MASK Interview II
Since most people seemed to enjoy the last interview -- here's the next one!!~ (≧∇≦) ♪

Again --> Please be noted that I found this interview in a Thai magazine who had translated it from the original Japanese. I'm just translating it to English. Therefore, there might be several mistakes in translations and such. I'm sorry in advanced if there are any (> <)

Cracking MASK's Tamago Shell

Were all three songs on Tamago composed by Kazutake?
Kazutake: Yes, they were.

After listening to the first song Yasashii Uso, I discover that Jin-kun's voice is very sweet-sounding. How different from what I was expecting.
Jin: Is that so? (laughs)

I thought your voice would be more wild and mischievous.
Minami: But I think it's very pleasant to listen to.

Yes! His voice is very pleasant to hear.
Michiru: Jin-kun is a person who will clearly express whether he's feeling happy, angry, sad, or entertained. It's probably also expressed in his voice.
Jin: I'm aiming to become a vocalist who expresses his emotions by songs. Therefore, I will do my best!

Kazutake-kun, were you thinking of Jin-kun's voice while you were writing the music for Yasashii Uso?
Kazutake: No, I didn't really mean to. But somehow it just happened to come out that way. I suddenly thought that from the outside Jin might look like a happy and cheerful person, but inside he might be very sad and depressed.
Jin: It seems like I would be that kind of person.
Kazutake: So are you really that kind of person?
Jin: Oh no, I'm extremely depressed! (laughs) ...how bad.

Did Jin-kun write all the lyrics for the three songs?
Jin: Yes, all three songs.

Hmm...The song Yasashii Uso deals with a painful separation. Now that I think about it, it's a pretty depressing song.
Jin: The first time I heard the music I thought it would be something about separation, so I wrote lyrics accordingly. However, even though I write happier or love songs, I will write them depressing.

Oh, why is that?
Jin: Because I'm a depressed person.
Michiru: You answer so quickly.
Jin: Maybe it's because sad songs have more impacting emotions...

Is that because you want to become a vocalist who clearly expresses his emotions by songs?
Jin: Yes, therefore I shall be sad for a period of time.

Sana-san told us in last month's issue that in the second song, motometa yue ni nokotta mono, Minami's guitar* is so powerful that it could even be played very softly.
Sana: Yes, just like a machine gun. The drums also fit perfectly. It would be really nice if I could do that too.
Minami: I'm a person, not a machine gun!
Sana: Oh really? (laughs)
Minami: In that case, Takepon (Kazutake) would be an excellent target...hehheh

Is he right in your shooting range? (laughs)
Minami: Yes, but the way Sana holds his gun clumsily makes me ask 'Are you going to hold the gun with one hand?'. It looks so awkward and flimsy. (laughs)
Everyone: (laughs)

I could imagine that. But instead of a gun, shouldn't it be a bazooka?
Sana: That's right...but why exactly are we talking about this? (laughs) It's getting out of hand.

In last month's issue, Kazutake said that 'If you compose songs while you're stressed, the melody will have an 'Ah! I can't stand it anymore!!!' -- feeling.' Is that correct? Is it still like that now?
Minami: But if you don't compose during that time, then you wouldn't be able to get that feeling.

That's correct. (laughs)
Sana: From now on, I shall have to start becoming fit and work out to develop muscles.

In contrary, Minami, you haven't changed anything since you first joined MASK?
Minami: Generally, my overall style is still the same. However, in the past I've never had people telling me to do things like this and like that. Now that I'm in MASK, I have to do some things that are out of my abilities. It's a bit tiring, but very fun.

And...it seems like Minami has become a little chubbier.
Minami: Hmm, really?
Kazutake: He's not chubby!!

(surprised) You heard that? (laughs)
Kazutake: Of course. My ears are very fast when it comes to other peoples' business. (laughs)
Minami: Now that I think about it, from all the people I know, there aren't many people who I get to hang around with like this.

How does it feel to be together often?
Minami: It's very entertaining.

From the last issue again, is it really true that now since there are 5 members there has been a lot of discussion about music?
Michiru: Yes, that's right.
Kazutake: I've known Jin for barely half a year, but it feels like I've known him for one or two years already.
Michiru: While we are having a live, it's good to scream a little before you go on stage. It makes you very energetic and lively, right?**

The lyrics of motometa yue ni nokotta mono when compared to yasashii uso are a lot more lively, don't you think?
Jin: It's just like: from now on, the live stages are battlefields which we must fight upon.

Oh! So that's what it means. First I thought that MASK's songs would be like the opponent of today's society. But in reality, it's....?
Jin: It's wrong to think that way. Because what we want to present is the more peaceful part.

