Hedigan’s Reflections: The Art of Coexistence

The Creative Force Behind Extra Effort

“Chance” is truly an amazing album, and I think we’re getting to that time of year when people start talking about ‘Best Albums of the Year,’ and I feel like this is definitely a must-have on that list. Do you all feel the same way about the response?

YONCE (Vo, Gt): Yeah, definitely. We were constantly saying, “This is incredible, this is incredible,” while making it.

After about a year and a half with Hedigan’s, what would you say Hedigan’s music is all about? While each of you is also involved in other bands, how do you feel about the uniqueness of Hedigan’s as a band? Could you each share your thoughts on this?

Shoji (Gt): Hedigan’s is a band that can do anything, musically, live, or in any other way. One of the specific triggers for this recording was the lead track ‘Saisei’ (Rebirth). This song is quite different from the style we showed on our first EP 2000JPY—it’s pop and very Japanese, and it’s a song with lyrics. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out if YONCE sang it in Hedigan’s style. But we can do this kind of song, and at the same time, we can also play intense blues and rock ‘n’ roll. It really feels like we can do anything. It’s about doing whatever we like,””that’s the vibe.”

It wasn’t that Hedigan’s started with a specific music genre in mind. It was more about the importance of making music with these five people.

Shoji: Yeah, that might be it. With Hedigan’s, we don’t really have to overthink our intentions. There are many different types of band relationships and styles, but I think Hedigan’s, with its comfortable, friend-like dynamics, is a unique style in itself. If we can continue like this, I think that would be the most ideal. I never thought I’d be in a band like this after turning 30. If you try too hard to force fun, it can become tough, but that hasn’t been the case at all. It feels comfortable, both with the five of us and with Terry, the engineer, and all the staff. It’s been about a year since we formed, but it already feels like home. This is a band I want to keep going with.

How about you, YONCE? What kind of place has Hedigan’s become for you?

YONCE： As Shouji said, it really is about feeling comfortable. How should I put it… I feel like I’m becoming more and more free, like I’m gradually opening up more. The dynamics of the band, as well as our relationships with Terry the engineer, and even with our management and label, have all become more relaxed. Of course, we still have to tighten things up where needed. I think there are still plenty of things we need to do on the business side, but that’s just something we’re not so attuned to yet.

Even with all that, we’ve been able to maintain a relaxed and natural approach, and right now, there’s this overall harmony that feels really comfortable. That’s why I’ve been able to enjoy things without worrying too much. I’m really satisfied with the current situation, and it’s a really happy thing to just focus on ‘making better things’ and ‘things will get more fun.’ That’s how I’ve spent this past year.”

For example, instead of aiming for conventional success like becoming successful, it sounds like you’re focused more on how can these five people have more fun? or how can we make music that we enjoy even more?

YONCE： That’s really what it all comes down to. We’re constantly capturing those moments like ‘this is fun’ or ‘we had such silly conversations.’ As for the music itself, it’s not like there’s no intention or goal, but we all bring a little bit of our own mischievousness into our parts or arrangements. At the same time, though, there’s a sense that the time we spent together, where we went, what we did, all those memories are intertwined with the music. And I think that’s a healthy thing. So, Hedigan’s music might be considered ‘healthy music.’

What struck me, and made me feel like it belongs on the ‘Best of the Year’ list, is exactly that. It feels like a record of the time the five of you spent together, the atmosphere, the ups and downs of your emotions. There’s no right or wrong in music, but this feels like an ideal example of what a band’s sound could be.

YONCE： Yeah, it’s not a lonely piece of work. Everyone came together intentionally, exchanged opinions, even had moments of frustration—all of that together. And within that, there are plenty of laughs and trivial conversations sprinkled throughout. This is the kind of thing that can only happen when you’re with other people.”

The Power of Connection: Discovering Yourself in Others

How about you, Yusuke?

