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SCANDAL - The best Valentine's Day with "everyone who was chosen"

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SCANDAL released their new album 「HONEY」 yesterday, 2/14. In commemoration of this, they held a free live at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo on the same day.

This live was carried out via an invitation system for purchasers of 「HONEY」. The lucky fans who gained entry packed the floor. Hitting the stage in a black-and-white casual style, the SCANDAL members kicked off the live from RINA's count with 「Koisuru Universe」. Neon-colored moving lights colored the stage as HARUNA, TOMOMI, and MAMI's singing voices with a feeling of openness spread throughout the venue. The audience broke out in dance along to the danceable rhythm of 「Take Me Out」 where RINA swung her hair around as she drummed while the three in front took big steps as they performed freely. After this single track that's also on the album, they headed into a performance of the popular song 「Shunkan Sentimental」. From early on the audience sang in a chorus and the enthusiasm of the floor rose.

After completing three songs and switching to an MC, HARUNA praised the fans, saying, 「Are you guys really this happy? You've been super loud since the beginning!」 She also touched on the fact that this was their first live show of the year, and this live was invite-only: 「Let's make this the best night ever for our first live of 2018 with everyone who was chosen!」, she said enthusiastically. From there, the quartet performed and pleased the audience with 「Platform Syndrome」, a new song from the new album; and 「Bitter Chocolate」, which is connected to Valentine's Day (the day of the live). During 「Bitter Chocolate」, the soft ensemble along with TOMOMI's sweet and painful singing voice enveloped the venue.

At the halfway point of the live, HARUNA smiled and explained that they packed their album with songs that they could do precisely because they're SCANDAL, and precisely because they're an all-girl band: 「We're so happy that we were able to make this kind of album on our own! It'd truly make us happy even if just the people who came out today could accept this beloved album of ours. It's enough that we'd want to ask every single person their thoughts on it (laughs).」 For the first time they played the song 「OVER」, which they explained could become a live anthem song, with RINA's dynamic drumming and HARUNA's emotional voice making an impression. 「EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!」 followed, and when TOMOMI and HARUNA's dual vocals raised the excitement of the audience, HARUNA additionally divided up the audience by girls and boys and had the audience jumping. The last song they performed was 「LOVE SURVIVE」. The quartet left the stage after playing a performance full of energy.

For the encore, the members appeared once more on stage all wearing the white t-shirt they made in collaboration with AMIAYA included in the T-Shirt Edition of their new album. HARUNA once more appealed 「HONEY」 to the fans, saying, 「This is an album we made with all of our might, so we hope you listen to it a lot!」 The girls introduced 「SCANDAL BABY」 with, 「If we all dance together, it'll make it the best night ever」, and with RINA's danceable drumming and HARUNA; TOMOMI; and MAMI's lively unison, a scene of the audience waving their hands left and right spread out. At the end, HARUNA called out to the audience: 「Let's continue this on our hall tour! See you again!」

SCANDAL will be holding a hall tour in support of 「HONEY」 that kicks off on 3/3 at Misato City Culture Hall - Large Hall in Saitama. General sales for tickets start 2/17.

Release!
Theme：TOMOMI

Today, Valentine's Day, is 『HONEY』's release day!

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This album feels like it's packed with events that happened within a 2 km radius around us.

Our favorite sounds, our favorite words, our favorite colors, our favorite scents; it has everything.

I hope it gets close to your everyday lives.

While thinking that, I'm eating delicious chocolates given to me by HARUNA, this year's rock-paper-scissors winner.

Thanks for the chocolatesー.

TOMOMI

2018/2/14 21:23

Spoiler:

SCANDAL will be going on tour in Asia in June and playing in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Manila, and Taipei!

Date: 2018/6/10 (Sun.)
Location: Hong Kong
Start: 20:00 (local time)
Venue: MacPherson Stadium (http://macstadium.hkpa.hk/)
Tickets: https://www.cityline.com (on sale from 2/28)

Date: 2018/6/15 (Fri.)
Location: Beijing
Start: 19:30 (local time)
Venue: TANGO (http://www.clubtango.cn/)
Tickets: http://search.juooo.com/?k=scandal (on sale from 3/16)

Date: 2018/6/17 (Sun.)
Location: Guangzhou
Start: 20:00 (local time)
Venue: TUTU (https://site.douban.com/gztutu/)
Tickets: http://search.juooo.com/?k=scandal (on sale from 3/16)

Date: 2018/6/24 (Sun.)
Location: Manila
Start: 19:00 (local time)
Venue: SMX Convention Center (http://www.smxconventioncenter.com/)
Tickets: https://smtickets.com/events/view/6497

Date: 2018/6/30 (Sat.)
Location: Taipei
Start: 19:00 (local time)
Venue: Clapper Studio (http://clappertw.wixsite.com/clapper/studio)

HONEY Album Lyrics

01. Platform Syndrome (プラットホームシンドローム)
02. OVER
03. Take Me Out (テイクミーアウト)
04. Oh! No!
05. Midnight City (ミッドナイトシティ)
06. Short Short (ショートショート)
07. Mado wo Aketara (窓を開けたら; Open a Window)
08. Futari (ふたり; The Two of Us)
09. Electric Girl (エレクトリックガール)
10. Koisuru Universe (恋するユニバース; A Universe In Love)

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

Kana:

HONEY
Theme：HARUNA

Our NEW ALBUM『HONEY』 is finally out tomorrow.
Today's flying get day, so those who have already gotten it, thanks so much!

