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Introducing all songs! The appeal of SCANDAL's new work 『HONEY』 and a playlist of songs that influenced them
Their 8th album 『HONEY』 has finally been released. They've completed their best masterpiece at this moment, at the same timing as the 10th anniversary of their major label debut. This album is one that all the members are proud of, and all of its 10 songs are fascinating. Depending on how you're feeling when listening to the album, the effect of the songs will definitely change. We are convinced that, with the riffs and sounds that are quite sophisticated, it's become an album that will loved beyond the test of time. We had them speak about how they were able to make this album, and also about their music roots.
It feels very mysterious since, despite doing this for 10 years, it feels really fresh (MAMI)
We had a desire to properly play rock by doing a love song from a woman's point-of-view (RINA)
─Your 8th album 『HONEY』 is an awesome album. What do you think yourselves?
MAMI: It became a very impulsive album. We've been able to do what we want to do in modes we've had now and again so far, but it feels like we were able to make a culmination of that. We did almost all of the arrangements and recording went smoothly, so this is an album with no ambivalence. It feels very mysterious since, despite doing this for 10 years, it feels really fresh.
RINA: Lyrics-wise, I was partial towards my interests. I think I was able to express the things I like. We had a desire to properly play rock by doing a love song from a woman's point-of-view, and I think we were able to solidly form that. There have also been times when our mode is when we want to keep doing rock that we can do because we're an all-girl band, so the mix of our band sound and lyrics that only girls could sing about turned into these 10 songs. If you try making something that you daringly shake free from, you'll get something that all kinds of people will be pleased with. We made an album that has that possibility, so we're glad that we did it.
─The covers are very impressive, aren't they.
TOMOMI: The "sweetness" and "sharpness" theme of the album is expressed via the view of fashion icons AMIAYA who represent TOKYO. We like the realistic femininity that's different from anything we've done before.
RINA: The inside of the album booklet too has an overseas magazine-feel to it. So, it's an album that's fun to look at and listen to.
─Please give commentary for each song on the album one by one. The opening track 「Platform Syndrome」 was apparently the last one to be made, but it has a facing-forward feel to it while also being a song about a broken heart.
RINA: This song is the face of the album, and one that was finished at the last second. We gave the name "platform syndrome" to the floating feeling and sadness you have the day after your heart's been broken. It's a rock tune with a momentum that symbolizes this album.
─「OVER」 is another song that's connected to that momentum.
MAMI: We wanted to make an album of what we think is rock, so it has a solid and heavy sound. This song was born from interacting with the members about wanting to have a song that starts off with a guitar that cuts through the air. Since we imagined it as a set that goes with 「Platform Syndrome」, we put the two together on the tracklisting and asked the engineer to give it the image that the two are connected.
─You released 「Take Me Out」 quite a while ago.
MAMI: We made it for our outdoor live in Osaka held on 2016/8/21, the band's 10th anniversary, but it's become a number that's fundamental to our live shows now.
─「Oh! No!」 features MAMI on main vocals.
MAMI: I tried depicting the cuteness of women, who shouldn't forget that they're always their own heroine. I'd be happy if you'd enjoy the expansion of the rhythm and melody.
─「Midnight City」 features RINA on vocals for verses 1 and 2 with HARUNA singing the chorus. I thought it was a number that sympathizes with the lyrics.
RINA: By feeling uncomfortable comparing yourself to others and feeling gloomy when days don't go the way you think they will, the fact that you expect something from yourself is evidence of moving forward. It turned into an urban dance number that combines and sings of those feelings and wordplay.
─The vocals on 「Short Short」 are impressive.
HARUNA: It's a love song where you can enjoy the sharp gap of sharp lyrics that are set on a soft melody. This song was actually made around two years ago, and since the members really liked the take I had done then, we put that on the actual song. There are also parts that I rerecorded, but as my intial feelings are included, please take note of the vocals as well.
─「Mado wo Aketara」 features lyrics and music by TOMOMI.
TOMOMI: This song was written around three years ago, and at that time it felt like only my soul slipped out of me. Nights where I was afraid that my body would become only a container continued, and I made this wanting to save these feelings. Since it's a very private song and the melody too is different than anything we've done before, I wanted to give it a new spice rather than complete it as a band, and asked my good friend Mizuki Masuda of Negoto to arrange it.
─「Futari」 is a very cool song.
TOMOMI: MAMI's guitar phrases that were inspired by instrumental bands constructed a world view that I had never seen before. I like stoic, emotional, glittering sound to it.
─「Electric Girl」 is an interesting track.
HARUNA: It stands out among this album that has a very strong private-feel to it, and it's a song that has a bit of a chemicalness to it while still being very us. It's very gaudy, having vocals with an autotune effect and a bass solo by TOMOMI.
