いまいなかんじ
Imai Hisashi Presents
-An interview with Imai Hisashi and Yokoyama Kazutoshi the Manipulator-
Translation: Lola
So you decided on this corner pretty quickly today when Yokoyama-san came running after your performance.
Yokoyama: Thank you very much for having me. I've been waiting for a time like this. It's so good to have a beer!
Imai: Now we see his ulterior motive *smiles*. You know we peeked at the schedule. It was written we were 'OFF' hahaha *smiles*.
Yokoyama: It was a few days ago wasn't it when I went to the studio and Imai-san was looking at the schedule and said, "I notice we're 'OFF'" *smiles*.
Ah, I see, then the two of you looked at each other and had some sort of silent understanding.
Imai: Something like that.
Imai: So today during recording, first we finished 'Hamelin'. I got Yoko-chan's impression on the new songs and the new album but after recording I wonder what kind of album it'll be when it's finished. I'd like Yoko-chan to give a little of his perspective on that today *smiles*.
Yokoyama: What?! Isn't that too serious a topic?
Imai: Yes. But I mean why should it always be up to me to promote it?
Because Imai-san, you're the one who requested we do this interview today *smiles*.
Imai: What's that got to do with it? *angry*
Yokoyama: Uh, doesn't that mean you're the host Imai-san?
Imai: Hahaha *smiles*.
So then why don't we begin by talking about the completion of 'Hamelin'?
Imai: If we're talking about that I want you to go into the details about it.
Yokoyama: For me, because I wasn't personally acquainted with La-PPISCH's Ueda Gen-san, I can't really say what kind of person he was or anything.
Imai: Ah.
Yokoyama: I just knew that Buck-Tick would play a song called 'Hamelin' and so I wondered what kind of song it would be.
Imai: What did you think of the original song? You heard the original song by La-PPISCH before right? ......you haven't heard it?
Yokoyama: I haven't.
Imai: What?!
Yokoyama: Hey it's not my fault, you didn't give it to me.
Imai: Whaaaaat?!
Yokoyama: Hold on a second, I don't like where this is going, what should I do? *smiles*
Imai: Huuuh. No wait, you hold on, so, you're saying you haven't heard it?
Yokoyama: I have not.
Imai: The original song?
Yokoyama: I knew it was an important song but, I don't know the original. So basically, I just treated it as a Buck-Tick song, when I listened to the demo from Imai-san.
Imai: ...................................................
I guess Imai-san imagined this interview going in a different direction......
Imai: Yeaaah. Quite different. Well that explains why the arrangement is so typical. Well that and the fact that Yoko-chan was rushed by our manager without giving him the original....
Yokoyama: *smiles*
Imai: That was bad of our manager but, Yoko-chan you could have asked him for it too.
Yokoyama: Yes. ......what should we do now?
Regardless of whether or not you knew the original, when Imai-san first gave you the demo tape did he have any special orders for you?
Yokoyama: By the time I got the demo the percussion was already in it. But the top instruments hadn't been synthesized yet. So I tried to convey the mood based on the content of the lyrics.
Imai: Uh, but you didn't know the original lyrics either did you?
Yokoyama: The original lyrics? You mean the ones you gave me weren't the original ones?
Imai: .............................................................
Yokoyama: So anyway, I thought it really had to convey the band's theme and it got me wondering what kind of band they were and I let my imagination go from there. But because the instruments for the top sound hadn't been completely decided upon yet, I figured I'd go with the theme. Uh, you ok? *smiles*
Imai: What?
Imai-san, please don't start checking your text messages now *smiles*.
Imai: But now I'm just apathetic about the whole thing. Because of how things turned out, it's nothing to Yoko-chan but now suddenly it's like here is a new song by Imai Hisashi you know. I guess you've never heard Magumi-san sing either have you?
Yokoyama: I haven't.
Imai: I don't know what to do now. If I had known all this, perhaps things could have gone more smoothly. Maybe the arrangement would have been more vibrant.
In the interest of calming Imai-san down, we changed the subject!!
Imai: I know it's just me and Hide singing temporary vocals for the new songs but what did you think......when you listened to the demo?
Yokoyama: You mean the first demo tape I heard that didn't have the top sounds put in yet right?
Imai: Yeah.
Yokoyama: There wasn't that much in the song this time. But the first time I went to Imai-san's house to have a meeting about it, he told me he wanted it to have drive from the very beginning, those are the words he used, 'drive from the very beginning'. When he was first telling me about the image he wanted I was thinking that ok, I can do that if we use the right sounds and the right phrasing. Then when I got the completed demo tape it didn't have any of those sounds so I figured that must be my part to do. But then I didn't know how to present things to get Imai-san to think, 'Yup s'good!!' without deviating from the image.
So after listening to the first demo, Yokoyama-san worked and let the image grow, while leaving the top parts to Imai-san but what was your impression Imai-san, when you listened to it for the first time? Did you say something like, 'Yup s'good!!'?
Imai: My impression of what Yoko-chan played?
Yes.
Imai: There was some good stuff in it. There was some good bits but there was also some parts that made me say, "That's sooooooooo wrong". That was when we were in the recording studio and I went into the room he was isolating himself in, that smelly room.
Yokoyama: Hey!! What do you mean smelly?!
Imai&FT: Hahaha! *smile*
Imai: The smell of tobacco, sweat and tears *smiles*.
That's just man smell though.
Imai: Yes, that's what the room smelled like.
You guys argued a lot back and forth, I want it like that! No, it should be like this!
Yokoyama: Well this time Imai-san actually asked me, "What would you do here Yoko-chan?".
