Interview: LIL LEAGUE

LIL LEAGUE are a six-member dance, vocals and rap boyband with an average age of 16. The group formed as part of iCON Z 2022 ~Dreams For Children~, the largest audition in LDH history. Out of 48,000 entrants, the members of LIL LEAGUE were among 19 finalists in the men’s category. The name LIL LEAGUE was chosen to represent the group’s hope that their youthful energy and momentum will create a unique new vibe. In celebration for the release for their latest album ‘TRICKSTER’, we were able to interview this up-and-coming group!

Iwaki

Nakamura

Yamada

Okao

Momoda

Nanba

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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.

LIL LEAGUE: Thank you so much for have us!

K: Last year LDH debuted three other groups in the same year as you guys, what was that experience like? Was there a good bit of friendly competition to see who can be the best?

Iwaki: After thinking about the struggles we have gone through up till now, I would think the desire to not lose was the strongest. I think this was demonstrated and led to our friendly competition during our audition period. Since we had won the Grand Prix and were able to debut first out of the other groups,  I would like to work to live up to the expectation of the three groups that were able to win their debuts.

I hope that our fans will use this album as an opportunity to look forward to LIL LEAGUE’s future.

K: With the release of your new album ‘TRICKSTER’ coming out this month. What are you looking forward to most about this release?

Okao: This album is filled with hints of our activities not only in the year since our debut but also for the future, so I hope that fans will listen to it and will see the possibilities for our future. We also hope to continue to grow as artists, so I hope that our fans will use this album as an opportunity to look forward to LIL LEAGUE’s future.

K: What is your personal favorite track off of ”TRICKSTER”?

Iwaki: "GATEWAY". It is not an overstatement to say that it is the theme song of our first hall tour "LIL GATEWAY," which was held last year, and I think it is a song that looks great performed live. I usually sing instead of rap, so I think it is a song that brings out new colors of LIL LEAGUE.

Okao: "Monster". This is the second single we released, and it is a dark song with a rock band atmosphere, a complete change from the pop songs we have released in the past. I like the lyrics because there are many phrases that give me courage.

Nanba: It would have to be “Coloring Book. It is the first song we released and depicts a blank canvas that we are going to color together with our fans. I would like the readers to pay attention to the lyrics.

…the time we spent discussing how to fill the album with our future selves was memorable.

K: Do you have a favorite story in creating your first album “TRICKSTER”?

Iwaki：Because this will be our first album, we had a lot of discussions with the staff to make the content of the album our own, and since we arrived at the release with many twists and turns, the time we spent discussing how to fill the album with our future selves was memorable.

K: I love the theme of ‘Lollipop’ as it is one that you don’t hear about when you become an artist. What was the thought process of going through this track?

Nanba: The theme we wanted to deliver was “front and back,” so we created the song with the motif of “Lollipop,” meaning “candy,” which looks cute at first glance, in mind to express the dark world behind it. The song expresses the other side of the glamorous world of artists, which is not usually depicted.

K: As most of your songs have an upbeat sound. Can you describe what it was like creating the song ‘15minutes’, which takes on a slow tempo composition approach?

Iwaki：This song uses a ferris wheel to express the frustration of wanting to tell someone your feelings but not being able to. Mr. SHOKICHI, who wrote the lyrics, wrote the words in a direct way that suited our age, and I think the song is more convincing because we are teenagers singing it.

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K: Before you were members of LIL LEAGUE, what was the audition and prep work like being in iCON Z Dreams For Children?  Was the prep work more difficult before you were a member of LIL LEAGUE

Okao: I feel that we spent a lot of time looking for the personality of the group. Since we originally lived in different places, we all communicated with each other and tried to understand each other. We had discussions every night and worked hard to find our strengths.

K: Before you were a member of the LIL LEAGUE, were any of you guys fans of EXILE?

Iwaki：I was a fan. My parents taught me about them, and I learned how fun and cool they were through singing and dancing. My introduction to this world of the music industry was just recommended by my parents, but it is true that my intuitive feeling that they were cool at that time has continued to this day.

