VOL.72 Hitoshi Okamotosolo Maxi Single“First fine day”

●○○ From music freak magazine Vol.72

Hitoshi Okamoto

Hitoshi Okamoto
Solo Maxi Single “First fine day”
Out November 8!

Hitoshi Okamoto, known for his work as a member of GARNET CROW, will begin his solo career in earnest on November 8 with his debut single, “First fine day”! The guitar-band sound he presents combines gently syncopated guitar with clear, refreshing vocals. Recorded and produced by Okamoto himself at home, the work offers a glimpse of his musical roots and the natural, unguarded person he is. We spoke with Hitoshi Okamoto to learn more about him.

● Could you tell us how your solo debut came about?

Hitoshi Okamoto: While playing guitar in GARNET CROW, I had also been writing songs at home. At some point, that led me to think, “Why not try singing them myself?”

● Had you ever thought about singing before?

Okamoto: “I had never thought about it at all” is closer to the truth. Honestly, I never imagined that I would sing.

● When people hear about a guitarist’s solo work, they often imagine guitar-heavy songs built entirely around the guitar. Your work is centered on the vocals and has a gentle, refreshing quality. Why did you take that approach?

Okamoto: When a guitarist from a famous band releases a solo album, people who play guitar themselves usually listen with particular expectations. Rather than have people view me that way, I would prefer not to emphasize my identity as a guitarist. I want them to listen to me as an artist and as a newcomer—not as “a work by a guitarist.”

● In other words, you want people to get to know you as Hitoshi Okamoto.

Okamoto: Yes. I have been thinking about what I should present as “Hitoshi Okamoto.”

● This was recorded entirely at home. Why did you choose not to go to a studio? Please also tell us about the process.

Okamoto: People said the demos had a good feel, so I thought there was no need to go all the way to a studio and record them again. I thought it would be good to preserve a kind of roughness—or even a certain cheapness—in the good sense of those words. AZUKI Nana wrote the lyrics, and I wrote and played everything else myself. Because I was recording at home, all my own equipment was around me and I felt relaxed. Of course, there were times when I experienced the pain of creating too (laughs). When that happened, I did not force myself; I went for a walk or did something else to change my mood.

● You must have a lot of equipment at home. We hear the PV was filmed there too...

Okamoto: (laughs) No, no, the equipment is nothing special. Unlike filming with GARNET, I was on my own, so I was nervous, but it was fun too.

● We would like to hear about your musical roots. How did you first get into music?

Okamoto: I started playing guitar in middle school. It was the height of the band boom, so I entered the world of music quite naturally.

● Was guitar your first instrument?

Okamoto: Actually, I first wanted to learn drums, but I simply thought, “Moving a set that huge into the house would be...” (laughs). Guitar was easier to get started with. At the time, all my friends wanted to learn as quickly as possible. I did not actually form a band until high school. Naturally, I began with covers—typical hard rock that was popular at the time (laughs).

● Did you sing back then?

Okamoto: No, no (laughs). I was completely absorbed in guitar and never even thought about singing. That is why it feels strange to be singing now (laughs). Once I entered university, I began making original music. Looking back, that was probably when I started making things with more of a British flavor.

● You have continued making music steadily for a long time. The music you worked on in the past must still be connected to the sound you have now.

Okamoto: “Steadily continued” sounds too flattering. It makes me sound as though I worked really hard. It was more that music was always around me, so I never left it. As for the connection... (thinks) I suppose there is one, but it is not a direct one. Maybe it has already emerged in certain parts of my songs without me realizing it.

● You mentioned that AZUKI Nana wrote the lyrics. What do you think of her lyrics?

Okamoto: Even when AZUKI Nana writes about love, she does not express it directly; she approaches it from another angle. I think that suits my sound perfectly.

● You understand the lyrics and express them through your singing. Is there anything difficult about that?

Okamoto: It is not specifically because AZUKI Nana wrote them. Whoever wrote them—even if I wrote them myself—the problem is the same: Japanese lyrics can ultimately be understood directly from their literal meaning, so I end up worrying about how to interpret them. At the same time, I digest them while thinking about whether a line sounds better sung one way, or whether it would sound tacky, and then I express it (laughs).

● Will you write your own lyrics in the future? Will you maintain this style as well?

Okamoto: I basically want to keep the style. As for writing lyrics, I do not know yet. The sound always comes first, and I cannot help it—my ears notice the overall sound first. Still, I hope to keep making music in a good state of mind.

● Do you have any plans to perform live?

Okamoto: (with a surprised expression) Not yet, not yet. But I am continuing to make new songs, so I hope an opportunity will come along in the future.

● What would you like to do or take on in the future?

Okamoto: It is a very ordinary answer, but I want to aim for writing good songs while expanding my possibilities further. Please look forward to the ever-evolving Hitoshi Okamoto! (laughs)

● Finally, what is music to you?

Okamoto: I have never thought about it deeply. I suppose it is like air. I do not really understand it either (laughs).

Okamoto answered the interview with a modest attitude. Once you have heard his work, it leaves behind a gentle feeling and makes you think that perhaps his own natural character has flowed into it without effort. He has only just begun moving forward on his own, yet he already gives us a sense of possibilities that have not been explored.

The cover illustration is also full of pop appeal, allowing you to fully appreciate his character, and the package is enjoyable inside and out. This is a musician worth watching!

Release information

Hitoshi Okamoto
Solo Maxi Single “First fine day”
Out November 8
GIZA studio　GZCA-1052　¥1,260 (tax included)

1. First fine day
2. joyride
3. Res-no