INDEX
Challenging the Ever-Growing Rationalization (Suzuki)
Given your recognition that reality is not just made up of beautiful things, creating and performing music seems to be an act that embodies your “second-layer positivity.” What do you seek in the process of making music, and what do you aim to convey through it?
Suzuki： Fundamentally, the things I aspire to create and admire are works that, without compromise, express emotions that I have felt but could never put into words. I believe that only when such emotions are fully expressed through a piece can they finally be named. When I’m writing a song, there are moments when I realize, “Oh, this is what I was feeling.” And when I receive reactions from listeners, it feels like those emotions have been shared—like we’re deeply connected on some level. I think that’s what I’m truly seeking.
I’d like to ask you both the same question. Inoue, what are your thoughts?
Inoue: I often talk about this on the podcast I do with my friend Keayu (from BROTHER SUN SISTER MOON), but I feel like our generation lacks a real safety net—the sense that someone will definitely be there to help if something happens. When I think about that, I feel like as long as we can hold hands with those who truly understand us, we can avoid experiencing true loneliness. If my presence can serve as a catalyst for people to realize or reflect on what’s truly important in life, that would be meaningful to me. I think that might be the reason why I do music.
I see.
Inoue: Beyond that, I simply want to create amazing works. I’ve always had the desire to sing the kind of songs I personally want to hear. There are times when I feel like, This person’s voice just feels right, but with someone else, even if it’s a great song, I just can’t listen to it. But I believe Suzuki is someone who can create songs that overcome that barrier. Also, I want to elevate the standard of Japanese music. I know I’m saying something huge here, but… [laughs].
Suzuki: No, I totally agree with that.
Inoue: I’ve always felt that rather than spreading simple messages, sharing more complex ones can enrich people’s experiences even more. The bands that were popular when I was in middle school were seriously cool—like BUMP OF CHICKEN. I want to bring back that Wow, this is so cool! feeling from that era. My ambitions never run out! [laughs].
So, the first thing that felt truly cool to you was bands?
Inoue: Yeah, it was bands. Cool music meant bands, right?
Suzuki： Definitely. In terms of the times we live in, I don’t think there’s anything more cost-inefficient than being in a band right now (laughs). It costs money, and when strong-willed individuals come together, they inevitably clash. But I want to resist the idea that something should be discarded just because it’s costly or inefficient. That resistance is reflected in our work, and I think it’s also something we want to communicate through our existence as a band.
What do you seek in music, and what are you trying to achieve? Isomoto, how about you?
Isomoto: I think the music we create isn’t about presenting something entirely new, but rather helping people recognize things that were already inside them—things they hadn’t put into words yet. Finding beauty in someone else or discovering ugliness within yourself isn’t about encountering something new; it’s about becoming aware of something that was always there but unnoticed. I hope our music allows people to experience that realization.
Isomoto: At the same time, I don’t want people to take what they realize and force it into familiar words. It’s completely fine to let things remain ambiguous as they are. The world today seems to push for clarity in everything, but I believe that true beauty often lies in the subtle and the undefined. So, we’re not trying to send a message like, “Listen to our music and become this kind of person.” But I do think that simply engaging deeply with complexity can bring something meaningful to one’s life moving forward.
Suzuki: That’s true. Just the existence of a work like this might be a source of comfort for someone. It’s something we arrived at naturally by giving our all, but looking back now, I feel like the very fact that ROLARS exists in this way holds significant meaning.
