SCANDAL; teena RED book Girls’ Band Edition - SCANDAL Interview
It’s about your latest work,『HELLO WORLD』, which was released on 3rd December 2014 and has given us the impression of that of a different charm, as compared to all the other works up till now. Which direction will SCANDAL be headed for from now on?
RINA: “With regards to our sound, I think we’ve brought the rock sound down a notch. Since we’ve wished to make more natural tunes, we created many more songs that pay attention to gentler sounds. Well, we’ve got sharp-sounding tunes such as「Onegai Navigation」「Runners high」, but we’ve taken in softer sounds properly. I think we’ve made an album that feels really good.”
From previously, it’s been said that SCANDAL isn’t bond by any set rules. Has any of that changed from that time on?
RINA: “I think, at that point, we honestly wanted to do the things that we want to do, whatever seems fun.”
That means you all still value that as an importance, right?
Do you have any goals, such as wanting to be a certain sort of band?
MAMI: ”I think we’ve become able to self-produce and move along in this rhythm as it is. We’ve been able to incorporate the act of writing lyrics and songs in our lives, so we’ve come to be able to give birth to lyrics and tunes quite naturally somehow. I think if we could grow even closer to that, it’ll be good. Many of the songs this round were also born from us naturally.“
Certainly, it doesn’t feel forced. Rather, it is natural.
RINA: ”There’s been an increase in more realistic songs right.
It’s something that’s appropriate of your age, isn’t it?
MAMI: “That is right. I think it’ll be good if we’re able to come out with songs more naturally from now.”
How is it to be a young child of a band (laughs)?
TOMOMI: “We’re young children right (laughs). I do think it’s good to be doing music that reflects our daily choices. It feels like it’ll then be able to tie together with the production side too… Up till now, we’ve thought about centering about our lives, so we’ll have songs that’ll liven up the mood during lives or to have it arranged in a way that’ll be this way during lives.”
TOMOMI: “Yes, we’ve came all this way, creating songs for the purpose of our lives. We never thought we were wrong, but when the time comes to add that to the CD, we’d want to make the best of it on CD-format. It requires thought that differs from that of lives, so we’ve come to feel that it’s fine to have it arranged specially for lives when it comes down to that. There’s the feeling of being given a choice in our daily lives.”
HARUNA: “Since before our debut, we’ve gotten to go overseas in some way or another, but for the world tour this time, I’m extremely happy to be going to a great many places, a total of 8 countries, including places that we’ll be going for the first time ever. I think we’ll like to go to more and more places, and to be a band that is worldwide.”
As a band that tows the girl bands’ scene along, what do you think of that? For teena, we welcomed the 5th ‘SCANDAL × teena × ESP Musical Academy Collaboration Project『SCANDAL Copy Band and Vocalist Contest』’ last year as well, and each year it becomes quite a thing. The entries have increased, and the performance level has gone up. It’s interesting, but every year, the song choices by the participants also changes. That means the fans have also matured isn’t it?
RINA: “Yes, I’ve really thought of wanting to be a band that people will be glad of liking and will forever think about. For example, the people that participate in the contest; as people who will stand on the stage from now forth, have became bandmen since listening to SCANDAL’s music, and the type of music they like belongs to SCANDAL. I’ll like us to be something others are proud of when spoken of. I’ve come to like it even more than shedding tears, and that’s something I really think about. That’s why, I think we absolutely have to be a band that will have others go, ‘This is such a cool band,’ 'I am glad to look up to them,’ 'I am glad to have listened to these people’s music.’”
Rather that to say that that is difficult, isn’t it quite some pressure (on yourselves)?
MAMI: “However, we strongly think of wanting to be liked without being shy after all.”
It feels like it’s being done naturally right.
RINA: “That’s right. The feeling of pulling things along, but also not certainly so… We are also embarrased to say that too. Well, we wish to become a band that’ll continue doing the best of things for a long time and we also want to place importance in those areas, but we aren’t overly aware of ourselves as the leading (band) that’s pulling things ahead. That’s why we don’t feel that sense of discomfort when we’re questioned of how it feels to be the ones pulling the girls band scene forward.”
I see. But in the 5 times that copy band contests were being held, several groups of participants have even had major debuts. Won’t you hold your heads up high for that…
TOMOMI: “We’re really happy that our friends have now increased.”
It feels like that, doesn’t it.
TOMOMI: “We do think so. The Copy band contest isn’t about forming bands. We’re really happy, at the moment when we realise that it’s a band that can be focused upon.”
That is so. After participating in the contest, there are many kids who continue being in bands even after graduating from high-school right.
RINA: “For girl bands, I think it’s hard to keep doing it for decades. As a girl, you’re able to exude a variety of factors, but a girl band that can continue for long ends up becoming pretty cool. I regularly think about how that is the absolute best.”