Yusuke (Key): I still don’t really understand what kind of band Hedigan’s is. I don’t really want to think about it too much. Our goal is just to keep enjoying ourselves and continue, and there’s no specific ‘where we want to go’ in mind. I also don’t really know how this album will impact people, or if it will have any impact at all. For me, I find the areas where things don’t go as I expect to be more interesting. Since it’s a band, we’re not creating on our own, and I think what’s interesting is how each of our intentions come together and result in something unexpected. So, I might not be thinking too deeply about it on purpose.

Is that the same stance you have with Glider, the project you’re doing with Shouji? Or is it something specific to Hedigan’s?

Yusuke: It’s especially the case with Hedigan’s. With Glider, Shouji and I have similar tastes, and we do more conceptual work, so it feels more like a ‘project’ than a ‘band.’ It’s more like, ‘we’re coming together to create this specific piece of work.’ With Hedigan’s, it’s a bit more casual, like we all gather and think, ‘It’d be great if we could make something interesting.’ While there are differences in style, the underlying factor is just ‘we want to do something fun,’ so in that sense, it’s the same.”

I found it interesting that you described working toward a certain goal as a ‘project.’ So, for Hedigan’s, it’s really about continuing to spend good times together as a band, with the five of you, right? How about you, Takuma?

Motomura: Since the other three have already talked about the external aspects, I’ll share my personal perspective. I feel that Chance became a work that really reflects what I was thinking. There are times when you realize something about yourself not by thinking about it directly, but when the other person acts as a mirror. When you’re talking with someone, you may unconsciously say something, and later realize, “Oh, this is how I think in situations like that.” I feel like that’s what happened with this album. In terms of both the actual words used and the unspoken parts, it’s a work that involved a lot of communication, and that’s what made it special.

Listening back to the album, I also realized that my own understanding has deepened. I put my heart into it, and now I can see how much I opened myself up during the process. In that sense, I think this is a work that really makes you feel a strong sense of ‘connection.’ It helped me gain a clearer understanding of what it means for people to be together.

‘Connection’ is a term that’s often used, but I think it’s beautiful to describe how, through communication with others, you can face your own inner self. You’ve played in various bands, including Yūran-sen; what do you think it is about Hedigan’s that brings out this kind of ‘connection’?

Motomura: I don’t think that the other bands I’ve been in, or the ones I’m in now, didn’t have that kind of connection, but I think it’s also a matter of timing and age. After turning 30 and going through various experiences, I feel like I can observe what I’m doing now in real time, while also using the lessons I’ve learned from the past. When we were recording, I used to be so absorbed in it, but now I can look at things from a different perspective, like, ‘This moment is special, so let’s do this seriously!’—I was even standing with my arms crossed, watching myself do it [laughs].

Yusuke: I can’t believe you were like that [laughs].

Motomura: I was even standing in the corner of the studio, [laughs]. I really feel the strength of timing and fate. For me, and for the other members, everything—timing, environment, mental state, health—just happened to align perfectly, allowing us to come together. I’m just filled with gratitude.

Fuji Rock and Baths: No Hierarchy in What Matters

“From those feelings, there’s a strong desire to cherish this moment, and I think that’s why we were able to create a sound that captures the essence of the moment.”Now, we’ve kept you waiting—how about you, Take? You’re involved in seven bands, so I’d love to hear what you feel about Hedigan’s.

Ouchi (Dr.): Not just with Hedigan’s, but especially in rock bands, you get to understand your music through the sound you play and the live experience. This year, making Chance while doing a lot of live shows really raised the resolution of this band for me. Of course, I thought the band was already in a great state when we were making 2000JPY, but… how should I put it… 2000JPY felt like “soup without ingredients.” It was like everyone poured their individual ideas into one music, and it turned into a smooth, refreshing drink.

YONCE: Like a soup stock.

