Translation: the GazettE music UP's [TOXIC] Interview 20.09.2011
As requested I have translated a recent interview about TOXIC. Since the preview songs have been out, it may be a good time to start looking into what this album is about. It's quite a serious interview, but very precious! Original article is here.
So enjoy. ^^
----------------------------
On October 5, new album will be released!
For this reason it has been requested, the purely high "poison". Indeed after 2 years and 3 months, this is the GazettE who has completed the long-awaited new work [TOXIC]. The "toxicity" which gives meaning to this title symbolizes the band itself.
RUKI (Vo) and Uruha (Gu) will reveal the true color of the "poison".
The ideal way for a self-confident work confined by the time close to "the moment" of our life time.
--- First of all, please let us hear your response about the album completion.
RUKI: In the state when all of the packaging is done, I can't feel relieved until it reaches everyone. But it's just the sensation of having entirely made something in accordance with your ideal thoughts. Somehow, perhaps I should say inside me there are ideals embodied in an ambiguous state.
Uruha: At the same time as being in accordance with our ideals, I think this has become an album which is easy to emphatize. Up to this point it seems that from the whole music scene, the heavy and hard music has been something whose position is in the corner, but for us now this is right in the centre, it feels good doing it, and it's also easy to express. Because we have no intention to deviate from our own "temperature", upon facing the tour after this, there must be completely no need to change the mode as well.
--- Upon facing this album, what are your specific ideals?
RUKI: Anyway [VORTEX] (the single released in 25 May 2011) was a hit inside me. At the end of last year, there was a series (of lives) towards the performance in Tokyo Dome. Actually leading to the single we made after Dome is over, once again we were able to confirm the things which exist right in the centre of us. From there when we started going towards the album, we have a strong feeling of wanting to only make it something like that: the things we call a self-confident work in life for us, even to the details. Everything was concerned, even about the sound quality, nature of the songs, order in which songs are played, such detailed matters are also included.
Uruha: Yes. As a result, "Speaking about the GazettE, it's this album" There is a hope that (someone) can assert something like that. In fact, because of something which have triggered [VORTEX], we got the confidence that we can fight in this direction. For the world, we want to establish that kind of personality: that this is us. There is something like a sense of duty in us that we have to push it forward in this album.
RUKI: So the success there is to make what you call the songs for the album in such a short time. We made it once we finished recording [REMEMBER THE URGE] (the single released in 31 August 2011). The songs which were like a miracle even for us were born one after another (laughs). Because we had a similar image as the previous album in our head, it was easy to make it.
Uruha: Because those are the songs we have just made very recently, for us as well they still have this freshness. In the end, this is not an album whose nature resembles all that's packaged during the time flow after the previous album [DIM]. Instead, it is something we squeezed in during the short period of time which seemed like a split second. For this reason, wouldn't a settlement be okay? Because we have understood since the beginning that in addition this would be an album with a lot of songs from our singles, thereby we wanted to avoid the image being unraveled, and we wanted the freshly made songs for the album to be something which have the same aura.
--- Concerning that aura, had something like a keyword been presented?
Uruha: No, there really hadn’t been any. There has never been anything like presenting it in words.
RUKI: Yes. In short, I think it's like everyone could see the same direction in the silence.
--- Isn’t that too cool!
RUKI: Hahaha! But in reality, it was like that.
Uruha: Because a band isn't a business or a corporation, even if we don't have meetings one by one, or write something out in a white board, it's something that we can confirm naturally as we draw what each other think from everyday conversations. However, I think wouldn't the band be over when it became hard for you to understand it at the stage where you're about to start making the album? The moment you fall into the situation when you can't understand why each of you create such songs.
--- To say it conversely, in the GazettE now there isn't anything like that kind of anxiety factor. And then, the vital part about the album title. Related to the implication of such word as "TOXIC", straightly there wouldn’t be any problem to interpret it as a "poisonous" nuance, would it?
RUKI: Yes. I have thought about this word since around the time of the previous single [VORTEX]. Perhaps I should say that it symbolizes the things we are facing. The word sounds nice, too. When we suggested it after the song selection meeting was over, there also wasn't any dissenting opinion, right?
Uruha: I think it's a suitable word for this album. It isn't only about our work, perhaps I should say that it symbolizes us in personal. It doesn't mean something like evil people gathering (laughs). In the end, anger, the problems one has to confront, such things always become a driving force. Naturally we have dissatisfaction that we have to confront. There are also times when one points at things like that and call them "poison". In the end, when there's no such thing one can't advance to the front. If it's only because of happiness, one can only advance a little. I think certainly there are parts in me which have grown because of poison.
