"The Conversation Turned into Excitement": NANO x MADKID Discuss Their Upcoming "Unprecedented North American Tour" Just Before Departure

"Don't Blame Yourself Too Much No Matter What Happens" (NANO)

Interviewer： For MADKID, who will be on their first overseas tour, what advice would you give them?

KAƵUKI： Oh, I’d love to hear this!

NANO： This is something I want to keep in mind for myself as well… When artists perform live, they tend to aim for perfection, right? I think when it’s a solo performance, there’s a higher chance of achieving that. But with a tour, it’s nearly impossible to do everything perfectly from start to finish. Since this tour will last for more than two weeks, and the schedule is almost non-stop, it’s natural that both our physical and mental energy will be drained. So, if one day the performance doesn’t go well, I don’t want anyone to blame themselves too much. If something comes up, we can talk about it, and if someone isn’t feeling well, we can support each other. As long as we keep the communication going, we’ll be able to overcome anything.

KAƵUKI： That’s really good advice. I appreciate it.

Interviewer： By the way, do you think the reactions from the audience at overseas shows are different?

SHIN： We were just talking about this earlier. When you give a good performance, the audience responds accordingly. But if it’s not up to par, they don’t hold back, and that’s a very direct and honest response. I think that's refreshing, and I hope if we encounter any moments like that during the North American tour, we can use it as a positive experience and learn from it.

YOU-TA： Our current style in MADKID has been increasingly influenced by overseas vibes, even in Japan. This has been a positive change over the past few years. I think it’s important to observe the audience's reactions and update our performances based on that, so that we can come back even stronger.

Interviewer： If you’ll be performing in North America, there will likely be moments where English MCs are needed. How do you feel about that?

NANO： If anything comes up, just send me a message on LINE. I’ll translate and get back to you (laughs).

YOU-TA： Thank you! We do have KAƵUKI, who’s fluent in “Degawa English” (laughs). Most of the people who come to our shows abroad love Japanese culture, so they can understand mixed Japanese-English, and sometimes, it even goes over better than in Japan.

KAƵUKI： I can’t speak English at all, but when I just say the first word that comes to mind, the audience gets really excited. My go-to phrase is, "My passion is worldwide" (laughs).

NANO： The most important thing is the intention to communicate. Especially in America, where there are so many different races and accents, there isn’t really a “correct” form of English. What matters most is the desire to convey something, and even if your grammar or pronunciation isn’t perfect, it will still get across. I think KAƵUKI’s approach is spot on.