Ryu Sera Interview with viva100
Q. It’s been a year since you left Nine Muses. We’re curious if you’ve got things settled by now. Besides making your own songs, is there anything else you did these past year?
Sera: During winter last year I went on an unplanned backpack trip. I went to Vietnam and Cambodia; my hands and feet still can recollect the pain caused by my mistake of bringing all songwriting-recording equipment and guitar, that’s what I remember the most (from the trip). There’s also a lot of vivid memories when I played guitar in the airport or street, and also clear recollections from my homestay. Being all alone definitely would makes you able to reflect upon yourself. It was a really good experience.
Q. Fans have waited for you for a really long time. And it seems you yourself also waited for a long time as well. How’s your fans’ reaction towards the album?
Sera: It’s true that I’m feeling impatient for my fans. There were also times when I thought “I’m tired, I just wanna leave”, although fans were waiting for me. However, even though it took a while, I can appear as my current self now with a peaceful heart in front of fans, and finally able to reach the conclusion that after all both me and fans care about each other. Fans said “I’m so happy” when the album was released.
Q. Your album this time is really ‘everything’s done by myself’. From composing songs, production, even delivery. What gave you such idea to do that?
Sera: During this one year I’ve created quite a lot of songs. If I just put it on YouTube every time, it must be inconvenient for fans to enjoy, so I thought it would be good to release a CD. While trying to make an album for the first time, I want to present more songs in better quality too. And also I want to show a prettier side of myself. In short, because of the desire to give more beautiful memories to fans I ended up doing more works. Why not do it my way.
Q. Let’s talk about your album. Please explain in brief about each song.
Sera: When registering copyright there’s also part where I had to introduce the songs. Just like that time, my face is also flushed red right now.
Envious of people who could sleep well, I started writing a song filled with thoughts about slumber. But in reality I fell asleep while making this song.
I thought I rarely use bass (low tone) in composing, so this time I decided to make a song that has bass sound. I created bass line at first and fleshed out the rest of this song. It’s about parting with love.
The subject of this song is about someone who’s tired of tedious, continuous daily life, who then chose to see new things and moved her feet to find things that are important to her. While creating this song, I resolved to record my CD.
Always feeling apologetic towards my international fans, I began writing song with English lyrics. ‘12’ is for my adorable international fans! It‘s also my philosophical view about love. It was 12 at midnight when I started writing this song. Then when I saw the clock again, it was already 12 noon on the next day. This is the first time I work on my song for 12 hours nonstop.
Actually the lyrics of this song came from a memo sticked on the side of my bed. I tried to believe those phrases, but I think there’s also some truth there… (laugh)
(extract from song lyrics to explain: “That girl on the other side glances at me. The police officer too. The driver too. (I’m so pretty) Focused gazes. And like that, an accident happened. Even then, I good-naturedly continued. What does an actress eat to live. (…)”)
I don’t know if there’s a song about man and woman breaking up that is sung by siblings. My brother who is a music major student did the development of the main melody of this song. Since this is the first time we tried making a duet song, there’s a lot of regrets remaining.
On Christmas last year I uploaded this song on my Youtube channel. I remember how I was so excited during the making process of this song. I strongly wished to try doing rap and it was fullfilled.
Song about my love towards the fans. This is remake version (of the 'MINE’ song that have been uploaded on Youtube)
Q. After a long time (without using it,) I took my CD player and listened to the album in track order chronologically. Is there any special meaning behind the track order?
Sera: I didn’t really understand it before, but because of making an album myself, I could once again consider the importance of track order. When you listen to the songs continuously, it’s just like connecting music as one story; in the moment a song finishes, the next one that’s supposed to come would naturally come up to mind.
Q. Between the songs recorded on the album, which one resembles you the most, or which song are you specially attached to?
Sera: The fourth track '12’ is an accumulation that expresses the current Ryu Sera as a musician. Chords I like, the lyrics, the emotion, etc. I could work and concentrate all at once for a long time for a song like this.
Q. There’s a special meaning for both yourself and fans when you did everything (album producing) alone, but it’s really hard, isn’t it? Aren’t you thinking about signing contract with management company?
Sera: I got a lot of calls too in a meanwhile, but when looking for a company I had a lot of worries about this and that. The conclusion I made at that time was, 'Now that I’ve put more artistic value into my philosophy, let’s try accomplishing something on my own.’ So after completing loads of work (for the album) I think right now I’ve became more confident and able to positively find my path.
The filming location for the album jacket was particularly terrible. While doing photoshoot in the forest we saw a ghost, and prayed for it to go away! (laugh)
The filming team’s car also fell to the mud in the middle of the forest and we had to call a tow truck. And there was also the time when I was nearly washed away by waves. I cried and reached the point where I worried greatly about 'Is what I’m doing right?’, I guess I cried a lot.
But rather than thinking that I just simply have to enter a company again…
To keep going with this life while consistently doing things I love without faltering and to keep my promises with people who treasure me is really difficult - such things once again sank deeply into my mind.
It’s like I had a very great enlightenment by releasing album… But doesn’t everyone have this moment in our life’s journey when we fully realize something like this. I think this time is my opportunity.
Q. Your brother has a really good voice. He’s also handsome. I believe there’s a lot of offers for him to become celebrity.
Sera: There’s so many offers but… When I release second album, I’m going to need someone to help again… So I’m not happy if my brother enters entertainment industry (laugh)
Q. We also want to see you standing on stage as singer.
Sera: “I certainly will make it happen.”
Q. Besides album, do you have anything you want to do such as participate in documentary project etc.
Sera: I personally want to shoot a documentary about music, but to be able to do that I have to become more mature musically. Please look forward (for that day to come)
Q. In ten years what would Sera become? Is your dream of being a carpenter still valid?
Sera: Since long time ago I thought of wanting to do something for the students who studying on the floor because they don’t have desks. The details are secret. The dream of become a carpenter is still valid, I have a dream to build my own recording studio directly.
original article source: viva100.com
!! translation may not be 100% accurate, please inform me if you find any mistake
!! big thanks to @ pyoblem for helping me :D
!! additional info, in case you’re wondering how do the songs in her album sound
- The instrument in the beginning of Serenade making film 3 is from Lullaby
- Short part of song played in the end of Serenade making film 3 is chorus of 12
- Instrument played during Serenade making film 2 is from Seraritta
- Short part of song played on 01:03 - 01:10 in Serenade making film 2 is However, Farewell
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