Interview: TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE
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Tokyo Girls’ Style is a four-member Japanese idol/dance and vocal group. They originally debuted as an idol group and formed in 2009. On January 2015, they announced that they would cease to be an idol group starting in April of that year. Their last release as an idol group was their single “Stay with me”, released in March 2015. They made an “artist declaration” in 2017, which announced that they could then be regarded as both an idol/dance and vocal group.
Ken: First of all, thank you so much for letting us do this interview. We are big fans and love what you bring to the Japanese music industry. Congratulations!
Mei Shoji: Likewise, thank you very much!
We are so happy to know that our music is reaching you all over the world!
I think this is the single album that can deliver a strong image of us as adults.
K: As Nocturnal is your latest album since REFLECTION in 2015, what was one of the things you wanted to do differently than before?
Mei Shoji: As this is the first album we released in about seven years, we have grown older and expanded our range of expression. The content of the lyrics, the nuances of our vocals, and the worldview of the music videos, among everything else, I think this is the single album that can deliver a strong image of us as adults.
K: This also was the first time Tokyo Girls Style has included an intro since Killing Me Softly in 2014; have you ever thought about including an outro for an album as well?
Mei Shoji: This time, the intro of the album was composed by MURO, a DJ who is from Japan. The world of this album Nocturnal starts from the intro, and the last song recorded is "wa.ga.ma.ma - MURO's KG Remix album ver.". Both songs were made by MURO, and the order of the songs has a storyline and coherence that makes it feel like the outro of “wa.ga.ma.ma.MURO's KG Remix album ver. If you play it on repeat, the intro will start again... I think you'll enjoy the endless loop, so I'd like you to listen to it on repeat!
K: So how did everyone decide on using the theme of “nighttime” for the album? What was the decision process like?
Mei Shoji: When the songs on the album were complete, the keyword that came to our minds throughout the album was "night." In the songs, there were words that actually reminded me of "night", and the situation in the lyrics was night. From there, it became the title Nocturnal, which means, "night blooming", "star clock”.
K: With this latest release, were you wanting to reflect a more mature side of the group now that all the members are a bit older?
Mei Shoji: The members themselves worked energetically while being influenced by each other during the album production period, so that they could maximize what they had accumulated over the past seven years and what they could express because of the way we are now. It was a very enjoyable time with new discoveries about each other.
K: How much fun was it to make the music video for your song “Corner Cut Memories”?
Mei Shoji: It was a lot of fun shooting the music video with pop style hair, makeup, and costumes! We actually shot it at a club and the lighting was colorful, and we were naturally excited! It's a very danceable and fun song, so I think the MV was perfect for the worldview of the song!
K: We love the Dark Romantic feel of all your outfits for this album. What is one of your favorite things about this design?
Yuri Nakae: The colors and the texture of the fabric used were very mature, but by adding a head accessory and a large ribbon, it gives off an elegant and cute look, which I really like.
I love the head accessories that suit each member!
K: Is there another designer you would like to work with?
Yuri Nakae: We would like to work with Simone Rocha along with others like her.
K: As you have been doing music for some time, what are your favorite tracks you have created?
Yuri Nakae: It would have to be our debut song “Kirari⭐︎”.
A song that never fades and reminds us of our original intentions. The staff at the time made it so that we could continue to sing it even when we grow up, and this is the song that started it all for us.
K: What are tracks or types of music that you'd like to create In the future that you haven't done yet?
Yuri Nakae: I like playful sounds, so YMO, Akiko Yano…
I also like city pop. I want to sing songs that are close to everyone's usual routines.
So next time we want to take our fans to the Budokan again!
K: What is the most memorable moment you each have had beIng a part of Tokyo Girls Style?
Yuri Nakae: It would have to be our surprise announcement to perform at Budokan.
We were able to stand on the stage where we had kept saying we had wanted to stand when we debut, and the staff and fans quickly allowed us to stand on the Budokan stage. So next time we want to take our fans to the Budokan again!
K: What is your favorite song you’ve performed? Is there a track you wanted to perform but weren't able to?
Yuri Nakae: There are really many genres of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE songs, and it's like a love textbook, so I learned a lot. However, I think that because we're at our current age we can convey the appeal of our songs more, so right now I'd like to pursue the best version of the current TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE! (Yuri Nakae)
K: How long does the choreography process of a song take to master and was it difficult to do during the ongoing pandemic?
Miyu Yamabe: KENZO from the group DA PUMP did the choreography for "Viva La Koigokoro" and it took about three days to learn the choreography, which was a tight schedule. The speed of the movement was so fast that at first we were so busy trying to keep up with it, but KENZO-san taught us how to show it in detail and how to breathe when dancing, which formed new discoveries and really stimulated us. With regards to the ongoing pandemic, so of course we made a transition to social distancing to help with preventing the spread, but we didn't have a particularly hard time, and it's become a matter of course.
K: What song(s) had an impact on you growing up?
Miyu Yamabe: We continue to be inspired by every song we release.
