BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE, return to the limelight with their first album release since 2021. ‘Back & Forth’ brings forth a collection of deeply personal reflections of their journey and aspirations.
In this exclusive interview, the members share insights into the making of their album, from the emotional depth of singles like ‘In My Head’ to the collaborative process behind powerful tracks like ‘God Mode’. which served as the anthem for the SIGMA SQUAD in MAPPA’s original anime ‘BUCCHIGIRI?!’.
Exploring themes of growth, gratitude, and determination, BALLISTIK BOYZ offer a candid glimpse into their creative evolution and aspirations for the future. Join us as we delve into the diverse influences, creative processes, and heartfelt messages behind their latest musical endeavor.
Congratulations on your new album, ‘Back & Forth’! It’s been two years since your last album release. What are your thoughts?
Ryuta Hidaka: This album is filled with our experiences from the previous albums, and we’ve tried to challenge ourselves this time, so I hope you’ll feel our growth through this album.
Riki Matsui: We’ve been really wanting to release a new album. However, it was difficult for us to make something we were satisfied with, and after a lot of effort, the time finally came for us to put it all together. This album represents the past two years of our feelings and lives, and we’re particular about each and every song.
‘In My Head’, the lead single from your album, has been coined as the most emotional song in your catalogue. Can you share a bit about the inspiration behind this song?
Miku Fukahori: I was inspired by the movies and dramas I’ve seen. I wrote the lyrics with the image of a straight-forward heartbreak song.
Riki Matsui: I was also inspired by various drama movies. For example, Romeo and Juliet, which I included in the lyrics.
‘God Mode’ serves as the anthem for the SIGMA SQUAD in the anime ‘BUCCHIGIRI?!’ How did the collaboration with the anime come about, and what was the process like in creating this powerful song?
Ryusei Kainuma: Originally, we were given images from the anime, and then we came up with the direction for the music by ourselves.
Rikiya Okuda: This song was written by P-CHO and JAY’ED, who are our seniors in EXILE TRIBE, and I think it was great that our BALLISTIC BOYZ vibe and wildness was well matched with the worldview of SIGMA SQUAD! We not only recorded the songs as usual, but also rapped as if we were playing the characters. I remember we had a lot of fun creating the song!
‘N.E.X.T.’ is a song that reflects on the journey towards dreams and the emotions experienced along the way. How does it feel to perform a song that resonates with your personal experiences and aspirations?
Miku Fukahori: To begin with, it’s a song that expresses our gratitude to everyone who supports us, so when I saw fans crying when they heard it, my heart was filled with emotion.
Rikiya Okuda: I’ve been studying about writing lyrics for a long time, so I’m very happy to have been able to give it shape and release it in this way, and I think it’s given me confidence! N.E.X.T. is filled with our thoughts and experiences, so I believe that the lyrics will stick with you!
Your tour schedule for 2024 is packed with shows across Japan. What are you most excited about for these upcoming performances?
Yoshiyuki Kano: Of course, I love meeting everyone at the live concerts, and I’m very much looking forward to eating local cuisine!
Masahiro Sunada: I’m looking forward to touring with a band. We’ve not had a band on our previous live tours, so I’m very much looking forward to finally performing with one.
The album includes live recordings from your 2023 tour. What can fans expect from these live tracks?
Ryuta Hidaka: I hope you enjoy the tangible feeling that only a live performance can give you, which is different from an audio recording. The 2023 tour has become a very memorable tour that has connected us with the fans of BALLY’S and allowed us to show our love and appreciation.
Yoshiyuki Kano: Those who’ve been to this live tour can look back on it with nostalgia and listen to their favorite songs from the concert again! If you weren’t able to attend, you’ll be able to feel what it was like to be there, and you’ll feel as if you were right there in the venue!
With your international performances in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, how do you adapt your performances for audiences across different cultures?
Ryusei Kainuma: When we started going to Southeast Asia, we learned many things, and the direction of the music we wanted to make changed.
I think we were able to make great use of what we learned in Southeast Asia, because we were able to reach our fans in a natural way.
Masahiro Sunada: During the free talk between songs, we tried to use the language of each country, introduce ourselves, and say popular phrases to make the audience happy!
Your music videos often feature intricate choreography and visually stunning scenes. Can you give us a glimpse into the creative process behind your most recent music video ‘In My Head’?
Riki Matsui: This music video was shot in two days: The first day was for the drama scenes, and the second day was for the dance scenes. It went relatively smoothly, but we were particular about the cuts and scenes we used, so editing took a while.
