Kyary Interview | Candy Racer | Real Sound
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's 10th Anniversary Musical Update: New Charm Brought Out by 80's and 90's Sound
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's debut, and her first album in three years, "Candy Racer," is an ambitious work full of danceable techno from the very beginning. It was produced by Yasutaka Nakata, a well-known producer. As the album progresses, Kyary's mature lyrics show her growth, and the emotional appeal of the words unfolds. She is sentimental, cute, and cute, and while she avoids her "origin," she refines her "originality" on a spiral staircase, creating a "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu" full of originality. The "Kyary Pamyu Pamyu" world has been updated with a lot of originality. Yes, this is a piece that will give you a unique experience as if you went to a theme park. (Fukuryu)
At the time, I wondered if it would be okay to do something so bizarre.
The sound of "Candy Racer" has a 90's techno feel to it, and a sense of genre. It's been called "hyper-pop" a couple of times now overseas, but it has an upper-crust sound sense that's interesting globally.
Kyary: Yes, that's right. When Mr. Nakata and I were talking about "What do you want to do for your first album in a while? I told him that I wanted to change the atmosphere completely. That's what I did with the dance tunes in the second and third songs. Also, I think the opinions of music creators and the thoughts of listeners have changed since the Corona disaster. Mr. Nakata himself feels this. In the past, I used to feel that I had to get the audience excited at the start of a live performance, and I used to get worried if they weren't excited. But now, fans can't shout at live concerts, and they can't get as excited as before, can they? That's why there are songs like "Natsuiro Flower" (the tenth song) that make you listen carefully.
I heard that the sessions for the jacket photos, artist photos, artwork, etc. were done by the staff from your debut.
Kyary: I think the foundation of the creative side of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was created thanks to the staff from my debut. When I graduated from high school at the age of 18, I entered the studio for the first time and had my makeup done as Kyarypamyupamyu, the artist. At that time, the hair and makeup artist, Shinji Konishi, gave me a makeup that made my mouth look like it had been ripped open (laughs).
(laughs)
Kyary: At the time, I wondered if I would be able to do something so bizarre, but when my appearance became a billboard in Harajuku, it became a big hit. I did other things like putting a shark on my head and wearing an octopus hairstyle, but Konishi-san was a big part of my life. I also really like the ideas of cameraman Ken Hanzawa, STEVE NAKAMURA, and stylist Tomoko Iijima. The last time we got together was for the album "Japamyu" three years ago.
And the first limited edition is floating in the air, isn't it?
Kyary: Yes, I'm floating. When we were talking about what we wanted to do this time, we decided that we wanted to make it look like a flip book. Actually, there are about 8 different outfits, and the trick is to switch between them. The first limited edition comes with a 64-page booklet, and it's like a parapara manga with not only the costumes but also the makeup and nails changing little by little.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Kyary: The jacket photo is one of them. What I thought about the cover of the standard edition is that in the past, I've always used a very defined face in my artwork. But this time, the atmosphere is a bit more ennui. The way her eyes are open is very calm, which is unexpected. It's just a random shot, but I didn't expect that this photo would be used (laughs). But it's just like me now, and I like the fact that I'm relaxed, because it's a link to my true self.
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Why does Nakata-san understand the feelings of a teenage girl?
Your recent changes in lifestyle are well expressed in this album, aren't they? Now I'd like to talk about the album, and the first song is "DE.BA.YA.SHI. 2021.
Kyary: Yes, i feel that's how it came out. I usually record the opening song last. My voice is layered in a number of patterns, and it's the kind of song that people get excited about when they arrive at festivals.
It feels like they are heading for a tour or a live performance, doesn't it? And keeping the momentum going, the second song, "Candy Racer", is a powerful number with a cool techno sound and cute voice effects that goes about two laps.
Kyary: I thought it was a challenging song to come up with. It looks like it's easy to sing, but it was quite difficult to respond to the detailed nuances that Mr. Nakata wanted. For example, he asked me to add a small "tsu" and to extend the words.
The lyrics also have a multinational feel.
Kyary: I thought it was a challenging song to come up with. It looks like it's easy to sing, but it was quite difficult to respond to the detailed nuances that Mr. Nakata wanted. For example, he asked me to add a small "tsu" and to extend the words.
Then came the shocking song "DODONPA". It has a tribal beat, a 90's club sound, and an upper lyric..
Kyary: I usually get a lyric card to memorize the lyrics when we record, but for "Dodonpa" finally I didn't get it (laughs). Normally, there is a cover song that Mr. Nakata sings with a voice change, and I would listen to it and think, "He's probably singing 'Tsukuchi', isn't he? I wrote it down on my phone and sang it in a groove.
"Lyrics: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu" is fine (laughs)..
Kyary: That's right (laughs). I'm sure people overseas will especially like it, so I can't wait to perform it live!
The song "Kamaitachi" is a middle-aged pop tune with a sad crying melody from the intro. The Chinese style melody and the pop sense that accelerates in the chorus are very pleasant.
Kyary: The lyrics are pretty, but I was surprised at how packed the words are. Like "Gentenkaihi" I've never heard lyrics that tell a story like this before, and the piano, guitar, and bass sounds in this song make it sound like a musician. What they all have in common is a sense of the 80s, like the TK sound, parapara, and techno-pop.