SCANDAL; teena RED book Girlsâ Band Edition - SCANDAL Interview
Itâs about your latest work,ăHELLO WORLDă, 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: âWith regards to our sound, I think weâve brought the rock sound down a notch. Since weâve wished to make more natural tunes, we created many more songs that pay attention to gentler sounds. Well, weâve got sharp-sounding tunes such asăOnegai NavigationăăRunners highă, but weâve taken in softer sounds properly. I think weâve made an album that feels really good.â
From previously, itâs been said that SCANDAL isnât bond by any set rules. Has any of that changed from that time on?
RINA: âI think, at that point, we honestly wanted to do the things that we want to do, whatever seems fun.â
That means you all still value that as an importance, right?
RINA: âThatâs right.*
Do you have any goals, such as wanting to be a certain sort of band?
MAMI: âI think weâve become able to self-produce and move along in this rhythm as it is. Weâve been able to incorporate the act of writing lyrics and songs in our lives, so weâve come to be able to give birth to lyrics and tunes quite naturally somehow. I think if we could grow even closer to that, itâll be good. Many of the songs this round were also born from us naturally.â
Certainly, it doesnât feel forced. Rather, it is natural.
RINA: âThereâs been an increase in more realistic songs right.
Itâs something thatâs appropriate of your age, isnât it?
MAMI: âThat is right. I think itâll be good if weâre able to come out with songs more naturally from now.â
How is it to be a young child of a band (laughs)?
TOMOMI: âWeâre young children right (laughs). I do think itâs good to be doing music that reflects our daily choices. It feels like itâll then be able to tie together with the production side too⌠Up till now, weâve thought about centering about our lives, so weâll have songs thatâll liven up the mood during lives or to have it arranged in a way thatâll be this way during lives.â
TOMOMI: âYes, weâve 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, weâd want to make the best of it on CD-format. It requires thought that differs from that of lives, so weâve come to feel that itâs fine to have it arranged specially for lives when it comes down to that. Thereâs the feeling of being given a choice in our daily lives.â
HARUNA: âSince before our debut, weâve gotten to go overseas in some way or another, but for the world tour this time, Iâm extremely happy to be going to a great many places, a total of 8 countries, including places that weâll be going for the first time ever. I think weâll like to go to more and more places, and to be a band that is worldwide.â
As a band that tows the girl bandsâ scene along, what do you think of that? For teena, we welcomed the 5th âSCANDAL Ă teena Ă ESP Musical Academy Collaboration ProjectăSCANDAL Copy Band and Vocalist Contestăâ last year as well, and each year it becomes quite a thing. The entries have increased, and the performance level has gone up. Itâs interesting, but every year, the song choices by the participants also changes. That means the fans have also matured isnât it?
RINA: âYes, Iâve 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 SCANDALâs music, and the type of music they like belongs to SCANDAL. Iâll like us to be something others are proud of when spoken of. Iâve come to like it even more than shedding tears, and thatâs something I really think about. Thatâs why, I think we absolutely have to be a band that will have others go, âThis is such a cool band,â 'I am glad to look up to them,â 'I am glad to have listened to these peopleâs music.ââ
Rather that to say that that is difficult, isnât it quite some pressure (on yourselves)?
MAMI: âHowever, we strongly think of wanting to be liked without being shy after all.â
It feels like itâs being done naturally right.
RINA: âThatâs 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 thatâll continue doing the best of things for a long time and we also want to place importance in those areas, but we arenât overly aware of ourselves as the leading (band) thatâs pulling things ahead. Thatâs why we donât feel that sense of discomfort when weâre questioned of how it feels to be the ones pulling the girls band scene forward.â
I see. But in the 5 times that copy band contests were being held, several groups of participants have even had major debuts. Wonât you hold your heads up high for thatâŚ
TOMOMI: âWeâre really happy that our friends have now increased.â
It feels like that, doesnât it.
