Salasa on Embracing Endings: Finding Peace in the Natural Flow of Grief

Creating Music to Remain Grounded in the Now

On the other hand, the album also has a balanced aspect, incorporating pop elements along with its organic qualities.

Salasa: Growing up, I was surrounded by people who were into spiritual things, so I might have developed a consciousness about not letting things become too one-sided. I don’t really like being obsessed with just one thing. I also strongly dislike being judged based on preconceived notions. For example, even though I was born and raised in Shonan, I didn’t want to be seen as too much of a stereotype.

What do you mean by that?

Salasa： You know, the typical Shonan image—sun-tanned skin, hair swept back, and always in flip-flops [laughs]. I initially didn’t want to mention my background or show my face at all. I was concerned that, as a woman, showing my face would lead to a lot of comments on my appearance. My first promotional photos were meant to focus only on hands or silhouettes. But when a close friend took some photos, including one where I was making a funny face with my eyes rolled up, they turned out so well that I decided to use that one for the cover of my DIY release “Nail no Shima” and show my face after all.

In today’s society, it often feels like there is an overarching expectation to push things forward at a rapid pace and to focus on growth. In your debut single “Nail no Shima,” there are lyrics like “I learned it’s okay not to become anyone” and “It’s okay not to change.” With this new album, there seems to be a sense of pausing and simply observing “the here and now,” both the good and the bad, as it is. How do you personally feel about this?

Salasa: When I released my debut single, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was quite mentally unstable. I was terrified that if something happened and I couldn’t make music, I would fall into despair easily because I thought music was all I had. I started to feel that if I didn’t focus on living in the present and appreciating the small things, like finding a pretty flower while taking a walk, it would be detrimental to my well-being as a person.

I wasn’t originally like this; I used to be the type to constantly chase distant goals. When I’m busy, down, or under pressure, I lose the ability to see things from multiple perspectives. So, when I have mental space, I write about what I believe to be truths at that moment in my songs.

You mentioned earlier that you write songs to help yourself remember things. It seems like there’s an aspect of writing for your future self.

Salasa: I’m not particularly strong mentally and don’t have a lot of self-confidence, so I anticipate that I’ll face fluctuations in the future regardless of my intentions. That’s why I think I’m trying to save myself through my music.

Salasa “Golden Child Tour 2024”

• September 4, 2024 (Wednesday) at Nagoya, ell.FITS ALL
• September 5, 2024 (Thursday) at Osaka, Umeda Shangri-La
• September 10, 2024 (Tuesday) at Tokyo, Ebisu LIQUIDROOM

Common Information for All Shows:

• Time: OPEN 18:00 / START 19:00
• Performer: Salasa (Band Set)
• Price: ¥4,800 + 1 Drink
• Organized/Produced by: SMASH
• General Ticket Sale Date: July 10, 2024 (Wednesday) 10:00
• General Ticket Sale URL: eplus.jp/salasa/