Reol "Follow Your Heart & Music" Interview - Part 2

"You use Rapping when you want people to think"

--The message you put into "Utena" isn't just to encourage people to think positive, and take a chance even when they're uncertain. While moving forward, you're also posing questions about progress. What kind of feelings do you want the listener to receive?

Not just in this song, I often use Rap when I want the listener to think. It's like you're shouting your thoughts and feelings through a loudspeaker. Of course, I'd like it to be enjoyed as music, so I want to make the Sabi very melodious. However, when I come up with allot of things I want to say quickly, then I'll use rap. It's the same with "Utena". I really want you to listen and understand the rap parts. Now that I think about it, in a previous Interview with Natalie, I said it's intentional for rapping to not be understood (laughs).

(*A link is posted to this Interview)

--If anything doesn't come across, you'd like them to read the lyrics, right?

Yes. It's not just about understanding the work, it's about actively absorbing it if you choose to. Not just how the music touches you, but if you think about what the writer is saying, then that's the best scenario. That's the message I put in "Utena". Not to accept the work in front of you as a good thing, but to question "is it really good?". Evolution and development are said to be "good", but is that really true? It would be nice if you could think about it from that point of view.

--In a sense, the song wants to challenge the listener, right?

That's right. On top of that, "Utena" is a very challenging song for me as well. I didn't really try to make it catchy at first. I ended up creating something that's different from what you'd expect from Reol. From the perspective of someone's who's followed me since the beginning, this melody isn't familiar.

--The composition of "Utena" is unique, isn't it. There's no element of Sabi (*Low vocal tone). Instead, the EDM drop takes it's place.

If I'm collaborating with dancers, then I want the drop to come in when the music is rising, so it was a bit more challenging for me. For someone who says "I like Reol's music", I think it will sound fresh. For those who aren't familiar with EDM, I'd like to them to listen to "Utena".

--Not just for this song, but how much do you take into account the listeners when you're writing a song?

I try not to think about that too much. Everyone has a favorite song. They'll often say "I like songs like 'X'", but if you write something similar to that, then they'll say it's an inferior version of the original song. Because my new drawer can only be opened by me, I have no choice but to express myself in my own way.

(*Reol really does say drawer)

"Whether you get angry or not..."

--The theme for this song is "Challenge", so what would you like to challenge yourself to do in the future?

I want to do a guerrilla live. I've thought about doing a live while riding on a Decoration Truck. For example, if you start in the center of town, the customers will follow you, so I don't think the police will get angry (laughs). If they label wouldn't let me go through with it at the last minute, I'd probably get a little angry. I'd spontaneously shout to everyone that I want to make music that's entertaining and surprising.

(*Decoration Trucks or "Dekotora" are elaborately decorated semi-trucks. They were popularized in the 1970's by the movie "Torakku Yarō" which followed a pair of truck drivers running from the law)

--You want to do something that no one else has done.

That's right. I often talk to the live team about using Projection Mapping, so it looks like I'm doing a live at a castle tower (laughs). I want to excite myself and challenge what other Artists are doing. While I'm excited, I want to continue doing things that will also excite the listeners.

(*Projection Mapping, similar to video mapping and spatial augmented reality, is a projection technology used to turn objects, often irregularly shaped, into a display surface for video projection)

https://natalie.mu/music/pp/fyhm02_reol/page/2

Last Idol - 6th Single Interview with Tokyo Popline - Part 2

"Communication in the entire group deepens in 2019"

--Please tell us about the new single "Otona Survivor" that will be released on April 17th. What was your impression when you first hear it?

Midori: We can sell Last Idol with this. I got the impression that it's the first step on the path to being able to sell.

--What part did you like the best?

Midori: It wasn't so much an impression. Even though it sounds like a cool song, we say "Hey, hey".

It's a little different, isn't it? Last Idol is a little different. For example, the costumes for "Bandwagon" are cute with white high socks. It's also interesting when we sing "I like it, I like it allot" and say "I Like it" so many times in a row. Something has changed a little bit with this. There's nothing like Last Idol. If this song can spread, then Last Idol can become famous little by little, so I felt that I had to sell this.

