VOL.110 15th single“僕らだけの未来”

From music freak magazine Vol.110

GARNET CROW

Interview with Yuri Nakamura & AZUKI Nana

From music freak magazine Vol.110

New Single《僕らだけの未来》

Out January 14!

Not long after the release of their third album《Crystallize 〜君という光〜》, GARNET CROW released their first single of 2004,《僕らだけの未来》, on January 14. They will also begin their much-anticipated tour《GARNET CROW live scope 2004 〜君という光〜》on January 27, their first tour in a year, so it looks as though they will be active throughout the year again. This time, Yuri Nakamura and AZUKI Nana spoke with us about their new work, the concerts, and what they have been up to lately.

●Your new work is coming out so soon after the album.

Yuri Nakamura (hereafter Nakamura): The new year has arrived, so we thought we would wish everyone a Happy New Year (laughs).

AZUKI Nana (hereafter AZUKI): It is a greeting to get everyone energized. Something along the lines of, “We hope you will continue to support us this year,” I suppose.

●《僕らだけの未来》makes it feel as though you have entered a new territory.

Nakamura: It was originally intended for the album, but halfway through, we decided to keep it for a single, so we changed the arrangement and lyrics to suit a single. It originally had a stronger Latin influence and a more exotic feel; we wanted it to add a little seasoning to the album. Once we decided to make it a single, we tried moving the arrangement a little more toward rock. Some of the Latin flavor remains, though.

●Was it this fast from the beginning?

Nakamura: It was fast to begin with, but the rhythm was different. Before, it swayed more from side to side and had a little more of a groove. In the end, it became much more band-like and energetic.

●Did you make any particular adjustments to the vocal speed or key this time?

Nakamura: Decisions about the vocals actually went very smoothly. It is unusual for us, but the lyrics probably took the most time this time.

●The lyrics fit the feeling of the music perfectly and fill you with hope.

●The sound of the word “we” also seems to encourage everyone. It feels more outward-facing than before.

Nakamura: The concerts are coming up soon, too. It is also a way of encouraging ourselves and hoping to ride this momentum all the way through.

●The melody is also very easy to understand.

Nakamura: When I wrote it, I was listening intensively to Italian songs, chanson, and that kind of music. So the vocal style and melodic lines may have an exotic quality to them. And although it is Latin, it is not the kind of Latin music that evokes a bright, sunny country. It is Latin with some shadows and melancholy, with more of a European feeling. The song was influenced by those things.

●Do you listen to all kinds of music when you compose?

Nakamura: It just happened that way this time. There was music I really liked then, and I was probably listening mostly to old chanson—the songs of the 1950s and 1960s. Maybe that is why I ended up writing a melody like this.

●It feels as though the range of your compositions has broadened again.

Nakamura: When I have a certain image in mind, it may be easier to write.

Nakamura: If I decide to make something Latin, it gradually becomes Latin; if I want to write an ordinary ballad, I can switch over to that as well. It is not something terribly specific, but rather a certain feeling or style.

●How did the other members react to the song?

Nakamura: They did not say anything in particular—just, “It is easy to move along to, so it is pretty good, right?” (laughs).

Nakamura: The original piece by itself did not particularly surprise anyone. Perhaps it was because the atmosphere of the song gradually changed as we added the lyrics and completed the arrangement, refining it through each stage.

●The three songs on this single each have a different style and cover quite a wide range. It is interesting.

Nakamura: We had enough time to make them, so everyone could take the time to work carefully. It is precisely because we had that room that we could play around, which broadened the range. Even with a tight schedule, we were able to work without feeling too pressured, so we could respond when things changed. Halfway through《僕らだけの未来》, we changed the lyrics and arrangement completely for the single, and everyone was able to move smoothly in the new direction. I think that was possible because we could work with peace of mind.

●So the recording work, including Furui's arrangements and Okamoto's guitar, also progressed smoothly this time?

Nakamura: There was no particular point where we got stuck. I feel that everyone completed their work in a stable, productive state.

●Were the other two songs also a continuation of the album sessions?

Nakamura:《Float World》was written at the same time as the album. The third song,《lose feeling》, was written after the first two had been settled, when we decided we wanted the third track to have a slightly lighter style. The three songs work very well together as a whole.

●The second song,《Float World》, really has GARNET CROW's style.

