“Noctyx”: The Place of Belonging That Changed Their Lives

— First and foremost, congratulations on your 4th debut anniversary! How have these past few years been for you all, personally? Looking back to when you debuted, in what ways do you feel you've grown or changed?

Alban Knox (hereafter, Alban): For me, I would say the biggest change in the past four years is that I've become comfortable with the thought of being uncomfortable. If there's a new challenge, a new thing I have to do or learn, I used to be very scared, but now I'm not as intimidated to face things head-on. That's the biggest thing that has changed in the past four years.

Sonny Brisko (hereafter, Sonny): For me, the whole four years has been an amazing experience—maybe the best time of my life, really. I think I have grown, but I've also mellowed out a little bit in other ways. In that sense, that's a different type of growth. I've learned to relax a little bit because I was very, very anxious in my first year or so after debuting. But over time, I've grown into my own skin a little bit more, and thanks to my fellow Noctyx members, I've become a bit more confident.

Alban: Proud of you.

Sonny: It's been an honor to work alongside everyone here.

Uki Violeta (hereafter, Uki): For me, it's kind of the same thing Sonny was saying: it has been probably the best few years of my life, but also the most trying. I would say I have learned a lot about myself in the past four years that we've been here. I always believe that you never stop growing, and spending time with Noctyx has allowed me to continue to grow. I think if I had continued wherever I was before, I wouldn't have grown as much as I have here. I definitely don't regret anything and am happy to have spent this time with Noctyx to grow and change into who we are now after everything we've been through.

— It sounds like being together has given each of you a new way to approach how you feel about both yourselves and the things you’re doing.

Sonny: Yeah, I often think about how we all started from the same place. I see the other members as a point of reference for how far I've come and how far they've come—the separate journeys we've traveled along the way, but also together at the same time.

Alban: I feel like, especially toward the beginning, we were able to grow as much as we did together because we always knew when to pick each other up.

Uki: Agreed. We've all come from a similar place, like Sonny said. I remember seeing comments from our fans about how Noctyx all came into this with the same mindset of it being our last chance at doing something like this and being in this type of industry. So, I feel like we understand each other a lot, and it really helped propel things forward from the beginning.

Sonny: I think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this opportunity changed my life, maybe even saved my life, and I think the others can relate with that.

Alban: Yeah, I think I can also say the same thing.

“I’m Proud of How Far You’ve Come”: A Level of Mutual Respect Between Them Like No Other

— In regards to the other two members' activities, were there any memorable moments or changes you've noticed over the past four years? And now that you've reached this fourth-anniversary milestone, is there anything you would like to say or convey to them?

Alban: Starting from Sonny, I think the most memorable moment for me was watching his first 3D debut stream. I related it back to his debut video that portrayed himself, and watching the original debut and then the 3D debut, I could see how much he had come out of his shell and evolved. He became more secure in himself, if that makes sense. I was really proud to see that growth, especially because I know you were quite shy at the beginning. I was really, really proud to watch you shining on the 3D stage with everyone.

Sonny: All right. Well, thanks, man. I feel that.

Alban: Of course. And then for Uki, the biggest thing for me that really made my jaw drop was watching Uki perform in Noctyx's 3D concert. Uki had this confidence from the beginning, but it really became hardened as time has passed in the last four years. I feel like it truly shines through in Uki’s performances. The most recent one that comes to mind is the Noctyx concert (【3D CONCERT】A Night with Noctyx). I still think back and remember my jaw dropping watching Uki's solo and being completely blown away.

Uki: Oh my god, thanks.

Sonny: For myself, one thing in particular that comes to mind is during the practice period for the NIJISANJI EN AR LIVE “COLORS”. The three of us spent a lot of time together physically, without breaks, working toward the one goal of practicing the songs and dances for an extended period of time. I think that was an important time for bonding and growth for all three of us.

Sonny: I think you've both grown a lot in terms of being more comfortable, but you’ve also honed your skills as entertainers so much since we've debuted. Alban, you didn't have much musical experience when we started, but these days you’re so active—making covers and performing—and I feel like you've gained a lot of skills and confidence in that. I’m really proud of you.

And Uki as well, I feel like you've always been extremely talented, but you've become even more professional. I think you've gained more confidence, but it’s more like you just seem so effortless. You dance perfectly with hardly any practice. It's so hard for me to keep up with you. I'm very proud of how far you've both come. Uki, I also feel like you’ve settled more into streaming so consistently and comfortably. I'm proud, but I almost wish I could have as much motivation as you to keep going so hard all the time.

Uki: When I think about what I would like to say or convey to Noctyx… Being with Noctyx and being a part of it has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I feel like words can’t really express what I would like to convey to them.

Individually, rather than specific moments, I can say that the things they both have to offer are so much, and I hope that people can see that. Alban is one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met. He does so much behind the scenes that people don’t see, and the amount of work and effort he puts into things—and also being able to see it when we spend all that time together in person—is insane. I wish I had that sort of discipline, and it’s really affected the way I work and how I view and do things in life. Not just here, but in life in general.

