Es VOL.20 新single“Misty Mystery”Yuri Nakamura、Hitoshi Okamotointerview(first half)

●○○From music freak Es Vol.20

GARNET CROW

New Single
“Misty Mystery” 2011.8.31 Release

GARNET CROW had only just released “Smiley Nation” on June 29, yet they will release a new single as soon as August 31! Its title is “Misty Mystery.” The song has already been airing since August 6 as the opening theme for the anime [Detective Conan].
With “Over Drive,” the single before last, and “Smiley Nation,” the previous single, GARNET CROW presented a bright and lively world that differed from the “transience, melancholy, and wistfulness” image they had maintained since their debut, showing a new appeal even in their 10th year. What they offer next is an exciting, danceable number filled with programmed sound, mysterious tones, and dramatic melodies. “Misty Mystery” reveals a musical direction newer still—not the classic GARNET CROW sound, nor the pop image they have shown recently. We spoke with vocalist Yuri Nakamura and guitarist Hitoshi Okamoto about the new song. (INTERVIEWED BY YUKARI MATSUBARA)

●Compared with “Over Drive” and “Smiley Nation,” this is a complete change of direction: a mysterious, and rather intense, song.
Yuri Nakamura (hereafter Nakamura): Yes. We made it starting from the desire to create a cool, stylish number that differed a little from the bright pop songs we had been releasing in succession.
●The arrangement is especially innovative. Was it already close to the finished version at the demo stage?
Nakamura: In terms of the image, the demo was fairly close to the finished form. But before the current arrangement, Furui-san had actually made another backing track, and it was mellower than the current one. It had a groove, but the arrangement had a laid-back, side-to-side feel. I do not usually make many requests about arrangements, but for this song I had a clear image of a cool, aggressive sound, so I asked him, “Please remake it.” As a result, I think it became a song with a powerful low end, an amazing groove, and a new kind of GARNET color that we had never achieved before.
●Did the first, mellow arrangement not click with you?
Nakamura: This time, I had a very clear image from the demo stage. It was like extremely digital rock, with a strong low-end feel. If an artist other than GARNET CROW sang it, I imagine it as the kind of song they would sing while dancing. I was interested in trying that sort of flavor, and we had just made two bright, pop-oriented songs in a row, so honestly I also wanted to make a song with the image of a “cool, unsmiling GARNET CROW” for the first time in a while.
●Many fans will be surprised. What new side of GARNET CROW do you think this song shows?
Nakamura: Rather than making something completely new, I produced it with the image of returning a little to the GARNET CROW of the past. We were never a band with an image of always being bright and smiling from the beginning of our debut. I wanted to return once to our original official image, with a direction that leaned more toward “dark” than “light.” The overall worldview feels as if it has returned to its roots, but sonically we are certainly doing something new. GARNET CROW had never had a song with this much low-end presence, especially in the way the intro takes off. So I think it is a song where our established world and a new GARNET sound are layered together successfully.

●Speaking of “Misty Mystery,” we asked Nakamura about something she has found “mysterious” recently! → “Furui-san’s smile!” He has been smiling so much lately. During shoots and things like that. He seems to be in excellent spirits (laughs). I wonder if something good happened?