Es VOL.24 new album“メモリーズ”Yuri Nakamura、Hitoshi Okamotointerview(3)

I think we managed to connect through the keyword of color.
● Had you decided early on that this song would be the last one?
Nakamura: Yes. The outro is dramatic, and it’s also a medium ballad that feels very much like us, so we decided to end on a slightly bittersweet note. That also ties in with the feeling of 2011 drawing to a close, and I wanted listeners to feel a lingering afterglow that would let them look back on the year while listening to the outro. We decided the track order in one shot this time, without agonizing over it at all. I looked only at the titles, played the intros and outros in my head, and arranged them that way; then we actually lined them up, listened, and it was perfect! That’s very unusual. I think there were so many strongly individual songs this time that each one had a natural place. In particular, I wanted to start with “Smiley Nation,” a song that symbolizes this year.
● This is a little off the subject, but you’re constantly recording and creating. Do you ever get stuck, Nakamura?
Nakamura: I seem to be the type who can summon tremendous concentration once the fire is under me (laughs). Until then, I’m fairly laid-back, but once I realize things are getting really urgent, I suddenly become incredibly focused. So when I can do something, I do it, and when I can’t, I don’t panic—I think about something completely different. I don’t really experience that feeling of getting stuck.
Okamoto: When nothing comes to you, you’re not stuck—you’re resting! (laughs)
Nakamura: Exactly. It depends on whether you interpret it as being stuck or as resting! If you decide you’re stuck, that thought takes over everything and you can’t do anything else. But staying home doesn’t make anything move forward either, and you end up in a situation where the whole day passes without doing anything, or a whole week passes without creating anything. In the end, I feel that’s wasting your life. So when I can’t do something, I give up decisively and use the time meaningfully on something else.
Okamoto: I see. That’s very positive.
Nakamura: Maybe it is (laughs).
● But lately, don’t you feel fulfilled because you’re able to express your desire to create smoothly and directly?
Nakamura: I do feel that way. Until a little while ago, I had drawn a line within myself because I felt that people expected “GARNET CROW to be this way,” and that we had to live up to it. But we’re in our eleventh year now, and as we move on to the next stage, I’ve come to feel that we need to take in many more things and learn to turn them into something that is ours. We can’t remain conservative forever. Music is music in any form, and if we can digest it in the GARNET CROW way, I think people will definitely accept it. Once I learned to think more flexibly, creating became even more enjoyable. Trying new sounds lets us rediscover the strengths we already had, and I felt strongly this year that challenging ourselves with new things is important if we want to keep our own identity.
● This album has become a symbol of that.
Nakamura: Yes. It’s an album that sums up our year.

● You’re holding a countdown live again this year. Will the □ album be the main focus this time?
Nakamura: We’re still thinking of the countdown as a GARNET CROW festival, a year-end celebration rather than a live show centered on songs from the album. Of course, we’ll play songs from the album too, but we want to include projects unique to a countdown live. The feeling is less “come and listen carefully” and more “come and make some noise.”
Okamoto: It’s exactly one year since our last live show. The four of us haven’t performed live together, so it will be exactly 365 days. It’s our first full-band live show of the year—and our last! So we really hope as many people as possible will come to see us.

GARNET CROW　NEW ALBUM 『Memories』 NOW ON SALE

First Press Limited Edition (CD + DVD)
GZCA-5241
¥3,500 (tax included)

Regular Edition (CD only)
GZCA-5242
¥3,059 (tax included)

◆ Track List ◆
01. Smiley Nation　02. live ～When You Are Near!～
03. JUDY　04. Misty Mystery　05. Let’s Live Together
06. Memories　07. Seijaku no concerto　08. Genesis I
09. Lonely Night　10. Eiyu　11. Blue Regret

◆ First Press Limited Edition Bonuses ◆
★ DVD contents
・“JUDY” Music Clip　　・making of “Misty Mystery”
・“Misty Mystery” Music Clip　・“Smiley Nation” Music Clip
★ Reversible jacket included
An illustrated GARNET CROW jacket drawn especially for this release by manga artist Hirara Natsume.
◆ First Production Run Bonuses ◆
★ Entry postcard for an applicant-only prize campaign
・Original artwork of Nakamura used in the filming of the “JUDY” video
　(signed by Hirara Natsume and YURI Nakamura)
・Original goods signed by all members
・Invitation to the live show and backstage of [GARNET CROW livescope 2012 ～the tales of memories～]
★ Web viewing password for “JUDY ～A Precious Step～” included
★ QR code for a free download of “Misty Mystery ～rain on me mix～” included

■ Countdown live [GARNET CROW Special Countdown Live 2011-2012] on Saturday, December 31, 2011!
■ Venue: Osaka / Dojima River Forum (http://www.dojimariver.com/)
■ Doors / show time: Doors open at 9:45 p.m. / show starts at 10:30 p.m. (These times may change.)
■ Ticket price: ¥8,000 per ticket (tax included / all standing, numbered admission; entry is in numerical order.)
※ Children under six years old are not admitted.
1. This is a countdown performance that continues past midnight. Guests under 16 may enter if accompanied by a parent or guardian aged 20 or over (a ticket is required), or with a consent form. Your age may be checked at the entrance, so please prepare identification in advance.
2. The fan club’s priority ticket reservation period has already ended. Thank you for your understanding.
■ Venue, general ticket sales, and other inquiries: Sound Creator TEL: 06-6357-4400

For the latest detailed information, visit → www.garnetcrow.com

● Nakamura has recently been interested in voice percussion. Although she is extremely curious about “what is going on inside the mouth,” she has not tried it yet. “I’m fascinated as a person who holds the same microphone, so I’ll practice a little first,” she said. Will the day come when she performs it at a live show?