Trying to talk about Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s music is like trying to explain Pop Rocks to a worm. I can only imagine the kid from David Goes To The Dentist was describing one of Kyary’s videos. Drugged up babies aside, the western world appears to have caught the Kyary bug, and we should probably all resign ourselves to a new, younger, cuter generation dressing like cosplayers and rocking the “new kawaii” style—a title Kyary herself coined.
It’s worth mentioning that Kyary is more than the sum of her wide-eyed parts, and has come along way since her viral video “PONPONPON”. She’s gone from a Harajuku blogger to selling out shows all over the world, including her upcoming Australian tour. In fact the response to this dollfaced dream dropping by was so intense her promoters were forced to move to the UNSW Roundhouse in Sydney to accommodate her unexpected swarms of fans.
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With her second album Nanda Collection sitting pretty at the top of Japan’s Oricon weekly chart we caught up with her to talk about music, fashion and sitting on the couch eating chips.
NOISEY: So Kyary you’ve had a pretty mental couple of months, what have you been up to?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I started my second world tour in February. I just completed touring around six cities in North America. I had fun singing in Seattle, Chicago, and Toronto for the first time. It was VERY cold though!
Don’t worry Australia doesn’t get too cold. What are you looking forward to during your visit?
This will be my first time in Australia so I am very excited to meet local fans! I’ve never been to Southern hemisphere so I was wondering if the climate is really opposite from what we have in Japan. Last but not least I would love to have a chance to go see sharks and koalas!
I’ll have to create a list and pass it on. Considering your style and music, it seems like you would have some pretty interesting fans. What the strangest experience you’ve ever had with a fan?
This is not strange but fun experience. I have a fan club called “KPP CLUB” in Japan. Last year I went out on a trip with some of the club members to harvest grapes. That was my first time communicating with fans outside concerts so I had such a wonderful time with them
How old were you when you became involved in Harajuku fashion?
When I was hanging out in Harajuku I got my picture taken by a fashion magazine, that is how I started modelling. I was 17 at the time, which made me think I want to be more fashionable so I went to Harajuku many, many times.
It’s hard to imagine you not dressed up in your kawaii fashion. Is there ever a moment when your just sitting on your couch, in your pyjamas, eating a packet of potato chips?
It might be surprising but I usually wear something black. At home I just relax in my sweatshirts.
Kyary’s Noisey presented Sydney show is on the 23r March at the UNSW Roundhouse.
