Musicman: the GazettE’s URUHA (Gt) and REITA (Ba) discuss their first album MASS in 3 years, LIVES and thoughts on their fans (May 27 2021)
Edited by @sillygirldisco
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-Do you feel the 10th album has become a special work for the band, different from anything you’ve done before due to the unexpected Corona disaster?
REITA: No, I didn’t feel that it was any different. It’s more like an evolution from NINTH (released June 2018), I think it’s quite catchy actually.
-Certainly, I felt that it was easy to listen to in a good way, as if it would lean on the listener.
URUHA: Aah, that may be the case. To clean it up, we tried to make it easier to comprehend and communicate by eliminating as many expressions that may seem difficult to understand. I think that kind of feeling is more present in the band. It’s not only in the songs but also the announcements we make as a band, "What’s the point if the meaning isn’t conveyed?"
REITA: Though, we didn’t do anything special just because it was our 10th album.
-Maybe, you didn’t realize it was the 10th album…
URUHA: That’s not true! The last title was NINTH (laughs).
-Excuse me (laughs). However, with your 18th anniversary concert on March 10th cancelled, and the 20th anniversary coming up next year, did you ever feel frustrated with the way things had turned out? For example, "It's bad luck"?
REITA: No, I think we’re lucky. We already planned to make an album after the March live, we’re quite lucky compared to other artists
URUHA: I agree. Of course, it would be crazy to say that it hasn't affected us at all, there have been times when we had to do things remotely that we originally planned to do in person.
-Then, was it hard to see the members?
REITA: After discussing the cancellation of the 18th anniversary live, we probably didn't see each other for about a month and a half. It was at the second song selection meeting or something like that when we met after a long time, that's when the lead song “BLINDING HOPE” came out.
URUHA: But for recordings, we went into the studio.
REITA: We recorded string instruments at home, only drums and vocals were recorded in the studio. So the drums were being recorded while the string section was working out the phrases, it was a precious time to see everyone. The rest of the time we wouldn't see each other.
-On Reita’s birthday, Uruha wrote "Congratulations!!” I first thought that he may have not met with you because he took the trouble to write it [on the blog], but I guess he did.
URUHA: It's true that I don't usually write "congratulations" to the members on their birthdays but because of Corona I was so out of touch with the world… So I decided to write a bit. (laughs).
REITA: You just didn't have anything to write about! (laughs).
URUHA: If you stay at home all the time, you really have nothing to write about. I don't write about my personal life and I don't have anything to write about unless there's something going on as a band… Sorry, that's just an excuse.
-No, not at all (laughs). What did you do during the stay home period apart from making the album?
REITA: I didn't really watch movies or read that many books. Well, I mainly did physical training. I don’t wanna be out of shape whenever the next live is. Of course, I have more time to practice the bass. The more time I have, the more I watch YouTube and the more equipment I buy to prepare for recording, the more time I spend playing the bass.
URUHA: I used to only watch music videos on YouTube, but after the current situation, I became interested in news related things, generally speaking, I feel like I spend a lot of time watching YouTube. Even if it's the same thing, it’s completely different when the point of view changes, and it's very interesting! It's especially easy to get information that's useful for you, isn't it? For example, if I hear that “The hypertension standard is being unfairly lowered in order to sell drugs,” I think, "Oh, what?" because my blood pressure is quite high.* That's what scares me.
REITA: No no, you’re just too expensive!* (laughs)
* @sillygirldisco T/N: Reita is making a pun. He called Uruha 高い which could be translated as high, expensive, or tall.
-People tend to believe only what is convenient for them, right? Your new album MASS was born in the midst of all this and it has a stronger message than ever before, but has the concept of creating an album and the way of selecting songs changed from the original routine? Or did RUKI explain the lyrics to each song?
URUHA: It’s not like that. The original songs are basically RUKI’s, we tried to make something better and the consensus was that it would be best to include the songs that he had made. In the beginning stages there were already phrases and songs, so it was nearly done, he didn't have to explain what the song was about and how he wanted it to be played. It’s all about how you feel.
REITA: When we're in pre-production and each of us has made a phrase, he'll say, "Can you do this a bit more?” But he doesn't tell us what to do from the beginning.
URUHA: Yea. He’s quite particular about things that it makes me determined to go “This is it!” but he doesn’t push it. It’s more like “If you have any better ideas, give them.”
-I see. So the first song that was made is the lead song “BLINDING HOPE” which opens the album following the SE.
