Kagrra, Shizuku Interview In Shoxx
A ripple caused by a single droplet has spread out on a grand scale right here. On February 14th, Kagrra released their full album "Shizuku" after about a year and 7 months. What kind of sounds will reach your ears and heart now? For the release of this album, there'll also be a oneman tour starting in March called "Shizuku~Seeking for the cause tour 2007~" and a hall oneman tour "Shizuku~with a cause, as a result tour 2007~". The time is coming!
―"Shizuku" has become an album which Kagrra put out with all their might, but around the time this magazine will be published, the members will be starting to see everyone's reactions, won't you?
Isshi: That's right. At our current stage I can't say anything about it in the stores, but I'm certain you'll be able to get it there. We're doing interviews and such and it's mostly good but we're being told "You've changed haven't you?" a lot.
―Along with the parts that have changed, when all is said and done this work itself has a high degree of perfection. Don't the band members have self-confidence about that?
Isshi: Of course, we're enlarging our circumference. Kagrra is the focal point, and the diameter of the circle drawn around it is getting larger.
Nao: Listening to the completed work, it's obvious to me how this one is different from "San" which we released previously. Musically and in overall quality. I think of it as leveling up myself, and did it with great satisfaction. And in addition to that, we can level up even more, right? I feel that going higher and higher seems natural.
―That's something important right?
Nao: That's right. It's like, we can still keep going.
―And for you, Akiya?
Akiya: That's right. Since it's been about a year and 7 months that we've released an album, it's a fact that there were various pressures. So, in contrast to what Naoran said just now, if I speak frankly for myself, the truth is I was thinking while making it, "Is this my current limit?" Because I'm trying to treat this album as a transition period for myself, aren't I?
―What kind of situation made you feel that "limit"?
Akiya: Ahh, what was it? As an example, if you think of it like an Enka singer suddenly in a rock band, that's difficult isn't it? I have a sense that it's like that. We challenged various things for this album, but in addition to that we had our sights on various things too. I'll say that even though there's a lot of things we can do, we can see parts that we definitely want to protect, as Kagrra. And the meaning of that is that's what we'll be doing with our albums going forward.
Isshi: I think it's true that with this album we've certainly evolved as a band. But personally, rather than evolution I'd say that part of me has actually returned to the past.
―What do you mean?
Isshi: For example "Hakai". We may be asked in interviews "How did you do that?" (laughs) but the truth is that's pretty close to what I've done before Kagrra,.
―As you'd expect, we don't know the Isshi-kun from that time, so to the listeners and readers, it feels like a new component doesn't it?
Isshi: After all, wasn't I just a child when I started writing poems? I was expressing my dissatisfaction with the lack of ways that boys have for expressing themselves. (laughs)
―So you're saying that a rebellious spirit is the foundation of rock.
Isshi: That's right. Which means that so far I often have to pay attention to my words as I write lyrics, and even now certain things about my lyrics haven't changed, but in this way I can write wonderful lyrics and feel good about it as you might expect. And this time I felt that way again.
―Thinking about that, it hasn't been an astounding change by any means.
Isshi: That's right.
―Come to think of it, there's more to say about the sound and composition isn't there? There are certainly a lot of songs in the current work that use the approach you've taken up until now, but none have a feeling of being strained, right?
Nao: The things that we've done so far are definitely the groundwork for that.
Isshi: I'll be so happy if the people who buy it and listen can feel those things.
―Since the recording for this has already been done, have you gotten impressions from anyone so far?
Akiya: Like I wanted to say before, patience is an important thing. Or should I say, it sounds bad to talk about things like 'patience' but it's not that. Somehow or other the common opinion is that the track "Shizuku" is the focal point among the songs on the album this time, and we worked on the album while being aware of that. In that time we were working with Chokaku-san (our sound producer), and there were parts for which he'd pressure us occasionally.
―Working with an external brain, is that what it is? I'm sure such a scenario is sometimes necessary for the sake of getting something new.
Akiya: That's right. So, it's exactly because I feel pressured in such a scenario that I get these sounds. On the other hand, since I was able to use the recoil from that to make the best of other songs, the true result is that everything turned out great. Those things are my own experience, but this time I think it was the fruits of our labour more so than anything else. I've gotten a lot of influence from Chokaku-san, and I still can't process it all for myself. (laughs)
―Well, Nao-kun, what were you able to get from it this time?