The lyrics are more like 'Everyone, let's have a lot of fun at the live!', right? Now let's talk about the third song, Sora. Like Minami has told us, people who have followed MASK since the beginning will be very surprised when they hear this song. (Minami said with a very excited tone)
Kazutake: To be honest, I am more comfortable with this style. At first, the music I wanted was a hard pop song with a little bit of rock mixed in. This is very different from what we’ve done before.

Even though Kazutake's solo project MASK: feat KAZUTAKE is obviously rock, it still is based on the pop you mentioned earlier?
Kazutake: Yes it is, that's why it might be a little tiring for Sana.

Why is that?
Kazutake: Sue-san (Michiru), is very comfortable with this style. So he'll be able to easily play along with the guitar. But for Sana, it's definitely going to be very tormenting, since it isn't really his style. I felt this since I was writing the music.
Sana: It was very painful. I kept thinking, 'I must practice and try to pull out the emotions more than usual.'

In the end, after a bit of adapting everything surely turned out well?
Kazutake: Everyone has their own style of playing guitars, singing, and playing drums right? That's why I don't want to complain and be fussy. But when it comes to writing the music, killing yourself by not letting others doing anything is not possible...Therefore, I had to be a little fussy to lessen Sana's willingness to die. (laughs)

Being fussy and fastidious isn't a good thing, but when it comes to a band, it can be a good thing right?
Michiru: In the past, Kazutake has been like a commander and everyone had to follow his orders. Now, he's more like a walking skeleton. But everyone is still trying their best~! Especially after we release new songs, we'll keep on fighting. This autumn we will release a new song, 'Jun-kun, Attack!"***
Jin: On the 3rd of March, be prepared for the new song as well as Hammer!!

Definitely! We'll come back to talk about that later, but please continue to talk about Sora little more. (laughs) What are the lyrics like?
Jin: The lyrics are easy to understand. It's written so that people can sing along easily.
Kazutake: The first and second songs sound like they are gradually advancing forwards. But in reality, it isn't so. The first song is more like: I'm not kidding! Something like that...

R-e-a-l-l-y-? (asks slowly)
Kazutake: Just briefly summarizing (laughs) but...
Jin: It's about two people who like each other, but have to go separate ways. Yasashii Uso and this song have similar storylines: they like each other, and are still moved even after they part.

All songs seem to be so faint-hearted? (laughs)
Jin: Because I'm that kind of person, that's why I'm depressed!

Other than that, Jin-kun's sweet voice in Yasashii Uso, Sana-kun's machine gun in Motometa yue ni nokotta mono, and Kazutake-kun's pickiness in Sora were all able to pull out all the 5 members' distinguishing characteristics and also make the atmosphere within the band seem a lot better. It seems like it's a result from changing the two band members.
Kazutake: That's right. There's no need to worry any longer. If we were to worry, I think we'd all be very stressed out. I'm very happy that we can feel like this while we're composing songs.
Sana: It also makes me feel energetic.
Minami: Everyone has been saying, 'It's good like this'. If other people have been saying that, then it means that it has definitely become better.

Is the reason behind the name Tamago, because the band is currently recording the single and it's about to give birth?
Michiru: Almost.
Kazutake: Since our talk last month, does this single seem to be our best so far?

Yes. But, the reason it's named Tamago must be because the band isn't confident yet! (laughs)
Minami: That's why we cannot call it perfectly done yet. The reason we named it Tamago, is because we want to say that after the egg has hatched, everything will be so much cooler! (tamago = egg)
Kazutake: That's why there's a Hammer used to crack the 'eggshell' open.
Minami: That's right.
Michiru: Almost.
Minami: In reality, it takes a long time for an egg to start cracking. This is because cracking the eggshell by itself is very important, everyone!
Kazutake: Are you Mister Suppressed or something? (laughs)
Minami: For this reason, the next song is named Hammer.
Jin: It will be released on March the 3rd.
Michiru: MASK will definitely continue developing.
Jin: To all our fans, please wait a while. You definitely won't be disappointed.
Kazutake: Yes, yes...I shall now go write the song immediately (laughs).

Oh no (laughs).
Jin: The song will be amazing when the Tamago cracks.
Kazutake: We will do our best.
Michiru: See you on the 4th of April at Shibya O-WEST, ok...
Jin: One man.
Kazutake: It's called Tokyo Jirenma.
Michiru: It flows so continuously (laughs)
Minami: Everyone is bound to have things bothering their minds. If these people are able to come to the live, forgetting about everything else, and have lots of fun. This would be very great.
Sana: Yes, I will do my best to start becoming fit and work out to develop muscles.

----------------- END -----------------

* Does Minami really play the guitar??? Or is it just a misprint in the magazine? (*w*")
** the columnist said that Michiru always used girly language which made it hard to decipher what Michiru really meant
*** attack = go for it!!/do your best!!