and trinkets.

On his website, he wrote, „Thanks for the Love Japan,“ a message of gratitude to the people of Japan.

Adam Beyer, founder of Drumcode Records, performed for two hours to wrap out RESISTANCE‘s first day. Beyer‘s extended set at a festival gave techno lovers a rare chance to see his mastery of the genre up close and personal.

Beyer didn‘t only have a great performance; he also gave a speech about Japan.

To accompany his images of the golden Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto, Beyer wrote, „So happy to be back in Japan again.“ He thanked his fans for their „sick energy“ in another.

At the end of Ultra Japan on the Main Stage on September 17, Skrillex gathered a large audience. After the success of his two albums this year, „Quest For Fire“ and „Don‘t Get Too Close,“ as well as his performances at Coachella with Fred again.. and Four Tet, under the moniker Pangbourne House Mafia, and a sold-out show at New York City‘s Madison Square Garden, Skrillex is currently riding a creative high. Skrillex started up his set by playing their hit single Still Here, which also featured Porter Robinson and Bibi Bourelly.

His releases include the hit songs „Rumble,“ which features Fred once again, and „Flowdan,“ as well as „RATATA“ with Mr. Oizo and

The music of Anti-Flag has frequently found common cause with political and social movements such as anti-war demonstrations, LGBTQ+ rights campaigns

„Missy Elliot,“ all of which he co-wrote. A drum ‚n‘ bass remix of Four Tet‘s Teenage Birdsong capped off a performance that will be remembered fondly by Japanese music enthusiasts for years to come.

Instead of playing RESISTANCE, South Korean producer Peggy Gou, who has swept the house and techno scenes like a tornado, played the Main Stage the night before Skrillex headlined. It works to highlight her adaptability and global appeal, particularly in Asia.

Peggy began with a release of three new tracks, the first of which was a Soulwax remix of her song I Go. IDs. She saved her most recent smash song at the conclusion of her set: (It Goes Like This).

Nanana. The graphics that

accompanied her act were a big hit with the audience. several that were quite Sailor Moon-like.

When it comes to Ultra Worldwide, Ultra Japan is a staple.

It‘s no mystery why Asia is so popular. The Japanese show an unwavering devotion to dance music and the group dynamic, as seen by This year‘s event was distinguished by its professionalism and outstanding quality. A lone fans from other countries will be disappointed to learn that the event will not be held finished at a respectable hour of 9 p.m. Simply put, it meant staying in the parties later on, including one particular takeover at Womb by the RESISTANCE

COURTESY OF DJ SNAK E

KANA-BOON AUTHOR: JERRY CORIA.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JERRY CORIA

TRANSLATION: RIE YAMADA

U.S DEBUT EXCLUSIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME

ROCK IS NOT DEAD

FUSION:. I think you don’t really need an introduction but for all viewers that are just getting to know you, please introduce yourself.

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I’m Maguro Taniguchi, vocalist and guitarist of KANABOON. Koga (Gt.): I’m Koga, KANA-BOON’s guitarist.

Koizumi (Dr.): I’m Koizumi, KANABOON’s drummer.

Masami (Ba.): I’m Masami, KANABOON’s bassist.

FUSION: What made you determined to be a musician?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I first encountered music around the time when I was 14 years old, and after that, I couldn’t imagine working a regular job. So, I chose to do music and I created the band when I was 16. I decided to be a musician when we began creating music together.

FUSION: What’s the story behind the name KANA-BOON? How was that created? It’s such a unique band name.

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): The meaning of our band name is, (laughing)... there is an insect called “KANA-BOON (drone beetle)” in Japan. The drone beetle is a lucky insect that I had heard about before.

FUSION: What accomplishments do you see yourselves achieving in the next five to 10 years?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): This year is our 10th anniversary, and we’ve been touring in Japan. I wanna do a world tour within the next 10 years.

Koizumi (Dr.): I’ve been having so much fun with this band. I also want to have a world tour like Maguro said.

Masami (Ba.): I joined KANA-BOON about one year ago, but KANA-BOON has been performing for 10 years with the other original members, so they’re more experienced as musicians. In contrast, I’ve been performing with this band for only about one year, so I look forward to experiencing a lot of things from now.

