Reader Trashtastika alerted me to one of her favorite Japanese bands, The Cabinets. Four dirty punk rockers sandwiching a Sweet Lolita? I was instantly intrigued.

The story began over two decades ago; The Cabinets were an all-male hardcore unit that evolved into Beat Punk before calling it quits in 1989. Last year, the band re-united with a new musical direction (Lolita + Punk) headed by pretty vocalist Mikako. The Cabinets’ first EP, “Pierrot,” is now on sale in Japan.

I discovered an interview with the band on Ambi-Japan (the website is currently down). Here are excerpts, which I’ve translated from French.

Q: The Cabinets has been on hiatus for a long time. Why have you returned to making music?

A: We think that punk music is now a rarer genre, so we wanted to give a new life to our music.

Q: And why did you invite a girl to join you?

A: In the 80s, there was a new wave of culture; punk groups had a lot of Lolita fans, but today, they listen to Visual Kei. So we want to bring Lolitas back to Punk. Our Lolita also adds liveliness to our group.

Q: What does Mikako bring to your band?

A: Mikako is a respectful and cultured Lolita with a distinctive voice. Her presence is important for our group at the present time.

Q: You’re entering the world of Sweet Lolita; how do you mix this with your old musical style?

A: We think Lolita culture is an antithesis to popular culture. In this way, it’s a lot like Punk culture.

Q: Are many of your fan-girls Lolitas?

A: Yes. The number of our Lolita fans, both in Japan and worldwide, grows every day.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

A: We always want to put 1980s Punk and Lolita style at the forefront.

Q: Do you want to tour around the world?

A: Yes, we’d love to travel worldwide and play at outdoor festivals.

Q: A word for your fans?

A: We love you all! Thank you for supporting us!