Sonny, I don’t know if you realize this, but you’re able to put a lot of people at ease and make a lot of people feel comfortable. It’s a skill that not a lot of people have. I feel like sometimes maybe you think you’re being awkward or things like that.

Sonny: I do think that!

Uki: Yeah, but the reality is, being who you are in that way makes people feel comfortable and more approachable. It definitely helped when we first started doing things together and even meeting in person for the first time. I just feel so grateful that the stars aligned in the way that they did in us meeting each other and being part of this same group together because everything just worked out so well. The amount of comfort we have with each other is something that's not easy to come by, and I am very grateful for that.

Sonny: Love you, man.

Uki: I love you guys, too.

A Testament to Their Bond Through Their 3D Concert and Original Song

— As Noctyx, you've experienced a wide range of activities so far—for example, your 3D concerts and the Fuji-Q outing. Amongst all of those, which ones stand out to you the most?

Alban: I think for me, one of the things that I’ll probably never forget is preparing for the Noctyx 3D concert because, in all the preparation, we were truly at our closest while we were working so hard together. That's an experience I’ll never forget, because working that hard with these super talented people you’ve been around for so long—the practice itself was obviously difficult, but in a way, it was like a dream come true.

Sonny: It felt like the culmination of everything we'd been working up to in a lot of ways.

Uki: I think both of those things you mentioned were such important things for us: being able to do a 3D concert and being able to record something like Fuji-Q, where we got to experience things physically in a variety show style recording. Working together on anything like these instances, where a lot of effort and days and days of preparation are involved, is memorable. Being able to work together for such a long period of time for a big project is a precious opportunity to begin with because these kinds of chances are rare. It’s hard to choose a specific moment or event because to me, they’re all memorable. They’re all very important; they all have shaped us and made us grow in different ways together.

Sonny: I’d like to add that the creation of Break Free, our original song, was important for us because it was a new way to redefine our group as we had grown and not something that was given to us during our debut. We spent a lot of time together discussing what kind of song we wanted and tweaking certain aspects of it to make it exactly how we wanted, and I think the end product was something we were all very proud of and represented us.

Also, just the general thing where every few weeks we would collab on video games—specifically, the Left 4 Dead collab arc was some of the most fun. It was just pure fun, straight up, no pressure, just pure fun with the boys, and I really enjoyed that.

— If anything, it sounds like the moments that stand out the most are rooted in just how much it means for all of you to be together.

Alban: Yeah, we genuinely got each other through the best of times and the worst of times.

Uki: Yeah, hard agree.

— A testament to the group’s nakama* vibes, one could say.

*Nakama is a Japanese word used to describe friends or trusted comrades who pursue the same goals and have formed a strong bond by overcoming challenges together.

All three: Exactly!

One Catchphrase to Describe Noctyx: The Trio’s Answer

— The next question is a little bit more light-hearted: If you were to give Noctyx a catchphrase or a tagline, what would it be? You can take a moment to discuss it together.

Sonny: How about we all give one word to make a three-word tagline?

Alban: (Laughs) Oh god, do you actually want to do that?

Sonny: Yeah, let's go. Alban, give one word.

Alban: Okay, um... “If…”

Sonny: If…

Alban: It can’t be the same word twice!

Sonny: No, no. (laughs) I’m thinking about what comes after. Hang on… “Hard.”

Uki: That doesn't even make sense! (laughs) Let’s see… 'If Hard, Go.'

Alban: Yeah…?

Sonny: (Laughs) Let's just scrap that. What's a real one?

Alban: I like the idea, at least. For me, I was kind of thinking of something that defines us, like, 'If you find light in the darkness, don't be afraid to chase it.' Even though it's kind of cliché.

Sonny: Ah, I like that, though. It's very poetic.

Uki: I do like that, too.

Sonny: How do we shorten it?

Alban: 'If dark, find light'?

Uki: (Laughs) Sounds like an instruction manual!

Alban: Yeah, but something poetic along those lines might work. If you find some kind of light in whatever darkness you're in, don't be afraid to chase that light.

Sonny: I think that's in line with our two original songs as well—Stuck in the Abyss and Break Free. Going along with that theme would be good.

Uki: I was thinking also: 'There is light in the dark. You just have to find it.'

Alban: That's pretty good, actually.

Uki: I like that. I feel like that matches up with the progression from Stuck in the Abyss to Break Free.

Noctyx as Animals: A Tabby Cat, a Trained Dog, and a Jellyfish

— Another light-hearted question, then: If you guys were to compare yourselves to an animal, what would it be?

Uki: Oh, this is so easy!

Sonny: Alban is a cat.

Alban: Sonny is a dog. Uki is a jellyfish.

Sonny: Sometimes Uki’s depicted as more cat-like. I’m not sure what personality a jellyfish would have.

Uki: I think I have aspects of both. In terms of a jellyfish, I'm just trying to go with the flow, float around, you know? And I might look soft, but if you get too close, I can sting.

Alban: Dang, that's actually pretty good!

Sonny: Maybe you are a jellyfish, then.

