GARNET CROW “Spiral” Interview

Following the 2nd album “SPARKLE 〜Scripted Sky Blue〜,” released in April and debuting at No. 4 on the Oricon album chart, “Spiral” will be released on August 14 as GARNET CROW’s first single since that album. This song has been finished as an uptempo number with a slightly different flavor from GARNET CROW up to now; vocalist Yuri Nakamura comments, “Maybe it was a period when I wanted to take on something fresh.” In a complete shift from the simplicity shown on the album, it has become an expressive song rich in arrangement.

“Spiral” begins in a relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere, with the soft tones of piano and analog synth entwining together. That gentle melody suddenly puts the heart at ease and brings up a feeling of nostalgia. GARNET CROW’s gentle, heartwarming side appears in this intro, but the rhythm section soon layers in, the song shifts into a driving feel, and it changes into a powerful, fresh uptempo number. The development even carries a thrill that makes the heart beat faster, revealing a side of GARNET CROW we have not seen before, and that flow seems to turn the emotion of the lyrics directly into sound.

The title “Spiral,” translated literally, means “spiral-shaped” or “complicatedly tangled.” In this work, though, the feeling is written with a refreshing positivity: life never goes smoothly for anyone, just like a spiral, but even so, let’s keep moving toward our dreams; if there is one thing we believe in, we can keep going... The uplift toward the future comes through directly, riding on a sound that truly evokes a rising heartbeat.

Yuri Nakamura’s high vocals, clearer than ever and almost fully opened out, also strengthen that world. “The world changes completely between the A and B melodies and the chorus, so switching my feelings was difficult. For the chorus, I sang while keeping the momentum, without letting the tension drop (Yuri Nakamura).” Recording seems to have been a struggle, but her voice does not let that show in the slightest. It has a pleasant openness like a summer blue sky, and it is filled with a power that seems to push you forward: instead of worrying, just move ahead.

Production apparently moved forward at the same time as the album “SPARKLE 〜Scripted Sky Blue〜.” “We were talking about releasing it in the summer, so we went ahead thinking we should try something summery and energetic (Nakamura).” In that sense, it also has a strong season-song color, clearly conscious of a summer release. At the same time, although it was made alongside the album, it has a more elaborate arrangement, unlike the simplicity found in many of the album tracks. On that point, Hirohito Furui replied, “It’s true that I was thinking from a different angle than the album. I also wanted to present a new GARNET CROW feel, and considering the timing of the release, I wanted it to have tempo and turn out sporty (Hirohito Furui).” His comment clearly shows how they are always seeking something new. GARNET CROW equals “sporty”; just from that one word, you can probably sense that this is a new development in their sound. What is more, as Furui says, “We were particular about the details, from the way it rises up out of the relaxed opening part to the groove once it starts running (Furui).” It is a song built with considerable precision, so I hope listeners will take their time enjoying the large moves and small touches that drift through it, distinctively GARNET CROW’s own.

The coupling track “The Garden in the Evening Shower” was also being made from the album period. “I wanted this song to have depth in its sound, so I think the mixer had a hard time. Even after one mix had already been done, we added more chorus and had it mixed again... (Nakamura).” “For me, it would be the fine balance between the transparent piano, the relaxed feeling of the whole song, and keeping it from becoming boring!! (Furui).” As those comments suggest, it is truly a song of careful attention, built through many rounds of recording. The lyrics, placed over a bittersweet medium tune, are written in lyrical words that let you slip naturally into the story, depicting the moment when you realize there are some things that can never come true no matter what.

Now, since “Spiral” includes the phrase “one unwavering thing in this world,” I asked the four members: what is the “one unwavering thing” for each of them?

“My passion for music, just kidding.” (Nakamura)

“That’s difficult. Fate, destiny, that kind of thing. There are a huge number of things in the world that you can’t digest unless you think of them that way... though I only just thought of that now. By tomorrow, I think it’ll have changed into a different one.” (Hitoshi Okamoto)

“Facts.” (AZUKI Nana)

“The pursuit of myself, I guess (laughs).” (Furui)

—Four people, four answers. So, in your own spiral-like life, what do you believe in as you look ahead?

■□■□ Member's Liner Notes ■□■□

●“Spiral”

AZUKI Nana: (responding to Nakamura’s comment) But it’s been cool lately, hasn’t it?

Hirohito Furui: When I first heard the demo, I felt that the chorus had burst open, while on the other hand I also wondered whether it might work as a slow song. It was a song that stirred up all kinds of imagination. From there, I focused on the feeling of starting soft and subdued, then accelerating, and settled on the setting that it would open out in the chorus and make you unable to sit still, sending you rushing outside before you knew it. I think this is a song you can enjoy from the hot summer sunlight into the sports season of autumn!!

●“The Garden in the Evening Shower”

AZUKI Nana: It has that steady-drizzle feeling.

Hirohito Furui: Partly because I wanted to cherish the image of the opening vocal, we considered about three patterns for how the intro should feel, then chose the one that would switch listeners into the right mode and finally decided on the current version. I also strongly wanted not to erase the relaxed feeling, but I worked out an approach that would keep it from becoming boring, and I think it ended up with a simple finish. The interaction between the sequence phrase faintly sounding in the intro and chorus and the piano arpeggio was also one of the points I secretly cared about.

★INFORMATION

■TV Appearances!!

・Friday, August 16, TV Asahi network

“Music Station”

・Friday, August 16, Nippon TV “AX”

・Friday, August 30, TBS “CDTV Neo”

■First Live Shows Decided!!

At last, GARNET CROW will carry out live shows! Many of you have probably been waiting for this, haven’t you? Everyone, please come!

●Thursday, October 10, Namba HATCH

(Inquiries) Sound Creator (TEL: 06-6357-7500)

●Monday, October 21, Akasaka BLITZ

(Inquiries) H.I.P (TEL: 03-3475-9999)

●Thursday, October 31, Zepp Fukuoka

(Inquiries) Kyodo West Japan (TEL: 092-714-0159)

■Programs Hosted by Members

・The CS broadcast cross-media program “PASTIME PARADISE” is now on air to great reception! It is a program with the latest music information from Kyoto, linked with the radio program “PASTIME PARADISE,” popular for guitarist Hitoshi Okamoto’s flavorful talk.

→Broadcast stations: Sky Perfec TV Ch.726 ＜Kyoto Channel＞, Ch.272 ＜The MUSIC 272＞

・GARNET CROW’s first TV program, “GARNET TIME,” begins airing! Yuri Nakamura and AZUKI Nana take turns as MC, making this a valuable TV program where viewers can glimpse the personalities of these women, who have rarely been seen on video until now.

→Broadcast station: Sky Perfec TV Ch.272 ＜The MUSIC 272＞ First broadcast: Every other Thursday 24:00〜24:15

GARNET CROW

New Single

“Spiral”

8.14 on sale!

GIZA studio GZCA-2044

￥1,260 (tax in)

1. Spiral

2. The Garden in the Evening Shower

3. Naked Story 〜raze mix〜

4. Spiral 〜Instrumental〜

※“Spiral” Fuji TV network

“Kando Factory Sport!” image song