Ryuta Hidaka: We divided the shoot into two days: The first day was for the individual acting scenes, and the second day was for the dance scene with the whole cast. Because they were divided this way, it was easy to give our all to both types of scenes, and I think we were able to create a good music video.
Each member brings unique talents and backgrounds to the group. How do you think this diversity contributes to the dynamic of BALLISTIK BOYZ, both musically and personally?
Miku Fukahori: I’ve always been good at creating things. Now I’m very happy to be able to write songs for the group.
Masahiro Sunada: I think it makes the possibilities endless. And I think that’s what makes us a unique group right now, when there are many boy groups warring for attention.
Your debut album achieved significant success, reaching No. 1 on various charts. How do you approach the pressure of following up such a successful debut with subsequent releases?
Yoshiyuki Kano: There is no doubt that BALLISTIK BOYZ has grown since then, I feel really happy that we’re still able to continue our activities and pursue our dreams after the period of time we spent not able to do much due to COVID! So I don’t feel any pressure at the moment!
Rikiya Okuda: Of course there’s pressure, but more than that, our group’s members are feeling more and more united now. We believe in each other, and I am sure that many people will get to know us through the album and that it will give people a chance to come to our live shows! So, even though we are under pressure, I believe that if the seven of us and BALLY’S support each other, we have nothing to fear!
As a group, you’ve grown tremendously since your debut. What do you think has been the key to your growth and evolution as artists?
Ryusei Kainuma: I think it’s “love”. The more we love each other, the more we look for what we need to do for each other, which will naturally lead to growth. It’s best if you can make love a part of your daily life.
Riki Matsui: Frustration. And the support of the fans.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for BALLISTIK BOYZ in the coming years, both as individual artists and as a group?
Ryuta Hidaka: I’d like to grow bigger as a group and make our dreams come true. To achieve this, I’d like to think about what each of us can do and how we can lead the group, and take steps to achieve this. I hope to contribute to the group through singing, radio, TV, and other things like that.
Masahiro Sunada: As an individual, I hope to take on the challenge of acting, which has been a dream of mine for a long time. As a group, we’d like to go to the next big stage in Japan, and outside of Japan, we’d like to do our best to hold fan meeting tours and solo live tours.
Collaboration seems to be a recurring theme in your work, whether it’s with fellow artists or anime tie-ins. Are there any dream collaborations you’d love to pursue in the future?
Yoshiyuki Kano: As an anime lover, I’d be happy to sing the theme song of an anime, and if it were the theme song of an anime that I watch, I would enjoy watching it even more each week!
Ryusei Kainuma: The other group members and I often talk about the possibility of collaborating with a world-famous DJ.
Lastly, if you could describe ‘Back & Forth’ in just three themes, what would they be, and why?
Miku Fukahori: Challenges, gratitude, and the declaration of a promise. This album is filled with many challenges, gratitude to everyone, and a declaration to go even further!
Riki Matsui: Our current state, goals, and determination. Each song is about how we were feeling in that moment. After two years of accumulating these feelings, we finally made this album. We put our determination on top of that, and this album is the result.
BALLISTIK BOYZ
Back & Forth
Release Date: 21/02/2024
Label: Rhythm Zone / Avex
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
CD: CDJapan
■ ‘In My Head’
Music video: https://youtu.be/bvEOjACFWi0?si=H_c0ualo8Y8EChlK
Download and streaming links: https://ballistikboyz.lnk.to/back_and_forth
■ ‘God Mode’
Download and streaming links: https://ballistikboyz.lnk.to/God_Mode
■ ‘BUCCHIGIRI?!’ SIGUMA SQUAD special video
https://youtu.be/jGbPVTL7rww
■ ‘N.E.X.T.’
Download and streaming links: https://ballistikboyz.lnk.to/N.E.X.T.
Lyric video: https://youtu.be/1epskRG-TSk
■ ‘All I Ever Wanted feat. GULF KANAWUT’
Download and streaming links: https://ldh.lnk.to/All_I_Ever_Wanted
Music video: https://youtu.be/UmPTohDjRpI?si
■ ‘Drop Dead feat. TRINITY’
Download and streaming links: https://ldh.lnk.to/Drop_Dead_feat_TRINITY
Music video: https://youtu.be/dlKB0wVdc9k?si
■ BALLISTIK BOYZ links
Official website: https://m.tribe-m.jp/Artist/index/195
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOB1X12CH6XJpgzOXZ2jqMw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ballistik.boyz.official
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ballistik_fext
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballistik_fext
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ballistikboyz.official