INDEX
The Power of Words: Changing the Atmosphere with a Single Sentence
What other things do you feel a connection to or find interesting, similar to the vibe of Karakoram no Yamayama?
Ishida: When it comes to music, I can’t really think of anything that shares the same ideas, but I often feel a connection to stand-up comedy. In comedy, you can change the whole atmosphere with just one sentence. For example, the routines of Lanjatai, Dr. Heinrich, or Kamomental create an entirely different world with one line, making you think, “These people are a bit strange.” I often feel a connection to that. The strength of words can turn something into either something funny or make someone seem eccentric.
You believe in the power of a single line, don’t you? It’s true that the lyrics of Karakoram no Yamayama also have that “something’s off” quality.
Ishida: The power of words is being able to make someone think “this is weird” with just a short sentence. For example, if someone asks where you’re from and you answer “Tokyo, ya know?” in Kansai dialect, that alone is strange, right? We choose to realize that through music, but I believe there are plenty of people in the comedy scene who share the same view about words.
In fact, the latest EP “Shukan Kibatsu,” released in August 2024, also includes a radio sketch titled “Scoop! Infiltrating the AI Employees’ Cafeteria.”
Ishida: The production of this EP started after the members listened to YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA’s BGM (note: BGM refers to their album [Zoushoku]). So, the blueprint for this EP is likely inspired by that.
Note: Zoushoku is a collaboration between Shigeo Kawai’s “The Snake Man Show” and YMO, which includes a radio skit midway through the album.
Have you always listened to a model work before creating your previous projects?
Ishida: Until now, I’ve felt like I was creating a business card with each project. For the previous album Shutsudo no Toshi (released July 2023), there wasn’t a specific concept. I just put together the strongest tracks from what we had at the time. But this time, for the first time, we all discussed together and decided on the kind of work we wanted to create.
Kimura: When we create a live setlist, the phrase “deepening the world view” often comes up, and that’s what we aimed to do with the EP Shukan Kibatsu. Until now, we’ve been making songs with the purpose of performing them live, but this time, there were no such constraints. Because of that, we were able to include tracks that we didn’t necessarily have to perform live, and I believe this album became one that fully immerses listeners in the world of “Shukan Kibatsu.”
Based on what we just discussed, it seems that Shukan Kibatsu has become closer to the concept of a “program.” If you were to compare this work to a TV show, what would it be?
Ishida: It would be Adomachi (Shutsubotu! Adomachi Heaven). It’s a show where they feature various shops and people, and this time, it’s an episode focusing on the town where the “Shukan Kibatsu Girl” lives.