I've spent time with TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE since I was in elementary school, whether it's love songs, sparkling fun songs, or sad songs. In the process of growing up, there were times when I thought I would do something like this because there was a certain lyric in a TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE song. There are a lot of songs, so I want to continue to grow with all the songs of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE.
Because of the fans who have been waiting for us, we also want to respond to everyone's voices and push forward, so everyone's voices are our greatest strength.
K: What are some challenges you have faced as an artist? How have you overcome them?
Miyu Yamabe: It would have to be when we became a four-member group.
Originally we had five members. Ayano, our best singer in the group and who supported the music of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE, thought about what to do when she quit. I was worried whether I would be able to cover for Ayano, who was helping me out, and at that time I myself was hesitant about the group becoming a four-member group. However, I was the closest member, so it was a time I was mentally exhausted. .
Even so, we had to move forward, so we released songs that fit the four of us through trial and error. And of course we found songs, along with each of our singing styles. But the number one thing is the voices of the fans.
Because of the fans who have been waiting for us, we also want to respond to everyone's voices and push forward, so everyone's voices are our greatest strength.
K: What made you choose a path in the music industry? Who had the most inspiration for you and led you to choose this path?
Miyu Yamabe:The four of us originally wanted to be singers, but we gathered because we each wanted to do something different. I was a model actress and accepted the national audition for Avex, but I happened to be approached by the staff of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE at the time, and before I knew it I had stepped into the world of music.
Since I was a child I didn't know what it was all about, but at that time I was moving only with the feeling of having fun. Through my activities, TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE taught me that music is wonderful, and as a part of TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE, I delivered more music. It's a group that made me feel like I was there. Also, the voices of the fans make me shine as a girl. So TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE and their fans made us who we are today and guided us.
K: Which artist would you say is your biggest inspiration? Also, are there any international artists who inspire you guys as well?
Miyu Yamabe: It would have to be the group TVXQ.
This is the group that all the members wanted to be like for the first time.
When we formed we were all living in a dormitory but at that time our manager showed us a music video by TVXQ. “Cool! I want to be like this!” I thought.
Also, everyday after work, all the members watched the music video called “-MIROTIC-” on loop for hours and dozens of times.
K: Is there a particular genre of music you would like to try that you haven’t already?
Miyu Yamabe: There are about 100 songs in TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE and we have been involved in various genres, but I think that J-pop, which includes various genres, is interesting. I would like to find out more about J-pop, such as exploring J-pop that has a lot of HIPHOP elements.
K: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime. First, do you guys watch anime? If so, which would you say is your favorite?
Miyu Yamabe: It would have to be the popular Kimetsu no Yaiba. I'm not much of an anime watcher but I thought Kimetsu no Yaiba, which was so popular during the period of our isolation, was great. It was very interesting and I was surprised.
K: Is there a venue you performed at you’ll never forget? Also, is there a dream venue you would like to perform at?
Hitomi Arai: Although we had often gone to Asia, when we first went to San Francisco, USA.
With the cooperation of all the fans, I was able to do a project to make TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE’s sunflowers bloom! I will never forget the 5,000 sunflowers spread all over Union Square which were distributed to the fans of "Himawari to Hoshikuzu English Ver", which was performed for the first time in San Francisco. 🌟
It feels good to perform outdoors, so I want many people, not only in Japan but overseas, to listen to TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE songs! ! If I were in Japan, I'd like to perform at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall.
K: What track(s) is your favorite to perform live and why?
Hitomi Arai: TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE has songs of various genres so it changes depending on the time. I like this because of its worldview and the atmosphere of the venue that changes in an instant.
K: What would you say is your most difficult song to perform?
Hitomi Arai: All of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE songs are difficult but I feel that performing a new song live is difficult. The environment is different from the time of recording so I think that there are times when I get nervous and the nuances and tone of my voice are different; however, I think that's the good thing about live performances that can only be heard on that day, so it's both difficult and fun!
K: Who is the one artist you would love to work with in the future?
Hitomi Arai: Ever since I've been listening to kikivivilily I started liking her.
I like the feeling of DAOKO-san and Nakata Yasutaka-san's style, so I'd like to collaborate and enjoy that atmosphere together!
I'd like to make a music video that connects the story and makes it feel like you're watching the continuation!
K: What song have you created that you wish had a music video? What type of music video would you film?
Hitomi Arai: In this album it would have to be the song “Boku wa Usotsuki”.
It is the first song from a male perspective for TOKYO GIRLS’STYLE.
Until now I think most of the songs have been sung by female singers, so if there were music videos I think the fans would be able to enter the world even more.
It's a song that can be received as an answer song for “Strawberry Float” so I'd like to make a music video that connects the story and makes it feel like you're watching the continuation!
K: Do you have a message for your international fans?
Hitomi Arai: Lives abroad always give me new stimuli.
There are many challenges and I am excited! Recently we've received a lot of comments on social media from overseas and we're filled with the feeling of wanting to do a live performance as soon as possible! We want many people to see the new TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE as soon as possible so we'd be happy if you could continue to support us until the day we can go! !
K: Once again, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to your upcoming releases!
Hitomi Arai: Thank you so much for this interview. It was a lot of fun!
