#b=pass

There’s a part of me that wanted to be inspired too. I wondered what type of GACKT fascinates all these different artists…… From that standpoint, I came to the decision of, ‘Well then, let’s try doing this’

ーー GACKTRACKS -ULTRA DJ ReMIX- is a unique collaboration album where Japan’s top DJs remix GACKT-san’s popular songs. Was there a trigger or something that made you decide to produce this?

To begin with, there was a project building up to the LAST VISUALIVE at the start of my 15th debut anniversary, and in there was talk about a remix album. My original album this time around is turning out to be one that leans towards Zipang rock. Given that this is the case, I wanted to further broaden [my] world view by including other artists in this remix album. There’s a part of me that wanted to be inspired too. I wondered what type of GACKT fascinates them…… From that standpoint, I came to the decision of, ‘Well then, let’s try doing this’. When that happened, many DJs readily offered to take on this. Rather, rumours began to spread and [they came to me] saying things like “Let me do it too”……

ーー The DJ themselves came forward?

Though, of course, right at the start when planned this project, it started with a conversation along the lines of “Would you try doing this?”. But I suppose other DJs heard about this rumour and the conversation just kept going until they also said something like, “I’d definitely want to lend a hand if there’s a next time”. Well, I’m grateful for it. And when I actually got to listen to the remixed versions, I thought that they turned it into something that feels really interesting, like, ‘Ahh, as expected [of a DJ]’.

ーー It’s turned out to be an album that “comes for the body”, hasn’t it? It’s as if you can’t stay still while listening to it; your body will naturally sway to these 14 tracks if you listen to them.

Exactly. With my songs, most of my original versions are heavy and intense songs; often, it’d thrust in and you’d end up having to listen intently to it, but when I hear the club remixes that have their ideas thrown in[to my songs]…… I’d hate for people to misunderstand this method of expression, but I suppose it can be said that you can listen to it by just letting it play; it can be comfortably enjoyed without a need for you to focus on the song. Songs like these are nice too.

ーー Does GACKT-san like [going to] clubs and club music to begin with?

I like [going to] clubs. I like it, and I’ve been going since my Malice Mizer days.

ーー Ah, since such a long time ago.

Yeah. Roppongi, Shinjuku, overseas; I’ve been to quite a number of establishments.

ーー But won’t the club’s staff fly into a panic when GACKT goes in?

I go to clubs that are geared towards foreigners, you see. When I do go, I often get hit on by foreigners (smiles).

ーー By foreign women?

Men too (smiles). That’s because I tend to drink with foreign men more. But what’s odd is that even though I go to clubs so often and I get hit on by men so much, the only thing that hasn’t been written about me is that I’m often suspected of being gay (smiles). But it’s fun. When you’re clubbing, communication starts with yourself, doesn’t it?    So when I go out for the night, both men and women will call out, “Hiー GACKT!” and come towards me. There are also some who’d come up to me saying, “I’m a long time fan of yours”.

ーー Because GACKT-san is popular among foreigners too, right?

It’s fun to talk to them too since it’ll become vocabulary practice as well.

ーー Does GACKT-san dance at clubs?

Rather than dance, I’d nod in time to the music. Also, I enjoy watching women dancing while I drink. You don’t really have that happening in Japan’s clubs. That’s why I watch foreign women dance. I’d think, “How beautiful”.

ーー Like, but while you’re watching…… next to you are foreign men (smiles).

It’s funny (smiles).

ーー Hahahaha (smiles). So how did you choose the songs for this [album]?

I left it all to the [DJs]. With this time’s remix album, I didn’t bring up a single request at all; nothing like “I’d like you to do this song”, or anything of the sort. It’s just, “Do whatever pleases you”. With the DJ selection too, they were chosen based on whoever came to me first. It’s like once they accept the project, they can immediately get to work, and then we fixed the number of people [to involve]. So I had to tearfully apologise and reject those who heard word about it from others and then came to me saying that they wanted to do it and then tell them maybe next time……

ーー Like a first-come-first-serve.

Yes, exactly.

ーー But having all these top DJs together in one room is unprecedented and really amazing, isn’t it? To think that GACKT-san has such a strong magnetism and that there are so many people who are attracted to the artist “GACKT”.