K: Which Jr Exile group would you like to collaborate with in the future?

Okao: It would have to be THE RAMPAGE. We had performed together at the time for our  final audition, and they gave us a lot of advice at that time. I definitely want to perform with them because I want them to feel that we have grown since our audition.

K: Do you have a process or certain mind set when creating your songs? If so, would you like to share that process?

Nanba: We value giving our best in each and every performance. We work hard to improve our skills every day and constantly update our own performance, so we try to give a new sense of ourselves every time.

We also try to create a lot of our own stories in the choreography, so rather than learning the choreography, we focus on the next step.

K: How long does the choreograph process of a song take to master and was it difficult to do during the ongoing pandemic?

Iwaki：We have had many opportunities to have the same choreographer work on our songs since our debut, and each time I feel that they bring out new aspects of LIL LEAGUE. They understand us and our songs very well and bring out the best in each of us. Therefore, the choreography goes smoothly. We also try to create a lot of our own stories in the choreography, so rather than learning the choreography, we focus on the next step.

K: What song(s) had an impact on you growing up?

Okao: It would be "Rollah Coaster". The song was assigned to us during our audition, and it was a big influence for us to find our own identity in this pop and catchy song.

K: Which artist would you say is your biggest inspiration? Also are there any international artist that inspire you guys as well?

Nanba: It would have to be the Korean group BIGBANG. We study their live performances very closely and receive a lot of inspiration from them. There is no doubt that the entertainment they provide for their fans has influenced the image of the type of artists we aspire to be.

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K: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime, first do you guys watch anime, and if so what would you say is your favorite?

Iwaki: I watch not only classic anime such as "Sazae-san," "Crayon Shinchan," and "Doraemon," but also recently “Demon Slayer”.

Okao: "Crayon Shin-chan" is my starting point.

Namba: I have been watching "Doraemon" since I was a child. I also like "Dragon Ball.

K: How far in advance do each of you prepare for your live performances both as a team and individually?

Iwaki：Practice usually begins as soon as we are told about the live performance. We all live in a dorm, so in our spare time we talk about refining performances.

I would like to stand on this stage by ourselves someday.

K: Is there a venue that you performed at that you’ll never forget? Also is there a dream venue that you would like to perform at?

Nanba: It was when we were the opening act in the dome tour for our senior group EXILE. It left a strong impression on me that I could stand on the dome stage before my debut. I would like to stand on this stage by ourselves someday.

K: What track(s) are your favorite to perform live and why?

Okao: It’s the song "HYPE UP," and we've posted a video on YouTube (below), explaining the fan call, so I hope to get everyone excited at the show.

K: What would you say is your group's most difficult song to perform?

Iwaki："Coloring Book". It is a bright and fun song, so we need to enjoy ourselves from the bottom of our hearts. In addition, being able to continuously hit the high notes throughout the song makes it difficult to perform.

They are the origin and the pinnacle of EXILE TRIBE, so I would like to be able to work with them someday.

K: Who is the one artist you would love to work with in the future?

Okao: I would like to collaborate with EXILE, the senior of LDH. They are the origin and the pinnacle of EXILE TRIBE, so I would like to be able to work with them someday.

K: Do you have a message for your international fans?

Nanba: Thank you for your support. We would like to eventually become a global artist, so right now, I will cherish the present and deliver our music to you all. Please wait for the day when we expand into the world.

K: Once again, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to your upcoming releases!

LIL LEAGUE: Once again thank you for having us!

Interview: I Don't Like Mondays.

I Don’t Like Mondays. (IDLM.) is a four-member rock band based in Tokyo that was founded in 2012. The band focuses on introducing high energy dance compositions with unforgettable choruses and creates as light feeling that would take away the burdens of everyday life, including the dreaded ‘Mondays’ that are inferred in their name. The band members are YU (vocals), CHOJI (guitar), KENJI (bass guitar), SHUKI (drums). We had the honor of interviewing them on the cusp of the release of their album RUNWAY!

