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

●○○From music freak Es Vol.20

●At what stage did you first hear this song?
Hitoshi Okamoto (hereafter Okamoto): The demo and the finished version.
●What impression did it make on you?
Okamoto: I was so surprised from the intro that I thought, “Huh? Is this GARNET?” Furui-san played it for me in the studio while we were recording another song, saying, “This is the next song you will record guitar for.” I was so surprised that I wondered whether he had played the wrong source. But when the vocals came in, I thought, “Ah, this is definitely GARNET” (laughs).
Nakamura: At what point did it become GARNET?
Okamoto: Right from the A section! It was unmistakably GARNET enough to knock me over (laughs). That means your voice has such a distinctive character, doesn’t it?
Nakamura: I can’t help it; it is my voice!
Okamoto: True, but in a good way, I think it means you have something that firmly belongs to you.
●Your voice has a very distinctive quality, but your singing and vocal delivery are also unique. You could call them original to Nakamura, but are you not conscious of that yourself?
Nakamura: I am not conscious of it at all. Other people often tell me it is distinctive, but I have no idea what differs from other singers. To me, I am simply singing the melody normally. Conversely, I cannot imagine what I am doing that is so unusual, so it really is mysterious to me. If I had to name one thing, I do not use much vibrato. Many female singers tremble their voices, but I do not sing with much tremolo, so that may be the only distinctive point.
●I thought you researched this in order to make the most of your voice and create the world of GARNET CROW.
Nakamura: No, no, I have always sung naturally. My singing style has not changed in 10 years, and all I do with the lyrics is sing them so they fit the melody. There is no other way to alter the singing. I cannot change the voice itself, and I am not conscious of doing anything particularly unusual, so from my perspective I think I have a rather unremarkable vocal style.
●I see. What was your impression when the lyrics came in this time?
Nakamura: They felt very relentless. The melody was like that too, and the lyrics were written to follow it, so the words come rushing at you in a torrent. I think they are addictive lyrics. The densely packed words are unified by rhyme, and there is a consistent use of rather abstract language, so it was not especially difficult to place the lyrics on the melody this time.
●So recording the vocals also went smoothly?
Nakamura: The song itself was difficult, though. Fitting the lyrics was not particularly hard. There were rhymes and interesting hooks, so I enjoyed recording it. I was also conscious of singing in a way that would not be overwhelmed by the torrent of words and their relentless momentum.
●How was the guitar recording?
Okamoto: Since programmed sounds are the main element this time, there are only one or two electric guitars and one gut guitar.
●The guitar in the instrumental break stays with you.
Okamoto: I played it on a gut guitar.
Nakamura: Why did you use a gut guitar instead of an acoustic guitar this time?
Okamoto: It was originally Furui-san’s request, but a gut guitar has a warmer sound than an acoustic guitar, doesn’t it? Depending on the engineer, compression can be applied so heavily that you cannot tell whether it is gut or steel, but I think this time the characteristics of the gut guitar come through clearly. It brings out a better atmosphere in minor-key songs.
●I strongly felt the end of summer in it.
Okamoto: That must be the image created by the gut guitar’s tone.
●I like the way the rich sound of a live instrument enters an arrangement centered on programmed sounds.
Okamoto: That is true. It adds flavor.
●This is apparently your 33rd single. When you think about that, your range has expanded tremendously.
Nakamura: Wow, have we made that many? We always work hard so that we can feel each latest release is our best, but this one is less dark than mysterious and cool. There are various keywords, such as “attacking,” but I think “a dignified □ strength” fits best.
●Have you filmed the music video?
Nakamura: Filming is finished, but it was not complete yet at the time of this interview, so we have not seen the final result either.
●What kind of video will it be?
Nakamura: It is planned to make extensive use of CG. It is interesting—like trick art (laughs). Please look forward to another GARNET CROW that is not us.
●Another GARNET CROW? Then we will have to wait and see. Who came up with the concept?
Nakamura: I originally proposed it. Extensive use of CG is unusual, and it is a new approach for a GARNET music video, so I hope you will look forward to it. There are several situations, such as a band scene and a solo scene with me, but the one consistent element is that the video has a cool overall world. I think it will turn out stylish.
●Do you have any stories from the shoot?
