Band Interview: Ginger May

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life are pleased to bring you an interview with genre-hopping electronic/industrial act, Ginger May.

1. How did you get started as a band?

At the beginning (what was really long time ago), Ginger May was an internet collaboration of Tanya, Satoshi, and some other musicians. Sometime after, the project began a new life in Tokyo, Japan. About 7 years have passed since then. Ginger May today is the collaboration of four passionate musicians who came together because of the need to write and perform original music in different genres.

We released two albums, one acoustic, to much fanfare from fans of dark music, as well as alternative music fans.

2. How would you describe your sound?

We love to experiment and mix different genres. Described as an electronic-industrial act, the band has incorporated funk, alternative rock, and hip-hop into the sound. The dark, melodic vocals of Tanya and the heavy, bouncing riffs of guitarist Satoshi, Ginger May is a unique mixture of both the dark and light.

3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?

It is almost impossible to list every band or musician who influenced our music. If we talk about songwriting and composing, we can say that apparently music of the 50s and the 60s. If we talk about arrangements, we would say that it is the music of the 90s. If you ask about specific bands, we can only name a few. For example, RHCP, Papa Roach, Evanescence, Skillet, The Garbage. Radiohead, etc. And also we would like to mention a few industrial rock bands like Rammstein, Zeromancer, Oomph!, etc, which partially influenced our sound.

4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?

Of course, this has its pros and cons. On the one hand, the development of social media and streaming makes it possible for absolutely all musicians to show themselves and to maintain their fan base without the need to work with a PR agent or expensive producers. Now everyone has access to SM and streaming. On the other hand, this creates a huge competition. And everyone has to come up with something unusual to be original. At this point, the music ceases to be music. It’s a little sad. But personally, we are glad that we live in this time. Because, for example, during the corona, when the musicians did not have the opportunity to play live concerts for about two years (at least in Japan), there was an opportunity at least to do online shows to stay afloat.

5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

We are making music almost every day. If we are not making music we are either working or traveling. Or spending time with our families, of course, is really important.

6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?

We have started a new chapter this year – recording with the new label, Messina Records. We had a great new single release. And so far we are working on the new songs. We don’t want to plan too far, but we definitely want to release the new album. And then let’s see!

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