ATARASHII GAKKO! (新しい学校のリーダーズ) is taking the world by storm with their spunky performances and energetic stages! After a successful stop for their first world tour, the quarter is back in Malaysia – this time performing alongside Creepy Nuts and Tatsuya Kitani at the highly-anticipated “CENTRAL MU
Before the girls take the stage at Zepp Kuala Lumpur on 26th April 2025 (Saturday), Hype Malaysia had the opportunity to speak to them to hear what they have to share about their upcoming show. Besides that, ATARASHII GAKKO! also talked about their Malaysian fans, what they want to do when they’re back in KL, and what they have planned for the future. Keep on reading to find out:
1. Is this the first time you’ve met the other acts from the “CENTRAL MU
We’ve met Kitani-san before, but this will be our first time sharing the same stage! We once saw him dancing, and it was so cool—we’d love to dance together next time! As for Creepy Nuts, we’ve met each other a few times and performed at the same festivals, but this will be our first proper collaboration. When we think of Creepy Nuts, we immediately think of their incredible freestyle rap and DJ skills! We’ve been watching their live performances since six or seven years ago, so we’re really looking forward to this!
2. What are your thoughts about performing at this joint concert with Tatsuya Kitani and Creepy Nuts?
It’s like a crazy musical buffet! Everyone is in completely different genres, and it’s interesting to see how each brings their own “flavor” to the stage. We love how unpredictable the lineup is. Hip-hop, rock, and whatever-we-are (laughs)—it’s going to be an explosive night!
3. What are you looking forward to the most in Malaysia?
Last time, we didn’t have much time to stay, so we couldn’t try a lot of Malaysian food. This time, we definitely want to enjoy it as much as we can! We’re also excited to see the fans who have been waiting for us in Malaysia, as well as meeting the Japanese people living here. And of course, we’re looking forward to connecting with new audiences too!
4. Can you share a teaser for your performance? What do you have prepared for fans?
Do expect a full-body workout! We’ll be bringing the wildest, most high-energy performance that will make you laugh, sweat, and maybe even wonder if this is really happening!?
5. Do you have any upcoming projects that you are excited to release? Can you share more about it?
We’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary as a group this July! We’re preparing a lot of exciting things for it. There are plenty of plans now in progress, so be sure to keep an eye out for each announcement!
6. At festivals, each artist is given a specific duration for their set. How do you choose the songs you want to perform within the given timeframe?
It’s like putting together a rollercoaster ride! The crazy highs, unexpected twists, and moments where you can just take a deep breath before diving back in, these are the balance we took into consideration when putting everything together. Above all, what matters most to us is keeping the crowd hyped up and moving throughout the show!
7. This is your second show in Malaysia. What do you remember the most about the last visit?
What stood out the most was seeing so many fans dressed like us, wearing outfits inspired by our costumes, or styling our merch in their own unique way! Also, the energy from the crowd was incredible—they were so enthusiastic and made everything feel even hotter!
8. Did you manage to try any Malaysian food during your last visit? What was your favorite?
We didn’t get to try much last time, so this time, we definitely will! We’re really looking forward to having nasi goreng!
9. You recently collaborated with AURORA. Can you share your experience working with her?
She’s the artist from the farthest country we’ve ever collaborated with, so being able to stand on the same stage and connect through music despite the distance was such a beautiful experience. The song itself was also a new genre for us, and it felt like it expanded our world. Aurora is like a fairy, like an angel—and she’s incredibly smart in the way she thinks and carries herself!
10. You’ve worked with many artists, both from Japan and internationally, but do you have a dream collaboration?
There are so many! But we’ll leave it to the flow of the universe to see what kind of encounters await us. We’d love to collaborate with artists from different countries, expand our world, and enjoy the magic of creative chemistry!
11. The lyrics for your single “Change” are quite straightforward, and the music video appears to have a theme of reflection, as it involves mirrors. Could you walk us through the creative process behind the song and video?
The song is about growth, how we evolve, but at the core, we’re still us. The mirrors in the music video represent that inner dialogue, where you’re facing different versions of yourself. It’s a little introspective but still fun and quirky, just like us!
One of the themes of “Change” is our journey of constantly moving forward and evolving. The chorus choreography, which looks like riding a horse, was created with the idea of facing ourselves while transforming negative emotions into positive energy. So be sure to pay attention to the choreography as well!
12. Is there a genre of music or concept that you’d like to explore in the future?
Of course! We want to challenge ourselves with different genres and concepts, blending them into ATARASHII GAKKO!’s unique style and enjoying the creative chemistry that comes from it!
ATARASHII GAKKO! will perform at the “CENTRAL MU