Nao: Instant high power, you know? There were a lot of things we hadn't completely decided up until the last moments of arranging, but it was great when we were able to corner them down. For those parts, I was battling with a feeling of tension the whole time. (wry smile)
―Ahhh!
Nao: It hasn't ever been like that with our recording so far. (laughs) But I was really happy when I was told that what we did came out so well.
Isshi: Ah, it was like that for me too. Or rather, it was easy for me to be nervous when I was in the booth.
―Putting together an album goes hand in hand with having a sense of responsibility and heavy pressure, doesn't it?
Isshi: Having had such experiences, I feel that no matter what we do now, it'll be okay.
―Starting in March there'll be your anticipated oneman tour "Shizuku~Seeking for the cause tour 2007~" and continuing from that, a hall oneman tour "Shizuku~with a cause, as a result tour 2007~". I think in each of the places you visit, these will show your strong growth as Kagrra, based on what you've been recording this time.
Nao: Our songs with audience singing parts have increased for these tours. Ahh, there were a lot of points like that we couldn't figure out for rehearsal, but we'll still do our best. (laughs)
―And Akiya-kun id becoming more diverse by using both a 6-string and a 7-string guitar.
Akiya: Of course I'll become more skilled at it. Now I have various arrangements with the makers.
Isshi: But these tours might be difficult for me.
―Why do you say that?
Isshi: Using the world as an example, it was after the ice age came and wiped out the dinosaurs, that the ice started to melt, wasn't it? Personally, I think these tours will be that kind of era for Kagrra.
―In other words, the curtain is rising on a new era.
Isshi: And that ice still hasn't fully melted. We may know how quickly the ice melts, but I have a feeling that's the point. To speak about it in an extreme, in a way we had to die to be reborn like this, right? What I mean is that these tours are a necessary part of our revival, but at the same time, I think we're completely losing the things we've established up to this point. What should we do at the threshold? That's what I feel is really difficult this time. I think we'll have to laugh a lot in the MC to untangle everyone's feelings.
Akiya: And that's no different? (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah? Something like that. The sound has changed but that doesn't mean our talk has to change. In particular it's been around 4 years since we've been in Sapporo, where our tour opens, right? I was wearing horns at the time. I'm worried about the way to show the gap between that time and now. (laughs)
―To say it upfront, it's not that you have the form of an Oni like you had before, but now you have the form of Human Isshi, so isn't it that everyone will get a good sense of you as you are?
Isshi: Human Isshi? Actually I have very little experience being on the stage like that. (laughs) I may have to figure out how to do that. I'll study from scratch.
Isshi: That's right. At our current stage I can't say anything about it in the stores, but I'm certain you'll be able to get it there. We're doing interviews and such and it's mostly good but we're being told "You've changed haven't you?" a lot.
―Along with the parts that have changed, when all is said and done this work itself has a high degree of perfection. Don't the band members have self-confidence about that?
Isshi: Of course, we're enlarging our circumference. Kagrra is the focal point, and the diameter of the circle drawn around it is getting larger.
Nao: Listening to the completed work, it's obvious to me how this one is different from "San" which we released previously. Musically and in overall quality. I think of it as leveling up myself, and did it with great satisfaction. And in addition to that, we can level up even more, right? I feel that going higher and higher seems natural.
―That's something important right?
Nao: That's right. It's like, we can still keep going.
―And for you, Akiya?
Akiya: That's right. Since it's been about a year and 7 months that we've released an album, it's a fact that there were various pressures. So, in contrast to what Naoran said just now, if I speak frankly for myself, the truth is I was thinking while making it, "Is this my current limit?" Because I'm trying to treat this album as a transition period for myself, aren't I?
―What kind of situation made you feel that "limit"?
Akiya: Ahh, what was it? As an example, if you think of it like an Enka singer suddenly in a rock band, that's difficult isn't it? I have a sense that it's like that. We challenged various things for this album, but in addition to that we had our sights on various things too. I'll say that even though there's a lot of things we can do, we can see parts that we definitely want to protect, as Kagrra. And the meaning of that is that's what we'll be doing with our albums going forward.
Isshi: I think it's true that with this album we've certainly evolved as a band. But personally, rather than evolution I'd say that part of me has actually returned to the past.
―What do you mean?
Isshi: For example "Hakai". We may be asked in interviews "How did you do that?" (laughs) but the truth is that's pretty close to what I've done before Kagrra,.
―As you'd expect, we don't know the Isshi-kun from that time, so to the listeners and readers, it feels like a new component doesn't it?