Be sure to check out all the versions of the track “Summer Ghost” which is located throughout the interview below, along with their official website here!

YU

CHOJI

KENJI

SHUKI

Ken: First of all thank you so much for letting us do this interview, we are huge fans and had originally done a write up about you in our “Music Corner” write up back in October of 2019. We absolutely love what you bring to the Japanese music industry and congratulations on the release of the album RUNWAY!

IDLM: Thank you so much for having us!

K: What made you choose a path in the music industry? Who had the most inspiration on you and led you to choose this path?

YU: The members of the previous band set me on this path.

CHOJI: I was most inspired by Tak Matsumoto from B’z. I chose this path because I had nothing else I was good at.

KENJI: I started playing in a band when I was 14, after being influenced by a senior classmate’s live performance that I saw at my school festival. I think my unfounded confidence has made me what I am today.

SHUKI: I was influenced by my brother, he’s 5 years older than me and started playing drums first. He also has a career as a professional drummer.

K: Which artist would you say is your biggest inspiration? Also are there any international artists that inspire you guys as well?

YU: As a band, we had common inspiration from groups such as The Killers. As for newer artists, we always keep an eye on The Weeknd.

This album is quintessentially “I Don’t Like Mondays.”

K: Can you walk us through the creative process for your latest Album and what themes or messages were you trying to convey with this release?

YU: This album is quintessentially “I Don’t Like Mondays.” Following our concept of making enveloping music, we want to present our band’s story through RUNAWAY.

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K: What was creative process for “PAINT” and how did you guys feel when you found out that it was going one of the theme songs for the anime ONE PIECE

YU: I just couldn’t believe it. When it actually aired, I still thought it was fake until I saw “PAINT” on the screen.

I didn’t really think deeply when I was making this song…LOL. I was carefree and having fun making it…

K: On your track “LEMONADE”, how did you come up with the concept? Such as writing the lyrics, creating the composition?

CHOJI: I didn’t really think deeply when I was making this song…LOL. I was carefree and having fun making it, then I happened to realize that the song was finished.

K: The track ”Beautiful Chaos” has a good mixture of English in it. The lyrics are very resonating. How did you come up with the lyrics and composition? Is there a story behind it? Was this as a group or an individual member?

YU: As for lyrics, I got inspired by the climactic part at the end of the track. As for the melody, we wanted a song that would be good at the end of a concert, so we made this type of song.

K: What is it like teaming up with ESME MORI and DPR CREAM? Were you familiar with their works before?

SHUKI: Of course! Two of them were artists I’ve loved for a long time. It was our second time collaborating with ESME MORI since 2020, but it turned out to be a song even better than last time. As for DRP CREAM, we all went to watch them perform when they came to Japan, but we never dreamed we could collaborate with them.

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K: What has been the most challenging song to produce so far?

SHUKI: I think “DO YA?” was challenging.

KENJI: It was a genre we weren’t really familiar with, so it took a lot of effort to make it.

As for the bass, we made it in the style of a well-known phrase that seems to exist already. LOL

K: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime. First, do you guys watch anime, and if so what would you say is your favorite?

YU: Recently, it’s “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “HUNTER×HUNTER.” I used to love “Dragon Ball” before, too.

K: Is there a venue that you performed at that you’ll never forget? Also is there a dream venue that you would like to perform at?     

CHOJI: An unforgettable venue was the live house in Shibuya, Tokyo, with a capacity of about 100 people. I used to perform many times before my debut, but at that time, only people I knew came to watch.

SHUKI: I want to perform at Aloha Stadium in the future!

K: Do you have a message for your international fans?

YU: Although we can’t meet that much, we would love to have more opportunities to perform overseas, so please listen to our songs, watch our videos, connect with us through social media, and look forward to the day we can meet!

Ken: Once again, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to your upcoming releases!

IDLM: It was our pleasure!

