Kyo (musician)

Kyo
Kyo at Maquinaria Festival in 2009
Background information
Born	(1976-02-16) February 16, 1976
Origin	Kyoto, Japan
Genres	Death metal, experimental metal, nu metal, rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, record producer, poet
Instruments	Vocals
Associated acts	Dir en grey, Sukekiyo, La:Sadie's, Masquerade, Visun
Website	Official website

Kyo (京, Kyō, born February 16, 1976^[1]) is a Japanese musician, poet and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the vocalist of the metal band Dir en grey. He has been with the band since its inception in 1997 and was formerly in La:Sadie's. Kyo was inspired to become a musician when he saw a picture of Buck-Tick vocalist Atsushi Sakurai on the desk of a junior high school classmate.^[2]

While he has only composed a handful of Dir en grey's songs (for example, "The Domestic Fucker Family" and "Hades"), Kyo is responsible for all the lyrics, which usually have negative implications and touch on a variety of dark, sometimes taboo, subjects, such as sexual obsessions ("Zomboid"), abuse ("Berry"), and mass media ("Mr. Newsman"). Several songs deal with specifically Japanese issues, such as the country's casual attitude towards abortion ("Mazohyst of Decadence" and "Obscure") and its conformity-oriented society ("Children"). Others deal with more traditional subject matter such as personal feelings, emotions, and lost love ("Undecided", "Taiyou no Ao", "Mushi").

The vocabulary used ranges from vulgar to exalted, with wordplay and double entendres occurring frequently. For example, the title of the song "Mitsu to Tsuba", which is about rape, means "Honey and Saliva", but is written with the kanji inverted, suggesting reading them with an inverted pronunciation - "Tsumi to Batsu" - which would translate to "Crime and Punishment", a more appropriate title.^[3]

Kyo is well known in the heavy metal scene as one of the most versatile vocalists currently active. His singing alone is impressive (as showcased in songs such as "The Pledge", "Glass Skin", and "Ruten no Tou"), however this is not where his strength as a metal vocalist lies. He has throughout his career as Dir en grey's vocalist displayed screamed vocals ("Agitated Screams of Maggots", and "Clever Sleazoid"), death growls ("Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami"), and black metal-like "shrieks" ("Different Sense"). In 2010, he toured with Apocalyptica performing their song "Bring Them To Light", which originally featured Joe Duplantier on vocals. During these performances he would show off his range by delivering high pitched screams after the growled verses, and then singing the chorus in a falsetto voice.

His stage performances became known for their shock elements such as full-body makeup resembling heavy burns, fake vomit of varying color and consistency, and various acts of self-mutilation. The authenticity of the latter is debated, given how frequent certain practices occur, sometimes firmly in place within a tour's usual set-list. For example, Kyo would regularly engage in fish-hooking during the performance of "Kodoku ni Shisu, Yueni Kodoku" throughout the "It Withers and Withers" and "Inward Scream" tours.^[4] However, in recent "Uroboros-era" performances he has toned down this violent stage persona.

Throughout his career, Kyo has been hospitalized multiple times: once in 2000, due to hearing problems (remaining partially deaf in his left ear) and again in 2006 and 2009 with edema of larynx (inflamed vocal cords). In late 2011 to early 2012, Kyo had yet another problem with his throat and vocal chords. After being diagnosed with vocal nodule dysphonia,^[5] Dir en Grey was forced to pull out of the "Still Reckless" tour which was set to begin in March 2012.^[6] Although Kyo had been diagnosed and hospitalized many times, this time he faced the possibility of surgery. In an interview, Kyo stated that his vocal polyps were treated with medication.^[7] Right after the May 16th show in Shinkiba Studio Coast, he was again hospitalized with tonsillitis.^[8]

The band later announced a tour for the first time since their long hiatus due to Kyo's deteriorating health entitled "In Situ". It begins in October 10 and later ends in December 25th in the Tokyo International Hall venue.

In 2013, Kyo started his first solo project, Sukekiyo. The band opened the first show for Sugizo's tour Thrive to Realize, and performed the next day for the Countdown Japan 13/14 festival.^[9]

Bibliography

Kyo has released two volumes of poetry, published through Media Factory. Both books are accompanied by short bonus CDs, containing the only solo music he has released to date. In 2013, Kyo launched a new website and released two collections of photography, "Shikkaku," which features Kyo as the subject^[10] and "For the Human Race," which features photography by Kyo himself.^[11]

References

External links

• Official website