We were promoting in Osaka yesterday and today.
We went on location for a TV program we're always on whenever we have a release (this time we went to only gourmet places♡), and did a ton of radio recordings!
We also had a public recording at FM OH!
It'll be on-air two weeks in a row, 2/23 (Fri.) and 3/2 (Fri.), so look forward to those tooー!

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『HONEY』 turned out to be a really nice album.
We're all really satisfied with everything, including the songs, of course; the MV; and artwork. We're filled with a sense of accomplishment.
We're truly happy that we were able to make an album like this.
So, we'd be even happier if everyone likes it as well.


Tell us your thoughts, okay!

HARUNA

2018/2/13 21:50

Spoiler:

SCANDAL's HONEY Interview
Confidence as an all-girl band; a "debut" album in their 10th year

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SCANDAL, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their major label debut in 2018, will be releasing their 8th original album HONEY on February 14.

This album contains 10 songs, including their single "Take Me Out," as well as "Koisuru Universe" and "Futari" from their digital single. After completing their first 47-prefecture tour and joint-band tour in 2017, the girls have strengthened their groundwork as a band. The result is music that all-girl bands should play, and that only SCANDAL can play. The result is a vividly diverse collection of feminine charms.

Music Natalie spoke at length with the quartet, who are feeling a great sense of accomplishment from the completion of this work.

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Our first joint-band tour where it seemed like "We didn't make any mistakes in this way"
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──Firstly, please tell us about your first joint-band tour, "SCANDAL's Joint-Band Tour," held last October. In support of your killer tune "Koisuru Universe," which was produced with the theme of "a sound that an all-girl band should play," how was it appearing jointly with UNISON SQUARE GARDEN, 04 Limited Sazabys, and BLUE ENCOUNT?

RINA: To go up against all-male bands, it reminded us once again that we should take on challenges with our own weapons. "Koisuru Universe" was created with a sound that we as SCANDAL should play and lyrics that we should express, so we were kind of relieved that we hadn't made any mistakes in this way (laughs). We were also happy that we got our joint-band partners to say that "Koisuru Universe" is cool. We learned a lot, so it was a really inspiring tour.

HARUNA: Although doing joint shows isn't about winning or losing, this tour did make us feel that we didn't want to lose to our partners. Our fighting spirit was really intense and differed from when we play solo concerts or festivals. We were kind of surprised at ourselves (laughs).

TOMOMI: It definitely was intense, yeah.

RINA: This year marks the 10th anniversary of our major-label debut, but I still feel that we can get really fired up. In 2017 we performed at approximately 70 small venues in total, and although it kind of makes us feel like rookies (laughs), I think that's another charming thing about SCANDAL.



──MAMI, what do you think?

MAMI: Since all of the bands were playing to their strengths, I felt that even though they play music that's different from us, there were many points we had in common that we could understand each other. In fact, after talking to each other, we found that there were many aspects of each band's viewpoint that we agreed with, and I think it was a great benefit for us to be able to have a good exchange at the concerts. At the same time, I think that the audience of each band was also able to properly interact with each other, so these were concerts that connected not only us band members but also the fans' futures.

HARUNA: Many people who saw SCANDAL for the first time during our joint-band tour tweeted that they want to see us at winter festivals as well. At festivals we've actually also noticed while on stage some of those new fans in the audience, so I think it was a very fruitful joint-band tour in that aspect as well.

We felt that the position of all-girl bands in the scene and SCANDAL's place in it became certain
_____________________________________________

──I get the impression that the direction SCANDAL is now taking with "Koisuru Universe" and your joint-band tour experience, which proved to be a major force, are clearly connected to your newly released album HONEY.

RINA: We were naturally heading in that direction during the production stage.

MAMI: Yeah. But on top of that, the reactions we received with "Koisuru Universe" on the joint-band tour made the path we should take even clearer. We felt that the position of all-girl bands in the scene and SCANDAL's place in it became certain, and that gave us a lot of confidence. In that sense, this album was made with a feeling of starting anew from here.


──I truly think it is a masterpiece.

