"We keep talking about our new chapter": BAND-MAID opens up on their latest song "Ready to Rock" and upcoming tour

A few weeks ago, all-female Japanese rock band Band-Maid released their latest digital single titled, Ready to Rock. The track is used as the opening theme for the Japanese TV anime Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty. In a recent interview with Billboard Japan, the girl band shared the process behind working on the song and their inspiration, as well as other details.

Band-Maid is a five-woman group which includes the lead singer, Saiki Atsumi, lead guitarist Kanami Tōno, bassist Misa, guitarist/singer Miku Kobata, and drummer Akane Hirose. The band was formed in 2013 and is known for its hard rock, heavy metal, and pop rock songs.

During the interview, Band-Maid was asked about what the main theme of their upcoming tour was. The lead singer, Saiki Atsumi, went ahead to answer by saying:

"...last September we released our first new album in three years, "Epic Narratives", so I want to develop that album further through the tour. We keep talking about our new chapter, and we’re going to be playing across the country, so I want everyone to realize that this isn’t going to be like our past tours."

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More details from BAND-MAID's interview with Billboard Japan regarding their new digital single, Ready to Rock, and their upcoming tour

Band-Maid's newest song Ready to Rock is used as the opening song for the anime Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty. The main plot of the anime also follows a girl who discovers her love for rock with another schoolmate. This is something similar to Band-Maid's image, and the interviewer asked the girls what made them work on the song. Lead guitarist Kanami answered:

"We were approached about performing the opening theme, so we started out by all reading the original comic, and then I started writing the music... When I read the original manga, my mental image was one of drums and guitars crashing against each other and climbing to new heights. I wanted our song to express that, so I started the song out with this frenzied drumming and guitar playing."

Another member of the band, Saiki Atsumi, the lead singer, also answered the question by saying:

"They extended the offer to us because they knew what we were like. They said "BAND-MAID is perfect for Rock Is…," which was great to hear. So the final song ended up being very true to BAND-MAID."

The anime included two main characters: Lilisa Suzunomiya, who played the guitar, and Otoha Kurogane, who played drums. Band-Maid's drummer had something to say while recording the song. Akane Hirose said:

"I was totally influenced by Otoha. She’s an unparalleled drummer, and I wasn’t about to let her beat me, so I drew on all my drumming technique. It was the technically hardest song we’ve ever done. I just can’t emphasize that enough," the drummer said while laughing.

Because the group included two guitarists and a bassist, they had to balance out the music so it would not go haywire. Billboard Japan asked Misa, the bassist, about how she contributed to the song. The bassist explained:

"The guitar and drums go wild, so I realized that if the bass went wild, too, then the whole thing would just fall apart. Instead of doing a really intricate bass line, I chose to only have the bass come out in front once the guitar and drums had settled down a bit."

The girls also compared some of the characters from the anime to the band members. Saiki expressed:

"When I read the manga, I thought the drummer, Otoha, was a lot like AKANE, and the bassist, Tamaki, was a lot like MISA. But above all, the guitarist, Lilisa, was just like KANAMI."

Furthermore, the interviewer asked Saiki (lead singer) about the thought process that went into writing Ready to Rock. The singer answered:

"Reading the original manga, there were so many things that resonated with BAND-MAID, like the gap between how they looked and the music and they played, or the pressure that people around them placed because they were expected to be refined ladies. It reminded me of how we were when we started out," Saiki mused.

She also touched on the topic that Band-Maid's aesthetics may not match the genre of songs they are making. She explained:

"Back then, our costumes weren’t as distinctive as they are now, and there were people who just couldn’t accept the gap between how we looked and the music we played... When I wrote the lyrics, it was with this idea of 'Don’t give up, just believe in yourself.'"

Saiki also compared the spirit of Ready to Rock with Lilisa, the main character from Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty. She elaborated:

"Lilisa’s way of thinking also shares a lot in common with BAND-MAID’s direction. That passion burning inside, that hidden fighting spirit, is the same as ours, so it really resonated with me. The lyrics reflect how you might not show it on the outside, but you’re fired up inside," the lead singer concluded.

The girls were also asked to express their thoughts about their overseas fans and the upcoming tour. Miku Kobato said:

"We’ve announced our tour schedule for May to August, which is going to overlap with the summer, so how about coming to Japan and traveling with BAND-MAID, po?" the guitarist said cheerfully.

Kanami, the lead guitarist, also added by saying:

"We always have a lot of overseas fans in the audience, and I just want to express my deep thanks."

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Band-Maid has channelled the spirit of the Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty's characters in their latest digital single, Ready to Rock. Their connection to the characters adds more depth to the track, making it a true extension of their own identity. Band-Maid's tour is set to start from May 10, 2025, in Tokyo. Some of the cities included in the tour are Hiroshima, Osaka, Okayama, Niigata, Shizuoka, Aichi, Hokkaido, and more. For more information about the tour dates and tickets, you can head over to the official website.