Es VOL.15 “SUPER LIGHT LIVE 〜extra〜”live后Hitoshi Okamotointerview(second half)

●○○From music freak Es Vol.15

SUPER LIGHT LIVE 〜extra〜
AFTER LIVE

There was the problem that it was difficult to tell from the feedback. It is inevitably different from hearing it live at the venue. But if I tried to do that during rehearsal, I would have to step in front of the band, listen to the performance in front of those huge speakers, and build the balance from there, which would put me in a different position from where I stand during the actual show. I am not on the performers’ side; I play guitar facing the members from the audience side. So I left that part to the others, taking the attitude of, “Go ahead and tweak it however you like.”
●GARNET CROW includes female members, but this time you had an all-male band. Did the atmosphere feel different?
Okamoto: Hmm, I did not really notice much difference in the atmosphere. Still, from everyone else’s point of view, there were not many songs, and they were Okamocchi’s songs, so they must have felt completely relaxed (laughs). I had to sing, so it was a little harder for me, but if I had only played guitar on this set list, it would have been incredibly easy!
●That kind of relaxed feeling works well for a live show, especially in a live house.
Okamoto: I think it works well for me. Some bands have a tightly wound, high-pressure atmosphere, and some bands feel that a loose approach like mine will not produce a good sound. But for now, I think SUPER LIGHT is probably just like this. Maybe once we gain more experience with live skills and performance, I will be able to talk about tightly controlled shows full of tension, but I cannot talk about that yet. We are nowhere near that level.
●Did you play live in live houses when you were an amateur?
Okamoto: Yes, I did.
●As a guitarist, rather than a vocalist?
Okamoto: As a guitarist. I did not sing at all.
●After seeing this show, I imagine you received many requests to sing solo again.
Okamoto: Of course, there were parts of singing that felt good to me too... If I could just keep doing this, I would like to, though (laughs). But when I have other work as well as solo activities, the solo work inevitably gets pushed to the back.
●Do you have a perfectionist side?
Okamoto: Um, when it comes to SUPER LIGHT, yes.
●You do not want to put something out if it feels half-finished?
Okamoto: I mean, I pour my own affection into it, and I get particular about things that other people might find hard to understand... So when someone calls me a perfectionist, I suppose there is a part of me like that. There are places I do not want anyone to mess with.
●How satisfied are you with this show in that respect?
Okamoto: Well, I would say it earns a passing grade, at least.
●Did doing solo work give you anything that you could apply to GARNET CROW?
Okamoto: Hmm... Actually, I sang one solo song at GARNET CROW’s year-end show at Tokyo International Forum. There was no way I could have imagined myself singing in front of thousands of people. I think that experience helped me with this solo project. I had been giving myself the self-suggestion, “I sang in front of that many people, so I’ll be fine this time too!”
●Did doing something different from your usual activities give you a chance to unwind?
Okamoto: No, it did not give me a chance to unwind. I worked desperately hard.
●Were there any other memorable episodes?
Okamoto: Apart from the merchandise, we gave everyone who came to the show a guitar pick as a souvenir. There was a different version for Osaka and Tokyo. I wanted to return the feeling of “Welcome, thank you for coming” to everyone, so I strongly asked the staff to make these souvenirs.
●You also prepared many gifts during the show.
Okamoto: Yes. There was a simple raffle, and we also had a section called “You must have come from the far north” in Osaka and “You must have come from the far south” in Tokyo. We prepared gifts for the people who had traveled from the northernmost and southernmost places. Two people took part—one from Hokkaido, the northernmost point, and one from Fukuoka, the southernmost point. I could only think, “I’m really sorry you came from so far away...”
●But from the fans’ perspective, perhaps they came running because they were grateful that you had created an opportunity to see the album performed live, rather than simply releasing it.
Okamoto: Ah, do you think so? Hmm... I am truly grateful.

ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

1st Album
『a first fine day』
GZCA-5012　￥1,890 (tax included)

1. Interlude-click me
2. First fine day
3. Too-Late Reunion
4. Res-no
5. Sweet ×2 Summer Rain
6. STRAY BEAST
7. Wings
8. First fine day Go!Go!remix

2nd Album
『FF/REWIND』
GZCA-5050　￥2,100 (tax included)

1. LOST CHILD
2. No matter what
3. telepathy
4. Autumn Sky
5. Click Me Pt.2
6. Between Silence
7. It's only love
8. sphere

SUPER LIGHT
1st Album
『Now Printing...』
GZCA-5232　￥2,000 (tax included)

01. Lose My Breath
02. Tonight
03. Sound of the Sea
04. Dime La Verdad
05. with great force
06. joyride（Re:ASAP）
07. All Fall Down