No, well～ I wonder. I don’t know about that. But I feel grateful for it. Because it’s not like this happened because I was especially close to them or directly contacted them. There were many whom I’ve never actually met before too. For example, even DJ KOO-san, I’ve only ever met him on TV programs. During this album, I think the only person I’ve met before in private was Marc Panther. Aside from him, the rest of them are people who I’m meeting for the first time. But in the end, they produced amazingly wonderful music. I’m really happy about that.

ーー Even if you’ve never met them before, they’ve decided to try taking part in this and your conversation with them over the production was enjoyable…… Was there someone like that?

No no, there were no conversations regarding production. That’s why there was a small part of me that was worried in the beginning too. You don’t really want to keep telling people who took the time to do something for you that it’s not good, right?    But the moment I listened to the songs that were put together, I frankly thought, “Amazing!”. Because you see, this time, from the songs selected to the remixed content, I didn’t say “do this, do that” at all.

ーー They were tracks that brought out each of their personalities without overshadowing the songs, right?

So the first thing that I thought when I listened to this was, ‘the level of Japanese DJs is surprisingly quite high’. I was moved by that as a listener.

ーー Is there a song that you particularly like among these 14 songs?

I can’t strictly say “This is the best!” or anything like that but…… Those that made me think that they were amazing are JESUS, CLAYMORE, LU:NA, WHITE LOVERS -幸せなトキ-, OASIS, I suppose. I was a little surprised when I heard them. Because they exceeded my expectations.

ーー Songs like JESUS had a variety of techniques were thrown in and are really cool, aren’t they? Even though it’s originally a heavy rock number, it became a song with a different kind of ferocity and strength.

Yes, exactly. It’s really amazing. And “Koakuma Heaven” too…… Despite that this was a very light-hearted song, to begin with, the ‘zukuzukuzukuzuku’ sounds turned it into a strangely mysterious song. This approach is interesting too.

ーー Earlier, GACKT-san mentioned LU:NA and OASIS which were given remarkably bold arrangements that changed the songs drastically though.

It’s alright because they’re remixes. For songs that are rearranged like this, it’s completely out of my hands, so my voice is also being captured as one of the instruments. Besides, I thought that my voice isn’t suitable for things like these but getting to find out that it’s workable made me happy. On the other hand, if I were to put restrictions [on them] and say things like, “Do this”, “Don’t do that”, I would no longer be able to harness the talent and flavours that they possess. If I was going to do something like that then it’s better that I don’t do this, to begin with.

Recently, it’ll definitely be playing when I’m working. And sometimes, those I’m working with will suddenly come to a stop and I’d say ‘Isn’t this cool?’

ーー That attitude strikes me as pure. By the way…… “Kimi no Tame ni Dekiru Koto (What I’ll Do For You / キミのためにできること)” and “Kimi ni Aitakute (I Miss You So / キミに逢いたくて)”, the word “Kimi (you / 君)” is now being written in Katakana. Is there any particular reason for that?

Ah, this. When was it? I changed it all into Katakana around 2010. The old notations have it in Kanji, but for new ones, all of them were changed to Katakana.

ーー So they’re not changing depending on what you’re releasing them in?

Nope. Now Katakana has become my main [form of notation]. Somehow, personally, the nuance of “キミ” is more fitting than “君”. And I think “boku (me [male nuance] / ボク)” is also more fitting in Katakana, and so on. I think you’ll get it if you look at my blog, but “omae (you [casual nuance] / オマエ)”, “yatsu (generic group of people [typically male nuance] / ヤツ)”, “kimi (you [male-speaker nuance] / キミ)”, “anata (you / アナタ)”, and so on are all written in Katakana.

ーー Ahh, come to think of it, that’s true.

To me, I feel that there’s something different about the nuances in Kanji. What is it…… I guess you could say that, written in Katakana gives [these words] a more neutral tone? For example, if I say “omae (オマエ)”, writing it in Katakana doesn’t limit it to either men or women only, like there’s neutrality to it.

ーー Like it can be used for and by both.