Interview: NAQT VANE

NAQT VANE is a creative team project which was founded in September of 2022. Produced by Hiroyuki Sawano, this project welcomed Harukaze, a vocalist who had just returned from the states, with creative collective Classic 6 in charge of the art direction for the team.
Both Hiroyuki Sawano and Harukaze have their stories that this project will blow the “new wind” into, as to free themselves and saying hello to the new version of themself.

We were able to interview the wonderful Haruzkaze and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as NAQT VANE just announced they will be having their first live-stream concert on Saturday May 20, 2023 at 18:00 (JST) via the streaming site ZAIKO. Be sure to check out their official bio and be purchase your tickets to their concert here!

For those interested in hearing a bit of NAQT VANE’s unique style be sure to check out the music video for their track “CHRONIC” below!

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 and congratulation!

Harukaze: Thank you so much for having me! So excited to answer your guys’ questions.

K: What made you choose a path in the music industry? Who had the most inspiration on you and led you to choose this path?

H: I’ve been wanting to pursue my career in music as my parents were both in the music industry and I have been witnessing their works since I was very young. I would say my dad- who is a concert promoter in Japan- inspired me the most as he always took me around to his work and concerts, teaching me the joy of making people entertain and happy with the power of music.

K: Which artist would you say is your biggest inspiration? Also are there any international artists that inspire you guys as well?

H: We can for sure say that we get the inspiration by discussing what we want to tell through songs we deliver. We would have a casual conversation and that often leads to inspiration. We also do get inspired from a lot of genres and a variety of artists all around the world but we don’t have a specific artist who we want to become like- we want to be the one and only.

K: Can you share with us your experience debuting as a music artist and how it has been so far?

H: After I graduated school in LA with a bachelor in Music Business , I moved back to Japan and started to work as an A&R for a record label. I did release a couple of singles as “Harukaze '' during my time in LA but it wasn’t anything very serious. Although, I gave up my dream to be an artist once and started working for other artists, I kept posting covers on instagram which later caught Sawano-san’s eyes. Then, I got an email from Avex, the current label I’m signed with, saying if I was interested in working as a vocalist for the project. At first I thought it was one of those scam emails and I was about to ignore it but my inner instinct made me reply to it; I’m so glad I did haha. After that I met up with Sawano-san and the team and the process to debut went by really quick.

K: Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they impacted your sound? Can you walk us through the creative process with Hiroyuki Sawano for your latest EP?

H: As we answered previously on the inspiration related questions, we don’t have any specific artists we get inspired from, however, I personally think I was influenced a lot by Tatsuro Yamashita. Although his style is far from what we deliver as NAQT VANE, he is the artist who influenced ME the most.

As for the EP creative process, we started off by adding two new songs to the four we already had released. Sawano-san brought me the instrumentals and from there we did a discussion on what we want these songs to be like. I had clear visions of the message I wanted to tell through these songs so it was quick from there.

Each song is like a letter to the listeners, spreading messages. We want to keep spreading powerful and motivational messages through our music and aim for larger fan base. 

K: What themes or messages were you trying to convey through your latest EP? How do you see your and Sawano-san’s music evolving in the future?

H: NAQT is a word from a german term “NACKT” which means naked in English. This title comes from our project NAQT VANE, and thus it shows our true self through 6 songs. It’s an EP that even if you didn’t know us you can grasp what kind of artist we are. Each song is like a letter to the listeners, spreading messages. We want to keep spreading powerful and motivational messages through our music and aim for larger fan base. 

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K: Can you share with us any advice you have for aspiring music artists?

H: I’ve just started my career as an artist so I can’t say anything big but just know the dream will come true if you believe and love yourself the most. Keep trying and someone is definitely watching you and know you are doing the most you can do. Confidence and manifesting is the key!

K: How have you been staying creative and motivated during the pandemic?

H: NAQT VANE officially debuted in 2022 so the situation wasn’t that bad compared to the most pandemic era- we were still able to meet and go out to be creative. I personally was staying motivated by watching other artists’ endeavors to deliver their best during the hard time (online concerts, delivering home-made music video and all)

K: What can fans expect from you in the coming months?

