Professional Drummer Series with Kid'z Part 1
This is the first of 3 parts series on the work of a Professional Drummer which is actually from an old interview Kid’z had with Osaka School of Music a few years ago. Sadly, the original interview somehow was removed from the school’s website, I don’t know why. Thank you @10969takahiroki for giving me the screenshots (sorry it took so long because I got tied to other things). So now, I can share the contents with the fans. Read on to find out how he started and got the gig with nano.
Original Japanese text & photos from Osaka School of Music (OSM).
Translation text & photo edits by me. Sorry in advance for any mistakes.
プロミュージシャンの仕事 ~ ドラマー
Professional musician’s work ~ Drummer
幼少時からドラムを叩き続け、 夢を叶えた。ドラムというポジション ならではの視点があります。
Continuously hitting the drums since childhood and got his dream come true. He has a unique point of view from the drum position.
「幼稚園の頃からミュージシャンになりたかった。」
“I wanted to be a musician since I was in the kindergarten.”
Q:音楽業界を目指し始めた経緯を教えてください。
Q: Please tell me the background of how you started aiming at the music industry.
「4歳の時に缶を並べて叩き出したのがドラムの発端です( 笑) 。幼稚園の頃 からミュージシャンになりたいと言っている子供でした。幼稚園の年長からドラ ムのレッスンに通うようになり、親がサプライズでドラムセットを買ってくれれ たのもあって、幼い頃からずっと叩いていて。現実的に考えるようになったの は、 高校に入ってからですね」
“When I was 4 years old, my beginner drum was tin cans laid out side by side (laughs). I was the child who said that he wanted to be a musician since he was kindergarten age. From the older-aged kindergarten (time), I got to go through drum lessons, and I got a surprise drumset which my parents bought for me, and I had been beating it for a long time since I was a child. Realistically thinking (about becoming a musician) was since I entered high school.”
Q: 進路の舵取りは、 どういう形でしましたか?
How did you steer (towards) your course?
「 業に足りないのは経験だと思ったので、 専門学校に行こうと考えたんです。 最初に体験入学に行ったのがこの学校だったんですが、直感であ、ここだと感 じたんですよね。先生も学生も明るいし、みんな笑顔で雰囲気がよかった。だ からすぐ決めちゃいました」
“I thought that experience was not enough for work, so I decided to go to a vocational school. It was this school that I went to the entrance exam for the first time, but (my) instinct, I (just) felt it was here. Both the teachers and the students were bright, everyone was smiling and the atmosphere was good. So I decided upon it immediately”.
Q: この学校で学んだことで、 良かったと思えることは?
Q: What do you think that was good that you learned at this school?
「 まず、人間関係ですね。僕はもともとスポーツをやっていたので、上下関係 や人を敬う大切さは学んでいたから苦労はしませんでしたが。ドラマーに必要な のはスキルだけじゃない。スタジオに入ると指揮者の立ち位置になるから、いい 空気を作っていかなきゃいけないんです。ちょっとビリついていたら笑わせて 和ませるのも、ドラマーの仕事。そういうドラマーを目指して頑張ってくれ と、講師の先生に言われたのが印象的でした。もちろんスキルで勉強になったこ ともたくさんありましたが、先生たちの言動を見ては“素晴らしいな"と感じてい ましたね。 この教えは今も現場でしっかり守っています」
“First of all, it is human relations. Originally I was playing sports, so I did not have any difficulty because I was learning (about) relationships and honoring people. Skills are not the only necessary (things) for drummers. When entering the studio, since (you) will be in the position where the conductor is standing, so you have to create a good atmosphere. If things are a bit down, bringing about laughter and calm, is also the job of a drummer. Trying hard to aim to be such a drummer, and as said by my teacher’s instructor, was something impressive. Of course, there were a lot of things that I learned with my skills, but when I looked at the teacher ’s actions, I felt it was "wonderful”. Even now, I still strongly abide by this teaching in this field".
Q: 卒業してすぐプロになったそうですが、 そのいきさつは?
Q: It seems that you graduated and became a professional soon after, but what is the whole story of how you got here?
「 この学校で組んだバンドでPVを作ったんですが、それをたまたま見た現在の 事務所のマネージャーがドラム好きな人で、僕のドラムが気になっていたみたい で。学校の卒業を間近に控えた時期のライブに来てくれて、挨拶をしたら"近々、 空いてない? ” と誘われたんです。それで翌日食事に行ったら“個人のマ ネージメントをさせてもらえないが"と言われました。いきなりそんなことを言 われたから、本当にびっくりして。でも聞いた感じ、リスクは少なそうだから お願いすることに。 “一緒にやりたいアーティストはいる? “ と聞かれて、 ” nanoさん、いいですね"と伝えたら、 その場でnanoのディレクターに電話して “いいドラムがいるから使ってくれ"って。僕からしたら、何のこっちゃわから ないですよ( 笑) 。 “ 来週レコーディングだから行ってくれ"と言われて、頭 の中が?マークだらけのまま1週間後に参加したら気に入っていただけて、 そ のまま参加させてもらうことになった感じです」
“I made a PV with the band that got together at this school but by chance the manager of my current "jimusho” who saw that is also someone who likes drums and he seemed interested in my drumming. He came to the preparation of the Live for my (at-the-time) upcoming graduation and when he greeted me, “Are you free soon?” I was asked. From there, when I was going for a meal the next day, it was said to me that “You’re not being individually managed,”. Because such a thing was suddenly said to me, I was really surprised. But the feeling that I heard, since the risk was pretty small, so it was very much welcomed. “Is there any artist you would like to work with?”, he said to me and I told him, “nano-san would be nice,”. Right on the spot, he made a phone call to nano’s director and said, “There’s a good drummer for you to use,”. From my side of it, I didn’t understand what was that about (laughs). “There’s a recording next week, so I’d love you to go,” he said, and (you know) what was in my head? It was full of the feeling that if he could be pleased to be able to have me participate just like that in just one week’s time, so I would be glad to participate just like that.“
* 事務所 / jimusho / talent agency
Q: 現在、 プロのドラマーとしての具体的な仕事内容は?