Ouchi： That’s right. In contrast, Chance feels like it has ingredients. It’s like, “Oh, there’s Mocchan’s (Motomura) organs in this,” or “I can feel Shoji’s arms in it” (laughs). It feels like a human body. I think that’s because we went through the live experiences together. There’s a nuance in the music that wouldn’t have emerged if we hadn’t played our own songs in front of an audience. And I think that’s an essential part of being in a rock band. So the first thing I feel is, “Thank you for letting us play so much.” In Chance, we made so many wonderful songs, and I think it turned into ten tracks that, without aiming for anything specific, were made simply by creating music innocently.

What I also think is that the important things have increased, and there’s no level of difference between them. For example, the time we spent performing at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL might be the greatest joy for others, but I also remember the time we chatted briefly at a service area on our way to STUDIO DIG, or the air of that moment, or the time after we struggled with the mixes and then all took a bath together, falling asleep like we were dead. There’s no sense of which one is more important. I even remember days that seem like they don’t matter much. It’s not that “this day was good because of this,” but rather, I feel like all of those moments, combined in order, are what made this album possible.

This album captures the good vibes and good moments, and it’s not about thinking “this is a good day because of this.” It’s simply about being aware of what we feel in our hearts.

Ouchi： This ties into how I feel about the band, but when I think about what “everything is important” means, I believe it’s about wanting to truly believe that “the time we’re spending right now is incredibly meaningful.” I think that’s the wish I’ve put into Hedigan’s. This is true for all bands, but especially for Hedigan’s. It’s like we’ve reaffirmed our shared understanding of wanting to create the “ideal life” together as this group of five.

Another big change is that through performing live, I’ve come to realize that the people we call “audience” are “human beings.” It’s like there are creatures like me right in front of me, and there are so many souls we can share. Our tagline is “soul-friendly-music,” but the experience of feeling the souls of our listeners has accumulated, and I think this will raise the level of our dedication to live performances even more.

Band: A Relationship of Complementing Strengths and Weaknesses

“Did you make any specific changes in your production or recording approach for this album compared to the previous one, especially in terms of packaging the time spent with the five of you and making a work that reveals everyone’s organs and arms? For example, in the previous album, ‘敗北の作法’ was edited by Honmura after recording and completed as a collage-style sound, but all 10 tracks on this new album are finished as full band sounds.”

Motomura: “Looking back at ‘2000JPY,’ I wanted more of a physical, live performance feel. In reality, ‘2000JPY’ wasn’t much of a collective performance, so when making the album, I wanted to create something where the five of us were more aligned together.”

Ouchi： “But it wasn’t just a case of recording everything as it came, with the energy of the moment. In fact, there are parts we’ve broken down and manipulated more intensively than before.”

Motomura: “Some of the tracks that sound raw actually weren’t recorded that way.”

Ouchi: “But in the end, it feels even more raw than if we’d just played live.”

Motomura: It’s strange, right? I feel like we did something like post-production to extend the live feel.

Terry the engineer played a big part of this album as well?

YONCE: Yes, we completely relied on Terry, the engineer, for the production process.

Shoji: Through this production, we realized that not everyone is seeking the perfect solution for each song. It’s not just about aiming to make the song more refined or better in a traditional sense. In the long history of rock, this is something everyone has done: sometimes we even embraced takes that were ‘mistakes.’ We recognized and cherished the moments that felt uniquely ‘YONCE-like,’ ‘Honmura-like,’ ‘Gaku-like.’

Ouchi: I feel like we’ve gotten better at recognizing each other’s strengths.

YONCE： Even though I might have a serious face, there were many moments where we’d think, ‘Actually, that’s great.’ It was a lot more of ‘Well, if everyone says it’s good, then it must be.’

Yusuke: Since we trust each other’s instincts so much, even if I think, ‘That take might not have been great,’ if someone says ‘It’s good,’ I can easily go with it. It’s a band where you can just think, ‘If you say so, it must be good.’

It’s great. I feel that Hedigan’s is full of important things, not only in music, but also in life and relationships with people.

Ouchi: Being in a band is great!

