Otakon 09: MELL wraps it up with a kick

9:56 AM on 08.05.2009   |   Jeff Chuang

Our Otakon coverage is not over yet! MELL agreed to spare us a few minutes of time for an interview  and Q&A session at Otakon, in the cracks of her hectic schedule.

To refresh your memory, let's go over what happened at her concert on Friday, July 17 2009, followed by some Q&A. Read on down, too, for some pictures from the concert.

The concert was about two hours long; Otakon has arranged the event in its main event hall, which seats over 4000 people. Before the show, speaker pumped out music from various I've Sound trace works.

Leading up to Otakon, there were some promotional activities for MELL, one of which was the launch of the English-language site for I've Sound, the mother-label for MELL and several other girls like KOTOKO and Mami Kawada. It seems they're prepared this year--at the con, the I've Sound booth sold some goods that were specific to Otakon, such as a USB stick / wrist band that came with a scanned letter from MELL, with parts in English!

Anyways, the wait wasn't long as the stage lights went to work and the musicians filled on to the stage. MELL soon joined them.

The set list is a bit of a haze, but the below songs were played, among others (if you know better, please let us know in the comments!):

Under Superstition
Way beyond there
KILL
no vain
Permit
kicks!
SCOPE
Rideback
Red fraction (encore)
Virgin’s high! (encore)

A couple fun things happened during the performance. First, MELL suffered her supposedly first wardrobe malfunction while performing a live when the hook to her top snapped during the middle of a song. She was able to brave it out and got it fixed before the next song without anything drastic happening. Second, MELL pulled out a colorful kimono for her encore outfit, which took a while, but it was well worth it. For the record, she started the show wearing the same full dress as you see in the pictures, and changed into a shorter skirt outfit with removable hems, like the one she wore on her tour last year. 

During the prolong instrumental section when MELL fixed her outfit, the keyboardist/performer did a small number. It turns out that the guy was a member of the now-defunct Soft Ballet, a Japanese synthpop band. Amusingly enough, even he wore two different outfits throughout the concert, to keep the crowd on their feet.

Overall, the crowd was typical for a convention concert but the band did a pretty good job getting everyone into it, especially towards the end when more people began to recognize the more popular songs.

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And now, some questions and answers from the Japanator interview and more questions and answers from MELL's press panel.

Q: How does coming from Sapporo influence your music?

Mell (M): Hokkaido is an island north of Japan, and it is separated from the main land. However, our music is more popular in main land than Hokkaido and we don't do much within Hokkaido. However I think our music and the music of I've Sound is only possible to be made there.

Q: How did you first get involved with I've Sound?

M: I always wanted to be a singer. I was doing some small acts in Hokkaido at the time and producer Takase came to me to do some of his music as he was trying to be a music producer. As a result I did some music for him and he liked it and we started to work together ever since. It has been almost 15 years now.

Q: How do you feel about your show last night?

M: The lighting was very beautiful and it was awesome that the audience was there listening to my music and enjoying my music, cheering and rushing to the front at the end. I was also grateful that people heard my terrible English and responded to me. I am still excited from the show and couldn't sleep!

Q: Thank you for coming and doing a show!

M: Thank you for inviting me! It was so much fun and I hope you invite me again! And I hope Otakon keeps getting bigger!

Q: Is there a reason why many of your songs are in English?

M: Because I want to share my world view with as many people as possible.

Q: Your songs are used in several anime and some games. Do you ever watch or play the anime or game that your songs are in?

M: I do watch all the anime my music is in, on DVD. Sometimes I get really embarrassed watching it on my own. At times I would have the TV on and my song would to play, I get a little nervous.

Q: How are your American fans different than your Japanese fans?

M: American fans are a lot friendlier, they would wave at you when they see you walk by and say hello. Japanese fans would be more distant and bow formally.

Q: Can you share one interesting story on your American trip?

M: Crab cake! When the staff and band members ate it, they all went crazy about it. Also, the water taxi ride was beautiful, it feels like I've finally came to America.

Q: Any game or anime that you like?

M: For a recent anime, I thought Death Note was great. As for an older title, I like The Rose of Versailles.

Q: Do you want to tour the US or return to the US for another concert?

M: Yes. There are all sorts of places I want to visit. I went to LA on my own, and Texas for A-Kon and Baltimore for Otakon. I want to visit NY because of Sex and the City (Everyone watches it!) I also want to go to Paris. Now that I've been to Otakon and A-Kon, I also want to visit AX as well.

Q: Who are your fan heroes, that you go crazy for?

M: I really love Deep Forest. If they have a live in Tokyo, I'd fly in from Hokkaido to see them. Also I like Michael Jackson, may he rest in peace. I also like American hard rock like Aerosmith and Evanescence.

Q: Do you have anything planned in the near future?

M: I have one more single coming out this year, and I will begin working on a new album end of this year, and release the album early next year. If I am able to release the new album I would also go on a live tour, and I hope I can come to America if that's the case!

Q: Any last words for your English-speaking fans?

M: This is my second time performing in the US. I've been invited back now at Otakon and it made me realize how awesome these cons are. The events show how the attendees participate this exchange of culture between US and Japan. I hope these events continue to prosper in the future and the culture exchange grows, and better friendship between the two countries and more happiness.

I saw this cosplay while walking down the hall and I thought it was Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. I called out to the cosplayer "Scarlett O'Hara?" and she turned around. It turns out it was a man! (Laugh) That was a shocking experience. It was such a beautiful dress! I thought that was a good example.

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That concludes the Q&A session. For more coverage, check out International Wota's coverage as well as the JLHLS. Photos are credits of Linda Yau and our very own Brad Rice.