Q&A: Female Metal Band Hanabie Rocks Lollapalooza with Signature Harajuku-Core Style
MAKING A DAZZLING LOLLAPALOOZA DEBUT – Tokyo-based all-female nu metalcore band Hanabie took the T-Mobile stage by storm on Sunday, August 4, during their first ever performance at Lollapalooza. Known for their innovative blend of ferocious metalcore and the vibrant, eye-catching aesthetics of Harajuku fashion — a style they’ve coined as “Harajuku-core” — Hanabie showcased why they are one of Japan’s most exciting bands.
Hanabie unleashed an unrelenting sonic assault, characterized by crushing beatdowns, explosive riffs and guttural vocals that immediately energized the crowd. The raw power of their performance was matched by their striking visual presentation, where pastel hues and punk-inspired ensembles contrasted with the aggression of their music, creating a dynamic that was both intense and playful.
The setlist featured tracks from their latest record, Reborn Superstar!, a project that has been making waves for its bold fusion of genres and unapologetic embrace of both brutal and kawaii elements. Songs like “TOUSOU” and “NEET GAME” embraced this dichotomy, with the band seamlessly shifting from bone-crushing breakdowns to melodic, almost pop-like interludes, all while maintaining a high-octane energy that kept the audience engaged from start to finish.
Lead vocalist Yukina's commanding stage presence was a highlight of the performance, her powerful growls and screams cutting through the air, while Matsuri (guitar), Hettsu (bass), and Chika (drums) delivered a tight, cohesive sound that anchored the set. The crowd's response was nothing short of electric, with mosh pits forming early and fans echoing the band’s energy back to them, proving that Hanabie's music transcends language barriers.
What sets Hanabie apart is their ability to merge the intensity of metalcore with the whimsical and colorful world of Harajuku fashion, creating a performance that’s as visually engaging as it is sonically punishing.
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, you describe your sound as “Harajuku-core.” What does this genre mean to you and the atmosphere or emotional space you aim to create for your listeners?
HANABIE: Harajuku-core was actually first named by one of our international fans, so they started saying Hanabie is Harajuku-core. We really, really like how it sounded. Harajuku is an area in Tokyo where there’s freedom of fashion, and everything from how you dress, what you like and what you listen to. Everything's free. Harajuku is the freedom to do anything, whatever you want, whatever you like, and we think that’s an integral part of our genre. We're not just one certain genre. We're free to do whatever we like.
LUNA: You recently released your single “GIRL’S TALK” and this is one of your first releases since your Reborn Superstar! record last year. What can fans expect from this new era of music?
HANABIE: For “GIRL’S TALK,” this was a different song from what we usually do. We wanted to make an adult ambient song. We usually have pop influenced, chaotic, very fun, energetic songs, but we wanted to change it and experiment with the new releases. This was the perfect timing to do that. Even in the music videos, you can sense there's a difference. You have us in a bar, in the limousine hanging out and having that image for our songs. We also reflect this in our setlist, because all of our songs are very hype, energetic and very fun. We thought maybe a cool, adult ambient song would fit and stand out in our setlist, so it makes it a little different from before.
Photography Credit: Maxamillion Polo
LUNA: You also released your single “Metamorphose” and I love the high energy. What is the inspiration behind the single and I would love to hear anything else you would like to say about it.
HANABIE: This theme is very straightforward. It's about, what if Hanabie were to make a theme song for a hero anime. We wanted to be superheroes at some point in our lives, and it would be fun to have some kind of superpower, so imagining that and reclaiming our superpower. The theme is very pop influenced and light, but the sound itself is one of the heaviest we have. It’s interesting for the fans to listen to the lyrics, which are very fun and pop, but then the sound is so heavy and contrasting.
LUNA: What were some highlights or memorable moments from your Lollapalooza performance?
HANABIE: It’s always a great time on stage together, especially at our Lolla aftershow at Reggie’s.
LUNA: How do you stay connected with your fans during big events like Lollapalooza?
HANABIE: We try to go as far as we can on the stage to meet all the fans from side-to-side and say hi and see their faces. Also, for the song, “Be the GAL,” there's a part where we sit down and really involve the audience.
LUNA: Do you have any specific pre-show rituals or routines that help you prepare for a big performance like Lollapalooza?
HANABIE: For pre-show, we tap each other on the back.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would love to share with Luna?
HANABIE: We are in our second year after our debut record. Last year was our first time traveling to the U.S., Europe and around Asia, so it was a completely new experience and atmosphere. Our second year after releasing our record, we already did the U.S. and European tour, and we would see familiar faces and everyone would go up to us and say that they saw us on tour last year. We’re really happy to be able to meet older fans and new fans. Even at Lollapalooza, we saw familiar faces and we’re really happy. In this second year of our career, we play larger venues now and we have more fans seeing us play live. We really, really appreciate the fact that they're all coming back to see us. And for the rest of the year, we have several Japanese gigs and tours and are heading out to international festivals and tours again. It’s been such a beautiful year and we’re excited for what’s to come!