Nakamura: If you had to choose the one that sounds most like us, it would probably be this one. It is also an area we are good at, so our individual tastes come through in the lyrics, melody, and arrangement. That should make it interesting.

●Okamoto is increasingly showing a style of his own, too.

Nakamura: More and more, it feels like he is saying, “Leave this solo to me” (laughs).

●The filtered vocal in the intro is also interesting.

Nakamura: We made this song with Miguel from Cybersound, and in the end we asked him to process it into what you hear now. It was especially interesting to me. It brings out the floating, suspended quality even more, and I think it works well.

●Did you give him any specific requests?

Nakamura: No. The lyrics had already been completed and the song had been fully recorded. We asked Miguel to work from the finished product, so we did not give him any particular requests. That is also why the result is so playful and feels fresh even to us. It is not quite a complete rearrangement, but it feels as though he added another layer of thought to what we had already made.

●Did Miguel create that floating quality after understanding the meaning of the lyrics?

Nakamura: Not to that extent (laughs). I think he worked from the sound of the words and the feeling of the sound as a whole, rather than from the meaning of the lyrics or from individual words. If it were us, we would inevitably think about where the phrases and words divide—“the line ends here,” “this is one word.” Since the lyrics are in Japanese, we know what they mean even without paying attention to it, so it can be difficult to approach them from another angle. But precisely because he does not understand Japanese, Miguel was able to create a sound treatment that was his own.

Nakamura: He treats even the melodies he cannot understand as sounds, and treats the lead vocal as an instrument. That is how he can create something like this. It feels fresh, and it is very comfortable to listen to.

●Miguel has been involved in your production since GARNET CROW's early days, hasn't he?

Nakamura: That is why we work so well together. He brings us fresh air, but he does not completely change anything. He draws out what we already have from another angle.

●The third song,《lose feeling》, is interesting too.

Nakamura: I thought it would fit the other songs best if we made it lighter and simpler, with a touch of sadness.

●The piano has a 1980s AOR feel, and the string arrangement is beautiful too.

Nakamura: The elements really do come together beautifully. In the original demo, the solo vocal parts used falsetto, and when I was writing it, the overall impression was lighter and more floating. But once the lyrics and backing were complete and I tried singing it, the falsetto felt too weightless and lacked a center of gravity. It did not seem right.

From music freak magazine Vol.110

Nakamura: So at the last minute, we changed the chorus to a full-voice style with the sound opened up. I felt that letting the voice out would express the sadness more effectively.

●It sounds as though there are many different versions before a song is finished.

Nakamura: There are, and not just for this song. There are so many versions that it feels as though we could make an entire album out of them (laughs).

Nakamura: It happens with every song, every time. To us, it is completely ordinary, so it does not feel like anything special. We keep reworking things until we find the best form. That approach suits us better.

●So AZUKI's lyrics can also end up completely different?

Nakamura: The ending of《僕らだけの未来》also became completely different. When the vocal approach changes, the lyrics in that section change along with it, so there really are many versions.

Nakamura: The way the phrases are divided in the lyrics and the way the melody and words are combined change the impression you get. In particular, they change which parts have more impact.

●Do you also make changes on the spot during recording?

Nakamura: After singing it, if we feel that another version fits better, we change it right there. We also sing it again for comparison and try different approaches, choosing the version that sounds better or is easier to hear clearly.

●Was the timing of this single's release also influenced to some extent by the upcoming concerts?

Nakamura: That was the result. We cannot say we did not think about the release timing. I would be happy if people heard this song and felt like coming to a concert.

●The tour《GARNET CROW live scope 2004 〜君という光〜》finally begins on January 27. What will it be like?

Nakamura: We want to sing lots of songs like this and songs like that.

●Does it feel reassuring that the touring members are the same as last time?

Nakamura: Of course. We feel very secure and trust everyone, and we are continuing our preparations.

●Do you have any plans for the stage design?

Nakamura: Secret (laughs).

●Finally, please tell us about your hopes and goals for these shows.

Nakamura: The venues are larger than last time, so first of all, I hope I will not be overwhelmed by the energy in the room. Some people will be coming for the first time, while others will be coming for the second time. I hope everyone will have fun watching, no matter who they are, and that nobody will be bored.

Nakamura: Please come in large numbers.