MAMI: We're also very satisfied with it. I can't wait for everyone to listen to it and say whatever they want, good or bad. I feel that we have gained the ability to accept any opinion, no matter what it may be, by making this album.

RINA: I think we were able to make an album that was focused on what we want to do and what we like. I wanted to make music that the four of us should play together, music that would fulfill our role as an all-girl band, and with the 10th anniversary of our debut, we felt strongly about going on the offensive once again, so I think we were able to pack in all the momentum that SCANDAL has right now. I think the result is very exciting.

TOMOMI: I think we gained more muscle as a band through the 47-prefectures tour and the joint-band tour last year, and at the same time, we became more confident in our regular selves, which do not pass through the filter of musicians. I feel that this album, which reflects this, has somehow become our private space. I think we were able to incorporate the sounds that flow in the sphere where we live and the common language that we communicate with each other. In that sense, it turned out to be a very satisfying finish.

HARUNA: SCANDAL has changed in many ways with each new album, and we have always updated the themes that we wanted to present at each time, but this time I feel that we were able to create the ideal form that we have been aiming for for the past five years. I think that everything we have explored since we started writing music ourselves, and the image of the band we've envisioned since we started performing at various festivals, has been packed into these 10 songs. I really feel a sense of accomplishment.

I'm really happy that we were able to create something so fresh, energetic, and sharp, 10 years after our debut
_____________________________________________

──This time, except for your singles and the song "Mado wo Aketara", everything from songwriting to arrangement was completed by the band.

RINA: That's right. (Making eye contact with the members) We're happy about that (laughs). That said, it's not like we didn't decide to include arrangers this time. It was more like, "This has already been arranged, so we can just record it as is." There was no pressure to do it by ourselves.

TOMOMI: Yeah, the atmosphere in the studio was very natural.
Even when we've asked an arranger for help, MAMI's demos were almost complete as is, and each member would just add their own flavor to it. So the flow is the same as usual.

HARUNA: Well, in the sense that we were able to do everything on our own in the usual sense, I think this album shows each member's underlying strength.

RINA: That's right. It simply made us happy that our director and agency manager, who has known us from the time that we couldn't do anything, said, "It's totally fine as it is." Somehow it feels like we've made another debut album. I'm really happy that we were able to create something so fresh, energetic, and sharp, 10 years after our debut.



──There are plenty of songs with lyrics written by RINA and music composed by MAMI.

RINA: I was writing songs whenever I thought of them (laughs).

MAMI: We were writing songs during our 47-prefecture tour, and even after the joint-band tour. However, tracks 1-2 were made at the last minute. I wonder how this album would have turned out without these two songs (laughs).



──Track 1, "Platform Syndrome," and track 2, "OVER," are fast-paced rock songs that make you realize that you're a band that lives to play concerts. I think these are songs that show what SCANDAL's good at, but why weren't they created until the last minute?

HARUNA: We unintentionally took a detour (laughs).

MAMI: That's right. I was aiming for a song that would blow your minds at concert, but for better or worse, I tend to be twisted, so I ended up with a weird dance number like "Electric Girl" (laughs). Well, in a flash of inspiration, I was like, "Ah!" and was able to make both "Platform Syndrome" and "OVER." Although it was at the last minute, I think I had the ideas and images for the songs in my head from the beginning.

An album that depicts the various emotions of a single person
_____________________________________________

──"Short Short" is another song by the duo of RINA and MAMI. The soft and beautiful world view with many choruses gives the song a feminine charm.

TOMOMI: This song is very pleasant, although I have to be patient because I only play the same phrase all the way through the A-melody (laughs). The chorus suddenly becomes emotional, and I really like the contrast between the two.

MAMI: I think this is most emotional song on the album. Sound-wise, it is very simple, but I think we were able to create a sparkling atmosphere by adding color with our voices.

RINA: HARUNA's singing is also very clear.

HARUNA: Actually, everyone really liked the take I did while in pre-production, so we used it as is except for the parts where the lyrics were changed. I guess you could call it an initial impulse, or the voice that carried the feelings I had when I first heard MAMI's demo, and it fit the song. I discovered that such a thing could happen.



──The seventh track "Mado wo Aketara" (Open a Window) is a number that features lyrics and music by TOMOMI. This arrangement was done by Mizuki Masuda of Negoto. It has a very mature finish to it.

TOMOMI: I wrote this song about three years ago, when I was very depressed and had a series of nights when I felt like my soul was slipping away and I was left with only my body. Since I wrote this song about my own heart, I wanted to arrange it with someone close to me whom I interact with in my private life. I thought it would add some spice to the album.

RINA: I really wanted to do this song because I thought that the current SCANDAL could express itself well without stretching too far, both in terms of the sound and the lyrics that delve into the heart. I think the inclusion of this song lowered the album's center of gravity and created a theme for the album.



