音楽と人 - July 2004
Interview with Hoshino Hidehiko
Translation: Lola

You've come to visit again during the same season.
I have?

It's the fourth year in a row! I associate the rainy season with meeting you. You're making a habit of this Hide-san!
No, I didn't meant to...but what can you do? That's not really what you want to talk about though right.

No, no. What have you been up to lately?
This past month? ...um...I missed the cherry blossoms in my neighbourhood.

Hahahahaha.
And now they're all gone. I've been working restlessly at home. As Buck-Tick isn't doing anything, it's my job to be steady for them.

...you said something like that in last year's interview.
See, that's steadiness. I try to see things long-term. Ha-ha-ha.

May I ask about a solo project?
Sure. I've been planning on one.

Well that's great! When's the expected date of release?
Mm...in about three years.

Wow. That's such a long time from now.
Because I see things long-term.

So how many years have you had this fleeting dream before speaking of it?
Well it's been a long time. I've been saving songs for a female vocalist. I've already been planning this with definite resolve for quite some time *said proudly*. I'm not only thinking of her voice though when I write songs. I also think of the whole, the complete picture.

So you're saying you've decided on a female vocalist then?
Yeah.

Oh!
But I haven't discussed it with her yet.

...hold on. So there is a vocalist that you want but you haven't discussed it...so you can't actually proceed with anything right?
Well, yeah.

I'd say Björk is a good choice, you want someone on that level?
Well that's neither here nor there.

..........
She's not Japanese. But I think it's fairly easy to understand isn't it? That it's better to approach someone of that type. There is no one better than Björk because how many albums has that other person put out in comparison? I intend to make a proper offer.

You wish for this unrequited love to be unending. But in reality, it is possible isn't it?
No, I don't really know that yet. But if I do want I want to do then it will be simple. I don't even know when I'll do it though.

Well then who does know?
I don't know...who? *smiles*

You maybe! This June, Sakurai-san and Imai-san are starting their solo projects, Ani has also completed an album, and Yuta-san has formed a band with Okuno-san (formerly of Rogue), so since all the other members are starting to be active did you say 'Right! Me too!'?
For the time being, you're just saying to do it because everyone else is but...in the end the root will be born regardless.

What are you talking about, what root!
What I'm trying to say is...it's not good to rush things.

...that's Hoshino Hidehiko. Right there. Well, when you do it, you'll do what is ideal for you, you'll do what you want right.
Yes, that's right.

Have you listened to each member's album?
Um, well I haven't listened to Yuta's or Ani's yet. I just happened to hear Acchan's and Imai-kun's when I was in the car then I went to a bar so I only heard a little of it. When the CDs come out I'll go buy them and listen to them properly.

Please do. Did each member tell you about wanting to go solo?
Yup, since last year. Imai-kun told me that's what he wanted to do. Like 'Ah, I'm gonna do something with Kiyoshi-kun' 'Oh I see' type of thing.

I'm sorry if I seem insistent about this but, when you heard that you still didn't think 'Me too!'?
Me? Well I'm not really the type to do that you know. Well in any case if I did then maybe it would be fun, with the other four all lined up to listen.

Four? I'd think it was good if even one was there to listen *smiles*.
That's not so steady though *smiles*.

For this being an interview about your solo project debut, it's taking some time to get into it, isn't it.
It's because I'm dependant upon my partner. It's bad but I'm starting from scratch.

Did you think that's where Buck-Tick makes a difference?
Certainly there are still things that Buck-Tick cannot do. But until now it hasn't made a difference. Doesn't seem like that for everyone though, since now everyone is dispersed. But I think perhaps this is a good change of pace.

A change of mood *smiles*.
Yeah. But there has never been that feeling of being at a dead end with the band.

Of course.
Like I think it's good just to let Buck-Tick do different things and not make a big deal about it. Of course we can never be certain what the results will be but that's because our expectations are never the same.

I suppose they're not.
But strange things come from the unexpected *smiles*. It hasn't been a big problem so far though. It seems like only Acchan is collaborating with various different people though since Imai-kun, Yuta and also Ani are just working with their drinking buddies.

