Beauty & Decadence in Kaya’s Vampire Requiem
Vampire Requiem is an atmospheric single composed by HIZAKI with lyrics by Kaya. With two of visual kei’s “princesses” at the helm of the project, listeners are guaranteed a beautiful result. No stranger to taking on characters in his songs, Kaya plays the role of a tormented vampire expressing the loneliness and despair of a life of darkness. The songs are based on stories written by Kaya himself, and one gets the impression that the character exists fully in Kaya’s mind, giving the songs the feel of a small part of a much larger story, like a segment of musical theater.
The first track, “Vampire Requiem,” is a dramatic and complex arrangement that works on multiple levels thanks to HIZAKI’s skill and Kaya’s expressive voice. Violin and cello accent the work along with Spanish-flavored acoustic guitar creating a rich sound that sets the song a cut above the usual gothic fare. Kaya’s voice is exquisite in conveying pain even as the seductive melody of the song invites movement and dancing, a metaphor for the tortured yet decadent world the vampire resides in.
The b-side, “Curse of Rose,” is a smooth follow-up, the opening blending almost seamlessly into the a-side. This number is more measured, with the ethereal vocalist selia lending his voice to an almost unearthly chorus. In its five minute running time, the song covers wide ground, from sharp violin to heavier runs of electric guitar that make it a complement to the previous orchestral track. Kaya’s vocal performance skills are almost unparalleled in the two tracks, creating a clear image of movement and expression in the listener’s head. Between the vocal inflection and emotional music, even those who can’t understand the lyrics will understand the vampire’s sadness.
The third and fourth tracks on the single offer the instrumental versions of the songs, both worthy of a listen in their own right. Fans of Kaya, HIZAKI, or beautiful gothic music in general would do well to give this one a listen. The single goes on sale January 25 and can be reserved online in Japan via Amazon and will be available through Amazon, itunes, and CD Japan for those overseas.
4 track CD (2 instrumental)
Track List
1:Vampire Requiem
2:Curse of Rose
3:Vampire Requiem -Kayaless ver.-[instrumental]
4:Curse of Rosem -Kayaless ver.-[instrumental]
Kate Havas first became interested in Japanese fashion in college when visual kei and anime were just beginning to make their way to America. Having already been involved in the American fashion scene, she expanded her interests to include gothic lolita, Japanese punk, gyaru, and other Japanese subculture styles. Kate signed onto ROKKYUU in order to bring up-to-date news on Japanese fashion trends and the personalities behind these various subculture brands to fans all over the world.
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