Causing a Stir Online : Exclusive Interview with Mannequins Duo FEMM

| Artist | Posted by Ayaya on Oct.08.2014

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The choreography is so complex, so it seems like it would take a long time for FEMM to master it to the degree that they do. Also, because Hidali, who also choreographs WORLD ORDER, does FEMM’s choreography, perhaps there will be collaboration featuring the two groups?
FEMMの振り付けはかなり複雑で、マスターするのにすごく時間がかかりそうですよね。FEMMの振り付けは、WORLD ORDERの振り付け師でもあるHidaliさんが行っているということですが、WORLD ORDERとコラボする予定はないんですか？　

Honey-B: At the moment, we don’t have any plans with them, but we do share the same kind of world because the choreographer and the creator is the same person. If there is an opportunity, we are more than welcome to have FEMM collaborate with them.
現時点でそういう話はないですが、振付師をはじめ同じ人がクリエイティブに関わっているという点で共通点は多いですよね。もし機会があればぜひぜひコラボしてみたいですよ！

That would be amazing since World Order projects such a different image of Japan compared to FEMM, who embodies the qualities of Harajuku and Shibuya. Is there any dream collaboration that would draw more attention to the movement?
WORLD ORDERは、渋谷や原宿などFEMMの映す東京とはまた別の視点で東京をとらえている人たちだと思うので、もしコラボしたらすごく面白そうです。更にFEMMに注目を集めるため、できるならコラボしてみたいという方はいますか？

W-Trouble: Because I think it’s something interesting, the collaboration itself would draw attention (to the movement). Right now, it seems like a lot of people want to collaborate with FEMM, and people who are making interesting music have an interest in them so, as far as we are concerned, they are welcome to contact us any time.
面白いことだと思うから、それなりに興味は引くことはできると思います。色んな人とコラボすることもそうだし、面白い音楽をやってる人たちが私たちに興味を持ってくれたら、私たちはいつでもウェルカムです。

Honey-B: Especially for RiRi, she’s very interested in rapping so we can get some nice rapper to do something with her. Also with LuLa, she’s more interested in ballad songs so somebody who can come along and do music with her would be amazing.
RiRiは得にラップに興味があるので、どなたかイケてるラッパーさんと何かできたらいいな、っていうのはありますね。LuLaはバラードの方に興味があるので、そちらの方面でも何か素敵なコラボができたらいいですね。

“Unbreakable”, was a definite departure from the previous dance music songs. It was probably the most “human-like” song yet. Then came “Whiplash”…it definitely shows the versatility of FEMM.
「Unbreakable」という曲は、他のダンスミュージックな曲からかなりかけ離れていますよね。1番人間っぽい曲だな、と思いました。そして最新曲の「Whiplash」では、またFEMMの新たな姿、多彩さを見せてくれましたね。

W-Trouble: “Unbreakable” is the only ballad in those 13 songs so, I think it focuses more on feelings, so it feels more “human”. As far as the question of FEMM wanting to become more human, more than wanting to become human, they want to communicate and share their feelings with humans. “Unbreakable” is probably the song that expresses those feelings the most. The other songs are pretty rigid so I think they’re closer to the image of mannequins.
“Unbreakable”っていう曲が１３曲の中で一つだけバラードなので、よりそういう風に感じることがあると思うんです。彼女たちがなりたいかっていう問題になると、なりたいよりは共感しあいたいというのがあるので、気持ちにどれだけ近づけるか、その近づける上で”Unbreakable”が一番表現として近くなったというのがありますね。他の曲は結構がちがちしているのでマネキンに近くなると思います。

RiRi and LuLa’s fashion is always different, new and fresh. How is that decided upon? Is it dependent on the song, or is an image that you want to project?
RiRiとLuLaのファッションはいつも違って新鮮ですよね。曲によって違うのか、伝えたいメッセージによって変えていたりするのでしょうか？

W-Trouble: It’s according to the image of the song or what we want to get across for sure. When we hear the songs; we try to figure out what kind of outfits or hairstyles would match and also according to our mood. There’s no real set plan or anything like that but more directly connected to the image that factors into the decision.
その曲にどんなイメージが合うかとか何を伝えたいかにもよるし、その曲を聴いたときのイメージでどの色や衣装がいいのか、あとは私たちの気分だったりもします。決定的にはこれっていうのはないけども、イメージで直結していくという感じで選んでいます。

Honey-B: And also, because they are mannequins, their original job is to wear outfits, so we try to change it up and make it fun for them to wear fresh outfits and crazy hairstyles. We have more outfits that we haven’t shown yet and we got a really crazy one coming up in several months maybe! It’s like nothing you have seen before. Really crazy!
それにマネキンのそもそもの役割って服を良く見せることじゃないですか。なのでできるだけいつも新しい服を着て変わった髪型に挑戦しています。そういえば数か月のうちにとってもヤバい新衣装をお見せできると思うので、楽しみにしていてください！　今まで見たことないくらい、本当にヤバいです（笑）！　

