Singer-songwriter Salasa has released her second album Golden Child, approximately 1 year and 8 months after her previous work Inner Ocean. With the theme of “living with a bluesy spirit,” Salasa once again explores raw emotions like sorrow and pain in this album. However, she extends beyond personal experiences, connecting with the vast, uncontrollable rhythms of nature—such as the sun, moon, stars, drifting clouds, and rain. At the same time, the album’s sound has expanded, blending urban, dry pop elements with her own artistic touch in the artwork. Together, these layers create the unique soundscape of Golden Child.
Salasa is known for her modern sensibility towards fashion and art, extending her vision into everything from stage design to merchandise. Her approach combines a producer’s meticulous attention to detail with a heightened sensitivity to the mystical and transcendent. How was this worldview shaped, and what led to the creation of this new album, especially after a period where she struggled to write songs? Salasa shares her journey.
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Shift in Songwriting Mindset Since First Album Inner Ocean
This is your second album, how was the experience of making it?
Salasa: Compared to my first album Inner Ocean, where I had no idea what I was doing, this time I worked with a healthy amount of pressure, in a good way. That said, it’s still only my second album, so there was a lot of trial and error involved.
In what areas did you feel you were exploring the most?
Salasa: For me, music feels very close to nature, like grasping at things that naturally well up from within me. So, there are times when I can’t create songs, as if it’s part of a cosmic flow beyond my control. Since it’s my job, I have to keep making music, so I was really focused on finding that balance and capturing the right feeling.
A singer-songwriter from Shonan, Salasa is not limited to music; she also works as a visual artist, apparel brand buyer, photographer, and hula dancer. Embracing a diverse and free-ranging career, she draws on her self-coined theme, “Live Bluesy,” inspired by the blues genre born from sorrow and depression, to transform negative emotions and experiences into her art.
The release of your previous album, Inner Ocean, was at the end of 2022, right?
Salasa: My feelings about songwriting have changed a lot since then. Initially, I loved singing and had a strong desire for everyone to see me performing on stage. Since covers don’t allow for that visibility, I started creating my own songs. I didn’t actually enjoy songwriting at all in the beginning.
The initial drive was to sing, and everything else followed.
Salasa: Yes, so I had this obsessive thought that I needed to learn to enjoy songwriting to stand on stage, but I also felt that approach wouldn’t sustain me. However, in 2024, suddenly, I started feeling really inspired. It seems like the past year was just a phase I needed to go through (laughs). I didn’t manage to write much in 2023, but perhaps that time was necessary. This year, I’ve started enjoying songwriting and genuinely wanting to create great music. So, this album is the result of a changed mindset toward songwriting.
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Fondness for Late 1990s Japanese Pop with R&B Elements
How were the tracks on the album created in order?
Salasa: Although I released “f e e l d o w n” in October last year, the first track created after deciding to make the album was “Shukufuku” (Blessing). The staff around me liked it, and I felt that if we developed this song, we might be able to see the next steps more clearly.
“Shukufuku” plays a pivotal role in the album.
Salasa: Most of my previous songs were created with Kota Matsukawa from w.a.u, but for this album, I wanted to explore new elements beyond the R&B sound we’ve worked with before. For “Shukufuku,” I invited Shuhei Nishida, whom I had been following for a while, to arrange the track. Originally, I planned to collaborate with various people on each song, but when I met Nishida for the first time, we hit it off so well. I felt like we had a special connection, and the director suggested, “Why not have Nishida handle everything?” So, we started from there, and in that sense, I think it really became the core of the album.
What aspects were you particularly interested in exploring this time?
Salasa: I wanted to create great pop music. Although many of the tracks ended up having a similar feel to my previous work, this was the significant difference.
What made you feel that way?
Salasa： I’m a huge fan of the Japanese pop scene from the late 1990s, with its R&B influences from artists like UA, CHARAS, and BONNIE PINK. I think the creativity in their music was truly exceptional. It might have been the unique energy and power of that era, but I’ve been thinking strongly since the beginning of this year about how to recreate that feeling in the Reiwa era.
Did you originally listen to pop music from that era?
Salasa： My mother listened to artists like UA and CHARAS. After becoming a musician myself, I grew even more inspired by them. I love music, but I also have a passion for art and fashion. From the beginning, I wanted to be seen not just as a musician but as someone who engages with culture as a whole. I find the blend of catchiness and edge in their music, along with their established creative identities and unique styles, ideal for me as a singer-songwriter.
When I arrived at the interview location, you introduced the two people who did your hair and makeup and styling. It’s actually the first time I’ve been introduced to staff by an artist during an interview.
Salasa: Really? Not everyone does that?
That made me think you must be someone who pays attention to all aspects of creativity, and hearing you talk about it confirms that. You’re involved in your own artwork, stage decorations, and even carefully select materials for your merchandise.
Salasa: I always want to work with people I admire, and I believe that I need to be responsible for the choices I make. When it comes to merchandise, I want people to feel that they’re paying for something with integrity, just as I do when I shop. I enjoy thinking about materials and decorations, so it’s something I genuinely enjoy doing.
