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In a Life Full of Loss, the Traces of What We Let Slip Away Shape Our Journey
That aspect comes through in your songs as well. On rubens’ music videos, there are a lot of comments from overseas listeners. Do you have any thoughts on why your music is reaching beyond Japan?
Etsu: From a musical perspective, we are influenced by music from abroad, but our melodies are very much in the style of Japanese pop, and maybe that contrast is something people find interesting. Still, it’s strange to me that people who speak different languages and grew up in different countries can have similar reactions to our music as Japanese listeners do. Every country has its own culture and trends, so even a single comment like “It feels so ’90s” probably carries different meanings depending on where it comes from. And yet there are songs that everyone describes as “nostalgic.” I think that means they’re not just picking up on superficial elements—they’re connecting with something deeper.
Etsu: Maybe people are picking up on something more universal. The sense of nostalgia or longing might be coming through in ways that don’t rely on words or soundscapes, and a lot of that might be carried by Serena’s voice. I can’t say for certain why, but every time I feel that “something is getting across,” I think maybe we’ve managed to translate our expression in a really effective way.
When it comes to your lyrics, what’s at the core of what you want to sing about?
Etsu: Honestly, I don’t really aim for people to empathize with me, and I don’t have a strong desire to be understood. In fact, I feel like if you try to seek empathy from the start, you can lose something essential. I just hope empathy might naturally arise as a result. That said, one thing I can say is that while I enjoy moving forward and experiencing change, I also feel fear and sadness at the thought of losing things. I think expressing all of those feelings in a song is something truly beautiful. It’s hard to put into words, though. I don’t consciously plan this—it’s not something I want to decide ahead of time.
That makes sense.
Etsu: Simply put, I’m just saying what I want to say. There’s no strange branding or marketing behind it.
As you said, that whether it’s “Tenshi-san” or “Heart no Ohire,” the songs move forward, but there’s always an undercurrent of fragility and loss.
Etsu: A significant moment for me was when my grandmother passed away, less than a year after we formed the band. That experience made me realize just how deeply “loss” and “change” affect me. While I often leave the subject of my lyrics open to the listener, I think I’m usually reflecting on experiences of loss when I write. I don’t feel the need to provide answers, but I do want people to face these feelings. Life is full of loss, and so much slips through our hands. Yet perhaps it’s the traces of what we’ve lost that shape our lives. Thinking about it that way, sharing this kind of expression through music feels meaningful to me.
Serena, how do you interpret Etsu’s lyrics when you sing?
Serena: For me, Etsu’s lyrics give the sense that past, present, and future aren’t separate. Everything is interconnected, so even when a song talks about loss, it can feel hopeful. And even if you’re in a situation where being positive is difficult, the music still conveys the passage of time. When people say his songs feel nostalgic, it’s not nostalgia in the sense of living in the past and ignoring the present. I think this sense of continuity runs through all his lyrics. That’s why I try to let the words flow naturally when I sing so it doesn’t feel too heavy. Writing entirely in Japanese also reflects his intention to truly reach the listener.
Etsu: You just said everything I couldn’t articulate [laughs]. I do want my writing to cross different points in time within a song, almost like creating a mental timeline.
