On the second day of Otakon, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down with BECCA. Despite being born and raised in the United States, BECCA has become a Japanese phenomenon. Her first album, ALIVE!!, was released in 2008; she is currently working on a second release, which will include some Japanese lyrics. Wanna know more about her? Check out this interview  for some interesting facts!

Legend: P = pengie, B = BECCA. No translation involved!

P: Just to start things off, when did you realize that you wanted to be a musician? Was it at a very young age, or…?

B: It was at a very young age… you know, I was making up melodies from when I was two years old, and I think it was something I knew I always wanted to do, because it was always present in my life. My dad’s side of the family was very musical theatre-esque, and they would sing to me all the time, and that inspired me.

P: And was being considered a Japanese artist, or on a Japanese record label, part of the plan, or was that just what came up?

B: It really came up. We always thought it would be a cool opportunity if I was able to go to Japan, that I would fit well with the market–I have the same kinds of fashion tastes, and things like that. So it was a really wonderful thing that we could figure that out.

P: Were you an anime or a manga fan prior to the career?

B: I had heard of it; my brothers used to watch [anime] but I had never gone into it myself until I knew I was going out to Japan. I really wanted to immerse myself in it, so I went to a comic book store, and asked what the big manga were there. They gave me Death Note and Fruits Basket and things like that, and it was really cool. So now I’m definitely a fan. (laughing)

P: (laughing) Alright. So have you spent a lot of time in Japan, or… are you going to both countries 50/50, or do you spend more time in America?

B: It’s interesting, last year I went [to Japan] five times… and this year, I haven’t gone yet, but I will be going, like… in a week, and I’ll be going two more times this year… so far! So it’s pretty cool.

P: The question I had about your album… All of your songs on [ALIVE!!] are in English. Do you think that puts a barrier there, for the Japanese audience, or do you think they’re able to understand what you mean in each of your songs?

B: Yeah, the thing is… in Japan, somebody over there told me that if they can’t understand your lyrics, they’ll still listen to your music, and judge how your music sounds, and that’s another reason why they might like you. Surprisingly enough, a lot of people do know my lyrics over there, and I think a lot of Japanese people do know English–more so than English people knowing Japanese. So… I’m actually going to be singing in Japanese in the future, so that’ll be [muffled].

P: Yeah! I saw there was, with the ALIVE!! album, there was a booklet in there that had [your] lyrics translated into Japanese. So…

B: Yeah!

P: That could definitely help them understand things.

B: Yeah, definitely! I think it’s great that we could do that.

P: Was there anything in particular that inspired the songs on your album? Do all of them have a personal meaning, or do just some of them have a personal meaning?

B: Honestly, they all have personal meaning. I’m never going to sing anything that I don’t really connect to, or that doesn’t inspire me… You know, all of my songs are written from personal experiences, or [are] stories I just want to tell, and… so they all come from me.

P: Okay. One of the questions that the readers at [IW] submitted… It was asked if you were interested in trying to break into the American market, or if you were interested in just releasing music in Japan–not necessarily in Japanese, but… if you were interested in continuing in Japan, and then trying for America as well?

B: Yeah! This year, we’re focusing a lot on the US, and trying to figure out ways to promote ourselves here, and different venues to do, things like that. So definitely… I mean, America’s my home, and it would be the best if I could come here–break into the market here. I’m just so happy for the success I’ve had in Japan so far, and I love going there, and I feel like I owe Japan… my life (laughing) … So, we’re definitely going to continue releasing music… My second album will be coming out [in Japan] very soon–

P: Really?

B: Yeah! So, I’m definitely going to continue [over there].

P: Okay! Great. Kind of along the same lines, there are actually a lot of independent bands in Japan with lyrics in English, and… kind of like you said, their lyrics might not be understood, but the Japanese people may listen to them and [get it?]. But do you think it’s possible for a Japanese artist to come over [to America] and release music in Japanese, and still have the same reaction?

B: I think it would be… just because the US is so big, and so spread out, I think that it would be big in a certain scene. [But] I kind of think it’s important for people to speak English, if they’re coming over… just because some Americans just don’t understand the Japanese culture. But you know, for things like this–for Otakon, obviously they’d be massive… It just kind of depends. I think it has to be the right way, but you never know!

P: Okay, that makes sense. So… do you ever read any fansites, or blogs, or reviews of your material online? Do you have any particular thoughts about them, and do you ever respond to them?

B: If somebody e-mails me [through] my Myspace, I’ll definitely respond to them like that. But if it’s a Youtube comment or something, I won’t respond to that. If it’s negative, I’m just like… “whatever!” I actually like to see what people think of me, and their perceptions, because it gives me a better idea of how I’m coming off, you know? So it’s always really interesting… I never really take it to heart. I will… the nice things, I’ll be like “oh, that’s so amazing, that’s so good,” but the negative things, I just… “oh.” Everyone should have their own opinions; I think it’s cool that people feel comfortable enough to even say what they think. (pausing, then laughing)

P: (laughing) Okay, so kind of a personal question… Who are your favorite musicans or bands, Japanese or English or… really, just in general? Do you have a list… ? (laughing)

B: Yeah! (laughing) Oh, man, there’s a big one, I’ll try to shorten it. I would say, for Japanese, I really like Tsuchiya Anna. She’s a cool, very cool person over there, and I would like to… at least for Japan, model my [way?] a little like her. I think she’s great. And then, for the US, I would say… I love Blue October, a lot of screamo hardcore stuff… (laughing) That’s just for fun, obviously not influences (laughing again) … But… He Is Legend, Killswitch Engage… are some of my top favorites, I think they’re great. And you know, I love listening to Garbage, I actually listen to their albums over and over again; Shirley Manson is a huge influence on me. And… Cyndi Lauper, Heart, Joan Jett, The Pretenders… I just love listening to that stuff.

P: Okay! And you did mention you were working on your second album… Is there a general impression you can give us? What can we expect from it? Will it be the same kind of rock material, all in English, or will there be some Japanese mixed in?

B: I am singing Japanese on… a couple of the songs. And I would say that [the album is] definitely more mature, the songs are more consistent. It sounds… more like one album, as opposed to the first album, where maybe there were a lot more diverse sounds, and it’s kind of different. So this next one, I’m very, very excited about, and I think it’s really a  cool direction… still BECCA, but… there’s just a little more flair to it, I suppose.

P: That sounds great! The last question I have… Is there a particular message you would like to give to your international fans, whethere they be in Japan, America, Canada, Mexico… Anything you’d like to say to anybody?

B: Well… I can’t wait to tour [in Japan], and see all of you guys. Thank you for your support, and… keep listening to music. (laughs)

This interview is copyright © Nicole Utz for International Wota, 2009. Photographs were provided by Timothy Kohler for International Wota, 2009. Reposting of this interview or concert photos on other websites is not permitted.