Being in a band is great—maybe that’s the biggest message from Hedigan’s.

Ouchi: The most meaningful live feedback I’ve ever received was from our bassist, Shinya Inoue, who said, ‘We probably sold 50 guitars today.’ If there’s something I want, it’s not so much about having a serious, heavy feeling; it’s more about inspiring people to want to start making music.

Motomura: I hope that after listening to this album or seeing Hedigan’s activities, someone might feel inspired to start a band. First, having people come together with different strengths and skills, and then thinking about what we can create with those people—that’s the kind of community I want. It’s not just about bands, but work, friendships, too. Respecting each other’s individuality, doing what we can, not forcing people to do what they can’t do, or helping each other along the way. By the way, I once heard from YONCE that the origin of the word ‘band’ is about ‘connection.’

YONCE： It’s about a relationship where you complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s what ‘band’ is.

Motomura: With that meaning in mind, even if it’s not music, I’d love for everyone to start their own ‘band.’

YONCE: A band needs to be harmonious, smooth, open, and communicative. If it’s not in that state, it will definitely show in the music we create. Hedigan’s isn’t specifically trying to maintain that environment, but it just naturally works out that way. I think that’s something really special. I seriously believe that if we apply this idea of ‘band’—beyond just music groups—to other areas of society, it could make a positive impact.

Motomura: I’m starting to sound like an old man giving advice, huh? (laughs) I know there are many people who find it difficult to create those kinds of connections due to their mental state, or because of their home or work environment, so it’s not always easy. However, I’ve come to realize that when you’re alone, things don’t tend to go well. As time passes, I feel like the meaning of ‘connection’ is changing. For instance, when people say, ‘I’m connected with so-and-so’ on social media, I feel a slight discomfort. I think it would be great if there was a shift in how we think about ‘connection’ and ‘bond.’ But, at the same time, people don’t need to think about any of that when they listen to the music, and that’s perfectly fine too.

Living Life with Purpose, Not Ease

Are you the main lyricist for the songs, despite the credit being listed as “Hedigan’s”?

YONCE： Yes, that’s correct. Songs like “Fushigi” and “Saisei” were written by me. I asked Shoji, “Could you put music to this?” and he immediately created something for it. For “Mission Sofa feat. Shinya Inoue,” I gave the lyrics to Yusuke. This time, it was interesting to collaborate in that way.

I think what you’ve just mentioned connects to the themes of the songs on the album. There’s this idea of what we should value in a world that’s become overly civilized, and the suggestion that we could reconsider certain things.

YONCE: It’s like saying, “This is an ideal way of living.” My life and the lives of those around me are fortunate and going well, but I’ve recently been paying more attention to situations where that isn’t the case. I guess that’s what I was trying to express through the songs. I’m a bit particular about how people live.

Ouchi： Living Style Sommelier [laughs].

YONCE： “Mansion” is like a ranting old man’s rumba. It’s a song from the perspective of “the caretaker of the Earth” or “the caretaker of social life,” but it’s kind of pompous.

-No, “Mansion” is all about the punch line.

Yusuke: I really like YONCE’s lyrics. I don’t think they’re singing bright messages for the future, but in songs like “Mansion” and others, there are parts that really encourage me. It’s not just dark and prickly lyrics; there’s a lot of tenderness too.

YONCE： My stance is that I’m trying to write from a positive place. Because I believe the process matters, it wouldn’t make sense to just jump straight into the bright side. It’s like saying, “You have to eat the whole fish, even the liver.” You can’t just eat the tasty flesh. Animals, not just humans, are also eating the bitter stuff, so we all have to do that together. It’s a message of not trying to take the easy route, not living an easy life. …That’s why it’s like a ranting old man’s rumba. It’s like, “I’m about to lecture you!” but doing it through music [laughs].

