Translated from Pakila Music, 2008.01.23
Original Text: Tomonori Nakazawa.
On January 16, Acid Black Cherry released their fourth single, "Fuyu no Maboroshi". Their first album is also set for release on February 13. Their schedule continues to expand, with a live house tour beginning in March, and a Hall Tour in May. For sure, Acid Black Cherry will be turned loose into a flurry of activity this year as well!
In the story of your fourth single, someone is forced to face the grief of losing someone who has died. Listening to it, there's this painful feeling, like ripples from the center of the heart, quietly but gradually spreading outward.
It really is one of those painful songs, isn't it? The circumstances surrounding the birth of that song came from my own experience...not. Actually, it came from a letter I got from one of my fans. In that letter, she told me that her boyfriend, who she used to go to Janne Da Arc lives with, had just died.
As long as it's not interfering with anything, can you tell us more about the content of the letter?
She and her boyfriend were a couple, and both supporters of Janne Da Arc. They often talked about going to a live together. However, her boyfriend died, and for a while, the memories of him were so heartbreaking that she totally broke down, listening to Janne Da Arc's songs. However, time passed, and perhaps she found peace again...but listening to Janne Da Arc's songs once more, she was able to be happy again. The letter was saying "thank you" for Janne Da Arc's songs, for bringing her such happiness. But, it felt to me that it should be us saying "thank you" to her.
In the lines of "Fuyu no Maboroshi", you reflected the true feelings in the heart of your protagonist.
Perhaps it's that, just knowing about the real experience of that person, my words gained an amazing persuasive power? Even though that's true, I can't say that I'm just speaking as a proxy for that person...after all, we still had a demo tape made, and then we also recorded it as it was without lyrics, too. While I was in the middle of working on it, the contents of that letter just...poof! came back to me. With those feelings I remembered as a base, I wrote down something beginning with a male protagonist and including "Things I remember feeling" and "Words born of those feelings".
Feelings that hurt so much they just pierce right into your heart. Surely, everyone who listened to this song experienced those clearly.
Ah, well...if this song really did move people's hearts, then I'm very glad.
This is also your fourth single. Did you have a specific goal you were aiming for?
At first, I thought of doing more hard songs. Since the three singles I've released so far, "SPELL MAGIC", "Black Cherry" and "Aishitenai", all turned out entirely different, I thought, "It might be a better idea to aim for releasing singles with four different kinds of styles", so that's what I did.
From "Fuyu no Maboroshi", I can strongly experience the feeling behind it, as if you have condensed a movie's climactic scene.
Thank you very much. To have been able to give others such a strong impression like this, I can be nothing but pleased.
Adding strings to the arrangement as well finishes the process of showing that instant when the heart is bared fully.
It is a good arrangement, isn't it? But, since I was really pushing the guitar to the forefront, I would be pleased to see people feeling the suitability of that as well.
For the second song on the single, you recorded a well-known cover song. This time, it's Shizuka Kodo's "Koi Hitoyo".
When that song became a hit...it would have been...my second year in middle school?! Of course, I listened to the original. That was about the time that I became really crazy with my love for rock music, so it's not that I honestly was amazingly enthusiastic about it or anything. I had the chance to do this song this time because my director suggested it, saying, "Doesn't this song really suit yasu, if he were to sing it??" Since it was a song that I had a familiarity with compositionally, taking into account the balance that it would make with "Fuyu no Maboroshi", that's what made me decide to do it.
So far, all of your cover songs have been from the '70s and '80s, and this one is too...
I feel as if they're somewhat recent songs, but I suppose they are from the 80s...and this one is too. In regard to the arrangement, it was kind of 'well, I'll leave it up to you'. And then, I put the finishing touches on it to make it a good track again.
How have your fans been reacting to the cover songs?
Not badly at all. First of all, I've been having a lot of fun myself, continuing with this series of covers. I've also heard of fans getting involved in the cover series, and really looking forward to them, saying, "I wonder what he'll sing next?" Eh, but there are also those people who are saying "Please do an original..." too, though (Laughs). Like they're just waiting it out for the album in that regard (Laughs).