──You can also feel it in "Midnight City," which is another song that depicts the delicacy and vulnerability of women in a different way from love songs. I also got the impression that the inclusion of such songs gives the album depth and reality.

RINA: That's right. Some people may feel that "Mado wo Aketara" is in a slightly different place when listening to the tune alone, but when you consider it as one aspect of one person, it feels like all 10 songs on the album are connected. I really feel that it's an album that depicts the various emotions of a single person.

An evolution of each part glimpsed from HONEY
_____________________________________________

──After a year full of live performances in 2017, your performance aspect has evolved dramatically, hasn't it? Each part was recorded with a lot of care, wasn't it?

TOMOMI: That's correct. The bass has a different rhythm in each song, and I did a lot of challenging things, such as using a funky phrase for the disco-like "Midnight City" instead of playing it in octaves.

RINA: Isn't your bass solo on "Electric Girl" one of the key points this time?

TOMOMI: Ahー, yeah. MAMI told me she wanted to include a bass solo, so I thought up a phrase and went to MAMI's house to try to match it, but the tempo was really fast. I couldn't play the phrase even though I had thought of it myself (laughs). I did my best to play it. Ahahaha (laughs).

RINA: I think the drums on "Electric Girl" have a very playful rhythm, as in the A-melody of the second verse, where the snare is changed at one point and a fill is played. Recording it was a lot of fun!



──Did you try anything else this time with the drums?

RINA: I don't really think about it myself, but I've been told by many people that I have a backward groove. So this time, I made a conscious effort to play the drums in a more forward position overall. I was very happy when the members said to me during recording, "It's quite forward for your drumming" (laughs).



──I see. The aggressive attitude and vigor that pervades the entire album may be due in large part to RINA's drumming. MAMI, what do you think?

MAMI: In the past, HARUNA and I often played the same chords on the guitar, but this time we completely separated them. I had HARUNA lay a solid foundation with power chords and low chords, and I focused on single notes on top of them. I think that's why you can clearly hear the two guitars in each song.

HARUNA: That's right. I think you can feel the difference from our previous songs just from the guitar sounds.



──HARUNA, your voice changes considerably from song to song, doesn't it? That was a lot of fun.

HARUNA: Recording vocals was a lot of fun. Everyone wrote lyrics that had a very personal and everyday life-feel to them, so I recorded the songs looking for a voice and a way of singing that would suit the lyrics. I think I was able to bring out a lot of unknown sides of myself in the songs (laughs). I have been experimenting with various aspects of singing over the past few years, but this time I think I was able to express what I have always wanted to do and what I want to show as SCANDAL in the future, through my vocals.

We had been heading towards this album called HONEY a little at a time for a while now
_____________________________________________

──This album contains 10 songs, the smallest number of songs on an album of yours so far. Was there any intention behind this?

RINA: We currently have over 100 songs. So instead of unnecessarily adding new songs, we wanted to include only the 10 strongest songs on the album and emphasize our past songs during live performances. I felt that the story of the album as a whole was well-organized, so I thought this minimalism was just right at this point in time.



──I wonder how the songs from this album will intersect with those from the past to create a unique view of the current SCANDAL. I'm looking forward to your hall tour starting in March.

RINA: Yes! We plan to play all the songs from the album but there is plenty of room for more, so there are a lot of options. I'm really looking forward to it!

TOMOMI: When arranged as a setlist, there are surprisingly some past songs that do not disturb the world view of this album. In that sense, we realized once again that we have been gradually moving toward HONEY little by little for a while now. It looks like it will be an very interesting tour.

HARUNA: Since it's a hall tour this time, we can incorporate the atmosphere of the album's artwork into the performance. We want to create a hot space where people can enjoy it visually, but also get loud and go home all sweaty.

TOMOMI: Ah, also, [bassist] Yuta Tsujimura of BLUE ENCOUNT showed me how to step during the after-party of our joint-band tour.

RINA: Eh, you're going to incorporate that?

TOMOMI: Yes. I hope to incorporate it in my performance. I learned many things during our joint-band tour (laughs).

MAMI: Seriously? (laughs)

RINA: That's great. We're also looking forward to it (laughs).

If the world were to end tomorrow, ____ right now

I want to search for love
While hoping that spring continues on further

Nights like these always come around with no reason
The moon drops a single tear in an empty gap

SCANDAL's 「SUPER EDITION」 ＃1:
～Those who golf as well as those who don't! SUPER EDITION produced by SCANDAL!!～

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SUPER EDITION is a radio program where artists produce music atmospheres monthly.
SCANDAL is up for February 2018!


SUPER EDITION produced by SCANDAL! has begun!


【SCANDAL's friendships】

Each week, each of the members will introduce one band or artist
Out of the ones who are related to SCANDAL.

Who TOMOMI is introducing is...

