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Challenging Herself to a Live-Action Drama Theme Song!! Her Goal: Kasasu!?
--Your newest release 'mitsu' is the theme song for the live action drama series 'RAY'. Was there anything particular that you had to keep in mind, given that this was live-action?
Okui: Most anime theme songs start with a burst of energy and vigor, but since this was a live-action drama, I imagined something more suspenseful like 'Kasasu.' (laugh) I wanted to make the song with a medium tempo, something that would linger in your mind after you finished watching the drama.
[Note: 'Kasasu' is short for 'Kayoubi Sasupensu Gekijou,' or 'Tuesday Suspense Theatre'. It's a popular weekly television series in Japan that showcases scary/suspenseful stories.]
--What are your thoughts on the series 'RAY' itself??
Okui: While reading the original comic, I thought, 'With love, a person can become afraid because they are in love.' The idea of stepping into a world of gods, a world that humans must not trespass upon, isn't transferred from the original work to the drama series at all except in one part. But when I wrote the song itself, I made it with the original work in mind.
--What kind of song is the second recorded track, 'Paradise Lost'?
Okui: This one has no tie-in, but since it was written while I was caught up in the world of 'RAY', it's secretly the image song for the series. (laugh)
--The third track is the unplugged version of the theme song for 'Tales of Eternia', titled 'Sora ni Kakeru Hashi'.
Okui: The 'Tales' series itself was very popular, and this song was also well-known, so I've always wanted to make an acoustic version. I've had the honor of being good friends with Kageyama Hironobu-san for a while, and so when we went out for a drink or something, I told him, 'Please play something sometime, OK?' So this time we got to record him on the guitar and chorus.
--How was it recording with Kageyama-san?
Okui: Since we were doing an acoustic version, I wanted to explore breathing and having a sense of atmosphere, so with Kageyama-san and Watanabe Itaru-san, who was in charge of arrangement, the three of us challenged ourselves to record the whole thing in one try. Rather than focusing on how well we sang, I think we managed to treasure the feeling of that moment and capture the warmth of it in the song. If you listen to it with headphones, I think you can almost feel the three of us performing just in front of you.
--You wrote the lyrics and the music for 'mitsu' and 'Sora ni Kakeru Hashi.' Which do you write first, the lyrics or the music?
Okui: As a rule, I do the music first. I write the music and have it arranged, and then I use that to write the lyrics. There are times, though, that the lyrics and music come to me at the same time. Those songs are the ones that really stick with me.
--You have an album out for sale in February. What kind of album will it turn out to be?
Okui: This has always been the case, but I create my albums centered on songs that I think I would like to hear myself. I also include songs that are rockish and fast-paced, with a quick tempo, that are good for my live concerts. The title 'God Speed' has as its theme, 'Praying for everyone's success,' and I think I'll be happy if I can put out songs that each have a different color to them.
--Please tell us what your hopes are for your next concert.
Okui: This time, I will remember all my lyrics perfectly. (laugh) It's always my intent to remember them but they also seem to fly out of my head, so I'll remember them for sure this time!
--Last year, you appeared on-stage wearing a helmet with a CCD camera attached to it. Do you have anything interesting planned this year?
Okui: I haven't thought about it yet, but in any case, I want to make the concert memorable for the audience. Something where they can go home with a smile and say, 'That was fun.'
--A final word to your fans.
Okui: 'mitsu' is a mature, more adult song. Recently I've been active as a producer, but I hope you will continue to support me as a singer as well.
Text: Kasai Kiriya (Editor)
Translation: Teresa Ko (http://www.okui-masami.net/)
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