TOMOMI: âWe do think so. The Copy band contest isnât about forming bands. Weâre really happy, at the moment when we realise that itâs a band that can be focused upon.â
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: âFor girl bands, I think itâs hard to keep doing it for decades. As a girl, youâre 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.â
With the world tour this year, does it mean that youâve all set your sights for overseas from now on?
HARUNA: âAlthough thereâs no such appeal tactic like,ăKnow more about us!ă; 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 doesnât that make us happy? Despite a mixed bag of occasions, I think that doing this means meeting via music with all kinds of people. Iâve 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 youâre from Japan or overseas. I think none of that matters.â
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: âThatâs right. Moreover, to emphasise on the amount of times and the chosen songs have gradually became quite the core.â
In the very beginning, the songs being performed were the main focus right.
MAMI: âAfter that, it was about having a good control over the effectors and people making proper music. Iâm really happy about it.â
Not simply all about technical ability, but as a band, the ensemble was also well presented isnât it?
RINA: âLast yearâs contest also had a good balance.â
TOMOMI: âAnd 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.â
How does SCANDAL feel, after having formed for half a year?
HARUNA: âHalf a year eh? We were in complete disorder. At that time, we did 30 minute lives at (Osaka-Jo Parkâs) Jo Ten street, but you couldnât 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.â
RINA: âThat, could it be our very first live? We didnât 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. Thatâs why, we did it without feeling strange or anything.â
Next time, wonât you do that (laughs).
RINA: âIâm scared of it already (laughs).â
TOMOMI: âWe went, 'Weâll whip something up for the next song! Youâre welcome!â (laughs).â
RINA: âThat was our norm. Nobody taught us anything, thatâs why.â
HARUNA: âFor a dance team and dance school, that was the norm.â
RINA: âHowever, for the bands that participate in the Copy band contest, theyâve looked and copied our stuff; be it the matching outfits or infusing dance (on stage), theyâll have thought it was a given for the style of a band. In that sense, this is not about us but I think itâs becoming a new era for girl bands.â
For SCANDAL in the past and present, it feels like youâre parting from the (girl bandsâ) era, doesnât it?
RINA: âI think that the style has changed. It is also interesting to watch the Copy band contest. Like, 'This is the way they see us.ââ
HARUNA: âEssentially, itâs okay for bands not to dance.â
RINA: âIt became the mast (/center-line of bands).â
TOMOMI: âEven with the matching outfits too right?â
MAMI: âWhether thereâs 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 originallyâŚâ
TOMOMI-san, the responsibilityâs on you (laughs).
TOMOMI: âNo~, it really was like that (laughs).â
HARUNA: âHowever, there were plenty of moments where we truly felt the responsibility. Because weâre of such characters, we use strong words the way we do, but no, no, itâs not a necessity to pass on such a message. Thereâs no need to stir things up this way (laughs).â
A negative influence (laughs).
TOMOMI: âIâm really sorry. I shall apologise to everyone elseâs parents (laughs).â
HARUNA: âEveryone, say things like, 'Letâs goăźâ. Ah, I feel I had been a little bit influential there (laughs).â
RINA: âThat is why I think itâs 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.â
For RINA-san, youâve also held a drum seminar right. For those whoâve attended the lecture, that has also became a good experience for RINA-san yourself, right?
RINA: âThatâs right. To be hitting on twin drums together with kids that have copied (our music), that makes me very happy. Theyâve also drummed in ways that I wouldnât have, so looking at the way they drum, once again, Iâve came to like this part of myself and it ended up being a day where I got a better self-opinion. Thatâs why, having an enthralling drumming performance is what I think of all the time.â
RINA: âThe kids that participated in the seminar, all of them were intense. Although there are girls whoâre all decked out in white, they put on an extremely rocking performance, which I think is superb right there.â
Then, lastly, please give a message to middle and high school girls who are a part of a band.
TOMOMI: âAs weâre really happy to see girls holding onto instruments, we hope youâll continue doing so even from now on. Itâll be wonderful if one day, weâre to stand on the same stage.â
Original interview at teena HERE, as translated by fyscandalband. Lengthy stuff but thank you for reading ^^ Thereâs another separate Q&A section, which I will translate later in the day.