[Negoto]

An all-girl rock band like SCANDAL.
I'm good friends with guitarist Mizuki Masuda!
I had her participate on our new album 『HONEY』 as an arranger.

Negoto continues to change while taking on new challenges.
As an all-girl rock band whose members' personalities all shine through,
They work hard and encourage SCANDAL.


【A feature on 『HONEY』】

Each week we will be featuring two songs apiece from their new album 『HONEY』!


[Platform Syndrome]

Filled with speediness, it's the album's first track.
The message of "Even if you don't force yourself to act cheerful, isn't it okay to occasionally depend on time and someone else?" has been put into it.
Actually, it's a song that was finished at the very last minute!


[OVER]

This is the second track!
It's a song that'll hook you onto SCANDAL's current mood, and when you listen to it on the album,
You can enjoy the way it flows from [Platform Syndrome]. It's filled with a playful spirit!

Go!Go!GUITAR, March 2018


During this milestone year marking the 10th anniversary of their major label debut, SCANDAL will be releasing their 8th album titled 『HONEY』, a pun for 8/21, the date of their formation. They too have talked about this, but no matter how their career advances, they won't lose their longing and emotions for glittering rock music. It is a masterpiece where even their existences are felt. We had them speak plenty about 『HONEY』 that will continue into next month's issue.

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We wanted to put in some degree of flashiness and chemicals with momentum

―Was the album production period during the middle of SCANDAL's 47 Prefecture Tour (2017/3~7)?

MAMI: We included two new songs in our best album 『SCANDAL』, and starting from then we accumulated songs in anticipation of our next album. So, it feels like we took a long time making 『HONEY』.


―Did it feel like you were accumulating good songs rather than going with a concept?

MAMI: We had songs stocked up from last year, so the production times, strictly speaking, are all over the place, but when we gathered them together, there was a large number of songs related to "love." That one axis was set into place, and it came together naturally because we made songs to surround that.


―There are many feminine lyrics that are about love, so I wonder if women will symphathize with them.

RINA: We don't write lyrics aimed towards women, since making music that can be enjoyed by all kinds of people regardless of gender, age, or nationality is what we keep in mind. So, what we were most conscious about while making this album was that it had been 11 years since the band formed, and that this would be released during the 10th anniversary of our major label debut. We wanted to make something that was packed with a "We can still attack and challenge ourselves to grow our rock music after 10 years!", "Let's do this, SCANDAL!"-like excitement. This was the first time we wanted to make a striking album with our sense of being a band on display, so we collected tunes that were like that, broke the standard concept of having to write 12-13 songs just because we're making an album, and packed in 10 of the strongest songs.


―When I listened to it I really felt your initial impulses, and also felt that you chose the best 10 songs.

RINA: We have over 100 songs, but because at our live shows we want to carefully play each and every one of our older songs, we had a desire to shape the number of songs according to how we are now rather than increasing our number of songs unnecessarily, and properly shaping what matches our current spirit. But, being able to make such a fresh album in this career of ours is a happy thing. It's packed with a force that'll make you think, "Isn't this a debut album?"!


― 『YELLOW』, released in 2016, was the first album where you did all of the lyrics and music yourselves. I didn't think such a fresh album would come after that.

RINA: I think there have been reactions like that because it was an album that, in a good way, was lenient and had a strong image to it that was rough and relaxed. We wanted to put in some degree of flashiness and momentum as well as a chemical element into 『HONEY』, so I think it turned out to be an album that highlights the strengths of the band SCANDAL.


―HARUNA, what did you think when listening to the accumulated songs?

HARUNA: I think it's an album with no sense of unity―in a good way―and is packed with our early intentions. Although we collected songs with all sorts of genres, it felt like we were able to create the king of all genres.


―And yet, all of them are "SCANDAL."

HARUNA: Yes. We think it's definitely all SCANDAL.


―What do you think, TOMOMI?

TOMOMI: It has a very private feeling to it. They're events that happened within a few kilometer radius from our houses. I think it's an album that has our experiences and imaginations. It also includes the sounds we like, as well as the sounds and words we hear in daily life.


―That's definitely true for 「Mado wo Aketara」 (Open a Window) featuring lyrics and music by TOMOMI.

TOMOMI: To just open a window, you don't have to leave the house for that (laughs).

HARUNA: Isn't that a song from years ago that was set aside?

TOMOMI: It's a song that was made before 『YELLOW』 and had been put aside the whole time. Recently, I've been obsessed with songs that get stuck in your head. I took hints from them and made this song. It's a song from when I became a nervous person and began to spin words that came out in large drops then. I felt very happy and refreshed when it was able to take shape.

RINA: It really fits the atmosphere of 『HONEY』 and is a song we'd always wanted to do someday.


―It feels like you were singing in all sorts of voices on 『HONEY』. How was it on the vocals side?

