GARNET CROW’s new single “夢・花火,” to be released on July 5, carries a Latin flavor following their previous work “籟・来・也.” Although it had once been completed about a year earlier, the song was reworked because they wanted to “build the worldview once more,” making it a piece that took considerable time and effort. Why were they so particular about this song? We asked vocalist Yuri Nakamura for the truth behind it.
We Wanted Something Rougher...
—Before talking about the new single, I’d like to ask a little about the previous work, “籟・来・也.” This song drew attention from a wide range of people as the image song for a documentary program exploring ancient civilizations of the South American Amazon.
Nakamura:The song itself existed before the tie-up was decided. It already had sounds like quena in it, so the program staff said they wanted to use it... but we were surprised afterward too, because the program fit the song’s worldview so well (laughs).
—So it wasn’t made for the program?
Nakamura:No. We were making it as a song intended for the album, and then that offer happened to come along, so we said, “Then maybe we should make it a single.”
—The new single “夢・花火” has a Latin scent to it as well, like “籟・来・也.”
Nakamura:We weren’t especially conscious of that, but in the end it feels like the flow continued. This song had already been finished around last summer too, and it wasn’t bad, but there wasn’t anything that made us feel, “This is it!” So we decided to do it over.
—What was it that you weren’t satisfied with?
Nakamura:It felt a little too neatly put together. I thought it would become cooler if it had a little more roughness, or a stronger rock flavor. So we took some time, changed the drums and the groove, and it became the form it has now. Since it’s a summer release, it also fits the season, and I wanted to do an uptempo song again after a while, so we chose this one for the single.
Rebuilding Until We Are Satisfied
—GARNET CROW often does that kind of “rebuilding” work, don’t you?
Nakamura:Somehow we do (laughs). We keep going until we’re satisfied. I suppose that’s the part where we can’t compromise. A work will remain for decades once it’s released, so I don’t want to put it out in a half-finished state. I don’t think redoing it is a special hardship at all. Also, in the sense that songs with a strong individuality leave more of an impression, if we’re going to make something a single, it needs adjustments for that purpose.
—I used the word Latin earlier, but this song seems to contain many other elements too.
Nakamura:The melody itself was something I made during a period when I was listening a lot to Italian canzone, and the lyrics contain many Japanese nouns. The arrangement is a solid rock arrangement, so I think it became something stateless, something original and very GARNET CROW-like, with elements from all kinds of countries mixed together. The coupling includes another version of “籟・来・也,” which was well received when it aired, and it makes me think again, “I’m glad we were able to have such a valuable experience.”
Text:Misato Nakamura