Yeah, you're right.
So I didn't really think of it as business. But perhaps I shouldn't say it like that, it's more a prolongation of fun. Like just jamming with their close friends.

You think that yet you have yet to approach the artist you are supposed to work with and you will go far away to do so Hoshino-san.
Isn't it better to go there if I continue with my plan?

...then this person is perhaps, positively, the best one to go to?
Hahahahaha. The truth is even I would be surprised by that!

Well since you don't have a sound source yet but you do have a definite image, couldn't you make an offer?
...that's a crazy idea.

I guess it is.
But it's hard being surrounded by people who have the same expectations if I do a solo as they did for the other members of the band. Everyone should calm down so I can work or then at least bring me delicious food *smiles*.

The truth is Hoshino Hidehiko, they're only using you until something better comes along.
What are you saying? If that's really how it is what should I do? But if I realize it now then I'll know what to expect next year *smiles*.

That's no longer forgiven. Since it's already a two year wait after what you said last year.
Hahahahaha.

But you've always been like this, what's different with where you're going from before?
Nothing. But I'm not cut out to lead. I'm the second or third in command I guess *smiles*.

From the very beginning I have no memory of you taking a stand for the lead, how is that I wonder. Is taking the lead too much of a strain?
No...not really.

But even in the band, you're ordinary.
...........

Now you're brooding *smiles*.
I'm not...but perhaps there's something in what you're saying.

Like you weren't even a class representative or anything.
How is it that I wasn't class representative? Yuta was the vice-president but...perhaps it was because I was a keeper in soccer.

...of course you were since you didn't have to stand in the front. You were completely at the back.
But there's responsibility in that, like having to give instructions for defense.

Like Oliver Kahn (Germany's goalkeeper) who can even shout orders to the opposite goal *smiles*.
I can't do that. I can't even reach the half line.

Can't reach the half line? *smiles*
Not even close.

That is the type of person who is not yet defined, you think it's a wonderful idea to do something by yourself but in truth it's a big thing.
Well it is a big thing, yes. There hasn't been anything like that until now.

Then what made you think to try?
What indeed...besides the fact that everyone else is doing a solo so the circumstances would allow it but well, not that I need Buck-Tick to hold my hand or anything. But with them, with the power of five people, as you make music, there are subtle differences in nuances. That's not entirely what I want to do, what I want to see but there is something that seems fun about it.

Conversely, when the band changes, there is fun in that as well.
So I think there's nothing even a tiny bit crazy about my image but I'd like to try to make it seem so. Because of that and since I don't know the female vocalist, what I'm trying to do is a big deal you know.

But if you can do it then won't something change again? Like your sound or your relation to the band?
Well my sound may change a little but after all that's what being in a band is about in the end. I might not know how it came to be that way but that is one of the fundamental things.

But if you can do that with the band then perhaps you can do it alone.
Well maybe. But so far I haven't felt the need to do it inside me. Because of course the band is always there. But in the end you cannot depend on the others too much or constrain them. That's something I really believe in strongly.

So I expect that from this point on a new door can be opened.
In a year.

Oh!
...of course that may be impossible.

You can do it! It's ok! Please do your best!
Well it will depend on my partner. And I'm terrible at persuading people. I haven't even settled on a name or anything even though I have an image. So please see things long term *smiles*.

Be~cau~se~?
Because maybe I can create a stir by doing hiphop *smiles*.

Hiphop!
Complete with jingling gold necklaces. That would be a different tone.

Like YO! ...
That suits you.

But wouldn't you have to become positive for that? Like if you liked a girl, wouldn't you have to become positive to tell her?
That's my thought exactly.

Oo! Such amazing optimism. So you can be assertive.
No, I can just be terribly stubborn.

Stubborn? With the people around you?
Yeah, with those I know well. But it's not like I can give them the cold shoulder.

Well since you're stubborn, you're not really being positive are you?
No remember I was a keeper.

That's related? *smiles* How, I don't really understand but in any case I'm looking forward to whatever you do.
Well until then, I must get going.