FUSION: What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): Our strength as a band is that we share everything with four of us. If there is only one musician, one person experiences all the good and bad things only by him/ herself. The four of us share the feelings after the concerts are done and we also share our excitement together but we also share our mistakes and we laugh together at the end of the day. This is the most fascinating part of being in a four-piece band; we are all very good friends, so we also have fun spending time together.

Koga (Gt.): Everyone is getting along really well, so we are always having fun. Koi chan (Dr.) and I have known each other since we were in elementary school and we have a strong childhood friendship. Maguro (Vo./ Gt.), Ma-shi (Ba.) and I have known each other since high school. We’ve built such a great friendship, so the audience can see how close we are through our live performances on stage.

FUSION: What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I had put my passion into creating songs before, but recently, I really have been enjoying playing live with my band. I especially love to see the audience’s faces and

Our strength as a band is that we share everything with four of us. If there is only one musician, one person experiences all the good and bad things only by him/herself.

The four of us share the feelings after the concerts are done and we also share our excitement‘

get close to them at the concerts.

I really enjoy communicating with the audience.

FUSION: What are some of the challenges that you faced as a group and how did you overcome them as a group?

Koga (Gt.): We don’t really have any issues within our group (everyone smiles)

FUSION : What do you like most about playing music?

Masami (Ba.) : I started playing bass for KANA-BOON in 2020.

We faced the pandemic shortly after I joined the group, and we couldn’t use our voices at our live concerts. But this past spring, we were finally able to do the call and response at our 10th anniversary concerts. I got to hear the audience call my name, and I felt our fan base have become more powerful than ever. I felt the audience’s feelings and emotions towards us on stage. At that moment, I got extremely excited and I had the best feeling you could ever have as a musician!

FUSION: What inspired you to start playing and making music?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): We have written many anime songs. Occasionally, we read the anime comic books and this inspires us to write songs and song ideas from the stories. Besides those anime songs, I think our private life impacts how we write our songs, such as what we are thinking or feeling on a daily basis, rather than getting inspiration from watching a movie or going to the park. We think about how to reflect and write songs as how we live our lives.

FUSION: Who’s your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): There is a Japanese alternative rock band, Asian Kung-fu Generation in Japan. I’ve been listening to this band’s songs since I was in junior high school.

They are still my favorite. I have experienced a live performance with them before. Also, Dave Grohl.

Koga (Gt.): I really respect Shinichi Ubukata, a guitarist from Japanese band Ellegarden. I really like Ritchie Blackmore and Paul Gilbert.

Though I can’t imagine doing collaborations with them.

Koizumi (Dr.): I respect Kiyoshi Ijichi, who is the drummer of Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Speaking of collaboration, I’ve never done double drums, so I wanna do it with Kiyoshi in Japan. In America, I want to do aggressive performances like Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I wanna see his performance live so I can feel his power!

Masami (Ba.): I respect so many super star bassists. It is very difficult to select just one bassist, however, I respected Billy Sheehan, the bassist from Mr. Big, when I was in high school. I’ve been influenced so much by bassists like Sheehan, from Mr.Big. I think it is difficult to stand up on the same stage but if it happens, I think it’s gonna be like a dream.

FUSION: Describe your favorite venue for performing.

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): In Japan, each venue has a different sound quality. For example, each sound can be heard very well at a historical venue, but sometimes the sounds don’t really fit in as well at the

at the newer venues. The sound quality at the newer venues don’t have the same feel but I think it is okay as it is. We also have outdoor festivals in Japan, like in America.

We enjoy performing outdoors because we can set ourselves free.

My best memorable venue is MIKUNIGAOKA FUZZ in Osaka. There are wall paintings at the venues. That live venue is the special place like a sightseeing site for us and our fans!

FUSION: Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a musician?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): For me, it’s creating songs. That’s helped me to create my roots as a musician.I am thinking about what kind of originality I need in order to bloom as I grow. I’ve been writing songs since I was 17. Writing songs was the most helpful way to progress my skills.

Koga (Gt.) : I’m thinking about making people happy, and personally, I am very obsessed with my guitar performance. I play guitar until I feel right. I think this perfection-

ist part of my personality helps to progress my skills. I wanna express how fabulous guitarists can be through my performances as a guitarist in KANA-BOON. This motivation keeps pushing me forward.

