-- First, why did you name the album *I'm waiting 4 you*?
Yuri Nakamura:The "4" refers to this being the fourth album, to GARNET CROW having four members, and to the "for" in "for you." Literally, the title means "I am waiting for you." We chose it after experiencing live performances and seeing with our own eyes that there are people waiting for GARNET CROW. It also includes the meaning that those people are necessary and important to us.
-- Until the previous work, there were subtitles, but this time there is none.
Yuri Nakamura:There is not that deep a meaning to that area, and conversely, when people consciously ask about it, it feels like, "Oh, is that so?" This time, we chose the title because one that plays on "4" could only be done now, and the subtitle naturally felt like it did not need to be there.
AZUKI Nana: The previous subtitles were also based on the feeling at the time, and it was not that we attached such deep meaning to them... (laughs). Also, I thought it might be better not to touch on that, so each person could expand their own image.
-- Somehow, GARNET CROW makes you want to read deeply into the lyrics and phrases. By the way, since this is the fourth album, did you feel you should change the production feel?
Yuri Nakamura:Not especially. This album is a work that gathers the songs we had been writing since the live tour at the beginning of this year ended. Rather than production aimed at an album, it feels like we concentrated on making each song one by one, and after the songs came together, the album naturally emerged as a result.
-- In that case, what is the theme of this album?
Yuri Nakamura:In our case, it feels like we take the best songs made at that time and put them together in a good order, so each time, the album theme or concept is not that firmly decided. More than attaching meaning, we first want people to listen with the songs themselves at the center. Rather than the overall image, this time too there are many different songs included, so I think it is fine if people listen by focusing on each song. Of course, we do think about making sure people do not get bored listening from beginning to end.
-- Yes, that is exactly it. Once you start listening to this album, you listen all the way to the end.
Yuri Nakamura:This time, I was like that too (laughs). Even when I had to decide the track order, I could not skip through by just listening to intros. I would end up listening to the end.
-- Because you look at the lyrics too, you cannot just listen while doing something else.
AZUKI Nana: I am happy when people say that, but it is also something we ourselves feel (laughs).
-- Around when did production begin in earnest?
Yuri Nakamura:Since it was after the live performances ended, we were making it for more than half a year. In terms of period, we were able to take a long time, so I think we could work carefully. But August, September, and October passed so quickly that I almost have no memory of them. Looking back now, I think in a good sense I was extremely focused on production.
-- Thirteen songs are included. Was choosing the songs difficult too?
Yuri Nakamura:The track order was certainly difficult. The only one was "夕月夜"; from when we made it, I had the feeling, "Ah, this may be the first track." Other than that, I worried quite a bit. And once I started listening, I could not stop (laughs), so it took a lot of time.
AZUKI Nana: Also, so that the flow of bright songs, dark songs, ballads, uptempo songs, and then ballads again would not feel scattered and tiring, we were conscious of making blocks and contrast: gathering listening songs with listening songs, and groovy songs with groovy songs.
-- It may be an album that people who have been to your live performances can enter easily.
Yuri Nakamura:Yes.
-- Also, among the songs included on this album, there are many minor-key songs in the first half. Was that intentional?
Yuri Nakamura:We ourselves like minor-key songs, and they are also something we are good at. Since many such songs were made this time, we thought we would bring those GARNET CROW-like songs to the first half and have people listen carefully.
-- Furthermore, throughout the album, it sounded to me as if it is composed of words and tones that let you feel the four seasons.
AZUKI Nana: I suppose that is how it turned out as a result. While making it, we were only concentrating on each song and adding what suited that melody, so as a result, words with a seasonal feeling, sound pressure, and warmth probably came out that way.
-- The bond between song and lyrics has become stronger than ever, and the presence of each raises the song's worldview.
Yuri Nakamura:We were not especially conscious of that this time either, but this happens every time without changing.
AZUKI Nana: What is it? I listened with the feeling of straining my ears hard to hear what the melody was saying. As for the completed work having a close feeling, hmm, I think that is also largely due to singing technique. The lyrics that are completed are completely different depending on that person's singing.
-- With words like "夕月夜" and "忘れ咲き," I was surprised that such words could come out in a single term. There are Japanese-feeling, literary words that invite reading. I felt more and more that these are lyrics only GARNET CROW could do. Where does a phrase like "我.見えぬ,見ゆるども ああ..." from "夕月夜" come from?
AZUKI Nana: With that, once I listened once, the words fit in with a snap and came out. The lyrics for "夕月夜" were words that came out all at once in one block on first listen.
-- With "冷たい影" too, words like "泡沫人" show the expression of the lyrics becoming even more polished. Ms. Nakamura, it is also amazing that you sing such lyrics so smoothly... How was the vocal recording this time?
Yuri Nakamura:This time, for the vocals, I often sang only the first take, or at most about three times, so I did not sing them in during recording. That instead means the singing is not tired of itself, or rather, both I myself and the voice retain the tension of hearing it for the first time, so it feels fresh. That is why even in the chorus, the way I sing the first, second, and third choruses differs subtly, or there are places where a turn of phrase appears, or where a little breath enters. We deliberately make use of those as they are, so I think listeners can hear it many times without getting bored.
-- "雨上がりのBlue," which had been performed live first, is also included at last.
