INDEX
From Early School Years to a Band-Building Path
What do you find most joyful about being in a band now?
Kubo: It’s just fun. That’s all there is to it.
And how about you, Aoi?
Aoi: I’ve been thinking about bands and music since I was in elementary and middle school, so it feels more like a given rather than a joy. I didn’t want to go down any path where I couldn’t be in a band.
Why has music and being in a band become such a central part of your life?
Aoi: The idea that “rock bands are cool” became absolute for me. I got into UK rock and was inspired by the Gallagher brothers from Oasis, thinking, “You can be this free” or “You can say what you want.” It felt similar to the way I admired Ultraman or Kamen Rider and wanted to be something cool. For me, the concept of “cool” was the strongest attraction.
Aoi: Also, I started taking piano lessons when I was about five years old. I wasn’t particularly talented, but I often wondered, “How can I make use of this time I’ve spent on piano? How can I connect it to something else?” After about ten years of playing, there was a moment when my fingers finally moved the way I wanted them to. Through that long period, I experienced a shift in how I felt about the instrument. From that point on, my desire to hold onto it and not let it go became even stronger.