RUKI: Right, right. Rather than something like a poisonous work, it was in that meaning. But of course, poison is expressed in the lyrics as well (laughs). Anyway to express this album in one word, it will be "poison".
The theory and rule of right we created ourselves, what they can change is also ourselves.
--- About the musical composition you created for this album, I want to ask about some of them, for example the co-existence of violent songs like [VENOMOUS SPIDER'S WEB] or [SLUDGY CULT], and songs which give a sense of dancing beat like [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] or [MY DEVIL ON THE BED]. I think something like that is (quite your) characteristic.
RUKI: Certainly. Naturally it became like that, didn't it. [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] was made in the beginning of the song making for the album. I think this song has become the basis.
Uruha: How should I put it, if looking from the direction, it's quite different. I think those songs seem to be different in the genre itself. However, this time we didn't follow and approach each and every song direction, instead we arranged it based on our own standards. Even if it's being called as the exact opposite direction, if we dared to apply the same methodology, we would be trapped. Of course it seems like the situation won't be understood in detail if we don't explain it, but there is product differentiation here and there. However, for the GazettE we don't investigate various genres thoroughly, it's more like we try to apply various genres to our own formula. I think that's a quite dangerous method though. But as the result, in general they fit, that's why it connected through the whole album and gave it a sense of unity.
--- To say it in metaphor, it's like even though there are various cuisines lining up, actually their tastes are based on the same broth.
Uruha: Yep. However all of those are delicious. (laughs). In the end I think that's what we discovered in VORTEX. That's why that single is like our "secret sauce". If we hadn't been able to do that, this album wouldn't have been finished, and because of that I think such way of producing in itself wouldn't have been possible.
--- There must be a part of you which is aware of such things like the way the lives after this should be, right? It feels like the sensation in [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] will be able to change the scenery of the audience seating.
RUKI: Yes. No matter what, aren't there such things like when the audience spirit tend to be somewhat monotonous. There we were conscious about the BPM which can allow them to ride in each and every way they wish. There are times when one can get excited only by fast songs, but if it's too fast no one will be able to keep up.
Uruha: I think clearly there are songs which seem to be different from our songs up until now. However, I think that's good. If it's ourselves who have made that sort of theories so far, I think it's okay if what those theories can change is also ourselves. For example we wouldn't mind even if there we were told, "The spirit in the old times is better." Nevertheless it would be somewhat like a training we have to persevere in. Anyway this is ourselves now, it's something which doesn't contradict our feelings now. Because this isn't like an album which was made to drag out the old songs.
--- Last year in the middle of the path going towards Tokyo Dome, you also recorded a single containing three songs to be released. However, miraculously there isn't any uncomfortable feeling even though the brand new songs carried a really different vector.
Uruha: Maybe it was a good luck. In fact, there have been such songs beforehand, and for this reason when we were concentrating for this album, it was something which have been made devotedly "present".
RUKI: The singles from last year, perhaps I should say that they have attacked the rule of right. While yearning for and basing on the roots, we were also aware of our public image. For the sake of doing it at Tokyo Dome, I thought it was necessary. But when we tried putting it into practice, I thought it turned out to be different.
Uruha: Yes. In the end, when we think to overturn something, the rule of right is useless. First of all, we have to overturn ourselves. In reality, I think as a band things such as the rule of right can change as time goes by, and as the result perhaps I should say that we have realized that [VORTEX] is the rule of right for us now,
RUKI: That's why, to say the truth, there were options to not put those songs into the album. Finally the decision to put the three songs in is because we wanted to avoid strangely creating a sense of detachment. But, now when I try to listen it like this, I think it's a good thing that we put them in, for us as well it has been an album we can listen to comfortably. Moreover, including the artwork, it can embody the "present" wonderfully.
--- This is the first-run limited edition producing with a large booklet, isn't it? It seems to be a quite elaborate producing.
RUKI: The images are influenced by each and every song's lyrics. We wanted to create a scenery in which one can't be inspired only by listening to the songs. Of course there will be rebellious spirit here, too, but perhaps I should say that the reality one thinks about is being blocked.
Uruha: I think the same. Now, for us [TOXIC] isn't about the world of images, it's reality. That's why in the tour which will start on October 18 as well, we want to do live which can transmit it. For that reason, it might turn out to be the opposite methodology than what we have done so far. We are also looking forward to how we will be from now on.
Note:
Okay, so this is first time translating a full interview article, even though it's not from a magazine. ^^
I worship RUKI's straightforward way of speaking and Uruha's err.. . wisdom. A lot of what he said here is really touching, no matter how his way of speaking has made my head spin. TOXIC sounds like an amazing album. Can't wait!