Talking about the costumes that you wear in MVs, they’re very fashionable and many people comment on how cute and amazing they are. Are there any particular ones that you liked when you saw RiRi and LuLa wearing them in the video?
MVでも衣装がとってもかわいい、素晴らしい、とよくコメントが来ていますよね。RiRiとLuLaがMVの中で着ているもので、得にお気に入りのものはあったりしますか？

Honey-B: For my mannequin, RiRi, she is a combat mannequin so her best style would be the army combat outfit…all black with the red hat that she wears in the “Kill The DJ” music video.
RiRiは闘争心高めのマネキンなので、1番好きなのはアーミー系の衣装です。「Kill The DJ」のMVの中で着ている、全身黒に赤い帽子の。

W-Trouble: LuLa is the exact opposite, so I think the nurse outfit (“Party All Night”) suits her the best. Her specialty is healing so, in my opinion, the nurse outfit is the best.
LuLaは全く逆で、ナースが一番似合ってるかなと思ってます。癒すのが得意なので、私からしたらナースが一番似合うかなと思います。

Honey-B: When FEMM goes out into the city, they tend to be in the school uniforms quite often. It’s easier to blend into the crowds if they’re wearing something more normal like a school uniform, isn’t it?
そうですね、街にFEMMを出すときはセーラー服が多いですね。やっぱり街に溶け込みやすいので、女子高生の服で街に出してますね。

Left : LuLa, Right : RiRi

Because FEMM wears things like school uniform and kimono, is there a conscious decision to show that side of Japanese culture?
日本のセーラー服とか着物を衣装に取り入れてるので、日本を代表しているというような意識はあるんですか？

Honey-B: Originally, FEMM is made in Japan, so we try to represent Japanese beauty and culture. We really think that the costumes, such as the kimono is so beautiful, and we want to spread this Japanese culture.
FEMMはやはり日本で作られたものなので、日本の美や文化を伝えていきたいという気持ちはあります。着物を衣装に取り入れたように、本当に美しい文化だと思っているので広めていきたいと思っています。

Their outfits also seem to be influenced by Japanese subculture because FEMM has done maid and school uniforms. What would you think about FEMM wearing outfits of Yankii (Japanese delinquents) or Bousouzoku (Japanese bikers)?
FEMMの衣装はメイドや制服のように、日本のサブカルチャーに影響されているようですが、ヤンキーや暴走族はどうですか？（笑）

Honey-B: That would be cool!
それ、かっこいいと思います！

Especially because you can do the regent hairstyle.
リーゼントヘアにできますもんね。

Honey-B: Yeah, that would be really nice! We should tell our director, I think he would like that idea!
すごくいいと思います！　ディレクターに伝えたらきっといいと思ってもらえるはず！

Is there any particular style of music that you would like to see FEMM trying from now on?
音楽的な意味でFEMMはこれからどういう音楽をやりたいとかありますか？

Honey-B: Although we have quite a range of songs from Ballad to Heavy EDM and Booty Twerking songs, most of them are still dance music so we are not sure what the next style is going to be. The dance style twerking is very in right now, and is getting a lot of attention, so in the nearest future maybe that could be the closest thing we could do. But we are not sure yet.
これまでの曲はBootyなトゥワークソングやEDM、バラードもあり……と幅がかなり広いですが、正直FEMM自身も今後どうなるかは未知なんです。トゥワークというダンススタイルが今流行っていて注目を集めていますが、近い将来それに近いようなことはやるかもしれません。でも、まだ未定ですが。

W-Trouble: I think when people listen to the 13 songs; there are some they like and some that they don’t. Within those songs, there are things they want to hear, no? We want to get as close as possible to that sound, we want people to have fun and enjoy the music and reach as many people as possible. There’s no style that says “this is FEMM!” but, I think it would be great if we could get to that point.
みなさんに１３曲聞いてもらって好き嫌いはあると思うんです。その中で聞きたいものが分かるじゃないですか。なるべくそこには近づけたいな、っていうのはやっぱりみんなに楽しんでほしいし、伝えるには多くの人に聞いてもらわなきゃだめだって。FEMMのスタイルはこれ！っていうのはないけど、やっていけたらいいなと思います。

Honey-B: We don’t even know their possibilities so; we are looking forward to what kind of magic thing they can do for us.
FEMMの可能性については私たちにとってもまだ未知数です。今後どんな科学反応を起こすことができるか非常に楽しみです。

FEMM : Biography
FEMM (Far East Mention Mannequins) is a duo consisting of MS-000000 (LuLa) and SW-000000 (RiRi), who were liberated in order to free the oppressed mannequins of the world. Armed with precision robotic dance moves choreographed by Hidali (World Order), cutting edge fashion from GM Atelier, and infectious music, FEMM are actively recruiting an online army for their revolution.

FEMM Official Website :http://femm.jp/
FEMM Official Twitter : https://twitter.com/FEMM____
FEMM Official Instagram : http://instagram.com/femm____

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*This interview was made in English.
Interviewed by Okkun
Translated by Ayaya

Author

Ayaya

Been working in girls’ fashion magazines for a long time and am now the chief editor of Tokyo Girls’ Update. I have more expertise in Japanese teen fashion than anyone else (probably)! I’m a huge fan of the Revolutionary Girl Utena and Bakemonogatari animes.