Yuri Nakamura:We performed this song live right after it was made, so for us it was a first attempt, or rather, we were able to see the reaction live first. Everyone got excited and sang as though it were not a song they were hearing for the first time, so that in turn gave us confidence in the song.
-- Is there a possibility that more songs will be premiered live from now on?
Yuri Nakamura:I wonder (laughs)?
-- I would like to hope so. And another thing: "Sky," which was included on the 1999 indie album, is included in a new version.
Yuri Nakamura:Since this is already our fourth album and we have released quite a few singles, and there are surely fans who have continued listening since the first album, I wanted to give some special feeling to those who have supported us all along. I thought it would be nice to have a track of gratitude, like, "Thank you for supporting us up to now." What came to mind then was "Sky." There are still many fans who say they like this song, we ourselves like it, and it has a good reputation live. So I thought that if we changed the arrangement and recorded it once more, people might be happy. People who have the indie disc can compare them, and people who learn about "Sky" for the first time through this album may become interested in what the indie disc was like... I thought it would be nice to have that kind of enjoyment too, so we included it. I think this is a track everyone can enjoy.
-- The arrangement has certainly evolved, but GARNET CROW's worldview has not changed.
Yuri Nakamura:Exactly! This time, we are mixing a song from the past among current songs, aren't we? Even so, it fit without feeling out of place, and that surprised us too. It is an older song, but it has a proper face as GARNET CROW, or rather, it does not feel old. Even when the sound is remade in the current style, the melody, lyrics, and the GARNET CROW face at the root have a sense of unity, and that in turn gave us confidence.
-- That must be because the compatibility between the songs and lyrics has always been exquisite. Even so, I was surprised that the worldview of the lyrics has not changed that much.
AZUKI Nana: Really. When I am writing lyrics, I am always doing everything I can just to keep up. Yurippe brings out new melodies one after another, and the vocal phrasing has changed quite a bit too, so it is difficult. But maybe I have not gotten tired of it at all. Normally, even if it is the same voice, you would think you would get tired of hearing it every day, but in GARNET CROW's case, every time I write, I truly think, "Ah, after all, this is good." Conversely, even when I think during production that this is hard, when I listen I am drawn in after all and want to do it. That tension has not changed at all from the beginning to now, and whenever I listen, I can become that way...
-- Please tell us the listening points of this album, or if there are favorite songs in the album.
Yuri Nakamura:I cannot choose! When making each one, I make it thinking this is number one, so as a result there are many number ones and nothing below second place.
AZUKI Nana: Yes. This is a strange way to put it, but everyone makes them very seriously (laughs).
-- Now that you have finished making the album, how do you feel?
Yuri Nakamura:This time, I feel like I did everything, or rather, there is no feeling of having left anything undone, so I feel very clear and refreshed. On the contrary, I am satisfied because I have already been able to switch to the next things, of course from live performances to the next work. As for this album, we are now in the position of simply having people listen to it.
-- A tour with this album will be held early next year. What kind of live performance does it look likely to become?
Yuri Nakamura:Right now we are at the stage of choosing which songs to do, so we are exactly in the middle of worrying about what kind of staging and what kind of structure it will have. Of course, there are many songs from this album we want people to hear, and many works from our past works we want people to hear too, so how should we put it all together...
-- Next year, GARNET CROW will reach the fifth anniversary of its major debut. Did you imagine it would continue like this?
Yuri Nakamura:I could not imagine it. We have been doing the present with everything we have, so when we noticed, it was like, "What, already that much?" Rather than whether it would continue or not continue, it feels like doing everything we could piled up, and when we noticed, it had become this. People say the third or fourth album is a wall, don't they? In the midst of that, to be able to go this naturally! I feel that with this, we can cross one more wall and move on to the next.
-- I hope you continue for a long time in this world.
Yuri Nakamura:Yes. And I definitely want everyone to come to our live performances too. Exactly, "I'm waiting 4 you." You means you. We are waiting.
AZUKI Nana: There will be plenty of songs like this and like that, so please come.
-- Please tell us the listening points of this album.
Hirohito Furui: Let me think. I believe listeners will surely enjoy the finish, which has gained even more richness and savor across all the songs.
Hitoshi Okamoto:It feels natural and comfortable. I think it is an album where emotional room is reflected in the sound.
-- Please tell us if there are favorite songs in the album.
Hirohito Furui: I am in a state where I cannot really declare which one I like, but if I had to choose one, perhaps "君 連れ去る時の訪れを"...
Hitoshi Okamoto:"君を飾る花を咲かそう," "君 連れ去る時の訪れを," and so on.
-- Looking back on this year, please tell us if there were things that left an impression.
Hirohito Furui: Let me think. Perhaps being allowed to participate in ZARD LIVE.
Hitoshi Okamoto:The professional baseball realignment issue.
-- A tour with this album will be held next year. What kind of live performance do you want to make it?
Hirohito Furui: I am thinking I would like to make it a live performance that can only be experienced with Garnet, where people can listen, sing, and dance.
Hitoshi Okamoto:A live performance that feels fresh for both the audience and ourselves.
-- Next year, GARNET CROW will reach the fifth year since its major debut. What kind of year do you want it to be?
Hirohito Furui: I want it to be a year where we move even further forward.
Hitoshi Okamoto:It is already the fifth anniversary. I will work step by step so that we can gain enough presence to say, "Only five years so far..."