You're also including the "Fuyu no Maboroshi" PV with the limited edition pressings of the single. Please tell us what kind of PV it is.
The song is really serious, right...well, the PV absolutely isn't serious at all (Laughs). As for the content, it's the conclusion of my continuing Akihabara Nerd Series. Due to that, as we're fabricating the tale, the acting skills of the various members really come out.
Is it really comical?
Since it's somewhat different from disconnecting from the subject of the song entirely, the subject matter itself is serious. Maybe I can say that it's the presentation that's amusing. While there are some really foolish parts in there, there are also parts that will move you to tears. When I watched it, I suddenly felt like "Oh, this is good..." I really want you all to look forward to seeing it. Coincidentally, the theme is "eroticism".
Again, that's an amazing theme.
Even though I say it's "erotic", it's not like "pornographic", rather, just "slightly indecent". But, even though that's a common phrase that may be used too much, it's a little different from that, and even saying so, the song itself is still painful, so I didn't want to overdo that element of it at all.
Is it difficult to draw a line in terms of how far you allow that eroticism to be expressed?
I don't really think about that boundary line. If I were to speak of one, it's the one that determines, is this entertainment, or not? There's no meaning in eroticism just for the sake of being erotic. After all, the meaning inherent in something that makes one ask, "Why did they do that?" overrides all other meanings.
At the time of this interview, it is still the middle of December, and you are still in the midst of work on your album. In the midst of all the commotion, do you feel you're making progress?
Since I'm always thinking, "Put your whole soul into this one song", it's inevitable that I'm giving it my best. (Laughs.)
As for your first album, what impression does it appear to give once it is finished?
I think there's a lot of variation between the songs, but generally, it's a "heavy" album. I think if guys listen to this, they'll be really pleased with its material, don't you think??
So, you can say it will have quite a heavy impact then.
That's all I can say, considering I can't say much else until the album is completed. I'm working hard on this one, in the hope that I can move those in this generation much as the hard-rock albums of my generation moved me; I want to make an album that makes people the same age as I was then say, "This is so cool!"
Naturally, your inherent melodious composition and distinctive songs will also be present, yasu-san.
Though my band has a very manly feel to it, I also believe I want to create an album that is easy to listen to. Perhaps I can call it something like wanting to defend the "basis of my work" moreso than showing off my individual musicianship... ? Seeing that I believe that letting things naturally come through is part of my own true nature as well.
In March, you'll be starting your Live House Tour. There are many venues on this tour that are close and personal.
When I went on my secret lives last year, many of the places were small, but I didn't feel especially uncomfortable. Also, it's been so long since I've done a one man tour that doing that in and of itself is fun.
In May is the start of your Hall Tour.
Of course, I think the substance of the Live House Tour and the Hall Tour will be different, but honestly, I have yet to really be able to see anything. As expected, as far as planning and organization is concerned, all I've been able to think about is my album, so for right now I'm pouring all of my energy into completing that first.
It looks as if you'll be showing us a lot of energetic activity again this year. Looking back on 2007, is there anything you'd like to say??
My honest feeling is that it was an exceedingly good year for me. I was able to have a lot of fun and really gain something from working with my fellow musicians, and there were a lot of things that really motivated me. I really feel that, after doing the secret and free lives, that those served to be the best source of motivation for me. I was also able to release some singles one at a time, and challenge myself by doing covers. Somehow, I feel as if there are a lot of things that allowed me to touch those feelings that I had when I was first starting out as an artist. Since I wanted to see that drive I had when I was starting out come back to me, it became a very good year for me.
I hope this year will be as well. So, lastly, please give us a message.
"Fuyu no Maboroshi", as with my previous work, became a very easy song to listen to. If you begin your knowledge of Acid Black Cherry with this song, then I am pleased. Of course, for the sake of getting even more people to become aware of Acid Black Cherry this year, I intend to work very hard and give it everything I've got, so please continue to take notice of my work.