URUHA: That’s right. Normally when you're writing the lead song for a new album, there's a certain amount of pressure and it’s easy to lose focus, isn’t it? In fact, I'm the type of person who tends to fall into a situation where I don't feel "unique" as a result. But then, RUKI would come up with something and go, "This is it!” I think that’s what is interesting about RUKI. In other words, it's the GazettE’s way, it's straightforward and rather special, but it's the fact that we can take it to a place where we feel it’s safe without hesitation that makes it impossible for an ordinary mind to do. When we heard “BLINDING HOPE” we were all like, "Ooh..."
REITA: From the moment the song started, I knew that it was a song that we should shoot a music video for just like the last album’s lead song Falling. I could already imagine the video being made.
-It starts with a shocking scene of a woman jumping off a building who continues running in search of light… Did RUKI also come up with the idea for the music video?
REITA: That’s right. I was moved to see the result myself, or rather shocked. The music video is quite long before the song starts, we've tried to make it dramatic in the past but this time we were able to create a storyline that goes even deeper. But, the filming was… hard, wasn't it?
URUHA: Yea. It was cold since we were mainly shooting in the basement of an abandoned hotel! We also did artist photos in the same place, so we were doing that over several days.
-I didn't know you had such a hard time. So, apart from the lead song, which other songs made a particularly strong impression on you?
URUHA: I was excited about the 8th song, “MOMENT,” when RUKI gave me a chance to listen to the instrumental and the first part of the A melody. There were pop ballads or acoustic ballads in the past but with a rock feeling to them. We haven’t produced a song like this where we went all out, so it was fun to put all our energy into it.
REITA: Personally I thought “Ooh!” with the 4th song, “NOX.” There’s a medium “on and off” tempo, it’s ambiguous and something that we don't often do as a band, but this time we got it right. Especially during lives, it’s that kind of song where the importance of the rhythm section comes out, if I can carry that tempo it’ll become another weapon in my arsenal. I also like dark songs so the 6th song “DAKU” is...
URUHA: DAKU is dark, right?*
*Uruha makes a pun with the similar pronunciation of DAKU and dark (daku)「「濁」と“ダーク”」
REITA: Not at all! (laughs). I can picture stage lighting myself now. Surprisingly, rather than high intensity songs, I’m looking forward to the smoother ones because they’re more challenging to play live.
-Speaking of lives, the album closes with “LAST SONG” which depicts the everlasting desire to perform lives and it’s very moving.
URUHA: “LAST SONG” was written during the demo, it’s a song that has a strong message for the fans and represents our wishes. The song is catchy and straightforward, it’s easy to listen to. A relaxed feeling at the end of the live… A kind of song that makes me want to share that safe space as soon as possible. It’s a moving song, the approach is stylish and modern, for example the intro contains EDM vocal chops.
REITA: From the first arpeggio, the floor tom and then the kick goes quickly, you can already feel “the last song is starting!” At that point I already had a feeling it’s going to be a live that will give you goosebumps.
-So the word LAST in the title in a sense means it will be the LAST song played at a live?
REITA: Originally the title was LAST. It was also meant to be placed at the end of the album so as a result the title became “LAST SONG.”
URUHA: LAST was there since the beginning of the album, so it didn’t feel strange.
REITA: Well, if the temporary title was never LAST and we suddenly named the song “LAST SONG” we would’ve thought “Wait, what’s ending?” (laughs).
-I’m relieved. So at what stage did you decide on the album title MASS?
REITA: I think RUKI told us around the time the lead song was done.
URUHA: NINTH was decided late but it was quite early this time.
REITA: Oh that’s right. But DOGMA (The 8th album released August 2015) had a title since the start, it depends on the album. I asked RUKI “What does MASS mean?” He said “It’s 質量 (shitsuryo)* or something like that” so I was like “Aah, I get it.” I think it gives an impression of things coming together.**
*I assume this is because Reita didn’t understand the English word “mass” so RUKI explained it to him using the Japanese word, which is in it’s literal translation is also “mass”. **@sillygirldisco T/N: Reita says 集まってる (which means "to come together"), so I think he's saying that MASS gives the impressions of something accumulating a lot of 質量. Like, the title has something to do with pulling things together.
URUHA: After all, I think what we wanted to convey wasn’t very conceptual like DOGMA but more so the foundation of the band. It’s the evolution of the band.
