INDEX
More sympathetic to rock and punk than city pop
-We would also like to ask you about the new song “i.e.” released by Emerald.
Fujii: We all write songs: We all write songs, but this song was created from the demo of keyboardist Tatsuto Nakamura, and we unveiled it last year when we played a 2-man show with showmore. That day, Tatsuto Nakamura was taking a break from the band, and we really wanted to play a Tatsuto Nakamura song, so we decided to restart with a new song by Tatsuto Nakamura. At first, it sounded like “the song”, but we wanted to create a slightly sharp sound image while being conscious of our original roots or blackness, and that’s how we ended up with this song.
-Nakano: It’s unusual to have a beat that is computerized, isn’t it?
Nakano: It’s the first time since “Re: Fureitai Hikari”.
Fujii: We couldn’t do a normal recording for that song because of the Corona disaster, so it had to be a hammering song, but this is the first time I’ve done a hammering song without that reason. I wanted to give it a new jack swing feel. Isono is a guitarist, but he is also in charge of the beat, and sometimes Takagi, the drummer, comes up with the guitar riffs. Our band is strange in that way, too.
Nakano: If you notice, there are almost no bands like that around anymore. The image of a band was one in which everyone was together and doing things in a group.
Fujii: That’s why YONA YONA is good! It’s a great “band!
Nakano: Yes: Yes, I can see the similarities with YONA YONA. I think that the human smell of a band like that is what makes it rich, and even though we say we are bankrupt, there is a moment once every three months or so when I feel like my life is somehow good. When you get to be our age, people quit the band or go backstage, but it is those moments that make me still want to create something new and inspire people, and I am grateful for that.
Kiichi: More and more band members of our generation have broken up and started working, but when I see bands that are doing well in different genres being invited to Ken Yokoyama’s tours, it motivates me to do my best so that we can be together in the future, even if we are in different scenes. It motivates me to do my best so that we can eventually cross paths, even though we are in different scenes. I was also happy to be able to play with ASPARAGUS just recently!
It’s a great story that YONA YONA did a 2-man show with ASPARAGUS, who is a senior member of the punk scene, isn’t it?
Nakano: That’s a dream come true. I also loved CAPTAIN HEDGEHOG (Shinobu Watanabe’s band before forming ASPARAGUS).
-Nakano：I think you are right, there are names that are far away from city pop (laughs).
Nakano: I always had the impression that people with names like “city pop” and “AOR” came from well-educated, good families. But what I always liked was kiwi rolls and other music that started from nothing, so I have never been able to identify with the term “city pop. Rock and punk are more sympathetic. Well, I’ve grown up enough to be able to say, “Please do that,” as long as everyone feels comfortable listening to it, and the labeling provides an entry point.
Isono: Now you’ve expressed all the feelings (laughs).
All: Ha ha ha ha (laughs).
Fujii: I originally listened to punk and melocoa when I was a student, and Takagi, the drummer, also came from a burly punk background, as did my brother and Isono. The only difference is Tatsuto Nakamura on keys (laughs).
Nakano: The other day, someone who knew me when I was about 20 years old asked me, “Nakano-kun, how do you live with the murderous spirit you were radiating back then? (laugh). I told him, “I found a solution by listening to Marvin Gaye and pouring everything I had into sublimating my anger and negative emotions into his sexy singing voice. I see.” And they were like, “Oh, yeah! I decided to face my strong inner impulses by going in that direction with my singing voice, even though it doesn’t look sexy, and that was the entry point from melodic and hardcore to Emerald. There are times when I find it hard to do music, but I always felt that I would die without it, and I think that’s why I’ve been able to keep doing it.
-Nakano: I think you should create a new word that is not “city pop” anymore.
Nakano: Or “working class city pop” (laughs). (laughs) We know that there is a richness that you cannot get even if you have a normal job and earn a certain amount of money, and we believe that it is thanks to music. I feel that when I see YONA YONA, I can feel that, and I think that’s why we have such a good group of people. The atmosphere of the audience is also very good, and I feel sympathy in that way.
Lastly, could you give us a few words about the upcoming 2-man show in June?
Isono-kun: I have been thinking about them for 3 years (laugh), and I think they are cool not only in their music but also in their way of life, so I want to live up to their expectations since they invited me to this important 2-man event. I am sure it will be a great day and we will have good drinks.
Nakano: The title of this year’s event is “Re:Start,” and it is partly because Tatsuto Nakamura is coming back, but it is also like rowing once again on a tiny raft from the place where we once stopped at the Corona Disaster. So seriously, I want everyone to follow me again, and I also want people who have not been coming to live houses for a while to come back. I would be very happy if I could have a great band called YONA YONA WEEKENDERS to accompany me.
■INFORMATION
Emerald Pre.Premium 2 Man Show “Re:Start”
Date：June 10, 2023 (Sat)
Venue：Shibuya WWW
Time：OPEN 16:45 START 17:30
Performers：Emerald, YONA YONA WEEKENDERS
Ticket：Pre-sale ¥4,500 (+1D) General
E-Plus 4/15 (Sat) 10:00~
Roachke (L code:75606) 4/15 (Sat) 10:00~
Pia (P code:239-625) 4/10 (Sat) 10:00~
Organized by HOT STUFF PROMOTION
Planning/Production Emerald/Maypril Records
Organized by Shibu Toshi Co.