Imai: That's because it's already been about 10 years and you're al~~~ways whining the same thing, "It's all up to Imai-san" aren't you Yoko-chan......
Yokoyama: So as I was saying, it was the first time Imai-san requested that of me. And just for that it made me want to give suggestions to Imai-san, now that's amazing.
And what was Imai-san's reaction, as the composer? About how much did he moan and groan about it?
Yokoyama: T-th-that was..........of course 100% of it......*smiles*.
*smiles*
Imai: Huh what?!
Yokoyama: But he has to be like that, it's what he's known for. So it's natural he'd be like that. Of course it sucks when Imai-san says things like, "That's not it". And then I end up being insecure about the work so I can't do it. But then usually I pull myself together and say, 'Alright, let's do it!'.
Once Yokoyama-san has added to the melody you've written Imai-san, what does it take for you to be satisfied with it?
Imai: I guess I just, wait till it feels right.
Yokoyama: Even though we're still in the first stages, he tells me, "Yoko-chan, you need to relax more" because I'll be so unsure of myself that I end up bawling, feeling like I can't see the whole picture and then suddenly he'll give me a pat on the shoulder and tell me that.
Imai: Because you should keep at it. Even if you are impertinent for starting your own band.......
*smiles*
Imai: I mean c'mon why would you wanna do that......
Yokoyama & FT: Hahahaha *smile*
Imai: He told me he had to the other day.
Yokoyama & FT: Hahaha *smile*
Yokoyama: That's right, I have to *smiles*.
Imai: You have to *smiles*. See, that's what I like to hear.
Oh!
Imai: I want him to do things with that kind of feeling.
Yokoyama: Yes, yes I see what you mean.
Imai: Like you shouldn't always leave it to me you know.......when you're wondering how to do things. Be more assertive.
Yokoyama: Yeah, yeah. Like I should just say, "It's like this!".
Imai: Well you've been doing that recently.
Yokoyama: .............
Imai: What? *smiles* It's true, you've been like that since we've been recording this album *smiles*.
Yokoyama: Yeah but I still have the sense to ask you what you think about it.......
Imai: Huh?!
What kind of album is the new one turning out to be?
Imai: I wonder? What kind of personality do you think the new album has?
Yokoyama: By the time I got to the end of the demo, I felt it was different than expected. I thought it was amazingly open and extremely powerful.
Imai: It's super high spirited.
Yokoyama: Whether it's high spirited or what I think about it, the people who buy it will enjoy it. I guess it's high spirited *smiles*. But generally speaking I find it crude.
Imai: Crude?!
Yokoyama: Yeah like being stripped of all clothes and makeup. You know you can put it back on but, without it you can see the strength of the bones beneath, and that crudeness is what makes it feel powerful to me. But if you say that power is high spirits then so it is. The core just feels so strong to me.
Imai: Was there one song in particular that left an impression on you? When you first listened to the demo.
Yokoyama: The song that made me kinda happy was 'Driver' (tentative title) because it had my synthesized part during the high point of the song didn't it? And also because of the part Imai-san played during the interlude.
Imai: Yeah, yeah.
Yokoyama: You haven't really developed that part more yet have you?
Imai: Not as yet.
Yokoyama: It's just that, it made me feel provoked, I mean I felt like I had touched on something with it......
Imai: Good, you need that for recording.
Yokoyama: How true, how true.
Imai: You haven't been really sure of your synth phrases either lately.
Yokoyama: That's why I was so happy when you kept that phrase in the high point of the song Imai-san........ That's why.
Imai: But you know what Tanaka-san said about that phrase, he said, "That's really good isn't it?".
Yokoyama: Ah, right. How many years has it been again since you've worked with Tanaka-san as a recording director? It was nice of him to come do it.
Anyway, let's continue since this is what Imai-san wanted. .......this is weird.
Imai: What is?
The two of you both noticing that you have the time off during recording when you guys went out drinking last night like good friends and even though you had the opportunity to talk about a ton of things then, here you are Imai-san telling Yokoyama what to do and demanding he come with us. I don't know, it's just weird.
Yokoyama: But I think Imai-san possesses amazing musical expression. His musical expression is so much greater than what I think about usually so I'm always looking forward to what he'll say. Even if I think, 'I've done all I can!!', Imai-san will go beyond that. That's the reason I want to continue playing.
Imai: Then because he's a novice he's always saying, 'Tch'. Tch tch tch, chirping like a bird.
You click your tongue like that a lot Imai-san so...... Do you have any requests of Yokoyama-san for the recording you're doing now Imai-san?
Imai: I already said it, I want him to keep at it and be more assertive.
Yokoyama: Because there is such an abundance of feeling in the demo tape, I will approach each song individually, and devote myself fully to the theme of each song respectively.
Imai: You'll face it head on for me right?
Yokoyama: Of course!!
Imai: So how do you think this album will turn out?
Yokoyama: I feel like the songs go by quickly because of the energy they have, and maybe it'll be better than the last album. I feel like the crudeness of it gives it strength. I think perhaps people will see a different power than they did in the last album. Because it's not in Buck-Tick's nature to stay the same, they have renewed themselves yet again. So I'm going to think of even better things too!
Imai: You think we can do even better?
Yokoyama: Of course!
Imai: That's the point isn't it?
Yokoyama: Yes, that's the point. As long as I can smile at the end of everyday when I go out drinking after recording, I can go on doing this.
Imai: But you don't really smile easily.
Yokoyama: I don't...... Ok, so even if I end up frowning a little, I'll calm down by devoting myself to making good music and that way I can go on playing always.
Shall we end it there Imai-san?
Imai: Yeah, I think that's good. Good job everyone!