PETALING JAYA, May 12 — Hideto Takarai or Hyde is no stranger to fans of Japanese rock here but they will be in for a very different kind of concert when he takes the stage tonight in Kuala Lumpur.
The 49-year-old vocalist who rose to fame through his band L’Arc-en-Ciel and Vamps promised it will be a very intimate affair at the MCA Hall tonight.
“During other rock concerts you stand, jump, and enjoy yourself to the music, but this time around it’s to a seated audience and I want my fans to close their eyes and enjoy the music in a very different way.
“I want you guys to imagine being transported into a cold environment while listening to my voice,” he said.
With four solo albums and eight singles to his name he is widely considered as one of Japan’s biggest influences in their rock scene dubbed as “J-rock.”
Hyde hopes he manages to transmit the right message through his acoustic set to the thousands of fans expected to pack the venue.
“The concert is a story of my life. How I’ve made it as an artist and the changes that has occurred throughout the times.”
This is his first show in Malaysia and his only South-east Asian stop for his acoustic tour.
What sets Hyde apart from several other rock stars is the way he presents himself on stage — a charming presence and a fashion geek.
“Image is important to me. I’m not like your other rock stars who pull on a tee and a pair of jeans. I want to give my fans more.”
Despite being 49 years old, Hyde said he still has much more to offer to the fans.
“Not much has changed in my music style. I still write songs but with a very different motivation and I’m still continuing to grow.
“Once I’m done with this tour, I just want to sit by the beach and write more songs,” he said.
Backed by an ensemble of strings and piano, he’ll be singing his solo numbers along with acoustic versions of songs with his band L’Arc-en-Ciel and Vamps.
Tickets are still available for the Hyde Acoustic Concert Tour 2018 Asia Live in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
They are priced at RM508, RM338 and RM168 and available from ticketcharge.com.my, or call 03-9222 8811 (Kuala Lumpur) and 04-645 9811 (Penang). For more information, visit toyboxprojects.com/hyde-2018 or facebook.com/ToyboxProjects.