Q: What is the specific work content as a professional drummer now?
「 レコーディング、 ライブPVの出演レッスンの講師ですね」
"Recording, instructor of live PV’s appearance lessons.”
Q: お仕事は最初から順調でしたか?
Q: Have you been going smoothly from the beginning?
「 プロになって1年目は波がありましたが、 2年目の今年は安定しています。今 年からレッスンの講師を始めたのもあって、ありがたい事に1年先までスケ ジュールを頂いてる状態です」
“Although I had ups & downs in the first year after becoming a professional, I have been stable in the second year which is this year. I also started teaching lessons from this year, thankfully, I’m in a situation where I got a schedule up to one year ahead. ”
Q: 今までで一番印象的なお仕事は?
Q: What is your most impressive work so far?
「 台湾でのライブですね。 海外で初めてのライブだったのと、 規模も1000人 超えという大きなものだったので。海外のお客さんの勢いは、すごかったで す。お客さんの声量で、 カウントが聞こえなくなるくらい。しかも出待ちの人 達が、キレイに1列に揃ってるんですよ! ( 笑)それを見た時は“ 文化が違う な"と思いました」
“It was a live performance in Taiwan, because it was my first live performance overseas, and the scale was also bigger than 1000 pax. The momentum of overseas concert-goers was amazing. You couldn’t estimate the number of people from listening to the volume of the concert-goers’s voices. Moreover, the people waiting outside were in line neatly! (Lol) When I saw that, I thought that "The culture is different, eh?” .“
「若さがあるなら、 それを武器にするべき」
“When there is youth, you should use it as a weapon”
Q: ギャランティは、 歩合制 ですか?
Q: Is the guarantee a commission system?
「 はい、 歩合制です。一度事務所に入り、 その後に僕に入ります。月によって収入にばらつきはありますが、ちゃんと生活できるように事務所がマネージメントして くれてます。 多く稼いだ月はプールしておいて、少なめの月に分酉己してく れたり。いい事務 所に所属させて頂き感謝してます」
"Yes, it is a commission system. After entering the office once and then entering me*. The income is inconsistent depending on the month, but the office manages (things) to allow you to live properly.Something like, when it’s the lucky months you pool (the money) so when it’s the months with little earnings, you will manage to survive. I’m grateful to get to belong to a good agency. ”
*He meant the agency will take a cut of his earnings as their commission which is a normal practice. Probably from 10% to 20%.
Q: プロのドラマーになるにあたって、 必要なことはなんでしょう?
Q: What do you need to become a Pro drummer?
「 与えられた責務を、きちんとこなせるかどうか。そのためには“ここまでやっ たのなら、 失敗しても後悔しない" というレベルの努力が必要なです。 さら に、 プラスアルファで何が答えられるか。10を求められて、 10を返していたら 普通のことです。そこからプラスアルファして何が返せるか、 常に考えていま す。あとは、後悔しないこと。失敗するとついしてしまいますが、僕は例え失 敗しても“しょうがないな"と思えるくらい練習に取り組んでいるから、後悔はし ないように心がけています。もちろん反省と修正は毎回ちゃんとしていますよ」
“Whether or not you can do your given duties precisely. For that reason, "If you do it up to here, even if you fail, you will not regret it,” that’s the level of effort that’s necessary to have. Still, what can be answered with a Plus Alpha*? If you are asked for 10, returning 10 is normal. I am always thinking about what I can return with a Plus Alpha from there. Do not be sorry afterward. Assuming that I fail due to being careless, me for example, even if I fail, when things kinda seem like “Shouganai-na / Well, it couldn’t be helped, eh?”, since I’m working hard on my practice / drills, I try not to regret it. Of course, I will make reflections and corrections properly every time. “
* Plus alpha / ~ a little more than usual, something extra
Q: 最後に、 今からミュージシャンを目指す人達へメッセージを。
Q: Finally, a message to those who are aiming to be musicians from now.
「 変に大御所の方々のプレイをマネしようとしても、経験値とスキルが違いす ぎて無理なんですよ。音楽は芸術なので、人生経験がものを言います。一線で 活躍している人達と同じ技で勝負しようと思っても、どうしても若さが出てし まう。それであれば、一線で活躍している人が持っていないもの、若さを武器 にすべきです。 “若いね” という言葉って、悪い意味でもいい意未でも使われ ますよね。いい意味の若さを出せれば、 それが求められる現場はあるんです。 そして、そこが穴場でもある。若いうちにしかできないこと、今しかできない ことを一生懸命 やってもらいたいですね。“若さを武器にすればもっと仕事があるはずなのにな” と見ていて思う人、たく さんいますから」
“Strangely even if you manage to play the big name people, experience value and skills are too different, so it’s just impossible, you know. Since music is an art, so you say it’s a life experience. Even if you compete with someone of the same skill who has been active in the same line, youth will definitely come out. If that is the case, it’s something that the people who have been active in the (same) field don’t have, so youth should be a weapon. The word "Young ones,” can be used in a good or bad meaning. If we can show a good meaning of (the word) “young”, well, there is a scene where it is required. And that place is a good little known place. I want you to do what you can only do while you are young, try hard to do what you can do now. “You should have more jobs if you use youth as a weapon,” and because there are many people who see and think that way.“