INDEX
Frustration Remains Unresolved During Live Performances, Carrying Over Music and Emotions into Daily Life
I believe that in Suzuki’s songs, the act of “singing and creating music” is embedded as a motif. Music has become inseparable from daily life, so even if songs are created as an outlet, they can also bring about new stress, leading to a loop of frustration.
Suzuki: Yeah, I can’t escape it. It’s tough. But if listeners can feel something and find a positive turn from it, that’s totally fine with me. I hadn’t really felt this way before.
Zu: It’s a bit of a relief, right?
I think one of the functions of a rock band is for frustrated people to come together and temporarily forget their worries by playing loud, powerful music. But often, if things are too cathartic, the underlying issues can become vague or neglected. In the case of Suzuki Mikiko Zu, since Suzuki herself hasn’t fully released her frustrations, listeners are left in a state where they need to keep thinking about it.
Suzuki：So, it’s music that doesn’t get resolved and carries over into daily life.
Exactly. That’s why I think it has such a strong impact on listeners’ lives. On the other hand, this means Suzuki can’t break free from the painful loop.
Suzuki：It’s tough. It’s clearly tough.
Do you feel Suzuki’s struggles while watching her from the side, ‘s?
Suzuki： You definitely feel it, right? With me going bald and all.
Zu: It’s tough on me too [laughs]. I’m the one who sees it the most up close, so there are parts I can really believe in, and parts where I want to shout, “Come on, enough already!” I think everyone in the band has their own struggles, big or small, but no one’s life and music are as intertwined as hers. That’s what draws me to her and gives me a reason to keep going.
Suzuki： Of course it’s hard, but live performances are so much fun. If it weren’t for live shows, I might not even create songs. It was different in the past, but now I feel like they’re what keep me going. The joy of live shows is as simple as jumping rope.
Zu: You only started having fun recently, didn’t you?
Suzuki: Maybe since Fuji Rock. The sense of security from knowing there are people who recognize us created a feeling that I could be more carefree. Before that, I always thought there was absolutely no demand for us.
Zu: Exactly, you should be more carefree. There are people who recognize you and appreciate you.
Suzuki: That connects to the whole major label thing, too. The fact that I’m involved with more people has given me a bit of confidence. I’m happy and excited that I can think, “It’s okay to be myself,” even if it’s only about one in a hundred times like an ordinary person would.