H: In May, we have our first-ever show and we are super stoked for that! Since the debut we have been wanting to deliver our “NAQT” self through performances. It’s the first time Sawano-san and I will perform together too, so we are preparing for that. We are considering the streaming of this show too so I hope to see participants from all around the world. We are also working on new music as well so please stay tuned for updates.

K: What is it like teaming up with Hiroyuki Sawano? Were you familiar with his works before?

H: It was a very eye-opening experience to team up with such a talented person. It’s always a learning experience and I’m super thankful and honored to be in the same project as him. I wasn’t really familiar with anime before the debut so I was only aware of his name.

K: When working on your debut in NAQT VANE, did you already have songs written? Or did you write your lyrics as you began your debut? Did you have a certain theme you were specifically wanting to sing about?

H: I first listened to the demo and started to brainstorm. It was difficult to write them all on my own as Sawano-san has these specific rules to follow when writing for his songs. So I learned those from other lyricists and with their help I was able to word them. I wanted to write about how it’s important to be ourselves which relates to where the name” NAQT VANE '' is coming from, that I will be explaining below.

K: How did the name NAQT  VANE come about?

H: “NAQT” comes from a term in German “NACKT’ which means “naked” in English. “VANE” is defined as a broad blade for windmills or a wing, /to be moved by the air. We decided to name it NAQT VANE as we want people to be naked (be true to themselves) and move with the air/flow that they believe in. The era we live in right now is also called “era of air” which sounded right to us to name it NAQT VANE- as “era of air” is defined to be an era that values knowledge, experiences, human connections, networks, and new things.

K: In your song 'Break Free' you sing about liberation, what inspired the lyrics for it?

H: Break Free is all about my thoughts prior to the debut. Becoming my true self and breaking free from whatever was holding me back changed my life. I feel like there are a lot of people who can’t say their dreams out loud and have to be silent on what they actually want to be- this song is for those people to believe in themselves and try for once.

I feel like the best part of being an artist is when the message we want to deliver actually reaches out…

K: What are you looking forward to most in this project?

H: To meet listeners in person/perform for them. I feel like the best part of being an artist is when the message we want to deliver actually reaches out, and the best way of doing that is by actually seeing them, making eye contact and singing songs with your heart out. We definitely want to tour around Japan and globally!

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K: Two of your tracks, Break Free and VANE have English versions (at the time of this interview). Is there a reason you decided to do an English version of these specific tracks?  Can fans expect more tracks to have English versions?

H: We actually have English versions to all the four singles ( Break Free, VANE, TOUCH, and CHRONIC). We decided to release that as we seek to be abroad in the future and we want non-Japanese listeners to understand the meaning of these songs. It’s pretty funny how some of my listeners abroad like the Japanese version more and some Japanese listeners prefer English versions. We are planning to continue releasing English versions of our songs in the future too, as we feel like we can deliver slightly different vibes in each language.

K: What has been the most challenging song to produce so far?

H: I feel like every song was challenging for me in various ways but I think “VANE” was the one I remember being hard to record as I had to keep shouting the chorus.

K: The image for your “NAQT” is you taking your face off like a mask, where did that idea come from and what kind of symbolism were you going for there?

H: NAQT VANE consists of three members - myself, Sawano-san and there is a creative team called “Classic 6”. They are in charge of all the art work of NAQT VANE. With the keyword “Metamorphose”, the image shows the mask, which symbolizes the new “real” NAQT face that NAQT VANE and the listeners find as they move along the generation.

Evolution unfolds in time as we live, and we hope that people find the next new mask to suit the purpose.

K: What song(s) had an impact on you while on this project?

H: We feel like every song has impacted our growth but TOUCH and CHRONIC has been a good impact for us as we feel like we were able to reach more audiences through dramas that these songs were used as theme songs. We felt more reactions from listeners and we were able to hear what they wanted from us, so it definitely affected us in a good way.

K: What are some challenges you have faced as an artist? How have you overcome them?