-In a way, the GazettE itself was the theme. However, I felt it was typical of the GazettE that they were so open about their feelings when it came to lives and packed in songs that would do great live. There are many bands that release albums for the sake of listeners since they can’t hold the same kind of firey lives as before. Ultimately, I want to know if you’re going to do lives once things are better.
REITA: Well, I would say we're not in as much of a hurry as other bands, but we're talking about doing it in a situation where we're ready. We can’t say for sure when that may be due to the Corona situation.
URUHA: Of course, I think we’re all a bit nervous about being forgotten. But we don’t have that much of a range so we can’t just say “If a live is possible, let’s do it in any shape or form!” If we’re unable to express what the fans want and what we want then there is no point in doing it at all. But it’s not that we won’t do it unless the seats are full. Even at 50% we would.
-Is it more about the style than number of people?
URUHA: Right. I wouldn’t change my style though. It’s a waste of time to force yourself to do something like that.
REITA: So, I think it would be okay if headbanging and jumping were allowed, but I want to avoid a situation where we have to cancel a live we decided on holding.
URUHA: Also, we never experienced a live during Corona so I think the big thing is how will we feel when we do it?
-I've heard that the louder the audience cheers at a live concert, the more uncomfortable it feels. Even when members appeared on stage they were applauded instead of called out.
URUHA: Then I’ll have to ask to turn up the volume of the SE (laughs).
REITA: Though, when the fans want to speak up but can't, they will try to make it more exciting by applauding.
URUHA: If you’re excited you say “Wow!” It should be easy to express that without a voice. Maybe.
REITA: Right. I think you will feel that feeling somehow. Us as well.
-By the way, are you thinking of live streaming?
REITA: I haven’t thought about it. For over a year no one has suggested “Let’s do a live stream” So maybe they don’t want to (laughs).
-The style is based on fans, right? Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the band's formation, how do you feel about the fact that the band has been together for 20 years?
REITA: We've been together as the GazettE for a long time, it all went by so fast. I would like [for us] to continue in a way that people will feel that time has passed before they knew it. I want to be that kind of band.
URUHA: Well, when I first started, I was enthusiastic like, "Let's keep playing in a band even when we’re old!" So when I think about it, we still have a long way to go and the future will be even harder. I’d like to see how much more I can do even when I can’t move my body anymore.
-We can predict you're ok to keep going for another 30 years.
URUHA: That’s right. Well, as long as no one dies (laughs).
REITA: The only thing I’m worried about is whether KAI will be able to hit both bass pedals.
-For the 20th anniversary, is there anything you're planning or want to accomplish before then?
REITA: Well, live shows would be ideal, right? September 2019 was the last time we held a live so my goal now is to do another. Really, I have a personal goal to show the GazettE in an angry state. Since time stopped a year and a half ago so of course, the movement and the aura that we create is even more... sharper than before.
URUHA: Idiot (laughs).
-Basically, it’s not short nor aggressive.
REITA: That’s right. To show that kind of performance, I have to train hard.
-Uruha, do you also train your body?
URUHA: No, not at all.
REITA: He said, "I'll do it when the live is decided." It's too late! Even if you do it after it's decided!
URUHA: It's a bit of an excuse but no matter how much running I do, on the first day of a tour I always put in a lot of unnecessary effort and I get really tired. In my case, if I don’t feel comfortable I’ll get overwhelmed, so if I first identify the phrases I’m not good at and work on them, I’ll be able to do it without straining myself. I have yet to play through songs off the album, but as I practice I have a feeling I’m going to find more and more phrases I’m not good at, this time I will finish them at home before going into the studio.
-For the fans, the next live will be the one they have been waiting for, the first live show in two years, everyone will be expecting to see the GazettE that has evolved over the past two years.
URUHA: But if I can't show that... It's really bad, isn't it? "What the hell were you doing all this time!"
-Then, do you prefer performing one live or a tour?
URUHA: A complete tour. That’s what I wanna do.
REITA: If it’s just one live then it’s difficult to choose one place to hold it. Right now our fans are working hard, spending time on their hobbies and listening to the GazettE’s music when they’re home, in our case, the GazettE is all [us members] have. We’re more eager than ever to see our fans. We are really looking forward to meeting you.
URUHA: The next time we can hold a live, it will be in a space where we’re able to enjoy whatever we do. But don’t get spoiled. We want to create something more worthwhile and exciting than the old the GazettE, so please look forward to it.