音楽と人 - January 2008
Interview with Imai Hisashi
Translation: Lola

It's clear what direction the band is taking.
The fans were really good today too. When I say they were good....it's because the mood was good and when I saw them from the stage they really seemed to be having an amazing time. So I'm happy. When I saw this girl who was slightly off with the rhythm but was still trying so hard to cheer me on....

It made you happy?
Yeah. I wanted to squish her *smiles*.

Hahahahahaha! But it's because you have that simple band sound that people can get into it easily.
Yeah.

So that makes everyone happy and think it was fun.
I think so. Because it's been a long time since we had that feeling. It felt good for us in the band too.

Since the shows consist mostly of songs from 'Tenshi no Revolver' you played various songs for the encores that were from different periods didn't you?
Yes we did.

That way you don't get bored with it.
Yeah. It's also because we did things naturally.

What I thought when I saw you was that you'd come together amazingly as a band, the musical performance was really tight, there was this amazing feeling of excitement and fun too. I thought perhaps this was what you were aiming for when you made the album Imai-san.
I thought maybe things would go this way but I hadn't really thought about it that much. Really, it was just how they felt. It never really crossed my mind, I was more focused on what would make people move and react because that's what I wanted. So I think I'd want to do something like that in the end even if I wasn't in Lucy or Buck-Tick.

So you don't feel restricted anymore?
Yes, exactly. But that's because I can't sing *smiles*. Besides, if people change at all then they do so completely. For instance, now I really want catchy things and pop things. I've been told I can do whatever I want with that sound. So next year I think I want to stick mainly with Buck-Tick again. But I'd like to do a little Lucy too.

Why do you think you thought of that now?
I wonder. Because it's fun I guess.

That's what I thought *smiles*. But in the 20 years you've been in the band, this isn't the first time you've plunged into a tour without a clearly defined foundation right?
That's true.

As long as it's enjoyable right?
Mn....not exactly but if I say something like as long as it's not typically Japanese then I'll sound cheeky.

Ah, do you feel you've aimed too much toward an unusually top heavy sound (1)?
Now I wonder if it's good like that. I feel like maybe it misses the mark. That sense that I had done something sharp on purpose and was ecstatic about my unusual approach, how should I say, it was the exact opposite, it wasn't actually necessary to produce that sound.

Do you feel that way right now?
Oh yeah I think it's natural. Even if I'm not aware of it, I can feel it. Of course, then what I want to convey has a depressing message strongly imposed on it. Previously I wanted to make people feel good but I have the feeling that's not what I'm conveying.

You don't feel you've conveyed that up till now?
Not really. I think it's something I've noticed over time perhaps. Like after each show I look at the questionnaires people fill out and it asks how that day's show was and there's like five choices. The best, good, same as usual, things like that *smiles*. And like up till now for instance, with '13kai~' and 'Mona Lisa OVERDRIVE' even, we've had the same questionnaires so that we can understand people's thoughts clearly. There were people who said it was the 'best!' but there were also people who said that it was horrible. But this time from what I've seen almost everyone is saying that it was the best. So, I really feel like ok, this is what they were wishing for.

Because you're entrusting a great deal to the listeners, it feels more free doesn't it. Unlike say with '13 kai~' where there was no real room for interpretation.
Yeah. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing but I realized it's not so much what people want. It's more free this way too and I want to do something more like that, something that's tangible.

But you've started to do that with Lucy.
But that's completely different. Lucy and Buck-Tick are two different things. Because the people working in them are different of course the atmosphere born of it will be different too. That's why I had to do it. It was something I absolutely wanted to do too.

So what you seem to be telling me now is that next year you're aiming to have fun with Buck-Tick right?
Well, that's now. Well that's my intention right now but I'm still thinking about how to make it sound new~.

But you feel like there's a foundation right? So all you have to do is polish up the troublesome bits and then let your feelings out.
Yes. And then I want to create a new world with that.

It seems your way of doing things, with Buck-Tick especially, has become about making those who listen happy too, it's good.
Yeah, so I think it'd be better to do something more simple and rock and roll. So long as it's different, I'll do something that's a little cheap again. But even if I think the next thing will be interesting to me I still wonder how it will turn out. And then how will the next album be? And after that I wonder about how the tour will be. More and more that's what I feel the most.

There's also the entertainment factor to consider, like with '13 kai~' the band had that gothic element...
Yeah, and?

During the past 20 years you've shown us various sides of the band musically whether it was things you wanted to do or things you thought you should do but do you feel you've milked it for all its worth now?
No, not at all. I worry about that though. You know, will this be it? But I think that and then the next day I already think the complete opposite. It's just because I'm stubborn when it comes to sound, I always want to go deeper, I'm always honing it. Until it can be shown clearly. That's how I feel now.

(1) It means a sound in which the emphasis is placed on the top instruments, ie: guitars, instead of the usually bottom heavy melodies Imai would write with bass at the forefront.