H: I personally still struggle with the high notes with chest voice-  I am still trying to control my voice and practice to get better but NAQT’s songs are never chill (lol) so I’m trying to figure out how to perform all the songs without running out of breath.

I also am facing the difficulties of how to actually be myself while showing them in an attractive/fascinating way to people. I feel like all those artists I admire know how to show their best- so I’m learning from them.

K: Is there a particular genre of music that you would like to try that you haven’t already?

H: In this EP “NAQT '', for the first time ever we have a ballad song - not too ballad but definitely quieter than other songs we put out. Having this out I received many compliments as we were able to show NAQT’s other side. In the future I definitely want to try more ballad/chillipop or very rock tunes.

K: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime. First, do you guys watch anime, and if so what would you say is your favorite?

H: I actually don’t really watch anime but I know a lot of you do. When I was in the states, I got so many questions about anime and I was a little sad that I didn’t know any of those titles that people were talking about. I am interested in watching them if any hits my interest. Please let me know if any of you have recommendations!

The dream place that NAQT VANE wants to perform in the future is any stadium in the world.

K: Is there a venue that you performed at that you’ll never forget? Also is there a dream venue that you would like to perform at?

H: I had a chance to perform for Tokyo’s volleyball team last fall and the arena was astonishing that I can precisely remember the performance and atmosphere even after half a year. The audience was so warm enough to put the phone flashlights on when I was singing and the sound was amazing too.

The dream place that NAQT VANE wants to perform in the future is any stadium in the world. When we first debuted I claimed that we will be performing at the stadium in 5 years- so people who are reading this, you are the witness! We’ll see you all at the stadium.

K: What track(s) are "your favorite to perform live and why?

H: I love performing “CHRONIC”! The energy the song has just gets me very excited to perform and it’s also easy to motivate the audience to move/vibe along.

K: What would you say is your most difficult song to perform?

H: I would say the debut song “Break Free” is the most difficult song to perform. It is the song I’m used to singing the most but there is no rhythm going on for first verse so I really have to be careful not being late on the beat. While this is my favorite song to sing, I do have hard time practicing it. Practice makes perfect though, got to put more work to it!

K: Who is the one artist you would love to work with in the future?

H: Honestly there are many, however, some come to mind such as, Dua Lipa, ONE OK ROCK, Tate McRae, BIBI, Sofia Carson, One Republic, and so many more…Any artist in the world who’s down to do a collabo with us !!!

K: Do you have a message for your international fans?

H: To all the readers of Ongaku to you, we’d like to thank you all again for reading this and listening to our music! If you haven’t, I hope this interview made you want to dig into our world. We hope to bring good vibes and blow the good motivational wind to you all so that you can become your true self and challenge many things! We are hoping and we will try our best to be able to perform and see you all soon face to face! Please love our newest EP “ NAQT” and stay tuned for the updates through our social media! I hope your day is going to be filled with happiness ! xx

K: Once again, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to your upcoming releases!

H: Thank you so much for having us! Answering these was so much fun, we’ll do our best to deliver songs so please interview us again :)

Once again we thank Harukaze for the wonderful interview and be sure to check them out in the following socials below!

BIO | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE 

Interview: TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

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.

Mei Shoji

Yuri Nakae

Miyu Yamabe

Hiromi Arai

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!

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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)

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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.

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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!

Interview: Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu

Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu is a six-girl idol group produced by Stardust Promotion. They formed on April 11, 2015 under the name Tokimeki♡Sendenbu and were renamed Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu on April 1, 2020. Their philosophy is “singing again today across the fields and the mountains, to promote something joyful” and their catchphrase is “Locking onto your heart ♡”.

Kanami Tsujino

Hitoka Sakai

Aki Suda

Julia Ann

Haruka Koizumi

Hiyori Yoshikawa

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, and also, congratulations on your latest release!

Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu: Thank you for having us!

K: What was your impression of the popularity of “Suki! CHO ver”?

Kanami Tsujino: I'm glad that the song is loved so much across Japan, and we received a lot of comments from overseas! I felt so nice they conveyed their feelings into words!