HARUNA: There are also songs that don't include me singing, but everything was a new challenge for us. The way we sang each song too, we sang all 10 songs with different personalities. Since I didn't write lyrics nor music this time, I was wondering how I would approach these songs written by the other members. I thought about what kind of protagonists and what kind of emotions they're singing with more than ever before. By being able to do that, I really fell in love with my singing.


―You only fell in love with it that recently!?

HARUNA: Including the process of making it, I was satisfied with my singing. Until then I was unsure and had been asking everyone for opinions like, "How should I sing this?", but this time I came to be able to suggest for myself, "This is how I want to sing!"


―It feels like your singing has changed since 「Take Me Out」.

HARUNA: My approach to singing changed starting from around that time. I also feel like the extent of my singing has also widened.

We struggled a bit and made this at the very end

―The album begins from your lead song 「Platform Syndrome」, a track that makes you feel a momentum and coolness that spectacularly represent this album.

RINA: That song was just barely completed on time. When we were one week away from the deadline, we wanted to make a song that would be the face of the album. We needed to make one, and we thought hard about what kind of song would be good. So, the kind we wanted to do the most right then was an attacking rock song with momentum. By going with one that was instantly catchy and easy-to-understand, we made a fast-paced rock tune that brings out all of that.

MAMI: We also began recording other songs, and while we had also decided on which days we were to record, we struggled a bit and made this at the very end.


―I thought that the second track 「OVER」 would also have been a good track to put as the first one...

MAMI: Actually, 「OVER」 and 「Platform Syndrome」 were written at the same time (laughs).

RINA: They were both finished in one day. The day after we completed 「OVER」 was when we completed 「Platform Syndrome」.

MAMI: It felt like we could still make more. These are songs that we probably couldn't have written if we weren't pressed for time (laughs).

RINA: I'm glad we were able to do them (laughs).

HARUNA: It's awesome because they are properly-made songs. When I was sent these two songs, I thought, "This is so awesome!" (laughs).

MAMI: Thinking about it now, it feels like, "What kind of album would have been made without these two songs?", right?

TOMOMI: 「Electric Girl」 might have been the first track (laughs).

RINA: That's a flashy one.

TOMOMI: Because these two songs are songs that we didn't plan to put on the album in the first place, I had wondered if the album would have stayed in the form it had been in. If that was the case, then its outline wouldn't have been clear―rather, it might have turned out to be an album that was vague. But, when I was sent these songs, I was convinced that the album was finally finished.


―「Platform Syndrome」 is also a good title and features lyrics about lost love, but the moving-forward feeling makes it an appropriate first track.

RINA: The day after breaking up with your significant other might be the most painful. You're in a dreamy state of mind and can't believe it. Rather, it's that fluffy sort of feeling. Also, I've always thought that a platform (=station) is where tens of thousands of all kinds of people go back and forth from. Each of those people has their own life. What I've thought about the most are where they're coming from, where they're heading to, what they're feeling. Trains too carry and move many people. When the melody from MAMI arrived, that atmosphere really came to mind. So, I quickly wrote out the lyrics that would fit with that image in about 30 minutes.


―You had those kinds of stories about the first two tracks! The fourth track 「Oh! No!」 features MAMI on vocals and changes from an atmosphere with momentum to one with less of it.

MAMI: This song is also one that was made during 『YELLOW 』. Everyone liked it and wanted to try it out on this release, but it's a nonsensical song.

TOMOMI: We first recorded it with HARU's vocals, but as it was MAMI's song and she suited the protagonist of this song's lyrics, we talked about making it a song with MAMI's vocals and then changed it halfway through.

MAMI: It felt like, "I'm going to sing!?" (laughs). I sang it relatively proper-like on the recording, so I want to go all-out when doing it live.


―It's impressive that 「Midnight City」 features RINA on vocals [during the verses] and switches to HARUNA during the chorus.

RINA: While I was writing love songs, I wanted to write about many things, and I really took into consideration what I could write about that'd be fun. So, this is a song that's about battling against yourself. When I'm doing things like taking a bath, I'm always thinking about things like, "Even though I want to become even better, why am I like this!".

MAMI: You're battling (laughs).

RINA: Every day I compare myself to others, wonder why I can't do something after 10 tries that takes everyone else one try to do, or am frustrated with myself. I thought that, although there are many times I don't like myself, it'd be great if I could sing about how it's okay for me to have a day where I can make sure be kind to myself too.


―There must be many people who can sympathize with those kinds of feelings. When music makes you forget about things like that, you sing along to the chorus, right?

RINA: I think music is the best escape, something that makes it okay to feel spoiled, and it's not unfashionable nor uncool. I want people to love themselves even more.


―By the way, how will it go live?

RINA: I'll sing while drumming!