With the world tour this year, does it mean that you’ve all set your sights for overseas from now on?
HARUNA: “Although there’s no such appeal tactic like,「Know more about us!」; right now, the net is extremely popular and through SNS, we get to receive all sorts of messages from others. For example, people who got to know SCANDAL through Anime theme songs, then begun listening to the other songs and ended up liking us, so doesn’t that make us happy? Despite a mixed bag of occasions, I think that doing this means meeting via music with all kinds of people. I’ve certainly had thoughts of wanting it to be arranged this way with not just those in Japan. It is fine no matter the way that you got to know us, or whether you’re from Japan or overseas. I think none of that matters.”
The Copy Band Contest has been decided upon this year as well. However, was it unprecedented for you that this be continued so long?
MAMI: “That’s right. Moreover, to emphasise on the amount of times and the chosen songs have gradually became quite the core.”
In the very beginning, the songs being performed were the main focus right.
MAMI: “After that, it was about having a good control over the effectors and people making proper music. I’m really happy about it.”
Not simply all about technical ability, but as a band, the ensemble was also well presented isn’t it?
RINA: “Last year’s contest also had a good balance.”
TOMOMI: “And then, bands that barely grouped together for half a year were there too. I completely did not think they were only half-a-year old.”
How does SCANDAL feel, after having formed for half a year?
HARUNA: “Half a year eh? We were in complete disorder. At that time, we did 30 minute lives at (Osaka-Jo Park’s) Jo Ten street, but you couldn’t have called that a live. In the past, drum sticks flew in the middle of the live and regardless of us being in the middle of a song, we could give it up to walk away and talk.”
RINA: “That, could it be our very first live? We didn’t even know of stages for bands. Previously, I did dance and was the MC for the dance team. However, all of us members stood aligned at the front to speak. We had no idea at all. That’s why, we did it without feeling strange or anything.”
Next time, won’t you do that (laughs).
RINA: “I’m scared of it already (laughs).”
TOMOMI: “We went, 'We’ll whip something up for the next song! You’re welcome!’ (laughs).”
RINA: “That was our norm. Nobody taught us anything, that’s why.”
HARUNA: “For a dance team and dance school, that was the norm.”
RINA: “However, for the bands that participate in the Copy band contest, they’ve looked and copied our stuff; be it the matching outfits or infusing dance (on stage), they’ll have thought it was a given for the style of a band. In that sense, this is not about us but I think it’s becoming a new era for girl bands.”
For SCANDAL in the past and present, it feels like you’re parting from the (girl bands’) era, doesn’t it?
RINA: “I think that the style has changed. It is also interesting to watch the Copy band contest. Like, 'This is the way they see us.’”
HARUNA: “Essentially, it’s okay for bands not to dance.”
RINA: “It became the mast (/center-line of bands).”
TOMOMI: “Even with the matching outfits too right?”
MAMI: “Whether there’s dance or not, or whether the outfits match or not, you can really see the difference in quality. However, there is no such actual style for bands originally…”
TOMOMI-san, the responsibility’s on you (laughs).
TOMOMI: “No~, it really was like that (laughs).”
HARUNA: “However, there were plenty of moments where we truly felt the responsibility. Because we’re of such characters, we use strong words the way we do, but no, no, it’s not a necessity to pass on such a message. There’s no need to stir things up this way (laughs).”
A negative influence (laughs).
TOMOMI: “I’m really sorry. I shall apologise to everyone else’s parents (laughs).”
HARUNA: “Everyone, say things like, 'Let’s goー’. Ah, I feel I had been a little bit influential there (laughs).”
RINA: “That is why I think it’s a must to continue on in good, current conditions. Along with the change of times, I think it is a must to continue on as a cool band and to take responsibility.”
For RINA-san, you’ve also held a drum seminar right. For those who’ve attended the lecture, that has also became a good experience for RINA-san yourself, right?
RINA: “That’s right. To be hitting on twin drums together with kids that have copied (our music), that makes me very happy. They’ve also drummed in ways that I wouldn’t have, so looking at the way they drum, once again, I’ve came to like this part of myself and it ended up being a day where I got a better self-opinion. That’s why, having an enthralling drumming performance is what I think of all the time.”
RINA: “The kids that participated in the seminar, all of them were intense. Although there are girls who’re all decked out in white, they put on an extremely rocking performance, which I think is superb right there.”
Then, lastly, please give a message to middle and high school girls who are a part of a band.
TOMOMI: “As we’re really happy to see girls holding onto instruments, we hope you’ll continue doing so even from now on. It’ll be wonderful if one day, we’re to stand on the same stage.”
Original interview at teena HERE, as translated by fyscandalband. Lengthy stuff but thank you for reading ^^ There’s another separate Q&A section, which I will translate later in the day.