K: Which new song off of your album Heart-Gyutto are you most excited to perform live?

Julia An: When thinking about answering this question, only unreleased “Kitto Standard” came to mind. I really like the song itself, but I'd like to perform live as soon as possible because the choreography isn't so common compared to other past songs. The other members also said, "It's definitely fun to show this song live! I want to do it soon!"

K:. As Heart-Gyutto is a mini-album full of emotions, is there a specific song you related to the most? How did you relate to it?

Hitoka Sakai: When I listen to "Memories" I often feel nostalgic and the memories of everyone come to my mind and link to my old self. It's a song that reminds me that it's only now and it's over, but it always turns into memories, so I feel loved.

I sing every time while remembering the memories of many loved ones and the warm words the loved ones gave me.

K: The song “Dear Friend” conveys the emotion of “thank you”. When singing this track, what came to mind?

Haruka Koizumi: Of course, I think of the promotion staff (fans) who supports us and I think of my best friends and family who support me in the shadows as well. I can be here now because there are people who support me. I sing every time while remembering the memories of many loved ones and the warm words the loved ones gave me.

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K: What was it like to work with Maguro Taniguchi?

Aki Suda: This time was the second time we got a song provided from a collaboration, and following the endless song of the first song, we received wonderful lyrics and songs as if I had known Taniguchi for a long time! I'm just so grateful. Thank you!

K: Your costume design for this release was by Shinobu Kayano. What was it like wearing her designs?

Hiyori Yoshikawa:I knew that Shinobu Kayano was working on costumes for 48 groups such as AKB48, so I was surprised when I heard that Shinobu could design a costume for us!

I really like the costumes, which are full of cute idol styles such as frills, ribbons, bijou, hearts, etc. in pastel colors that are typical of Tokisen!

K: Is there another designer you would like to work with?

Kanami Tsujino: I would like to work with Haruka Takeuchi, TOMOKOIZUMI, and Mika Ninagawa!

K: As your “Mid-Summer Heart-Gyutto TOUR2022 - Let’s get together with the Sanrio characters” begins, who is your favorite Sanrio character?

Kanami Tsujino: Cinnamoroll, Kogimyun, and Little Twin Stars! I used to have a lot of Cinnamoroll goods when I was little but when we did the collaboration with them, the goods included illustrations of Cinnamoroll with me, and I became more fond of them!

I was also allowed to pair with Kogimyun, and when I met him for the first time I was locked on by the feeling of his eyes and the cuteness of his movements!

For Little Twin Stars, I love the glitter of Glitter and Lara, the fluffy world view and atmosphere!

Julia An: It would have to be Hankyodon! The more I know, the more I like it. The number of our Hankyodon goods is increasing day by day. Also, I really like the character Paupipo!

Hitoka Sakai: I like Pompompurin and Kogimyun. Anyway, I love the place where each movement is cute and full of energy! The way to jump is cute and you will always get energized when you meet!

I met Kogimyun for the first time recently, and I want to protect her, with her round eyes, which are one of her charming points! It tickles my heart.

Haruka Koizumi: Pochakko, Kuromi, and Cinnamoroll! My blanket at home has always been Pochakko! I've been using it since I was a kid! I'm sure I'll be locked on because I can meet the real thing for the first time on the tour.

I love Kuromi gesture because she is really cute. I'm sure Kuromi will be locked on because I can meet the real thing for the first time on the tour!

My love for Cinnamoroll was a love at first sight when he first had an event with Sanrio... I love that fluffy feeling and small hands! The movement is too cute!

Aki Suda: My favorite character is Cinnamoroll! !!

That fluffy, flying in the sky with your ears is too cute!

Also, the tail is round and cute 🤍

Also, I like milk! It's lovely ~ cute ~!

Also, I met the character directly and was impressed by the cuteness of Kogimyun! The eyes and legs are too cute!

Hiyori Yoshikawa: When I first met the character Hankyodon, I was shot through my heart by the loveliness of it! The movement of it is very cute!