The usual rules still apply, don't repost anywhere, linking is very appreciated, and you're very welcome if you want to translate it to another language.
So enjoy. ^^
----------------------------
On October 5, new album will be released!
For this reason it has been requested, the purely high "poison". Indeed after 2 years and 3 months, this is the GazettE who has completed the long-awaited new work [TOXIC]. The "toxicity" which gives meaning to this title symbolizes the band itself.
RUKI (Vo) and Uruha (Gu) will reveal the true color of the "poison".
The ideal way for a self-confident work confined by the time close to "the moment" of our life time.
--- First of all, please let us hear your response about the album completion.
RUKI: In the state when all of the packaging is done, I can't feel relieved until it reaches everyone. But it's just the sensation of having entirely made something in accordance with your ideal thoughts. Somehow, perhaps I should say inside me there are ideals embodied in an ambiguous state.
Uruha: At the same time as being in accordance with our ideals, I think this has become an album which is easy to emphatize. Up to this point it seems that from the whole music scene, the heavy and hard music has been something whose position is in the corner, but for us now this is right in the centre, it feels good doing it, and it's also easy to express. Because we have no intention to deviate from our own "temperature", upon facing the tour after this, there must be completely no need to change the mode as well.
--- Upon facing this album, what are your specific ideals?
RUKI: Anyway [VORTEX] (the single released in 25 May 2011) was a hit inside me. At the end of last year, there was a series (of lives) towards the performance in Tokyo Dome. Actually leading to the single we made after Dome is over, once again we were able to confirm the things which exist right in the centre of us. From there when we started going towards the album, we have a strong feeling of wanting to only make it something like that: the things we call a self-confident work in life for us, even to the details. Everything was concerned, even about the sound quality, nature of the songs, order in which songs are played, such detailed matters are also included.
Uruha: Yes. As a result, "Speaking about the GazettE, it's this album" There is a hope that (someone) can assert something like that. In fact, because of something which have triggered [VORTEX], we got the confidence that we can fight in this direction. For the world, we want to establish that kind of personality: that this is us. There is something like a sense of duty in us that we have to push it forward in this album.
RUKI: So the success there is to make what you call the songs for the album in such a short time. We made it once we finished recording [REMEMBER THE URGE] (the single released in 31 August 2011). The songs which were like a miracle even for us were born one after another (laughs). Because we had a similar image as the previous album in our head, it was easy to make it.
Uruha: Because those are the songs we have just made very recently, for us as well they still have this freshness. In the end, this is not an album whose nature resembles all that's packaged during the time flow after the previous album [DIM]. Instead, it is something we squeezed in during the short period of time which seemed like a split second. For this reason, wouldn't a settlement be okay? Because we have understood since the beginning that in addition this would be an album with a lot of songs from our singles, thereby we wanted to avoid the image being unraveled, and we wanted the freshly made songs for the album to be something which have the same aura.
--- Concerning that aura, had something like a keyword been presented?
Uruha: No, there really hadn’t been any. There has never been anything like presenting it in words.
RUKI: Yes. In short, I think it's like everyone could see the same direction in the silence.
--- Isn’t that too cool!
RUKI: Hahaha! But in reality, it was like that.
Uruha: Because a band isn't a business or a corporation, even if we don't have meetings one by one, or write something out in a white board, it's something that we can confirm naturally as we draw what each other think from everyday conversations. However, I think wouldn't the band be over when it became hard for you to understand it at the stage where you're about to start making the album? The moment you fall into the situation when you can't understand why each of you create such songs.
--- To say it conversely, in the GazettE now there isn't anything like that kind of anxiety factor. And then, the vital part about the album title. Related to the implication of such word as "TOXIC", straightly there wouldn’t be any problem to interpret it as a "poisonous" nuance, would it?
RUKI: Yes. I have thought about this word since around the time of the previous single [VORTEX]. Perhaps I should say that it symbolizes the things we are facing. The word sounds nice, too. When we suggested it after the song selection meeting was over, there also wasn't any dissenting opinion, right?
Uruha: I think it's a suitable word for this album. It isn't only about our work, perhaps I should say that it symbolizes us in personal. It doesn't mean something like evil people gathering (laughs). In the end, anger, the problems one has to confront, such things always become a driving force. Naturally we have dissatisfaction that we have to confront. There are also times when one points at things like that and call them "poison". In the end, when there's no such thing one can't advance to the front. If it's only because of happiness, one can only advance a little. I think certainly there are parts in me which have grown because of poison.
RUKI: Right, right. Rather than something like a poisonous work, it was in that meaning. But of course, poison is expressed in the lyrics as well (laughs). Anyway to express this album in one word, it will be "poison".
