{"id":99080,"date":"2026-07-26T15:20:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avo-magazine.com\/?p=99080"},"modified":"2026-07-26T15:20:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:20:06","slug":"interview-a-chat-with-mika-about-the-past-present-and-future-of-mikabomb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avo-magazine.com\/en\/2026\/07\/interview-a-chat-with-mika-about-the-past-present-and-future-of-mikabomb\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: A chat with Mika about the past, present and future of MIKABOMB"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201cpioneer\u201d is an overused term in music, but when it comes to MIKABOMB\u2019s founder and lead vocalist Mika Handa, it is perfectly apt. When she arrived in the United Kingdom in 1998 with the intention of forming a band, Japanese artists were the exception rather than the rule, and the do-it-yourself networks that Mika forged paved the way for others to follow. Amongst the triumph of signing to the Beastie Boys\u2019 fledgling record label and sharing stages with the likes of At The Drive-In, there was also tragedy in the life-threatening illness that afflicted former drummer Ergi Ahmed. However, 2026 finds the band in ruddy health, with the recent reissue of their debut album, The Fake Fake Sound Of Mikabomb<\/em>,\u00a0and a host of live dates planned. Therefore now seemed like a great time to speak to Mika about the band\u2019s past and their hopes for the future.<\/p>\n

AVO Magazine: First things first. Can you tell us about your early forays into music in Japan? What music and artists inspired you to pick up a guitar to play and write music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mika: I liked J-pop when I was little, but I was inspired by British and American bands when I was 10 years old. I used to draw a lot of Rolling Stones pictures and listened to the Beatles and the Monkees! Later on, I got into the CBGB music scene, including bands such as the Ramones, the Stooges, and Blondie, and then became interested in British music. And I decided to move to London! I used to see Blur, Pulp, and Supergrass, and many other indie bands.<\/p>\n

AVO Magazine: In 1998 you came to London with the intention of starting a band. What made you travel to London, rather than forming a band in your native Japan? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Mika: I liked British indie music; that\u2019s why I moved to England. I went to lots of gigs in London – probably a few times a week. At that point, I wasn’t really thinking about playing in a band. Then I realised I could do it too, so I formed a band.<\/p>\n

AVO Magazine: Was it easy or hard assembling a band in London? How did the initial line-up come together? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Mika: Incredibly difficult. There were a lot of Japanese students living in London, but in the end, they all went back to Japan. Because of that, I was constantly recruiting new band members. The initial line-up came together through word of mouth and an ad at the Japan Centre.<\/p>\n