FEMM

Far East Mention Mannequins

Latex-Clad Electronic Pop Duo are a Twerk of Art

The concept: Two mannequins, RiRi (a combat mannequin) and LuLa (a nurse mannequin), are controlled by human agents Honey-B and W-Trouble in a quest for world domination. They are heading a movement to support mannequins who’ve been mistreated by humans for years. The concept combines Japanese high fashion and otaku [nerd] culture. Fans earn points (called mentions) by spreading the word about FEMM through social networking on Twitter and Facebook and can use them toward getting items for mannequins that they control. Is this the concept behind Japan’s newest anime, manga or video game? No, this is the Avex pop duo FAR EAST MENTION MANNEQUINS (FEMM). Combine the producers behind global phenoms such as Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Beyoncé for a slick sound; HIDALI, the choreographer behind will.i.am and the robotic team WORLD ORDER’s dance moves for a polished performance; designer GM Atelier for outlandish latex costumes, and English songs with memorable titles like “Fxxk Boyz Get Money” and “Kill the DJ” and you have FEMM. Tokyo Journal Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie spoke with Honey-B and W-Trouble.

TJ: What is the meaning of the name Far East Mention Mannequins?
HONEY-B: For years, mannequins have been mistreated by humans and we believe that mannequins have feelings and hearts too. So, we are trying to support them through our movement. We are working at FEMM’s Agency Syndicate. We spotted and installed special powers into these two mannequins RiRi and LuLa. Their job is to spread this message throughout the world to protect the rights of mannequins. So, “mention” is like a warning, and “Far East”–they come from Japan. So … Far East Mention Mannequins.

TJ: What special powers do they have?
HONEY-B: There are several different kinds of mannequins, but my mannequin RiRi is a combat mannequin. Her special skill is fighting–karate, taekwondo, and boxing. If you give her a weapon, she’ll spin it around or shoot it. It’s really dangerous to manage her because she has a temper. W-TROUBLE: While RiRi is aggressive, LuLa is more conservative. She’s a nurse, so she’s skilled at healing. I think she’s very kind.

TJ: Do the mannequins have personalities?
HONEY-B: They’ve got personalities but they don’t come from emotions. It depends on their type. Combat mannequins are angrier, more aggressive, more challenging and bolder. Nurse mannequins are softer and more feminine.

TJ: What is an example of how humans mistreat mannequins?
HONEY-B: A good example would be in car commercials. They use a mannequin to show how the air bag comes out. Is it fair to crash a mannequin just to show the safety of this car? These small things are happening all the time.

TJ: Do you get offended when people call mannequins dummies?
HONEY-B: Yes. We really don’t like this word.

TJ: How did RiRi and LuLa get good at English pronunciation?
W-TROUBLE: They have been programmed in both Japanese and English, so it’s their default function rather than skills they made an effort to get. It’s the same as installing software in a computer.

TJ: Can you program other languages like French?
HONEY-B: Yes. Anytime.
W-TROUBLE: They may sing in Japanese or maybe in other languages instead of English. Please keep an eye on us.

TJ: How would you describe FEMM’s look?
W-TROUBLE: We change their clothes depending on the song. When we do “Femm-Isation” walking on the street, we choose something that reflects Japanese culture. They have been wearing school uniforms a lot recently.

TJ: Why do the mannequins go walking in public from time to time?
W-TROUBLE: They directly communicate with people on the street. By communicating with people to let people know about FEMM, we are doing “Femm-Isation.” The schedule may change in the future, but you can see FEMM in Harajuku on weekends.

TJ: How do you feel about “Fxxk Boyz Get Money” getting attention as a girl-power anthem?
HONEY-B: Sometimes this song is misunderstood because of the title, but actually the true meaning is girl power like a lot of girls say: standing up on your own.

TJ: Can you tell me about your album Femm-Isation? What is unique about it?
HONEY-B: It has 13 songs and every single song has a music video. Some have two versions. We worked on the visual part because we really wanted to express their image. They are all available through YouTube.
W-TROUBLE: There are some songs that we have released only remix versions as singles. The original version is on the album, which is available worldwide on iTunes. So, please listen to it. tj

The original article can be found in Issue #276 of the Tokyo Journal. Click here to order from Amazon.