HARUNA: Wouldn't it be the first time you'd be drumming while handling main vocals?

RINA: The only instrument I've played while doing main vocals is a guitar...

HARUNA: It'd be really tricky (laughs).

RINA: I'm a tricky drummer (laughs), but I'll practice.


―Speaking of tricky, how about 「Electric Girl」?

MAMI: It has impact (laughs)!

RINA: We were aware of that while recording it! It's so awesome. It's a playful song.

HARUNA: I wonder how it'll go live?

RINA: I think it'll be exciting.

MAMI: Because it has our feelings of wanting to play a live show. It'd be great if everyone could sing it with us.


―Like the 《Isseーnoーse》 part?

RINA: We want everyone to sing that part during a show. Also, closing the album out with 「Koisuru Universe」 is the best.

MAMI: It's a great closer.

RINA: We wanted to close it with a happy feeling. Although it's a love song, it has the line 《A perfect universe I met you in》 in it. It's a universe we met those who picked up our CD in. That's why we wanted to close it with a good song.


―You'll also be going on tour in support of the album.

HARUNA: Next up is our first hall tour in three years.

RINA: We're currently beginning to think about the set list a little at a time, but we want to play live shows in a format that visually conveys what we wanted to do on the album.

---

Platform Syndrome MV shoot close-coverage report!

The music video shoot for 「Platform Syndrome」 was held at a studio in Tokyo. With the 360° camera work and their longed-for "using sparklers" performance, a MV that colors the world view of this song was completed.

The members stood in a circle and were shot in a 360° angle from the center! They completed a never-before-done lovely music video that is cool and dramatic.


Presenting the world of the song through sparklers and lighting!

Comments: It became an intense, cool MV


―Did the idea for the MV come from the members?

RINA: A while back we wanted to shoot a cool MV with a performance that had a heavy impact, so we conveyed our views to the director too. We had them bring out a platform-feel with the lighting. Sparks shoot out during the latter half, showing a flashiness and coolness. Overall, it turned out to be an MV packed with the band's coolness. We rocked out plenty this time.

HARUNA: Sparks that weren't hot even if you touched them were flying around. But, the muscle pain sucked (laughs).

RINA: The next day, right! So, the next day we played a joint live show with KEYTALK while having really bad muscle pain.

HARUNA: And that healed the pain (laughs).


―It was nice to have the studio set depicted just the way it is.

MAMI: It's like everything was shown, even the parts you can't see!

TOMOMI: This was the first time having that director shoot us, but they matched the tension we talked about, and it felt like we were very compatible.

HARUNA: His name's Kei Ikeda, and he's shot MVs for THE ORAL CIGARETTES and such. He shoots bands on a routine basis.

RINA: It has a pretty intense, cool feel to it.

---

―Do you regularly wear jeans?

HARUNA: I always wear jeans throughout the year, but since I rarely come across ones that fit my height and size, if I do find some I'll keep wearing them. It's good to have your style come out more and more. For today's outfits we all chose to wear skinny jeans.

MAMI: Wide jeans have come back into fashion recently, so I'm wearing one that's half-skinny, half-wide.


―You're wearing matching outfits today, aren't you?

RINA: Lately, we've been wearing matching things again for our live outfits. We have a bit of a "matching trend" among ourselves. Today, we're all wearing Champion hoodies in a larger size. A dusty yellow that's dulled nicely and and our familiarity with jeans are also nice. Yellow has a strong TOMOMI-like image to it.

TOMOMI: It got me pumped up today (laughs).


―You collaborated with AMIAYA for your new album's artwork.

RINA: We gave the album the title of 『HONEY』, which is from us completing a girls' rock album with sweetness and thorns. We thought that that world view and the fashion that AMIAYA-chan dispatches were really linked together.

TOMOMI: We often hang out with AMIAYA on our off-time as well and all go to the exhibitions of the brand the girls are working for. We were able to make something nice with our good friends!


―The title is 『HONEY』, but it has fairly bitter content from the first song.

RINA: It's an album where opposite counterparts like <sweetness and thorns> and <kindness and sharpness> live together. For rock from an all-girl rock band, one of the interesting things is that it has both cuteness and coolness.

HARUNA: I think we were able to make a very rock-like album that isn't just sweet.

RINA: Having our major label debut 10 years ago, we felt that we've been a band a while, and once more we worked in a mode of wanting to make something cool that had momentum to it.

HARUNA: We celebrated our 10th anniversary and made another debut album―this is an album we were able to make with those kinds of feelings.

TOMOMI: We had been making singles at a very high pace of 3-4 a year so far, but this time we had a CD release for the first time in a year.

MAMI: But since we were writing songs during our 「47 Prefecture Tour」 and 「Joint Band Tour」, it really feels like we ran through it in no time. We also had a high-power output, and while in the middle of playing a live, we also felt that we wanted songs like that. As for our Joint Band Tour, we again felt that where we stand is where an all-girl band should be, so we made that into a song.