Koizumi (Dr.): When it comes to my progress, of course, it comes with learning more drum techniques. Recently, I’ve been feeling the drums most as a rhythm musical instrument, how I express each rhythm and how I put my own emotions into the drums as a rhythm instrument but also as a performer. This mindset has helped me to progress my drumming skill recently Masami (Ba.): I focus on looking at each member during our performance, not only do I try to match the rhythms, but also I try to compliment the notes. On the stage, I believe in myself, and that we are top performers in KANA-BOON. We have many songs but when I play our songs, I think to myself that I’m the only one who can play the KANABOON songs this way. But once I am off the stage, I concentrate on practicing bass for our songs, I imagine I am the worst player. However,

e did a recording called T I TT ouTube hannel , and we performed with ecry Tal ie of ossa a song called, aimon onedari. I sang with her on the stage, and the audience got extremely excited. I m not sure when we will have such a special night again i once I am on the stage, I think that I am the best player for these songs and I enjoy being on the stage, communicating with the audience.

FUSION: Tell me about your favorite performance in your career.

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): It’s hard for me to choose the best one…the other day, in Hiroshima, we were so excited.

We did a recording called “THE FIRST TAKE” (YouTube Channel), and we performed with Necry Talkie (of Mossa) a song called, “Naimononedari.” I sang with her on the stage, and the audience got extremely excited. I’m not sure when we will have such a special night again. I’m not the type of person who

remembers all our past live performances, so it’s easier for me to remember the recent ones. But I feel like most of the recent live performances go over the past ones. I think this is a good thing, with the most recent ones being the best

FUSION: Describe your worst performance. What did you learn from this experience?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): We have a lot, like mountains (everyone laughs)! I often mistake or forget lyrics of songs on stage. The other day, I completely forgot a whole sentence of lyrics. laughed together and we overcame the moment. I don’t think this kind of thing happens to other members. Other members are very perfect, I forget

RECENT

TIME LINES 2022 ----------------

5th album “Honey & Darling” released on March 30th .

2021 ---------------One-man live “Re:PLAY” will be held on April 18th .

“HOPE” distribution release on August 8th .

17th single “Re:Pray” released on October 27th .

One-man tour “KANA-BOON Re:PLAY TOUR 2021-2022” will be held from October 30th .

2020 ---------------First best album “KANA-BOON THE BEST” released on March 4th .

15th single “Star Marker” released on March 4th . (TV anime “My Hero Academia” 4th season new chapter “Cultural Festival Edition” opening theme) From April,one-man tour “KANABOON THE BEST TOUR 2020” is planned.

16th single “Torch of Liberty” released on November 25th . (TV anime “Fire Force 2nd Chapter” 2nd season opening theme song)

2019 ---------------Season 5 13th Single “Haguruma” released on March 6th .

TV anime “Karakuri Circus” opening theme) 14th single “Masara” released on June 12th .

(TV anime “Sarazanmai” opening theme) June 15th “KANA-BOON’s GO!GO! 5th Anniversary! Season 5 “KANA-BOON’S OSHI-MEEN!!” project.

MASAMI ENDO

TAKAHIRO KOIZUMI

KANA-BOON

MAGURO TANIGUCHI

HAYATO KOGA

often but I don’t regret it. I mean, we just laugh it out. I can’t even think that I am not gonna make a mistake next time, because the live performance happens only once. I try my best not to forget lyrics but I think that it is what it is.

Fusion: What’s your process for dealing with performance anxiety?

Koga (Gt.): Sometimes, I still get nervous when I perform a guitar solo on stage. I am thinking to myself prior to my solo part, and I’m already telling myself that I am going to be nervous when the solo comes. I am gonna get nervous anyway, so I convinced myself to be nervous ahead of time on stage. So once the solo comes, I’m already expecting my nervousness so I can relax and play the solo part as well as I can.

Fusion: Talk about your new single?

Maguro: Our new single is called, “Song of the Dead.” This song is exciting so I think people from overseas are also enjoying listening to the song. We aren’t really active in making songs right now, but we will start creating new songs when the time comes. Please look forward to it.

Fusion: What was the inspiration in working on this new single?