Alban: For Sonny, if he’s a dog, part of me wants to say a Golden Retriever, but maybe more like a German Shepherd—very chill and relaxed, but trained to attack.

Uki: I was thinking maybe a Shiba Inu, too, because of the loyalty. Maybe he's a mix. A German Inu, or a Shiba Shepherd.

What kind of cat is Alban?

Alban: I feel like I'm a Tabby or something.

Uki: Orange cat vibes.

— (Laughs) So, to break that down, we have Alban as an orange cat, Sonny as a dog in general, and Uki gave us a perfect explanation for his jellyfish tendencies.

Uki: Yeah, that’s why my fans are also jellyfish!

United as One, Noctyx Vows to Continue Their Journey Into Their Fifth Year Alongside Their Fans

— And that brings us to our final question. Looking back on the four years you've spent together, what do you feel you're now able to do because of who you've become as Noctyx? And is there anything you would like to try in the future, or a new side of yourselves you'd like to show off?

Sonny: I feel like we've done everything there is to do, but specifically because of that, we're now able to do anything, just bigger and better.

Alban: I feel like for me, over the last four years, the biggest change is that I'm now comfortable with myself. I mean that in terms of confidence in my personality and my identity. In the very beginning, I was super insecure about who I was, not just in Noctyx, but in NIJISANJI and NIJISANJI EN in general. I was really unsure about what kind of energy I should project, or if it was even okay to be my natural self. It was a really confusing time because I didn't know if I could 100% be myself.

But over the years, through all the people I've met and the experiences I've had, I've finally settled into the mindset of, 'You know what? It's totally okay to be me.' It's okay to just act naturally and do what comes naturally. I think that's the most important thing I've gained from being in Noctyx. The support system in Noctyx and being with these guys has really helped solidify that feeling. Noctyx definitely played a huge part in helping me realize that it's okay to be myself. You just have to find the right group.

As for the future, I want to keep exploring things outside of my comfort zone. I say this a lot on stream, but I like to push my boundaries because it teaches me new things. So, I plan to keep doing that and continue showing fans different sides of me they haven't seen yet. I hope they're looking forward to what's coming, because there are so many new things still on the way.

Sonny: In terms of a new side of us, I think we've still yet to fully display our identity since Fulgur (Fulgur Ovid) left. We haven't been quite as active as a group. So, I think we should be looking for opportunities to show off who we are now as a trio, not only in collabs and performing, but also with an original group project that we come up with ourselves.

Uki: Similar to what Alban said, looking back on our time together has really helped me become more comfortable with who I am, and to accept different parts of myself that I might not have otherwise. This is because I've had the right people around me to make me feel that those parts of me are okay. As many people know, I have a background of trying to be part of the entertainment industry in various ways—years of auditioning, performing live, and trying to share my voice and my music. I feel like Noctyx has always made me feel okay about chasing my dreams. They've hyped me up a lot and helped build my confidence to a place where I can comfortably perform and do things on a stage that I never thought I'd be able to. I really have Noctyx to thank for that. All these years of spending time together, building each other up, and supporting each other's ambitions and goals has been so important in getting us to where we are now. Supporting each other in whatever way we can to help each of us reach these goals is key.

Also, something I'd like for us to try as a group now, kind of like Sonny was saying, is something to reinforce the unity that we have. Even now, after everything we've been through, there's a strong, unspoken sense of unity that I'd maybe like to—I don't know if it's the right word, but—show off.

Sonny: Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Uki: We're in a nice, peaceful, and quiet period now where we're just trying to get comfortable and get our bearings. But I would like to do something again that will remind people of who we are, what we have, and that our bond is as strong as ever. We've done a lot already, which makes it feel like, 'What haven't we done?' But I think that's actually good because it makes the creative juices flow more, and it's like, 'Oh, maybe we can do something even crazier.' Also, personally, I've always wanted to do a skydiving video.

Alban: You know what? What if we came down from the ceiling of a concert on metal wires and flew around the concert hall?

Sonny: We could probably do that. That’s not too hard. And Uki can fly.

Uki: That might be interesting. But it's not the same as jumping out of a plane thousands of feet in the air, you know?

Sonny: That's true. Let’s do something big.

Uki: Yeah, I want to show the fans something big and crazy.

— It sounds like there are plenty of opportunities for both fun and serious stuff going ahead. Just to close things out, if there’s anything you want to express towards your fans, then please share them with us.

Alban: Thank you to everyone that has supported Noctyx through these past four years, and thank you for your continued effort. We'll continue to do our best for you all and give you 100% of our energy because you give us 100% of yours.

Sonny: I want to thank all the fans that have supported us for so long through ups and downs, lefts and rights. Please look forward to the future of Noctyx.

Uki: Thank you, Nocturnals (the name of Noctyx’s fanbase), for always loving and supporting us through everything and giving us your time and energy thus far. We will continue to work hard to make you feel proud of us and proud to be part of this community that we have. The world is Noctyx's oyster, so just give us some crazy ideas because the worst that can happen is that we just say no (laughs).