HARUNA: 2017 was a year where I confronted singing. There were various ways I could sing, to the extent to make you wonder who's singing during the album's 10 songs, so I'm happy that we were able to complete this album.


―You'll be touring soon after the album's out.

TOMOMI: As it's our first hall tour in a while, there are more things we can do production-wise, and it's a different kind of fun from live houses.

RINA: We feel very accomplished by completing this album, and since we too get excited by thinking about how we'll feel different from now once we go on tour in support of an album, we would like you to experience it live together with us.

MAMI: We're very satisfied that we made a very impulsive piece. We want everyone to listen to it soon and tell us their thoughts and opinions.

HARUNA: It became an album that was able to exceed our image. With this work, we want those who listen to SCANDAL, first-time listeners included, to be able to really enjoy this album and experience a new us again. By all means, please come out to our tour as well.

■「SCANDAL HONEY SHOP」 Overview

Official name: SCANDAL「HONEY」 Album Release POP UP SHOP「SCANDAL HONEY SHOP」
Duration: 2018/2/13 (Tue.) ～ 2018/3/4 (Sun.)
Hours: 10:00～21:00
Location: TOWERmini Morinomiya Q's Mall location

Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Morinomiyachuo 2-1-70, Morinomiya Q's Mall BASE 1st floor
大阪府大阪市中央区森ノ宮中央2-1-70もりのみやキューズモールBASE1階

Implementation content

＜Outfit Display＞

A display of outfits from 「SCANDAL TOUR 2017 “SCANDAL no Taiban Tour”」

・2018/2/13 (Tue.)～2/22 (Thu.) - HARUNA & MAMI's outfits
・2018/2/23 (Fri.)～3/4 (Sun.) - TOMOMI & RINA's outfits

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＜Panel display＞

Panel with live photos from 「SCANDAL TOUR 2017 “SCANDAL no Taiban Tour”」

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＜A campaign that includes both their new release and past releases・Display panel lottery present＞

At 「SCANDAL HONEY SHOP」 will be a lottery where you can win a display panel signed by the band by purchasing 「HONEY」 (either one of the 3 types) and a past SCANDAL release (either a CD・Blu-ray・DVD) at the same time.

※Purchasing 1 set comprised of 「HONEY」 + an older release = 1 ticket into the lottery
※Entries will be closed as soon as the panel exhibition is over.
※The panels to be gifted will be the panels exhibited at the store with autographs included.
※Winners will be announced by posts in-store and will be contact via telephone. (Estimated announcement: mid-March)

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＜Capsule toy sales＞

Sales start: 2018/2/13 (Tue.) ～ while supplies last.
Price: 1 try = 300 yen

10 square pins with past album covers + 1 secret one (11 in total) will be for sale.

※Please note that, depending on how crowded it is, we may limit the number of times one person can consecutively purchase tries.

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＜SCANDAL × TOWER RECORDS Coach Jacket - sold in limited quantity＞

Name: SCANDAL × TOWER RECORDS Coach Jacket
Sizes: S, M, L, XL - 4 sizes in total
Price: 7,000 yen (tax included)
Sales start: 2018/2/13 (Tue.) , when the store opens～sales start.

■Size chart
S: Length - 67cm, Width - 53cm, Shoulder width - 44cm, Sleeve length - 61cm
M: Length - 70cm, Width - 56cm, Shoulder width - 47cm, Sleeve length - 63cm
L: Length - 73cm, Width - 59cm, Shoulder width - 50cm, Sleeve length - 65cm
XL: Length - 76cm, Width - 62cm, Shoulder width - 53cm, Sleeve length - 67cm

■Material, outer: 100% nylon - Lining: 100% polyester

■Treatment
Front: Fluorine-based water-repellent finish - Back: Acrylic coating

■Color
Burgundy

※Limited quantity. (Sales will begin online from 10 am)


Participating stores: Shibuya Store, Shinjuku Store, Sapporo Pivo Store, Ikebukuro Store, Machida Store, Nagoya Parco Store, Umeda Osaka Marville Store, Nanba Store, Umeda NU Chayamachi Store, TOWERmini Morinomiya Q's Mall Store, Hiroshima Store, Fukuoka Parco Store, TOWER RECORDS Online (http://tower.jp/)

※Store information: http://tower.jp/store　　

Collaboration goods special page: http://tower.jp/scandalgoods

A Valentine's playlist of songs chosen by SCANDAL. There are classic SCANDAL songs as well as songs that are memorable for each member♡ Listen to our songs "Bitter Chocolate" and "Koisuru Universe" together!

https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXdBAJbci7waj?si=ewiW_dODTtm1GrSJIg0A3w

List of songs: