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Rolling Stone Special Issue: 10th Anniversary of SCANDAL
They have already announced an arena tour spanning from the end of the year to the beginning of next year. SCANDAL, who continue to grow with great vigor, released their first new single, 「Stamp!」, in eight months. The heat around them just continues to rise, but these 4 girls have no pretentiousness in them. With their natural stances, you can feel their flexibility of being in harmony with their generation. In particular, their world tour that spanned the first half of the year with performances both domestically and abroad brought a big change in the minds of the members'. This turned out to be an interview in which we were able to catch a glimpse of each of the members' "true faces" as they talked about their "current mood" from beginning to end with soft expressions on their faces.
――Although your world tour just finished, what is your current state of mind?
RINA: 「It feels great, like something was set free.」
――Is there anything in particular?
RINA: 「It was beyond what we first expected, we gained more than we anticipated, and our awareness completely changed. Although we had been going overseas before this as well, there were parts that were vague to us. By doing an overseas tour before we debuted in Japan, it made it us look more important by going overseas once a year. This time, we discovered the meaning of SCANDAL going overseas, or perhaps......」
――Being able to say that honestly must have yielded some big results.
RINA: 「Girl bands are regarded as a unique culture of Japan's. It's seen as being a bit unique, such as how anime, idols, or visual kei are appreciated abroad. But, on this tour, we felt that we were able to dispel that kind of image. We too had been in that part, but the audiences in the US and Europe didn't think of us like that this time; they came out to our tour and said that they genuinely like our music. It turned into a tour on which we took hold of new possibilities and confidence.」
――I see. What do the other members think?
TOMOMI: 「On our past overseas tours we would interweave popular songs and anime theme songs into our set list while performing as "SCANDAL for overseas crowds." However, on this tour, we showed our true selves and had the crowds listening to our true music. Because it was tour on which we carried along our naturally-created album 『HELLO WORLD』, we received true feelings from that and gained much confidence.」
HARUNA: 「By adding on performances, the significance--or rather a sense of responsibility of us continuing as a band was born.」
「Our hopes of wanting to go to even more countries to play lives have gotten stronger.」
――Where does your motivation come from?
HARUNA: 「We're often asked, "Do you often compare places overseas to Japan?" From the start, each country differs from each other. We know that the concept of comparing itself differs. The attitudes of the audience watching lives also completely differs. This was the first time we went to Mexico and the audience was enthusiastic. They would be chanting "Ole, ole ole" like they were watching soccer, even when we would be drinking water in between songs. In London, where we performed at a famous local live house, there were many fans in the front row, but on the second floor there were guys who were live house regulars who were sitting in chairs and drinking alcohol while taking it easy and watching our show. The atmospheres that we couldn't have experienced if we had only performed lives in Japan has been very interesting.」
――That's what you want to experience as an artist. Music also varies, doesn't it?
HARUNA: 「When you try to actually experience something, you'll see that your outlook broadens. We want to show this worldwide part of ourselves to the people in Japan as well. For example, even if we had created songs while being conscious of those overseas, the part of us that's 'SCANDAL' wouldn't change. Because of that, it'd be wonderful if that would be accepted as par for the course by Japanese people.」
――It feels like bands like SCANDAL are maturing the Japanese music market. It'll become a standard if young people come to love SCANDAL's music. I think that's a very good thing.
RINA: 「I think J-POP is a mix of Japanese culture and overseas culture. People overseas are accepting Japanese rock and Japanese pop. It's given a reputation when it's evaluated abroad and reimported back to Japan. I think Japanese music is appropriately being seen as "cool" overseas too.」
MAMI: 「Personally, this was a tour that let me be able to trust myself as a songwriter, as well as for the band.」
「"Departure" was overwhelmingly popular and was loved in Europe and the US. The four seasons of Japan are in this song, and we sing about minds and scenery that can only be seen by those who are in Japan. The melody has a Japanese style to it, and many people have said that they like that part. It really moved me to learn that the words and sounds that were born within me are cherished by others.」
――I see. If you stop getting on to scenes and compete with what you originally want to do, it'll be properly recognized.
RINA: 「Yes, almost enough to think "This is where we're starting from."」
――How did you get your name "SCANDAL" in the first place?
TOMOMI: 「We decided on it really fast because we had a live the next day and we couldn't not have a band name.」
HARUNA: 「When we were first starting out, there was a studio we practiced at and attended inside of a multi-tenant building. There are nothing but adult shops in that building, but, on that day, we talked about picking [a name] from the adult shop ones (laughs).」
――The name of one of the adult shops is "SCANDAL"?
HARUNA: 「Yes. Back then it was the biggest sign on that building (laughs).」
RINA: 「We felt its impact subconsciously.」
――Next August will be your 10th anniversary. "SCANDAL" is a strong band name with an impact, but did you ever think that you would do outrageous things from the beginning?
RINA: 「We thought it was a great name and named ourselves that, but we never thought of being a 'naughty' band.」
――It seems that, no matter what, girl bands have an impression of being seen as warm-up acts. SCANDAL has an image of attached to it of starting from an idol-like band with dance school roots. I'd like to know the process as to how you progressed from that point into artists.
RINA: 「It seems like that because we debuted wearing school uniforms. However, it's not like we thought we'd be seen as idols by wearing school uniforms; we truly did go to practice wearing school uniforms.」
――I see. When you debuted, all of you were either middle or high school students.
RINA: 「Correct. The 4 of us talked about how it'd be better to be realistic and go on stage without changing our image. We went shopping together and bought and wore matching clothes that we liked.」
――It was an extension of your private life.
RINA: 「We thought it couldn't be helped if we were seen as being idol-like. Because we didn't write songs for ourselves, we had a weakness there and chagrin as well. However, we love those songs even now. It's because we had confidence during those times. But, after we started writing songs ourselves, we felt more free. We might have been able to transform in coming across the joy and happiness of music.」
――But it's not like you're able to transform by simply taking a leap (laughs).
HARUNA: 「I think it's an accumulation of things. We stopped wearing school uniforms when all of us passed the age of 20, so it was a natural evolution. We all talked about how 『There's no need to wear school uniforms as adults; we'll wear outfits that match how we are at the time.』 Starting to write music wasn't planned; thinking of wanting to try writing our own songs was natural for us because we wanted to continue being a band. We've been getting older and have been doing what we want to do little by little. As as result, putting out a single with songs written by us and then thinking of wanting to release an album solely with songs that we've written was something very simple for us.」
RINA: 「In order to depict the band's style, songs we play, and the realities of the era, we can't do it unless we transform ourselves.」
「I think that way of changing is natural.」
MAMI: 「In relation to songs, we're here now because we had a past. When we had songs written for us, we saw what the arranger was doing at the studio and saw them creating an ambiance/space; I feel like we were making full use of our five senses and learning everything. I think that's exactly why we were able to make a smooth transition when we starting making songs ourselves.」
RINA: 「There are some parts influenced by our past songs. Like, "That chord in that song's D-melody is good; let's put it in there." We rip off our own songs (laughs).」
――That's an interesting concept. You're taking advantage of something that wasn't original in the first place.
MAMI: 「We use that quite a bit (laughs).」
RINA: 「Keita Kawaguchi [a songwriter who has done arrangements for SCANDAL songs such as "Shunkan Sentimental"] has been making music for a long time. Our talks have turned into, "If it was him, he would do this; if it was us, we would do this."」
TOMOMI: 「It feels like MAMI has inherited Mr. Kawaguchi's passion.」
――Listening to 「Stamp!」, which released on 7/22, the first guitar sounds are very powerful. It's natural, but you can't do something like that in a hurry. I don't mean that it's technique. For example, if you put out an article, there's a difference between a well-written one and a persuasive one. What I mean is that that was cultivated at lives, was it?
RINA: 「This could be a misleading way of saying it, but we don't work hard at doing it.」
MAMI: 「In addition, for example, the members fiddle around however they like with the songs that I make. We now have a style that's like, 『I like that; this is good』, and the song is completed that way.」
RINA: 「We play around as we do it.」
――That's the best.
TOMOMI: 「That's exactly why "Stamp!" has a fresh sound to it.」
「We felt so free on our world tour that started in the beginning of the year. Because we created a song while we still had that feeling, that freshness might have taken in power like that.」
――I see. Freshness, you say?
TOMOMI: 「Once this song has been out for a year, I think it's sure to have a different impression. We may play it with a completely different sound. The theme we'll have from here on is to make the most real feelings of ours into songs. We won't put it rest.」
RINA: 「Fundamentally, we want to make albums that put a smile on your face. We don't want to play inner rock; we want to play happy rock.」
――Happy rock, is it? That sounds good.
TOMOMI: 「The words "happy rock" were said when we were being interviewed overseas. The four of us were touched by those words. They're really nice words, aren't they? We're going to have it used in Japan too (laughs).」
――That's a new genre.
HARUNA: 「Since we originally created music with those feelings, I don't believe that our stance on that will ever change.」
――Is there hardly anything that you don't like right now?
RINA: 「There are things. We're only human (laughs).」
――Could you tell us as much as we can write about?
RINA: 「When I'm feeling stressed or frustrated, it's when I can't communicate my feelings well. I get angry with myself at those times. To prevent that from happening, I always think of how I can express my current feelings or scenes at those times. I'm constantly working on putting the thoughts in my head into words. But, depending on the conditions, there are also days where I can't draw out the words well. I become straightforward on those days.」
――During those times, what do you do for a change of pace?
RINA: 「I talk with the members. When it's difficult for me to say it directly, I use [the messaging app] LINE.」
――Do you use stamps too?
RINA: 「I do. But they're not the same stamps as the song (laughs).」
MAMI: 「It's not a personal seal.」
RINA: 「In a sense of taking a step, the feeling that we're proceeding one step at a time and the feeling that our listeners are proceeding one step at a time each day are linked together, and that's interesting.」
This was part 1/2. Part 2/2 will be posted in a little bit.
Also, I've been noticing that people have been borrowing our translations and posting them elsewhere/translating them into other languages. That's fine, but if you do decide to do so, please remember to give credit to SH for the original translation!
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