Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself?
Hi! I am Rayko of Lolita Dark, very nice to meet you! I am originally from Tokyo, Japan.
Any special meaning or significance to your artist/band name?
I changed the Japanese spelling of my name Reiko, to Rayko so that everyone can pronounce it correctly lol I named my band name Lolita Dark because after fronting two other bands I finally decided to have an autobiographical band to my life, and produce music that projects all that I’ve gone through from my childhood to an adulthood.
Lolita – because my life circumstances forced me to grow up fast. Dark – because I battled thru a ton of dark times.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
After some very distractive period I went thru at an extremely young age, I became a straightedge. Music has always been my best friend, my fix. I remember countless amount of nights where my drummer and I would be uber depressed and I’d play classical piano music endlessly to ease our pain and anxieties.
I faithfully believe that God has gifted me this path to follow, and I knew since I was 4 or 5 years old what I wanted to accomplish in life.
Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?
I write probably 3 songs a week on a slow week lol Currently I have about 42 songs waiting to be recorded. There are a couple of projects I want to talk about.
One of them is “Gratitude Video”. It is a compilation of spiritually relaxing and motivating music series accommodated by videos that is put together beautifully and thoughtfully that projects what the messages behind each music. Every song has relaxing and energetic versions to it.
My co writer Frank Kilpatrick, a Grammy winning producer Alex Wand, my band members Rain Balen, Joey Felix and I have been working on this since summer last year. I am very excited because I truly believe this series can deeply touch people’s souls and live moment by moment rather than dwelling and prolonging stressful times.
Also to bring positive perspectives into our lives, and not comparing ourselves with others… count all blessings in our world.
Frank, and I are also deeply involved with our Suicide Prevention video called “Stay Alive”
“Stay Alive” Chapter one https://youtu.be/Lb8Cp7IXMOU
Theme song “Stay Alive” https://youtu.be/-gr_CZafg4s
My band Lolita Dark has been embraced by the Anime, Gaming and Cosplay community since we debuted in 2012. I was inspired personally, by getting messages from our fans and supporters over the years to learn, how many people in our community that are depressed, despaired and actually experiencing suicidal thoughts.
I went to Frank about this and he not only so generously jumped on board with me to do something about it, but he introduced me to Dr. Mark Goulston who is a Dr. Oz Health Corps award winning doctor who has been a suicide specialist for over 20years. Then Dr. Goulston introduced us to Kevin Hines who is one of the only 1-2% who survived jumping off of Golden Gate Bridge.
Frank got the team of people to produce this incredibly educational documentary video “Stay Alive”. My dream will be coming true on Saturday 6/1 as Kevin Hines and I will have our very first panel at an Anime Convention called Anime Conji in San Diego California!
What makes your music unique?
First of all it is bilingual in Japanese and English. I write all songs for Lolita Dark projecting my versatile experiences from my childhood to current. My song finds it’s niche market in the community I mentioned above because people in this community wants to know what it is like to grow up in Japan and “becoming” a person I am today.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Music is very symphonic rock, as I grew up listening to all kind of music but especially loving both classical music and modern rock. This is also why I have always been a lover of movie sound track.
I love the orchestrations and how it is very emotional driven that matches the scenes of every frame. All of our lives are made with scenes. We just don’t have the music to accompany wherever we go, whatever we do. I describe my music to be “the sound track of our lives”.
Do you play any instruments? And why do you love it?
My main instruments are the pipe in my throat, piano and guitar. I love that they all produce such versatilities and not one trick pony.
How is your creative process when recording music?
Songs are written when I am sleeping, driving, shopping, reading…. meaning never sat down and wrote unless I am collaborating with someone. So as soon as the idea hits my head my go to is my phone.
As I start to sing into it usually the entire songs will be created and re corded on it. Then I will start perfecting it on Logic Pro X, using an amazing plug ins like Kontakt Ultimate 12, Massive, Battery…etc I live with my main man Rain (Lolita Dark Bass, engineer, an amazing guitarist) and our best drummer/bestie Joey so after I perform and record all I can, I go to them for their expert inputs!
What makes a good recording session?
Good chemistry with people I work with, and gifted musicians/artists with different back ground and fruit musical knowledge.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Matthew Bellamy of MUSE. Lately I am digging SHAED.
Any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Matthew Bellamy and Zach De La Rocha
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
Ummm…. One of them actually happened two days ago.. I went to an audition for something that everyone said it was too big of a job for me/highly competitive that I won’t get in, so just go for a good experience of it and to be seen by some of the executives from the company.
As I finished singing I got a standing ovation by the producer and the executives that were there. …. and I got that gig!
It is very hard for an Asian female fronted rock band to earn respect. I heard almost every physical compliments on dictionary and it took a awhile to start hearing “Your music touched me so deeply”, “I cannot believe your vocal range”…etc
Some women may prefer hearing how great they look vs how talented they are.. and though I am glad that I’ve been able to manage a so called presentable façade I am blessed (I guess I can say proud) when the audience feels me rather than see me.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
I’ve always said music is like a drug addiction. You lose money, friends and sleep. And this was before I became a sole caretaker of my beloved mother who got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last winter.
It has been QUITE challenging to balance everything that’s going on to say the least. I try so hard to not double book appointments, sessions and yes close to zero time for friends. Rain and I got married exactly one year and a day ago, and no, couldn’t afford the reception and or honeymoon in Kauai.
Right now the most crucial ritual that I must not neglect is to take care of myself. So I’ve been maintaining strict sleep schedule, and keep going to MMA, cancer caregiver support group therapy, and individual therapy to keep my sanity.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Keep Up the Persistence
Be on time
Don’t compare your art, struggle, success with others
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
Stay Alive Today, You Are More Amazing Than You Think You Are.
Always, Do Unto Others. (Sorry I gave two!)
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or tours?
It is moment to moment every day. Recording for the gig I just got starts Monday, every free time I got I keep writing, recording and performing with Lolita Dark, collaborating with Frank, Alex, Rain and Joey, writing for the music supervisors for sync licensing… As I mentioned above, Kevin Hines and I will be having our first Suicide Prevention discussion panel at Anime Conji on Saturday June 1st in San Diego, and Rain, Joey and I will be performing at the opening ceremony of Ronin Expo on Saturday June 8th in Los Angeles.
