"What kind of image do you get when you look at Kaneko Rie"
--I heard Kaneko's opinion of the new members during their self introduction, but I'd like to ask what kind of impression the new members got from Kaneko.
Arima: When an Artist stands on stage, I think the best part of them comes out. When Rie is standing on stage, She's super cool. However, even off stage, Rie's normal state is also cool.
Karasawa: I can't do many things without someone's help, so Rie is always helping me, like setting my hair.
Kaneko: I'd rather take care of it myself. I'm like an overattentive Grandma (laughs).
Ikeda: Rie will say even my negative aspects are good and she won't hesitate to listen when I'm troubled. She gives of the feeling of a Sister you can depend on. Lately, we've been together everyday, so I can see how down to earth she is. I can depend on her, so from this point on, I want to give her my support.
"No matter the structure, there were people who cared"
--As soon as the new members joined, The Live Tour in the Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo areas,
"Ladybaby 'Tour 2018 Sadame'" was organized.
Kaneko: When I sang the songs from the previous Era, I thought "this feels completely different". I don't know what fans think of singing the old songs with new members. It's strange that I was feeling so nostalgic. In the past, whether the group consisted of 3 people or 2 people, I thought it would work. However, I started worrying "what if I didn't feel like I could continue as 4 members". But when the 4 of us performed live, the feeling that "this is completely different" was born. It left a lasting impression. I got a strong feeling that "it can work with these 4 people". Up til this point, Ladybaby was special, but I think it's getting better.
(*This paragraph was a little difficult. The 3 new members speak very plainly and are easy to understand, but Kaneko tends to be very philosophical when she speaks, so it's not always easy to figure out what she's getting at. My original translation of the previous paragraph was a little confusing so I restructured it and now I think it gets her point across better)
--So that was your mental state.
Kaneko: I think the way new line up expresses itself is different. More emotional and intense parts can come out on stage. We've stored up allot of emotions up to this point and the performances have made use of these. I've noticed that the type of live performance has matured.
--How have the live performances been for you, Ikeda?
Ikeda: I was very nervous when we performed in Osaka and Nagoya. Of course, there were some doubts and criticism when the new members were decided. The first Live was really scary. I had been taking lessons and got frustrated because I wasn't getting it. Up till now, when I had Modeled, I never had any fear when I went out on stage, but I started to think about what kind of expressions the fans would have, and what the mood would be like waiting for the show to start, so I was about to cry before the concert started and my legs were trembling.
However, when I stood on stage, everyone was waiting with a smile and when we started the performance, I got excited and I had so much fun. I thought "so this is what it's like singing and dancing at a Ladybaby Live stage". More than the feeling of an achievement, I just kept think about how much fun it was. I'm thankful to the fans of Ladybaby for coming, and I'm really glad I decided to joining the group.
Arima: I had to memorize more than 12 songs in about 3 weeks, which was really difficult. A few times I thought "I won't go tomorrow!" However, everyone was kind to me, especially Rie who was polite when teaching me the dances. Without that, I would have been garbage.
--I did't think you would be so hard on yourself (laughs).
Arima: At the Osaka One Man I was thinking "If I forget the dance or the lyrics, what should I do?", so I had allot of anxiety about whether I could do my performance properly. But as I did more Lives, the choreography became ingrained in my body. I also got a good feeling doing the Death Voice at the venues, so by the time of the final performance in Tokyo, I felt really comfortable.
Karasawa: I was used to Singing and Dancing, but at the first performance in Osaka, I was uneasy and my voice had a hard time coming out. However, in Nagoya, it was a mixture of anxiety and enjoyment, and when we got to Tokyo, it was more like 80% fun. I gradually became able to enjoy performing, and felt like "I'm ready for today's live, yahoo!".
--Did the feeling of the Live itself change?
Kaneko: In the past, I felt like the Stage and the Floor were separate. Now, the instant I stand on Stage, I feel like the boundaries have disappeared. At that moment, the light illuminates the face of the fans and they become visible, and it's a new feeling.
--Previously, you had said "I want to see who will win if Ladybaby collides with the fans", so this is a big change.
Kaneko: I can feel the atmosphere from the fans at the venue. It's not something born naturally, and I feel like I've gotten used to it. Only at a Live when Listeners are in front of you can you feel like they are enjoying the music. At the Osaka One Man, I thought "no matter what shape Ladybaby might take, people will accept it", and I was overwhelmed with emotion.
(*I don't know what the Interview is referring to when they brought up who would win between Ladybaby and the fans. I'm guessing it's from a previous interview. I'm not that familiar with the group's history)
"Because of these 4 people, it can be sung"
--And on May 30th, the 1st Single under the new system "Hoshino Nai Sora" will be released.
Kaneko: Since this Single involved people who are connected to the 3 member Era, it's a work that feels very special. Up till now, Hoshino Nai Sora is a song that you wouldn't find Ladybaby releasing, and I think it's a song with music and lyrics that can only be sung by these 4 people.
Arima: Because the lyrics work so well with the Scream and Death Voice, it feels really good to sing.
--What about the Coupling Songs, "Bit Me" and "Biri Biri Money feat. Ladybeard"?
Kaneko: Bite Me is a song I could write only because I'm continuing with Ladybaby and I understand Omori Seiko.
Arima: Each members personality comes out, and the style of the lyrics is like the way Rie writes on SNS. I got the feeling Omori was watching over Rie.
Kaneko: Biri Biri Money feat. Ladybeard is produced by Asano Takashi who also made "Nippon Manju".
Arima: The lyrics are like JPop, but they're expressed through screaming. The difference in feeling is interesting.
Kaneko: Through this Single, I'm really looking forward to what things we can break down in the future.
Karasawa: All 3 songs have a different tone, and I think the lyrics are looking forward to the image Ladybaby will take from this point on.
Ikeda: The first time I heard our voices over top of the music, I was touched. During my first recording session, I was confused about allot of things, but accepted that I was just starting out. After listening positively to the music that had been assembled for the Single, I was really looking forward to tackling these 3 songs.
"For the group to be loved by all Earthlings"
--In addition to this Single release event, the national tour "Tour 2018 -Encounter-Revenge-" will
start on 6/10.
Kaneko: It's the Lives that really makes us feel close. It expresses the feeling that "This is Ladybaby right now". I want to create a Live that can express the feeling that "This is Ladybaby after all" and "This is Ladbaby now" both at the same time.
(*I think what Kaneko means is that the group can remain familiar to fans, while at the same time, become something new)
Ikeda: I want to go to places I've never been to before, and make each show as fun as possible, without letting anyone down.
Karasawa: I think there are lots of people who've never seen us perform live, so I'd be happy if I could express the charm of this Ladybaby.
Arima: Since the performance anxiety is a little lighter after finishing the Osaka One Man, I want to make a live that takes us to the next level.
--In conclusion, what kind of things do you want to show with these 4 people?
Kaneko: I'd would be happy if we could transcend the genre and structure/boundaries of Idols and Artists. The bigger a group gets, the more you see them instead of the genre. I want to become like One OK Rock, BiSH, and X Japan. I would like to do this moving forward with Ladybaby.
Ikeda: Obviously, we're a group, but each person has a strong personality, so I would like to make good use of that.
Arima: I want the 4 of us to become 1 when we stand on stage. I really want to make a Live that leaves a strong memory of the 4 of us standing on stage.
Karasawa: I don't want to be caught up in Genre or Race. I want to be loved by all Earthlings (laughs).
(From L to R: Arima Emiri, Ikeda Nana, Kaneko Rie, & Karasawa Fuka)