Nakamura: We filmed the solo shots in a forest. It started raining, but I think we were able to capture atmospheric footage. After that, we returned to Osaka to film the band scenes. That day I worked for 19 hours, from 7 a.m., so the schedule was quite intense, but it was fun, and I think it will turn out well. Please be sure to watch it!
●The second track, “live,” is pronounced “riv,” rather than “live” as in a concert, correct?
Nakamura: I checked with AZUKI-san too, and she came back saying, “It is ‘riv.’” Overall, it is a bright song with a bouncy feel. It suits the current season, and I think it turned out like a song that could make you active just by listening to it.
●It also has a healing quality, making it a bright and gentle song.
Nakamura: Yes. The demo was not this bright; it was a middle-tempo song that you could listen to at a relaxed pace, but Furui-san made it much brighter through the arrangement. It felt as if the speed of walking had changed to the speed of jogging.
●It feels refreshing.
Nakamura: I feel that we are finally becoming comfortable with this kind of bright pop song. Around the time of “Over Drive,” we were feeling our way through the new challenge, but then we made “Smiley Nation,” and now we have created “live,” another song in the same family. This type of song was unusual for GARNET, but little by little it has become part of us, and I think we can now let people listen with confidence. Maybe it has finally become natural for us on the third try (laughs).
●So the vocal recording also went smoothly?
Nakamura: Very smoothly. It was fun, and the lyrics had a bright subject about □ coming together as one, so it was easy for me to add □ as well. The beat was up-tempo, □ it was very easy to get into. It is a song I want to sing live soon □.
●How was recording the guitar?
Okamoto: It is fairly fast for a bouncy song, so I used the wrist s□p to make it bounce with an even fresher image. That was where I struggled more than expected □.
●The regular edition includes the third track, “I can’t take...”. What kind of song is it?
Nakamura: There was an old single called “Last love song,” and Furui-san calls this song a throwback to that period □. I made it while remembering the era of “Last love song” □. It is a minor-key medium-tempo tune, with the image of a classic GARNET CROW style □.
●How was recording the vocals?
Nakamura: The chorus is in English, and the same English phrase continues, which is unusual □. I chose the take with the best pronunciation of “can’t,” and even though the “k” in □ was not clearly audible as a sound, I rejected “□” and chose a version where you could properly feel the “k” □. I carefully checked my pronunciation myself while singing □. It was difficult in a way that differs from singing Japanese lyrics, so I proceeded carefully and took my time. It is a cool, stylish song, and I did not want to ruin that image. In particular, the chorus repeats “I can’t take...” like a wall of sound □, so I hope you will find that cool □.
●In the big chorus, the vocals and guitar are in unison, aren’t they?
Okamoto: The guitar is really loud there, isn’t it?
Nakamura: Isn’t it good that it brings out the sense of unison?
Okamoto: Apparently that was the mixer’s preference, but honestly I thought the guitar could be quieter. Well, it is a band □, though.
Nakamura: I think it feels a little new and is interesting □!
●Finally, what are your plans for this summer?
Nakamura: We will appear at OTODAMA on August 10! It will be our first outdoor event, and we will be performing with various artists, so I am excited to see what it will be like. I am also looking forward to performing “Misty Mystery” for the first time □.
Okamoto: “Misty Mystery” will be performed in an acoustic style, but we want everyone to hear it as soon as possible. We are looking forward to seeing what kind of response you give us.

New Single “Misty Mystery” 2011.8.31 On Sale
※“Misty Mystery”: Opening theme for [Detective Conan], broadcast nationwide on Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m.

【First Press Limited Edition: CD＋DVD】
GZCA-7166　￥1,365 (tax in)
★DVD: “Misty Mystery” Music Clip

【TRACK LIST】
01. Misty Mystery
02. live
03. Misty Mystery −Instrumental−

【Regular Edition: CD】
GZCA-4135　￥1,260 (tax in)

【TRACK LIST】
01. Misty Mystery
02. live
03. I can't take...
04. Misty Mystery −Instrumental−

◆◇【First Press Limited Edition / Regular Edition common bonus】Bonus included only in the first production run!◇◆
Special card included with a QR code for downloading a morning-call ringtone voice!!
【Front】Printed with the 15th-anniversary logo of [Detective Conan]
【Back】Solo shots of all four members＋group shot (five designs in total; all five designs randomly enclosed)

●In connection with “Misty Mystery,” we also asked Okamoto about something he has found “mysterious” recently! → Why is not a single member of GARNET CROW on Twitter?! I do not think any of us has a blog either. With four people, it would be fine if at least one of us did, but that is the kind of band we are.