I think that’s a very important stance for a rock band, and I believe YONCE’s message, shaped by his experiences and his perspective on humans, nature, and the Earth through farm work, is something only he could express. And as you’ve mentioned, with the sound of Hedigan’s and the time spent with the five of them, the words naturally flowed, so the message isn’t detached or preachy. It’s not preachy music at all. I think that’s what makes this album so special. So, why did you decide to title the album Chance?

Ouchi： The word that came naturally really fit in so many ways.

Shoji: We’ve been friends for a long time, grown into adults, formed a band, made music, toured… this is nothing but “chance.”

Motomura: Not “success” or anything like that.

YONCE: It’s more like “just being alive is a win.”

Ouchi: “Chance” is often used in the sense of “a stepping stone to success” or “something you have to seize,” but for me, it’s more like a fleeting moment that arises by chance, that’s what I think “chance” is.

Yusuke: If you really dive into the lyrics, there’s also a more satirical, ironic sense of “chance.” Like the “last seat in the race of elimination” in O’share — the “chance” for those people competing for it is different from our “chance.”

I think the title Chance conveys the idea that it’s not about outsmarting someone, but about recognizing unexpected moments that arise while spending time with someone. The final track, Fushigi, is also a new form of pop for Hedigan’s, and the lyrics are amazing.

Yusuke: I get it, Fushigi almost makes me want to cry.

Motomura: I cried too.

I’d like to ask what kind of feeling this expresses.

Yonce: I wrote this when I was seriously trying to sleep at a service area. I think I was feeling a bit down. I have a lot of friends, but within that circle, there are those I want to see no matter what, and those I only need to meet once a year. They’re all important, though. There are times when I can’t respond to them as I’d like, and times when I can. I think I was reflecting on that.

I’m really looking forward to the tour starting in January and what kind of experience it will bring. What do you prioritize in your live performances right now?

Motomura: In the last month or two, the setlist has changed, and I’ve realized that there are different ways to approach the flow of a live show. I don’t fully know yet what kind of live show it will be, so I’ve come to understand that I still want to lose myself in it.

YONCE: Steadily, our playing and performance humor sense is quite high right now.

[laughs] What does Hedigan’s mean by “humor sense”?

YONCE: It’s the kind of thing that makes you laugh in a good way.

Ouchi: Yes, things that only happen live.

Shoji: More like, we’re just laughing on our own. [laughs]

Yusuke: Right now, the biggest thing is simply enjoying making music with these five people. I think it will get even more fun as we add in the joy of communicating with the audience. If those moments where we feel like we’ve connected with the audience increase, I think something new will emerge on top of the joy of making music with these five people.

Motomura: It’s not the kind of live performance where everything converges into one single feeling, or where everyone ends up feeling the same way at the end. We also don’t know exactly how the live performance will unfold. Like Yūsuke said, we want to communicate with the audience—not in terms of “call and response” but in a way where we try to understand each other. I hope we can do that kind of communication, especially during the tour.

YONCE： I want to promote music itself. I want to keep saying things like, “Isn’t the guitar amazing?” or “Isn’t the band awesome?” all the time.

Hedigan’s Chance

November 20, 2024 Distribution release

1 地球(仮)
2 マンション
3 その後…
4 グレー
5 再生
6 Mission Sofa feat.井上真也
7 But It Goes On
8 O’share
9 カーテンコール
10 ふしぎ
https://fcls.lnk.to/Chance

CD
January 15, 2025 release
3,950 yen

[DISC 1]
1. 地球（仮）
2. マンション
3. その後…
4. グレー
5. 再生
6. Mission Sofa feat.井上真也
7. But It Goes On
8. O’share
9. カーテンコール
10. ふしぎ

[DISC 2 “Live at SPACE SHOWER MUSIC Presents “EPOCHS Music & Art Collective 2023″”]
1. 夏テリー
2. LOVE（XL）
3. サルスベリ
4. 説教くさいおっさんのルンバ
5. 敗北の作法
6. 論理はロンリー

CD pre-order link
https://hedigans.lnk.to/Chance