Hedigan’s Live Session Unveiled: A Glimpse into the Band’s Bond and Playful Energy

On Stage: The Moment of Freedom

At 9:35 PM, the five gathered in a circle, linking hands and lifting them high to get themselves pumped up. (Apparently, this was a first for them, as it’s not something they typically do.)

The setlist, carefully selected to highlight “songs that have been refined through recent live shows” and to create “a familiar live performance vibe,” included eight tracks: Natsu Terry, LOVE (XL), Gray, Sono Go…, Curtain Call, Saisei, Haiboku no Sahou, and O’share.

The sound of Hedigan’s—a fusion of five unique voices—is an unpredictable journey, one that neither the audience nor the band can foresee. It’s a moment where music transcends understanding, reaching realms beyond what’s expected. This is what Hedigan’s offers: a dive into the unknown.

In Sono Go…, an outro not heard on the recording is introduced. Wild, layered vocals build up, and the instruments increase in intensity, leading to a final shout of “Papa! Mama!” Hedigan’s’ “gag sense”—those spontaneous, one-of-a-kind moments that only live performances can deliver, moments so unexpected and exhilarating they make you laugh—emerged time and again during their set. The same energy is felt in Haiboku no Sahou. With a live outro not found on the track, Hedigan’s music pulls you in, making you wonder where it’s taking you next, and it’s impossible to look away.

“When playing the end of Haiboku no Sahou, I try to clear my mind completely,” Motomura shared. “I want to become nothing more than the hands of a clock. It’s krautrock, from Germany in the ‘60s and ‘70s, a genre that emerged as a defiant statement after Germany’s defeat, rejecting American influence. It’s a form that rejects pleasure, and I try to stay true to that. So I play with no thoughts, with no intention of feeling good, or letting the audience feel good.”

YONCE, laughing, added, “I’m only playing things that even a fifth-grader could do. I’m just alternating between two strings at the same spot. I try to become a machine, just following the drums. It feels like listening to a long speech from the principal, where my mind just starts to drift off in other directions.”

Within this collection of tracks, songs like Curtain Call and Saisei showcase YONCE’s profound vocals, with pop melodies that seep deeply into your soul.

“For me, live shows are all about liberation,” YONCE shares. “Before it starts, while the background music and sound effects are playing backstage, I might be thinking, ‘I’ll talk about this,’ or ‘For this part of the song, I’ll approach it differently today.’ But then, you realize none of that matters. Once the performance begins, you’re completely immersed in the present moment. It’s the ultimate trance. Honestly, I don’t usually remember much afterward.”

On this particular day, an intense focus unlike any other seemed to envelop the five members, amplifying their usual live energy.

“There was a strange, almost eerie level of concentration today,” YONCE remarked.

“The way the sound expanded was really unique. In a studio or a sealed space, the sound is crisp and clear, but today, the strong echo made it feel like you had to tune your ears to catch every nuance. That heightened tension created an incredible sense of immersion. I’ve never felt this kind of focus while performing—it was truly enjoyable,” Motomura shared.

“The cold definitely had an impact. When it’s cold, there’s this sharp edge to the tension and energy. The environment and temperature really do affect the performance,” Yūsuke added.

By 11 PM, the recording wrapped up. The five members, having navigated the tension of performing in such an unconventional space, wore expressions of triumph, their faces reflecting the joy and satisfaction of embracing the “unexpected moments” that had unfolded.

Hedigan’s debut album Chance serves as a documentary of the band’s journey, capturing the emotional highs and lows they’ve experienced. In the same way, this live footage is a snapshot of several hours spent together, where the five members reveled in the unpredictable, enjoying the moments that defied their expectations. Though experienced in other bands, Hedigan’s was formed to share an ideal way of life and the true joy of “connecting with friends through music”—something clearly expressed through the live performance and the conversations that flowed naturally.

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