Moi Dix Mois
Is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, the leader and guitarist of the Japanese band Malice Mizer.
In March, 2002, approximately three months after Malice Mizer announced their indefinite hiatus, Mana announced the formation of his solo project, Moi dix Mois. Their first single, "Dialogue Symphonie", was released in October of that year. Apart from playing guitar, Mana composes all of Moi dix Mois' music, writes the lyrics, arranges, produces, designs the stage costumes and acts as overall artistic director. In contrast to Mana's previous bands, Moi dix Mois is explicitly billed as Mana's solo project; while the project members have input during the performance and recording of the music, Mana essentially determines the band's artistic direction on his own. All of Moi dix Mois' music is released via Mana's own independent record label, Midi:Nette.
Almost nothing is known about the other project members prior to their joining Moi dix Mois, except that K was a guitarist with Grand Zero under the name Takeru (建, Takeru?) and new drummer Hayato was formerly in the bands Oxide[1] and Blüe. Former drummer Tohru used to be a member of Jils. The band's name, which literally translates from French as "my ten months", has special meaning to Mana. "Moi" stands for his debut as a solo artist; "Dix" stands for the number ten and while one symbolizes the beginning of something, zero means something similar to "eternity"; "dix mois", again, means "ten months", the average time a baby grows inside its mother's womb before being born (the Japanese traditionally count gestation in lunar months).
Moi dix Mois played their first concerts outside Japan in March 2005 in Munich, Germany and Paris, France as part of their Invite to Immorality Tour. After the tour's final engagement on April 24, 2005 in Tokyo, singer Juka left the band.
A new stage of the band began on March 1, 2006, when they released the album, Beyond the Gate. This featured a new vocalist named Seth. Before the album was released, Mana indicated that the sound would mean the beginning of a renewed direction for the band, possibly more integrated towards electronic music. After the announcement of the Beyond the Gate release was made, Seth's identity was revealed as the new vocalist, and it was announced that Kazuno (bass) and Tohru (drums) were also leaving the group. In June 2006, Moi dix Mois headlined the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, Germany. They will then return to touring in Japan; a monthly series of live concerts is scheduled for the autumn.
A prospective 5-city tour in the United States was scheduled for July 2006, but cancelled due to the band citing "differences in policies" with the tour organizer. However, Mana did make a U.S. appearance at the 2006 Anime Expo in Anaheim, CA on July 1st, where he announced that Moi dix Mois is planning to tour America sometime "within the calendar year".[citation needed]
This US tour did not materialize in 2006, but fans are still awaiting any news about possible shows in 2007.
DIXANADU 28.03.07
Mana is back with the first full-length new album from Moi dix Mois in two years! The title "DIXANADU" is a combination of the words "Dix" and "Xanadu," and represents the pinacle of life for Mana, the Moi dix Mois utopia. This release commemorates the fifth anniversary of the band, bringing your favorite visual act back to their dramatic, symphonic, and aggressive, and melodic roots. Includes 12 tracks total (subject to change).
Tracklisting
1. dispell bound
2. Angleica
3. Metaphysical
4. exclude
5. Last Temptation
6. Immortal Madness
7. Neo Pessimist
8. Xanadu
9. A Lapis Night's Dream
10. Lamentful Miss
11. Lilac of Damnation
12. Sacred lake.