Maguro: This current song, “Song of the Dead,” is an anime theme song (for the show “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead”), this song talks about zombies. I am inspired by how we choose to live our lives every day. You choose to live life, everyday crawling on the ground with no hope like zombies or choose to live like human beings. We seek the light for hope while experiencing emotions. I was thinking about these ideas when I wrote the song.

If you choose to live life, enjoy your life until you have done all the fun things. I thought that’s the life I wanna have.

Fusion: What does it mean to you when you see your events full of all your fans supporting you at all these events?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I want to show my gratitude to all our fans and I wanna say thank you to them.

I think that’s cool when we and our fans can share those moments where we’re together, like, we meet at the concerts, we are in the same space, and feeling joy at the same level. Also, fans are pleased, like we are, when the new song comes out and they listen to the new song many times. I wish we could share many things with our fans, like how I share those feelings with my band members.

Fusion: Talk about the experiences you feel when you travel overseas and perform.

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): The world that we’ve been seeing is something that I couldn’t imagine when we started this band. I think more people abroad know our songs through watching anime. For example, I never thought we would have an interview with Fusion like this.

We’re looking forward to meeting many fans from all over the world through Fusion. This year, we went to Saudi Arabia and had a concert.

We were so delighted to see that there were so many people in the audience that enjoyed the show, and got really excited with KANABOON’s music. We’re also going to have concerts in Indonesia and Canada this year (already held in August). I felt that music doesn’t have boundaries when I first discovered music. I feel this way as a musician, performer, and a songwriter.

Fusion: We want all the viewers to pay close attention to you as an artist and we want to promote you all over the US and Canada. Knowing that you can travel overseas, what message do you want to tell to all your viewers?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I would like Canadian fans to be excited to see our live performance. I’m curious how we’re gonna feel with the audience in Canada. I think the feeling might be a bit different from what I feel with the Japanese audiences.

The audience might have a different perspective than Japanese ones, so we are simply happy that Canadian fans can enjoy the concert.

telling myself that I am going to be nervous when the solo comes. I am gonna get ner-

vous anyway, so I convinced myself to be nervous ahead

of time on stage. So once the solo comes, I’m already ex-

pecting my nervousness so

I can relax and play the solo part as well

We will give the audience everything that they expect to hear from KANA-BOON at the concert.

Fusion: Your song, “Silhouette,” has been a very classic and iconic song. Did you ever imagine that this song would be such a legendary song?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I am still in the stage of realizing that there are many fans aboard, still listening to “Silhouette,” but I haven’t got to see that world reaction in person, yet. I am very happy but also at the same time, I feel like, is this true? I appreciate all the fans who encountered the song, “Silhouette.” I didn’t expect this song to make connections with all those fans when I wrote it.

Fusion: How do you feel about being on the front cover of Fusion Magazine?

Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I’m very happy that we are going to be captured for Fusion’s front cover! This kind of opportunity doesn’t really happen so often. We are thinking about going overseas, including North America, of course, to have concerts. I’m happy if Fusion can be a great opportunity for us to meet our fans around the world. We made many jumps, so please take a look at Fusion Magazine.

Fusion : When do you think fans can expect you to come to Los Angeles or New York or anywhere in the US? Maguro (Vo./Gt.): I’ve made a trip to New York for a personal vacation before. I felt so open and comfortable staying in New York, so I wanna go abroad and meet our fans in many states in America. I wanna meet people, have good burgers and pizza!

(Laughs) We will make sure to go to America, so please wait for us. Please invite KANA-BOON to the big events in the USA. Let’s see you down there!

D E F T O N E S

ITS BEEN A WHILE FOR THE LEGENDS AND WE ARE GLAD THEY ARE BACK! T h e D ef to nes h aven’ t rel eased an al bum sinc e 2 0 2 0 ( with O h m s) , but th ey ’ re al read y wel l into th e writing pro c ess f o r th eir nex t stud io al bum . G uitarist S teph en Carpenter said o n th e G no stic A c ad em y po d c ast th at th e band is c urrentl y rec o rd ing new m aterial with pro d uc er N ic k R ask ul inec z and pl anning to rel ease it in 2 0 2 4 .

