New Single "君を飾る花を咲かそう" LIVE DVD "GARNET CROW livescope 2004 〜君という光〜"
-- I was sure the new song "雨上がりのBlue," which you performed at the recent live concert, would be released as the single.
Yuri Nakamura:"雨上がりのBlue" was a song that had just been made as a new song around that time, so we thought we might let people hear it live just as it was, with that momentum. It feels like something separate from this release (laughs).
-- This is your first release in five months since the previous work. How does that feel to you?
Yuri Nakamura:Since there was a live concert in between, it does not feel like there was a particularly large gap. For us, songs accumulated naturally on a schedule that was not forced, and I think it is a release at a good point.
AZUKI Nana: It is not that we had a lot of room to spare, but it was a pace that felt very easy mentally, or rather, we were able to switch well from live mode and make it.
-- So this song was not from stock?
Yuri Nakamura:This was newly written. It has been the same from before, but when we are doing live performances, we are completely occupied with the live performances, so we cannot really think about production.
-- How did this song come about?
Yuri Nakamura:This becomes a little personal, but... Actually, the other day, a family member of my close friend suddenly passed away. I heard the news the day after the Tokyo performance, and although things were a bit hectic, I attended the funeral. Because that person had suddenly left, the family was all grieving, and so many people gathered to see them off. Being there among them, I felt again the bond of family, the existence of precious things, and the fleetingness of people... The song came pouring out from there. Because it was made from that kind of trigger, it became a song with feelings different from anything before. So in the beginning, I was moved to tears quite often. When singing the temporary vocal, I would look at the lyrics and almost cry.
-- The lyrics also suggest that kind of image.
Yuri Nakamura:They do. I had not told her anything in particular, but lyrics like that came up, which surprised me even more. Up to now, from the atmosphere of a song and so on, the images AZUKI and I saw would often be the same, but this was the first time the lyrics made me think of it this concretely.
-- AZUKI, did you write the lyrics without knowing anything about that experience of Ms. Nakamura's?
AZUKI Nana: Completely... This time it was almost too close. I always write while feeling Ms. Nakamura's image and so on, but this time it was not just a part; the whole thing came together sharply, so I myself was surprised.
Yuri Nakamura:It was a song made from a real experience, so maybe there really is something there.
-- Specifically, what part surprised you?
Yuri Nakamura:The melody for this song came to me right when I was at a time when I had to write a song. On the way home, while thinking about various things, the melody came out, and midway it suddenly started raining hard. Then in the lyrics that came up, it also said "最後の雨が〜," so the scenery was exactly the same! Unlike before, it was not a feeling of "it matched," but more like, "What if it matches?" (laughs).
-- I had thought it was a farewell between friends, but there was actually something that deep behind it.
Yuri Nakamura:Of course, for us it was a song made because something like that happened, but it is fine if people take it as many kinds of farewell. Certainly, this work is filled more than usual with the feeling that I want people to confirm once more the precious people in their lives, such as family, friends, benefactors, lovers.
-- The title "君を飾る花を咲かそう" is impressive too.
AZUKI Nana: At first, when I listened to the demo in a completely blank state, an image came to me of someone setting out on a journey. The first image that came to mind was of someone dying and departing. I was thinking about people who depart before I do, and how I would want to see them off... Then I imagined a funeral where you see someone off through a field of flowers spread across the whole area, and from there it came all at once.
-- Even though you imagined that kind of scene, the finished lyrics are not dark, but forward-looking.
AZUKI Nana: I think it turned out this way because I received a very gentle, warm, and powerful impression from the demo tape. Usually I sometimes describe things in too much detail and end up making the image I felt too specific, but with this one I was able to finish in a very balanced place that was gentle and warm.
-- Also, this song very strongly brings to mind the scene of the members performing it live.
Yuri Nakamura:After all, with songs made after doing live performances, I have become able to see that kind of picture to some extent. It is not that I write songs for live performances, but often, when I listen to a finished song, I can see that kind of scene.
-- It is also stable, and very GARNET CROW-like.
Yuri Nakamura:As GARNET CROW, it is a part we ourselves are good at, or rather, it is the kind of sound we want people to hear from us.
-- How was your vocal on this song?
Yuri Nakamura:At first I had become quite tearful, but it was not that hard. The melody and lyrics fit well, so I left myself to the flow and sang it through smoothly.
-- How do you feel now that the live tour held at the beginning of this year is over?
Yuri Nakamura:I am glad it ended safely... (laughs). It feels like, haah, I am glad.
AZUKI Nana: That one phrase says everything (laughs). I think even when it is the third time, we will probably say the same thing.
-- Does the tension continue while you are doing it?
Yuri Nakamura:I consciously try to relax, but I think there was still something I was unconsciously carrying.
AZUKI Nana: More than the day of the live performance itself, it is thinking about various feelings... First, managing your physical condition. Including that, you become a little stoic, trying to bring your peak to the actual live performance. The stages leading up to it are difficult after all.
-- For those watching this time, it was something we could watch with ease. I got the impression that GARNET CROW's live performance does not add unnecessary staging, but lets people listen through the performance.
Yuri Nakamura:If people watched it that way, then I think it was a great success. We really do not want to lower the quality.
-- Compared with before, have you gained enough room to enjoy live performances yourselves?
Yuri Nakamura:No, we still do not especially have that awareness yet (laughs).
-- And the live DVD will be released at the same time as the single.
Yuri Nakamura:When I watched it myself, my face broke into a grin (laughs). Somehow, an enjoyable and warm shared atmosphere was created by both the members and everyone in the venue, and that came through strongly as I watched. It feels good, so I hope people will definitely watch and enjoy it.
-- It also includes the new song "雨上がりのBlue."
Yuri Nakamura:I thought it would be nice to have that kind of enjoyment, and that may be what live performance is. But being able to do that may also connect to one kind of growth, or room to spare.
AZUKI Nana: Being able to suddenly perform an unreleased song live is probably because there is trust in the people who come.
-- Finally, GARNET CROW is about to enter its fifth year since debut. Please tell us your enthusiasm from here on.
Yuri Nakamura:Time passes quickly (laughs). Right now we are steadily working on production, so once songs accumulate, we would like to release another album. Until then, please enjoy this single and DVD for a while and wait.
AZUKI Nana: I would like us to go slowly, without rushing. It may be a luxury, but I hope we can make works at our own pace. Without forcing it, slowly and carefully.