INDEX
The Beauty Beyond Entertainment
There was a time when Suzuki, who was active as a solo artist, started working with different people in the studio, which led to collaborating with Zu. At the time, there was another guitarist involved, but when that person left, they continued as a two-piece band. However, as a band sound, it’s undeniably lacking something, right? I wondered if there was a moment when you were certain that this setup could work.
Suzuki: No, there wasn’t [laughs].
Zu: We still don’t feel like a fully formed band (laughs). It’s actually a huge source of frustration. Sometimes when we bring in support members and perform as a full band, it feels like, “This is it, it’s perfect!”
Suzuki: But, surprisingly, the audience often says they like the two-piece setup, so while I do want to continue as a band, I’m also fine with just the two of us.
Zu: It feels like a different kind of thing. When we play as a band, it becomes very musical, but when it’s just the two of us, it feels more like an expression that goes beyond music. I totally understand why people might prefer the two-piece format. That said, the temptation is still there.
Suzuki： Yeah, it’s hard to resist the allure of bass and electric sounds. Even when I watch other bands, I think, “You need electric guitars, it’s a must.” But when we perform as a band, I feel armed and get a bit overconfident. The sound is bigger, and there’s this invincible feeling. But that’s not true [laughs]. In that sense, sticking to just the two of us might be a good way to keep ourselves grounded.
There is certainly value in creating elaborate costumes and stage productions, but that’s not the approach of Suzuki Mikiko Zu.
Suzuki: I think those things can be fun, but what I find cool might be different. I feel beauty and humanity in the intense expressions of bands like Sambomaster during their live performances. I want them to perform in their pajamas, and I want to see real people in a live show.
Zu: There’s a kind of beauty that comes when you strip away the entertainment aspect.
Suzuki: Exactly. In a way, it’s the opposite of the mainstream. The idea is that what truly shines is found in places that are rough and raw, like a gathering of windblown leaves. That’s the truth for me.
What I want to sing about is like a T-shirt — simple and unadorned, blending into everyday life.
Mikiko Suzuki Zu “Sunset”
The worn-out fabric, the inside of it, stretched-out underwear, the thin soles of shoes.
I don’t need tomorrow, I don’t need the future, I don’t need security — I only want now.
Is that not enough? Is that not good enough? The marketplace of life with no price tag.
