All contents of this website © Industry 2002-2004 except where otherwise stated.

Eve of Destiny © Haruhiko Ash 1997-2004.

Interview with Eve of Destiny for NAJTVOLK.ART.PL

The following interview was originally published on Polish website, Najtvolk in July, 2003 (it has since been removed) just a few weeks before EoD's first Polish gig, their appearence on the famous Castle Party festival. We would like to thank the webmasters of Najtvolk for giving us permission to use the original English version of the interview.

N - This year's visit at Castle Party Festival will be your first in Poland. I must say that you are treated as an (exotic) curiosity. Could you tell us more about the beginnings of Eve of Destiny?

H - I started recording on my own when I broke up the Zolge (the Zolge is the first part of my music career which started in the beginning of the 80s - I was with them for a long time). Those solo works are the beginnings of EOD.

N - Have you ever played in Europe? If so, could you tell me when and how were you received by the European public?

H - Last year EOD played at Wave Gotik Treffen and The Sanctuary’s Halloween Party in Switzerland and this year we played at Hungary, Slovakia and Germany in May. It all started with club Eve the New Church which I organised in Tokyo. Because of it I developed relationships with bands and labels around the world. EOD’s first show was at WGT in 1999. It was a very important and meaningful experience for me and I knew about Castle Party as well at the time. And now the time came to play there.

N - Your shows are famous for great atmosphere and dramaturgy. Can we in Poland also expect something special?

H - I don't know... but you can expect anything.

N - Don't you feel discouraged by the fact that your show is set for early afternoon so you will be playing in broad daylight?

H - Why do you think that? We are glad that we can play on the same stage with such famous bands and honoured. We’d be happy to play at a later time at the next opportunity.
 

N - I've only heard few Eve of Destiny tracks, as included on various compilations. Could you please say when do you plan to release your debut album?

H - We are looking for a European label now.

N - Your music is rooted in punk, do you still have a lot in common with this atmosphere/attitude?

H - Yes, of course.

N - Before Eve of Destiny you played in The Zolge. What made you turn to goth music after the break up of The Zolge?

H - The music nature of the Zolge was also always changing and continually evolving. From beginning to end the music changed very much, like it was a different band. EOD is an extension of my musical career. Maybe there was a gothic element from the beginning in myself. All I can say is my attitude never changes.

N - Where do you find inspiration? Is it japanese music or things coming from States or Europe?

H - I don’t have any Japanese music influences. If you feel that I do, it is just because I’m Japanese.

N - From what I hear, your music has a lot in common with the UK scene. Do you like Suspiria or Sigue Sigue Sputnik?

H - Which songs do you mean? Although I like them it’s not intentional... But since you brought it up, I think what’s reflected more in our music are the current European dark electro sounds.

N - Haruhiko, you're the man behind Eve the New Church. What made you organize such events?

H - From when the Zolge ended onwards, during the 90s, I basically lived in Europe (mainly Paris) and returned to Tokyo occasionally. There was very little knowledge in Japan of goth/wave/industrial/electro and so on then, and there was no such club culture. Only a few so inclined knew about it. I wanted to create a club night in Japan which would be on the same level as the European ones. It was the beginning. So I guess I’ve been influenced by the European scene.

N - What will be the musical direction for Eve of Destiny for the future?

H - I don’t know that. But one dream of mine is, at club parties in Europe, that EOD’s songs will be played regularly.