The theory and rule of right we created ourselves, what they can change is also ourselves.
--- About the musical composition you created for this album, I want to ask about some of them, for example the co-existence of violent songs like [VENOMOUS SPIDER'S WEB] or [SLUDGY CULT], and songs which give a sense of dancing beat like [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] or [MY DEVIL ON THE BED]. I think something like that is (quite your) characteristic.
RUKI: Certainly. Naturally it became like that, didn't it. [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] was made in the beginning of the song making for the album. I think this song has become the basis.
Uruha: How should I put it, if looking from the direction, it's quite different. I think those songs seem to be different in the genre itself. However, this time we didn't follow and approach each and every song direction, instead we arranged it based on our own standards. Even if it's being called as the exact opposite direction, if we dared to apply the same methodology, we would be trapped. Of course it seems like the situation won't be understood in detail if we don't explain it, but there is product differentiation here and there. However, for the GazettE we don't investigate various genres thoroughly, it's more like we try to apply various genres to our own formula. I think that's a quite dangerous method though. But as the result, in general they fit, that's why it connected through the whole album and gave it a sense of unity.
--- To say it in metaphor, it's like even though there are various cuisines lining up, actually their tastes are based on the same broth.
Uruha: Yep. However all of those are delicious. (laughs). In the end I think that's what we discovered in VORTEX. That's why that single is like our "secret sauce". If we hadn't been able to do that, this album wouldn't have been finished, and because of that I think such way of producing in itself wouldn't have been possible.
--- There must be a part of you which is aware of such things like the way the lives after this should be, right? It feels like the sensation in [THE SUICIDE CIRCUS] will be able to change the scenery of the audience seating.
RUKI: Yes. No matter what, aren't there such things like when the audience spirit tend to be somewhat monotonous. There we were conscious about the BPM which can allow them to ride in each and every way they wish. There are times when one can get excited only by fast songs, but if it's too fast no one will be able to keep up.
Uruha: I think clearly there are songs which seem to be different from our songs up until now. However, I think that's good. If it's ourselves who have made that sort of theories so far, I think it's okay if what those theories can change is also ourselves. For example we wouldn't mind even if there we were told, "The spirit in the old times is better." Nevertheless it would be somewhat like a training we have to persevere in. Anyway this is ourselves now, it's something which doesn't contradict our feelings now. Because this isn't like an album which was made to drag out the old songs.
--- Last year in the middle of the path going towards Tokyo Dome, you also recorded a single containing three songs to be released. However, miraculously there isn't any uncomfortable feeling even though the brand new songs carried a really different vector.
Uruha: Maybe it was a good luck. In fact, there have been such songs beforehand, and for this reason when we were concentrating for this album, it was something which have been made devotedly "present".
RUKI: The singles from last year, perhaps I should say that they have attacked the rule of right. While yearning for and basing on the roots, we were also aware of our public image. For the sake of doing it at Tokyo Dome, I thought it was necessary. But when we tried putting it into practice, I thought it turned out to be different.
Uruha: Yes. In the end, when we think to overturn something, the rule of right is useless. First of all, we have to overturn ourselves. In reality, I think as a band things such as the rule of right can change as time goes by, and as the result perhaps I should say that we have realized that [VORTEX] is the rule of right for us now,
RUKI: That's why, to say the truth, there were options to not put those songs into the album. Finally the decision to put the three songs in is because we wanted to avoid strangely creating a sense of detachment. But, now when I try to listen it like this, I think it's a good thing that we put them in, for us as well it has been an album we can listen to comfortably. Moreover, including the artwork, it can embody the "present" wonderfully.
--- This is the first-run limited edition producing with a large booklet, isn't it? It seems to be a quite elaborate producing.
RUKI: The images are influenced by each and every song's lyrics. We wanted to create a scenery in which one can't be inspired only by listening to the songs. Of course there will be rebellious spirit here, too, but perhaps I should say that the reality one thinks about is being blocked.
Uruha: I think the same. Now, for us [TOXIC] isn't about the world of images, it's reality. That's why in the tour which will start on October 18 as well, we want to do live which can transmit it. For that reason, it might turn out to be the opposite methodology than what we have done so far. We are also looking forward to how we will be from now on.
Note:
Okay, so this is first time translating a full interview article, even though it's not from a magazine. ^^
I worship RUKI's straightforward way of speaking and Uruha's err.. . wisdom. A lot of what he said here is really touching, no matter how his way of speaking has made my head spin. TOXIC sounds like an amazing album. Can't wait!
The usual rules still apply, don't repost anywhere, linking is very appreciated, and you're very welcome if you want to translate it to another language.