Isshi: After all, wasn't I just a child when I started writing poems? I was expressing my dissatisfaction with the lack of ways that boys have for expressing themselves. (laughs)
―So you're saying that a rebellious spirit is the foundation of rock.
Isshi: That's right. Which means that so far I often have to pay attention to my words as I write lyrics, and even now certain things about my lyrics haven't changed, but in this way I can write wonderful lyrics and feel good about it as you might expect. And this time I felt that way again.
―Thinking about that, it hasn't been an astounding change by any means.
Isshi: That's right.
―Come to think of it, there's more to say about the sound and composition isn't there? There are certainly a lot of songs in the current work that use the approach you've taken up until now, but none have a feeling of being strained, right?
Nao: The things that we've done so far are definitely the groundwork for that.
Isshi: I'll be so happy if the people who buy it and listen can feel those things.
―Since the recording for this has already been done, have you gotten impressions from anyone so far?
Akiya: Like I wanted to say before, patience is an important thing. Or should I say, it sounds bad to talk about things like 'patience' but it's not that. Somehow or other the common opinion is that the track "Shizuku" is the focal point among the songs on the album this time, and we worked on the album while being aware of that. In that time we were working with Chokaku-san (our sound producer), and there were parts for which he'd pressure us occasionally.
―Working with an external brain, is that what it is? I'm sure such a scenario is sometimes necessary for the sake of getting something new.
Akiya: That's right. So, it's exactly because I feel pressured in such a scenario that I get these sounds. On the other hand, since I was able to use the recoil from that to make the best of other songs, the true result is that everything turned out great. Those things are my own experience, but this time I think it was the fruits of our labour more so than anything else. I've gotten a lot of influence from Chokaku-san, and I still can't process it all for myself. (laughs)
―Well, Nao-kun, what were you able to get from it this time?
Nao: Instant high power, you know? There were a lot of things we hadn't completely decided up until the last moments of arranging, but it was great when we were able to corner them down. For those parts, I was battling with a feeling of tension the whole time. (wry smile)
―Ahhh!
Nao: It hasn't ever been like that with our recording so far. (laughs) But I was really happy when I was told that what we did came out so well.
Isshi: Ah, it was like that for me too. Or rather, it was easy for me to be nervous when I was in the booth.
―Putting together an album goes hand in hand with having a sense of responsibility and heavy pressure, doesn't it?
Isshi: Having had such experiences, I feel that no matter what we do now, it'll be okay.
―Starting in March there'll be your anticipated oneman tour "Shizuku~Seeking for the cause tour 2007~" and continuing from that, a hall oneman tour "Shizuku~with a cause, as a result tour 2007~". I think in each of the places you visit, these will show your strong growth as Kagrra, based on what you've been recording this time.
Nao: Our songs with audience singing parts have increased for these tours. Ahh, there were a lot of points like that we couldn't figure out for rehearsal, but we'll still do our best. (laughs)
―And Akiya-kun id becoming more diverse by using both a 6-string and a 7-string guitar.
Akiya: Of course I'll become more skilled at it. Now I have various arrangements with the makers.
Isshi: But these tours might be difficult for me.
―Why do you say that?
Isshi: Using the world as an example, it was after the ice age came and wiped out the dinosaurs, that the ice started to melt, wasn't it? Personally, I think these tours will be that kind of era for Kagrra.
―In other words, the curtain is rising on a new era.
Isshi: And that ice still hasn't fully melted. We may know how quickly the ice melts, but I have a feeling that's the point. To speak about it in an extreme, in a way we had to die to be reborn like this, right? What I mean is that these tours are a necessary part of our revival, but at the same time, I think we're completely losing the things we've established up to this point. What should we do at the threshold? That's what I feel is really difficult this time. I think we'll have to laugh a lot in the MC to untangle everyone's feelings.
Akiya: And that's no different? (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah? Something like that. The sound has changed but that doesn't mean our talk has to change. In particular it's been around 4 years since we've been in Sapporo, where our tour opens, right? I was wearing horns at the time. I'm worried about the way to show the gap between that time and now. (laughs)
―To say it upfront, it's not that you have the form of an Oni like you had before, but now you have the form of Human Isshi, so isn't it that everyone will get a good sense of you as you are?
Isshi: Human Isshi? Actually I have very little experience being on the stage like that. (laughs) I may have to figure out how to do that. I'll study from scratch.