>>103442622>And this time, there are two songs that you were directly involved in creating. First, let's talk about "Juumanokudo" (十万億土), the third track, for which you wrote and composed the music.I started with the idea of creating a dark, cool-sounding song. With help from Numa-san, who did the arrangement, I worked hard to create the melody first. The key point is the modulation in the chorus. After I finished the melody, I just really felt like, "I want to modulate here!" (laughs). People knowledgeable in music might say something like, "You don't modulate in a place like that!" so I was a little scared, but I trusted that Numa-san and the people around me would correct me if it was truly strange. I'm still not used to composing, and you could say I'm an amateur, but I decided to go for it and do what I wanted to try. I'm so happy that I was able to turn my ideas into a finished product.
>What kind of image did you have in mind for the lyrics?The lyrics took a lot of time. Since I'm an angel, I often sing songs that fit the general image of an angel. But this time, I wanted to step away from that and try a song with a grim reaper-like vibe (laughs). I wanted it to be from the perspective of a slightly "bad" person—not a real grim reaper—calling out from the afterlife, "Come on over here." I wanted a dark, powerful atmosphere overall, so I started writing with a focus on using difficult words and, importantly, rhyming. That was incredibly difficult. It ended up taking a huge amount of time.
>What kind of image did you have in mind for the lyrics?The lyrics took a lot of time. Since I'm an angel, I often sing songs that fit the general image of an angel. But this time, I wanted to step away from that and try a song with a grim reaper-like vibe (laughs). I wanted it to be from the perspective of a slightly "bad" person—not a real grim reaper—calling out from the afterlife, "Come on over here." I wanted a dark, powerful atmosphere overall, so I started writing with a focus on using difficult words and, importantly, rhyming. That was incredibly difficult. It ended up taking a huge amount of time.
>The lyrics are definitely full of rhymes.It's not like I grew up listening to rap, and I'm not an expert on it, either. But for this song, I had this strange obsession with rhyming (laughs).
>The beginning of the song is even a rap. Maybe you were just in that mode.That's right. I suddenly got the urge to create and sing a rap. It was a personal challenge for me.
>What is the meaning behind the title, "Juumanokudo"?I decided on the title at the very end. "Juumanokudo" (100,000 Pure Lands) refers to the space between the real world and the Pure Land, or the Pure Land itself. For this song, it's about the place that the grim reaper-like bad person is inviting you to—that place is their version of the Pure Land, their "Juumandokudo." They're luring you with a malicious intent (laughs), but I chose to call it a paradise anyway. That's the meaning I put into it.
>Since you created the song yourself, did you feel a clear direction for the vocal expressions and nuances?Yes. Since I sang it out loud many times while I was creating it, I was already used to singing it. I had a clear idea of the direction in my head, and during the recording, it was easier for me to see what additional expressions I wanted to add. I was able to record the rap part with my own specific style as well.