(Interview and text: Sai Saita)

Television Appearances

• January 15: NTV, *AX MUSIC-TV 01*.
• January 16: TV Asahi, *Music Station*.
• January 17: TBS, *COUNT DOWN TV*.
• January 24: NHK, *POP JAM* (scheduled).

Hitoshi Okamoto Appearance Confirmed!

THURSDAY LIVE at hills パン工場: “OKAMOTO NIGHT”

Date: Thursday, January 22.
Performers: Hitoshi Okamoto (GARNET CROW), vocals and guitar.
Guests: Yuri Nakamura (GARNET CROW), vocals; AZUKI Nana (GARNET CROW), keyboard.
Inquiries: Hills Live Ticket Center, 06-6110-7111.

Release Information

GARNET CROW's new single《僕らだけの未来》will be released on January 14.
GIZA studio / GZCA-7037 / ¥1,000 (tax included)

1. 僕らだけの未来
2. Float World
3. lose feeling
4. 僕らだけの未来 〜instrumental〜

※《僕らだけの未来》is the image song for Fuji Television Network's *感動ファクトリーすぽると！*.

Tour Schedule

《GARNET CROW live scope 2004 〜君という光〜》

• Tuesday, January 27: Osaka Koseinenkin Hall, Main Hall. Sold out. Inquiries: Sound Creator, 06-6357-4400.
• Monday, February 2: Mielparque Hall FUKUOKA. Inquiries: Kyodo Nishi-Nihon, 092-714-0159.
• Wednesday, February 4: Hiroshima ASTER PLAZA, Main Hall. Inquiries: Candy Promotion, 082-249-8334.
• Saturday, February 7: Aichi Koseinenkin Hall. Inquiries: Sunday Folk Promotion, 052-320-9100.
• Friday, February 13: Shibuya Public Hall. Inquiries: H.I.P, 03-3475-9999.

Doors open at 18:00 and the show begins at 18:30 at every venue.
Ticket price: Reserved seating throughout, ¥5,250 (tax included).

GARNET CROW: Yuri Nakamura (vocals), AZUKI Nana (piano), Hiroto Furui (keyboard), Hitoshi Okamoto (guitar).

Supporting musicians: Yoshinobu Oga〈nothin' but love〉(guitar), Yuichiro Iwai〈IN db〉(guitar), David C. Brown〈Experience〉(drums), Masato Ohashi〈former member of FEEL SO BAD〉(bass), and others.

From music freak magazine Vol.110

GARNET CROW Discography

Albums

1.《first soundscope 〜水のない晴れた海へ〜》 / GZCA-1061 / January 31, 2001.
2.《SPARKLE 〜筋書き通りのスカイブルー〜》 / GZCA-5013 / April 24, 2002.
3.《Crystallize 〜君という光〜》 / GZCA-5038 / November 12, 2003.

Independent Release

First mini album《first kaleidscope 〜君の家に着くまでずっと走ってゆく〜》 / TCR-001 / December 4, 1999.

Singles

1. Debut single《Mysterious Eyes》 / GZCA-1028 / March 29, 2000.
2.《君の家に着くまでずっと走ってゆく》 / GZCA-1029 / March 29, 2000.
3.《二人のロケット》 / GZCA-1032 / May 17, 2000.
4.《千以上の言葉を並べても...》 / GZCA-1044 / September 27, 2000.
5.《夏の幻》 / GZCA-1050 / October 25, 2000.
6.《flying》 / GZCA-1055 / November 29, 2000.
7.《Last love song》 / GZCA-1072 / May 9, 2001.
8.《call my name》 / GZCA-2005 / August 8, 2001.
9.《Timeless Sleep》 / GZCA-2020 / November 21, 2001.
10.《夢みたあとで》 / GZCA-2031 / March 13, 2002.
11.《スパイラル》 / GZCA-2044 / August 14, 2002.
12.《クリスタル・ゲージ》 / GZCA-7006 / December 11, 2002.
13.《泣けない夜も 泣かない朝も》 / GZCA-7024 / July 23, 2003.
14.《君という光》 / GZCA-7031 / September 10, 2003.

DVD

《first live scope and document movie》 / ONBD-7022 / February 26, 2003.

Official GARNET CROW Website

http://www.garnetcrow.com/

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