Exactly. So, even with the expression “boku (ぼく)”, written in Kanji, it gives off a strongly masculine feeling, but in Katakana, it brings in neutrality, and it feels like it doesn’t really differentiate between genders. Foreign languages have terms like these but there’s none in Japanese, right?

ーー I see. So it’s a particularity towards such a nuance. But with such individualistic songs put together, wasn’t it difficult to decide on the track order [for the album]?

About that, instead of thinking about this and that, the number one thing that we considered was the sequence that made listening to the whole album from start to finish most enjoyable.

ーー It has actually been completed as something that is really comfortable to listen to. But when it was done, what did GACKT-san think of it when you listened to it yourself?

I thought, “So cool”. That’s what I first thought right at the start. Normally, I don’t really get the thought “so cool” when I hear something that other people have made, but…… Well, maybe it’s because these use my songs so they’re not exactly other people’s songs but, it’s cool, this. Which is why recently, it’ll definitely be playing when I’m working. And sometimes, those I’m working with will suddenly come to a stop and I’d keep saying to my staff “Isn’t this cool?”, over and over again (smiles).

ーー Hahahaha (smiles). So you’ll definitely do a volume 2 as well?

Yeah, perhaps I’ll do it again. Since it turned into something really wonderful this time. Well, I’m grateful.

ーー It’s a work that will, of course, appeal to your fans, and also to those who only listen to club music after all.

That’s right. It’ll make me happy if my fans hear it and say “So this is possible too”, and also if fans of those DJs listen to it and think “Ain’t GACKT’s voice fitting for club music too!”.

ーー You’ll also be holding a special event to commemorate the release of this album.

Manager: Yes. It will be held at 22:30 on 3 July, at Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo’s ballroom (27th floor).

ーー 3 July, that’s the eve of your birthday!

Yeah, it’s happening on the eve (smiles).

ーー But it’ll definitely be a fiery night then!

The only image I have right now is of collapsing (smiles). Like, ‘but my birthday is on the next day, will I be okay, scary～’ (smiles).

ーー Hahahaha (smiles). And you’re planning to release a new single in August.

Yeah. I’ve been working on the image of the LAST VISUALIVE, so I still can’t say “This is going to be something amazing” yet at this point in time. It’ll be a song that will show you a snapshot. I’m now creating something that will show people [my] vision.

ーー I’m really looking forward to it!    But despite that, we’re heading towards the LAST VISUALIVE, and this word ‘last’ is……

I’ll think about my activities following this after the LAST VISUALIVE is done. Because my body’s in shambles, you know, more so than everyone thinks.

ーー Is part of it due to your travelling back and forth between Japan and other countries?

It’s not that. I now live overseas, but my body the main reason why I’m living overseas. If I’m in a cold region, my body won’t last, it won’t stand it. The pain is too unbearable.

ーー You have pains?

I do. In my back, all the time. But it’s warm overseas, isn’t it? …… You see, I only live in warm regions. Even though I love cold regions.

ーー You love snowboarding too, don’t you?

Yeah. But now I can’t live in cold regions, based on my physical condition…… That’s the situation.

ーー It’s worrying…… Lastly, please tell us a little about recent happenings around you. I believe that GACKT-san is always busy, but what’s one thing that helps you catch a breather these days?

I wonder.    One thing that helps me catch a breather now is countries, I suppose.

ーー Countries as an item! …… That said, such a scale, it’s too much (smiles).

In the sense of ‘I can relax in this country’, or something.

ーー Which country can you relax in?

Where I wonder…… There are a few places depending on countries but more often than not, I’ll be able to relax in the countryside. For example, I can relax in Bali. The temperature is warm, and the humidity is nice. A place simply being hot isn’t going to work for me. Because if there’s no humidity, my back problem won’t clear up. When I’m in a warm region, the body pain will become a little better and I’ll be able to relax. Well, but anyway, I’ll build my body for the LAST VISUALIVE at this present moment in time. I’ve been overdoing it a lot thus far, so I think it can’t be helped that it’s taken a toll on my body. Because to me, life means to sprint as if it’ll end at any time.

end.

Translation: @yoshiyuuki Scans: @moonlight-letter