INDEX
Processing Emotions Through Music
-The impression of your solo songs is that you freely shape the musical style you want to pursue at that moment. How was your latest song “w_mimoza” created?
Umei： “w_mimoza” was born out of a strong desire to write a string piece, and at first I was thinking of putting a song in it. But my admiration for strings was so strong that I thought I needed to study more before I could write a string piece, so I hesitated to write one, and it took me a long time. After thinking about it for a while, I suddenly thought, “Okay, I’ll write it all myself, even if it’s a little rough,” and I finished it in about two weeks.
-What are the roots of your admiration for string instruments?
Umei: I’ve always loved the works of violinist Toshihiro Nakanishi, considering him an entrance to admiration. When I was around 7 or 8 years old, my Electone teacher introduced me to his music. Since then, I’ve always wanted to create high-quality string compositions of my own, and I feel satisfied with what I’ve achieved this time. I hope to continue with this lineup in the future and am currently working on new songs again.
-The composition spans 7 minutes with a highly dramatic development, and it’s a piece I’d like to hear as a soundtrack or film score someday. What’s the origin of the title “w_mimoza”?
Umei：I was interested in white mimosa for a while. Also, when I was writing this song, I was going through a difficult time, and I was thinking about kindness. I was thinking about what I was doing by facing people too straight and being so tired. I think it was a time when I was feeling bewildered, and I think it came out of that.
-The story of finishing a song on impulse due to emotional inspiration also applies to “hannah,” doesn’t it?
Umei: It is rather rare for me to write a song in an emotional state, and I think that is why I have strong feelings for this song, but I also feel that I was calm when I was actually writing the song. When I play, I often get emotional, but at those times I am surprisingly calm mentally, and there is a conflict between my superficial and inner feelings. I am also slow to develop emotions, or I often feel sad or angry afterwards, and this sometimes causes trouble for others on a daily basis.
-Complex emotions aren’t easily put into words right away, and they’re not something that can be digested immediately. That’s perhaps why I digest them through music.
Umei: I’ve been thinking lately that maybe that’s true.
