Hey, everyone, Joseph here! I was able to do my very first Kaiju United Interview thanks to Jacob! I had the amazing chance to catch up with the artist Map and the Bright Humans. He is a musician that currently performs mostly dance pop, but branches out to other genres frequently! Because this is Kaiju United, though, we recognized him for currently having a few cover tracks in relation to tokusatsu; one of my favorites being “Sacred Springs”, also known as one of the Mothra hymns.
I’d also like to mention that I’ll be using this interview for a future college project! So a big thank you to my crew who helped out with asking the questions and putting the equipment together.
Anyways, without further ado, here’s the interview:
Interviewer – Joseph & Jeff (Bold)
Interviewee – Map and the Bright Humans (italics)
So, let’s start with some rapid fire questions!
Who is your favorite kaiju?
Mothra
What is your favorite Kaiju Film?
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Who is your favorite Kaiju Film Composer?
Probably Masaru Sato, because I think he is underrated and I also think that he’s the most eclectic composer of the entire franchise.
Awesome! And lastly, what is your favorite Toku theme song?
Right now, I’m really vibing to the Gridman OP. I think it’s also because I’m starting to get into that now. It’s weird, because it came out in the 90s but it has a very kind of 80s Metal vibe.
Tell us a brief backstory on your music journey. What got you into music?
Godzilla movies! If i’m being quite honest. Ever since I was a kid I was really into Godzilla and one of the things that I really kind of connected to was the music, and so when I was younger I used to tape record the different vocal songs and the different scores that I liked and made my own little mix tape. That was before I got my first CD, and so it’s been with me ever since. Fast forward to now, back in 2020, when COVID happened, I was going crazy inside my house like everyone else. I picked up my phone and started playing with GarageBand and realizing “Oh my gosh I can make my music that I always wanted to make on my phone! And this is only the beginning!”. So since 2020 I’ve been making my own music and now I’m finally ready to go out and start performing and really start sharing my music with everybody
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Some of my favorite musicians that really influenced me are the symphonic band Nightwish from Finland. They really taught me how to mix different genres in a very unique way and deliver something that’s just massive and cinematic, it takes you on a ride from beginning to end. Also the J-Pop band Perfume I really like. They also kind of attack their genre in a very unique way, with their producer and end up with this amazing style of dance music. And also I would have to say Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac! Definitely taught me how to write songs, she writes lyrics like she does poetry, just like me. That kind of all fuses together into what I have now
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
The way I would describe my music is very open ended, I really draw from what I’m feeling at the time or what ideas I’m trying to explore or get out. At the end, as long as I’m singing on key, and if it has a groove or beat, then I feel that did my job. From idea to end result.
What is your creative/songwriting process like?
My songwriting process starts with the idea that I’m trying to get out of my head. For example: if I just really want to go to a crazy neon lit rave and hear someone sing very loudly, and deliver a vibe, and I know it doesn’t exist. I try to find it, yet I can’t, then I basically try and need to fill that hole within myself to make that INTO something. That idea I had, by the end, happens. Whatever ingredients are thrown in, that’s what it is and I just hope for the best. If i’m happy with it and I’m dancing, that’s all that matters.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Right now, i’m really surfing the renaissance Beyonce wave, very gladly. I think the dream would be her, even though she would NEVER EVER choose me. But I think that would be the ultimate dream. But realistically I would probably collaborate with Lady Gaga, she’s my heart and soul, and I think she approaches pop music in a very interesting way. I’m there for it.
How do you balance being a musical artist and your personal life?
I think finding balance in making music is something that is accidental. I think I’m in this stage where I’m still finding balance between my work and creative life. I’m realizing how much it really costs to promote yourself, get yourself out there, and invest in yourself. That seems to be the key for me right now. What’s working with me is realizing the value of a dollar, the value of my time, and the value of my creative efforts. Now that I can balance them all, it’s easier to go about making a dream happen.
Have you ever performed live?
I grew up singing in a church, and as I got older I really loved to perform. I started in elementary school doing musicals and moved on to high school/college age. I have made 2 public performances as Map and the Bright Humans, so far. Which is only the beginning, and I hope to do more in the near future.
What is the next piece that you’re working on?
It’s actually a mini-single that’s composed of two themes from the Godzilla franchise. Both from two different films featuring the Kaiju Mothra, one of them is an instrumental piece from GMK, and then the second half is a vocal cover of the Mothra theme.
Who introduced you to Godzilla?
It happened accidentally. I remember being on my parents bed and there was a TV and on that TvWwas this giant scary dragon dinosaur monster thing that terrified me. I ran behind my father screaming “No no no turn it off!” but the next second I was like “No no no no turn it back on!” Since then, I have been in love. I guess that has stuck with me and has been the most consistent thing about my life.
What does Godzilla mean to you?
Honestly, Godzilla means everything to me, I may not have shelves and shelves of stuff, but when I look back, it really was the foundation of everything in my life. It was the foundation of learning about different cultures that were different from mine that existed out there. It was beginning to learn about people and languages and food and others that were completely different from mine. But artistically, it was the foundation of mine, because it was the first music that came out of my lips that wasn’t a church song or wasn’t a song that my parents taught me. It was the first time I was listening to the background music of a movie and appreciating the themes, appreciating how they tied together with the visuals. Just everything about it really, the foundation of everything.
What do you think about the music industry today?
It’s very interesting. It rapidly changed with TikTok and now I just learned to accept but reject it at the same time. Especially when you’re trying to find your creative voice, because you realize that what’s vibing with everybody may not be what’s vibing with you and that disconnect is when you’ll find your original style and organically express yourself.
One thing to say for those who are aspiring to be musicians?
To just do it! Like Nike says. Whatever mistakes you’re gonna make, you’d rather make them early on in the beginning. If those mistakes bring great things, that’s even better! I found that some of my favorite things I come up with are always by accident. But no one taught me how to make my own music, no one taught me how to make my own beats. I did it because I wanted to, it was instinctual and just did it. Fast forward a couple years later and I feel that I have a bit more of a mastering to it. Whatever comes natural is your natural art.
What is one message you would give to your supporters?
Just thank you so much! My music is my light. It helps me get through the day, the process of making it, the emotions that go behind it, are very cathartic for me. At the end of the day I’m just grateful and thankful that anyone out there has a couple minutes to listen to my music. I don’t do it to be known, I’m just grateful there are so many people out there with the pretension to maybe come across and mean something to them.
Amazing… Thank you very much!
Thank you!
