When a band changes its name, it sometimes signifies a switch in artistic direction. For indie band Cairophenomenons — previously known as Cairo — the decision was far more practical, even if the new moniker is a bit of a mouthful.
"Our band didn't show up in any searches on the internet or Twitter," shrugs guitarist and vocalist Shonosuke Nakamura. "You'd search for it and you'd only get results about Egypt, or other bands called Cairo."
It's a particularly modern dilemma. But Nakamura and his bandmates — guitarist, vocalist and keyboardist — Yuichiro Araya and bassist Rinkai Maeno, have been down this road before. The group was originally called SANM, an acronym of the members' last names, but then the drummer left (ANM doesn't have the same ring to it). And while Nakamura says the name change from Cairo to Cairophenomenons was simply a shrewd digital-era branding move, it coincided, once again, with the departure of a drummer — Kei Kato.