We had a Rendez-vous at The Black Lab, a concert venue in Wasquehal, the night of the event. Meirin came out of the bar wearing a long black coat. Context: it is 10p.m. and it is pretty much the outside temperature of a normal November night. We are sitting at the table to conduct the interview. My stress is at its peak. Never have I ever done an interview full in Japanese. My Japanese is good, but not as good as my English. Meirin is so smiling and brings down all of my worries. The excitement takes over the stress and we are ready to discuss her STRESS de STRESS!
Feminist Majo: Good evening Meirin! Thank you for joining me for this interview today. Could you first introduce yourself?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): My name is Meirin. I am doing a musical project under the name of ZOMBIE-CHANG.
Where does your stage name ZOMBIE-CHANG come from?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): Um, what is it again? Nothing in particular. Ahh, but when I dyed my hair by hand, the coloring agent got on my hand. I went to Shibuya 109, with that decolored hand and the employee of the mall told me I looked like a Zombie, so it became Zombie-Chang.
Is there a moment in your life that led you to become an electronic musician?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): Originally, I liked electronic music, and especially punk (like this kind of music) [we were at a concert venue and before Zombie-Chang’s live session, there were some hard rock and punk concerts playing while we were conducting the interview]. However, in fast fashion stores like Forever 21, they were playing electronic music. Therefore, I thought that it would be easier to sell electronic music (laugh).
Your music is always accompanied by amazing visuals and you are very involved in creating these visuals. Can you explain to us what is behind your artistic creation?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): It changes from time to time, but I don’t know what they’re inspired by. I like French artists (well, there are many), and I don’t know what to say. (,,,) gag sense? (I wonder what it is…) I really like how laughter becomes art, it’s always in my head.
The music video of Switch is appealing as it depicts the male gaze in a wonderful way. Was there a message behind it?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): This is (quite amazing) surely, rather than a message, a thought of mine that I materialize. Often, when men are hitting on girls, they say “I have a dog at my house, wanna see it?” or “do you want to go to my house to play games” as an implicit invitation for more [implying sex]. Yet, this is only a pretext so the girl goes to the guy’s house. In the “Switch” music video, the situation is the other way around. The girl is playing a role to invite a guy to her house. The guy imagines he has the jackpot and believes the invitation will end up in intimate intercourse. However, the girl really wants to play games (Nintendo Switch), nothing more. The guy is trapped in his own game.
You released an album called STRESS de STRESS this year. It caught my attention because there is a track with the french band Agar Agar, who is quite famous. This album has a lot of french references, what was your journey to French culture?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): I love France and French culture since I was little so was my mum – but we had a slightly different tastes. She liked the vintage stuff and old singers like Serge Gainsbourg (well he is still popular nowadays though). At that time I didn’t really think much but around 10 years ago, I became friends with a French person and he/she told me a lot of things about France, and that’s when I discovered a French sense of comedy, and I liked it more than the one in Japan.
How did the collaboration with Agar Agar come to life?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): Agar Agar (how it came to life is quite good tho…). Originally, I was quite a fan of Agar Agar. I had a French friend living in Japan. Before Covid-19, this friend was in an artist’s residency with Armand from Agar Agar. We ended up playing at a live event, and Armand invited me to do a collaboration.
You often proclaim yourself to be an “anti” in terms of music genre like “anti”. What does it mean?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): Well.. well… for instead, if somebody says something, or has ideas, I would first say « NO » to these sayings. or ideas. Then I’ll think about it, and I might find its good parts. I got a little bit older now, but my basic standpoint is always saying « NO » to anything, even when it comes to music. (laugh)
How do you feel as a woman in the electronic music scene (in general, and in Japan)?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): Japan is not really gentle when it comes to women trying to make their own music. In Japan, half of the trackmakers for female artists are men, and I see this trend is connected to an “idol culture” (men make songs and women just sing and dance for them). I think more women should make their own songs. There are indeed people who are skilled but I think there are also ones who are not. I’m not good at singing either but I make songs or “create” instead. I feel like Japan does not really give space for these creative women.
Have you encountered any challenges?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): I had struggles…so many struggles! There are many times when people tell me that male trackmakers will produce my songs. I am making my own songs and I don’t understand why male trackmakers have to change them. There are definitely way more male trackmakers than female ones, and I guess the projects are more offered to males too. There is so much more (nervous laugh). One thing I really hated was when I made a song for a commercial project, a male trackmaker said “I’m going to remix this” and he did it without my permission. We had a fight over this because I had never heard of it. Regardless of gender, I think cases like this happen a lot.
As an artist, what are you doing/ what would you do to promote gender equality?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): In Japan, there are female comedians and male comedians. There is a big difference between them and the way they perform. (I don’t know what it is). I put a lot of importance on how I can express funny things and jokes as a woman. Because I’m a woman, there are things like I shouldn’t do weird things, or (I wonder if it’s a little) not to be too funny. But I want to keep making jokes and be weird sometimes without judgment. I would be happy if it leads to gender equality even a little.
Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Zombie-Chang (Meirin): I think a little. Probably within Japan, I don’t think so… [the definition of feminism in Japan is very controversial, and is much less used than in Europe] My friends are very feminist, and there are many people who think about gender equality, but if you think about it in a slightly wider range than normal, I don’t think there are many. However, I think there are a lot of racist aspects in Japan as a whole, so I think I’m on the feminist side anyway.
The interview is done, Meirin rolls a tinny cigarette and tells me about her French learning journey. She has been studying French for 4 years. The French language is prominent in her music work. An hour and a half before Meirin is up on stage. We are out, drinking beers, accompanied by her friend and photographer Naoki Usuda who signed the amazing STRESS de STRESS album’s picture.
When it’s time, Meirin endorses ZOMBIE-CHANG and blows the entire venue in fire. Her energy is beyond all comprehension. She interacts with the public, she sings, and she almost dances with us. The show is not over! She will be playing at the Inrocks Festival Wednesday 14th of December, in la Boule Noire, Paris!
I would like to thank Rebecca Rébillé, who made this interview possible and who helped me with the Japanese transcript. Many thanks to my friend Misato Egashira who proofread my questions and helped me with the translation into English. The Japanese version of the interview will be available soon too! Keep in touch 🎶
Feminist Majo 