Carpenter to l d G no stic A c ad em y ( as repo rted

by B l abberm o uth . net) th at th e band h as been wo rk ing o n new so ng s f o r a new al bum

“ j ust

in th e l ast c o upl e o f m o nth s, real l y ” ( two to th ree m o nth s; wel l , m ay be a bit l o ng er no w, real l y ) ; in F ebruary . N o w th ing s are l o o k ing up. A l th o ug h pro g ress was initial l y g rad ual , th is h as bec o m e th e no rm

f o r us. B ut every -

th ing are running wel l no w, and we even h ave

a l ittl e m o m entum

g o ing . A nd we antic ipate

th at’ s th e c o o l th ing abo ut h im . A t th at po int,

h aving it publ ish ed by nex t sum m er. N o th ing

he’s like an unofficial member of the band

is set in sto ne, and no d ate h as been set, but

and a g reat so urc e o f g uid anc e wh en we’ re

th at is o ur h o pe.

stuc k . W e m anag e, but it tak es f o rever wh en we’ re o n o ur o wn.

H o w h as th e ex perienc e been l ik e in c reating th e new m usic ’ s so ng s? It’ s a m ix o f f ac to rs,”

In o th er news, o n N o vem ber 4 th in S an

Carpenter say s. U sual l y , we sim pl y j am

D ieg o , D ef to nes wil l be h ead l ining th e f o urth

o ut

so m e id eas and g o o f abo ut until so m eo ne

instal l m ent o f th eir D ia D e L o s D ef to nes

c o m es up with so m eth ing th at m ay be so m e-

f estival , wh ic h wil l al so f eature 1 0 0 G ec s,

o ne el se l ik es o r every o ne l o ves. A f ter th at,

K no c k ed L o o se, and m o re. T h e o ne-d ay

we z ero in o n it f o r a wh il e.

f est is so l d o ut, but tic k ets are stil l avail abl e th ro ug h S tubH ub, wh ere th ey are 1 0 0 %

H e said , “ A nd th at’ s wh ere N ic k real l y sh ines.

g uaranteed th ro ug h S tubH ub’ s F an P ro tec t

In situatio ns wh ere we c o ul d o th erwise sit

pro g ram .

and j am

m ind l essl y , c h urning o ut id ea af ter

id ea with o ut pausing to apprec iate th em , h e

Ch ino M o reno , l ead vo c al ist o f th e D ef to nes,

is partic ul arl y sk il l ed at po inting o ut th e m erits

h as al so been ac tive with h is o th er band ,

o f ind ivid ual c o nc epts. L et’ s spend a m o m ent

( Cro sses) . G o d B l ess, I L o ve U , D el ete. , th e

trying to figure it out. That second concept

d uo ’ s new al bum , wil l be rel eased o n O c to ber

may work pretty well with the first. Let’s try

1 th, and their first tour in nine years will go

j o ining th em ,’ o r so m eth ing o f th at ef f ec t. S o

up in N o vem ber

In a subsequent interview, Carpenter

works out, maybe we can combine

confirmed that Deftones are reunit-

it with the other suggestion. Let’s try

ing with producer Nick Raskulinecz

joining them, and other such non-

(Rush, Mastodon, Alice In Chains,

sense. That explains what makes

etc.), who had collaborated with the

him so great. He’s really just hanging

band on both Diamond Eyes and Koi

around with the band at that time.

No Yokan.

He’s great at steering us in the right path when we’re stuck.

Everything starts with us riffing on each other and toying around

After playing on the past four Def-

with concepts. Carpenter said of

tones albums, bassist Sergio Vega

Raskulinecz, “Someone comes up

announced his departure in 2021,

with something that maybe someone

hence this will be the band’s first

else or everyone likes, and then we

album without him. Live, Deftones

focus in on that for a little bit.”

have been getting by with Fred Sablan as their substitute for Vega,

Nick is also quite good at that. He’s

but the band has yet to choose a

so talented that we could sit and jam

permanent successor.

for hours without pausing to evaluate the ideas that come out. The phrase “that idea is really cool” is one of his specialties. Alright, let’s give it a go.

Let’s give it a go for a while, and if it

TR END S FASHION PARISH FASHION WEEK &

H&M H&M

H&M

FASHION FASHION TRENDS CHANEL &

LOUIS VUITTON

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PARIS FASHION WEEK 2023 TRENDS TO KNOW NOW

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