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K: How long does the choreograph process of a song take to master and was it difficult to do during the ongoing pandemic?

Julia An: In fact, the time we learn is getting shorter little by little. I think the choreography of the new song has been about four hours lately. Regarding the choreography, it wasn't a big deal because of the ongoing pandemic.

K: What song(s) had an impact on you growing up?

Hitoka Sakai: With "Suki!", many people got to know us, and from there we had more opportunities to appear on TV and talk with people from overseas. I think "Suki!" Has made us grow even more!

K: What are some challenges you have faced as an artist? How have you overcome them?

Haruka Koizumi: Immediately during the pandemic there was a time when I was worried because I couldn't do what I wanted. I was lonely because I couldn't meet the promotion staff (fans) at all.

However, I was able to connect with the promotion staff through SNS and networks, and I was able to overcome it with the support of comments everyday.

Even now, there are some things that I can't do like before the pandemic, but the excitement of meeting them grows and I can reaffirm the importance of meeting them.

K: What made you choose a path in the music industry? Who had the most inspiration on you and led you to choose this path?

Aki Suda: I was watching an anime called "Pretty Rhythm" when I was little, and I wanted to be an idol at that time! I have a dream! !!

“We want to be a super idol group who can surpass Momokuro-san!”

K: Which artist would you say is your biggest inspiration? Also are there any international artists who inspire you guys as well?

Hiyori Yoshikawa: It would have to be Momoiro Clover Z, who are our senior members in our entertainment office. I think they are a representative of Japanese idols because they are well-known not only in Japan but also overseas!

We are super crushing ♡ The promotion staff (fans) does not forget our uniqueness and we want to be a super idol group who can surpass Momokuro-san! !!

K: Is there a particular genre of music you would like to try that you haven’t already?

Hiyori Yoshikawa: There aren’t many songs that contain a lot of English so I’d like to sing an English song!

That way, when we perform live overseas, I think there will be more things to be able to connect to overseas fans!

K: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime. First, do you guys watch anime? And if so, which would you say is your favorite?

Aki Suda: I love anime! !!

I have a lot of favorite anime, but my latest recommendations are Akebi’s Sailor Clothes, Link Click, Violet Evergarden, Fruits Basket, etc. I like so many anime so much, I can’t write them all!

“! When we are standing on the stage with the desire to convey our feelings to everyone through music”

K: Is there a venue you performed at you’ll never forget? Also, is there a dream venue you would like to perform at?

Haruka Koizumi: At the venue called Yokohama Budokan I was shown the scenery with about 3000 members of our fans. The light of the penlight that shines in the venue is really beautiful and it left a strong impression on me.

Our number one dream venue is Nippon Budokan.

K: What track(s) is your favorite to perform live, and why?

Hitoka Sakai: I especially like the song “Jinsei Saikou no Melody”! When we are standing on the stage with the desire to convey our feelings to everyone through music and such. It’s a song that conveys that feeling straight, so I love to perform it live.

K: What would you say is your most difficult song to perform?

Julia An: I think it’s different for each person, but for me it’s the song called "DEADHEAT". I think it's difficult because there are a lot of moves, the standing position is complicated, and the risk for several spots is high.

K: Who is the one artist you would love to work with in the future?

Kanami Tsujino: I would like to collaborate with Maguro Taniguchi and KANA-BOON, who provided our songs "Endless" and "Memories"!

K:. What song have you created that you wish had a music video? What type of music video would you film?

Julia An: It would actually be a remake of the music video for "Seishun Heart Shaker". In the MV released now, I took a shooting camera and took a rough picture of us, so I would like to shoot a music video that allows you to see more of our regular appearance!

K:. Do you have a message for your international fans?

Hitoka Sakai: I am very happy that you the readers know a bit more about us! I've never been able to do this kind of interview, so I'm grateful! We'd like to have a live concert abroad someday, so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

K: Once again, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and we look forward to your upcoming releases!

Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu: Thank you very much for having us!