─Last up is your digital single song 「Koisuru Universe」.
RINA: It's all-girl rock with lyrics that are interspersed with viewpoints and wording unique to girls, combined with an attacking melody line. It's a love song with a 120% degree of happiness!
─Now we'll be discussing SCANDAL's playlist. We would like you to make a playlist of songs that had influenced you up until the completion of 『HONEY』. HARUNA's first song is "time will tell" by Utada Hikaru.
HARUNA: I often listened to Utada during the recording period for the vocals for 「Mado wo Aketara」. I also have roots in this song before we started the band. Leading to 「Mado wo Aketara」, my way of singing was particularly influenced by elements of R&B.
─Your second song is "Yosoiki" by tricot.
HARUNA: This album was greatly influenced by female artists in our same generation, and I often listened to tricot's songs too while we were in production. I really like tricot's 『3』 album, and this is my favorite song from it.
─MAMI's first song is "Run" by Foo Fighters.
MAMI: Starting from their 2011 album 『Wasting Light』, I wanted to produce Foo Fighters-like sounds that would make you go numb from listening to it on the radio! There was a moment when I wanted to do a momentous song, and when I clearly knew the music I wanted us to do as a band and the sounds that I wanted to produce. I've been listening to the Foo Fighters ever since, and they've had quite an influence on my sound and riffs.
─Your second song is "Never Ending Circles" by CHVRCHES.
MAMI: There was a time I listened to things like EDM and digital sounds, and 2017 for me was hoping that I could express the ambiance of a girl's soft voice not with a masculine sound, but with a feminine one.
─Your third song is "Space Sonic" by ELLEGARDEN.
MAMI: I listened to this a lot when I was in high school. The chorus and the atmosphere from the intro to the second verse completely change. I thought that unpredictable music was a lot of fun. The drum rhythm during the intro on this song is really cool.
─TOMOMI's first song is "Big N" by IN-SIST BAND.
TOMOMI: I often listened to this song when producing 「Mado wo Aketara」. Listening to this song made me realize that I like simple songs that play the same chords on repeat from beginning to end.
─Your second song is "Yawaraka na Hi" by Kazuyoshi Saito.
TOMOMI: I love Kazuyoshi's songs that are full of life. Lyrics that depict a way that no one thought of with words that everyone knows and scenery that anyone can imagine always make my heart beat fast!
─RINA's first song is "Heroine" by back number.
RINA: I began to write lyrics, and I began to disassemble and listen to hit songs. At that time, I again realized that back number was awesome. The situation of the story doesn't change during this song. Verses one and two are written about the heart while the chorus is all about scenery, but the situation doesn't change. I often have written about moving scenery and the flow of time, so I learned a lot from this song. I listened to this song and tried writing one situation for 「Koisuru Universe」. I think it's a cool song.
─Your second song is "Telecaster Stripe" by Polkadot Stingray.
RINA: Polkadot Stingray is excellent. I'm friends with vocalist Shizuku and we talk on LINE. They're interesting people, their songs will soon be at the center of Japan's current rock scene, and all of their songs are convincing and to my taste. Also, it made me think that the intro to a song really is important.
─Well then, which artists do each of you respect?
HARUNA: Kinoko Teikoku! Vocalist Chiaki Sato is my friend, and I always get inspiration from the lyrics and songs of the girls who are the same age as me. In all sincerity, it's wonderful when you're able to show the inside of your heart. I also have respect for natural personalities.
MAMI: aiko's use of melody semitones, changing pitches, vocal strength...... I learned everything from aiko, who has been an indispensable factor in the songs I make now.
TOMOMI: YUKI! She's cute, cool, and erotic no matter how much time passes, and I'm always impressed with her high self-producing ability. I respect her so, so, so much as an artist, of course, and as a woman.
RINA: YUKI for me as well. I've always loved her cuteness, coolness, and entrancing charm. She also influences the words I choose for lyrics. I admire her.
─You're finally starting your hall tour; please tell us your enthusiasm for it.
HARUNA: Since this is our first hall tour in three years, we'd like to deliver a gorgeousness unique to halls that's packed with the artwork from the album.
─Finally, please give a message to readers of mysound.
HARUNA: We, who are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our major label debut this year, were able to make an album that has a momentum of a debut album. We'd be happy if many people listen to it! We'll also be going on a hall tour in support of this album, so please come out to a live. Let's have a good time together!
MAMI: We created an impulsive and rock album that's packed with everything that we wanted to do now. Please give it a listen.
TOMOMI: Please listen to this work we're proud of that's been released during the 10th anniversary of our major label debut.
RINA: We're very proud of this work, so we'd be happy if you listened to this album called 『HONEY』. We're looking forward to seeing you at a live!