--How about you Abe-san?

Abe: I thought it was cool when I listened to it, and I could see hope just as Midori said. I felt confident I could handle this song, and decided I should do my best from now on. 52 people are dancing in this song, so it will absolutely be cool. I think it's a song that will catch on/take off if allot of people know about it, so I want to do my best.

--When did you find out you were going to be the Center?

Abe: I wasn't told properly about the Center position. When everyone was assigned their positions, I was in the middle, so I was like "Really? I'm the Center?" (laughs). It's a little weird, but it takes the form of a pyramid. I take the lead as we move forward. I felt allot of responsibility, so I had to re-focus in order to lead the performance.

(*Where Abe says "re-focus" she used the phrase "body tightens" or "self tightening". It's sort of like re-committing yourself to a job. You've just been given a promotion, and now you're reaffirming your commitment to doing your best from this point moving forward)

--The "Art of Walking" was adopted in the choreography. Was this difficult?

Midori: It was very difficult. There's usually only positions in the front, but this time we took a new approach and added "depth". For example, up to this point, there was no intention to line up two rows. This time, we have enough depth to do it properly. I had to memorize both, but I don't like thinking like a graph, so I couldn't get it, and was panicking at that beginning.

Moe: Because the formation moves so much, and there are also 52 people, it took some time just to remember the positions. Once that was sorted out, I thought it would be okay.

--Please tell me about the coupling songs. What kind of song is the 1st Gen.'s "If Someone's Dream Comes True"?

Abe: "Otona Survivor" is in a cool style, but this song is more in a cute style with a refreshing feeling. It has a high sound. It's the highest we've done up to this point, so the recording process was very difficult.

--What kind of song is the 2nd Gen.'s "Lollipop"?

Misaka: "Lollipop" is a pretty song just like the title says. It's a sudden change from the 2nd Gen.'s song "Love Has No Weapons". It's a love song, and has phrases like "first love" and "unrequited love", so it's very cute. Moe: Right before the Sabi drops, there's a solo part where I get to sing by myself for the first time. The voices of the girls have many characteristics, so I think you will enjoy it.

(*I haven't heard the song, but I think Moe means that each member gets a solo part so you can hear each of their voices. I can't be sure until I hear it though)

--2018 was a year in which the unity of each Unit was strengthened by battles over the title song. So far in 2019, we've seen the "Art of Walking", the recording of this single, and there's been an increase in activities which call for the unity of the entire group. Have there been any changes in the group?

Midori: Everyone's getting along so well, that I think it was good that we stopped the individual Units for now.

--Is the distance between the 1st and 2nd Gen. also been reduced?

Moe: It's definitely smaller. I used to feel like I was on a cloud that was so far away that I couldn't get close. We originally watched the show on TV, so there's still the image that "The 1st Gen. members are amazing". Because all 52 of us were able to work together as one group on "Otona Survivor" without competition, we had an opportunity to get to know each other and make friends.

(*Where Moe says "Because all 52 of us were able to work together as one group on 'Otona Survivor'", she actually says they worked in a "Flat shape". I believe what she means is a "Flat Organization" which is a business term. I'm probably overthinking this, but there might be a bit more to what she's saying. 

Last Idol Family is structured sort of like a Division Organization:

A division organization is an organizational structure divided by related business units, such as business types, sales regions, and product types. It is often found in companies with multiple businesses. Each business has the necessary functions, and each has the right to make decisions, allowing business units to make flexible and quick decisions.

Another advantage is that competition by division leads to increased employee motivation. However, since one function is divided into multiple divisions, there is also the disadvantage that it is difficult to increase the expertise of each function. Another problem is that each department has its own goals, which makes it difficult for management to control the direction of the company.

A Flat Organization is much simpler:

A flat organization refers to an organization structure with few or no levels of management between management and staff level employees. The flat organization supervises employees less while promoting their increased involvement in the decision-making process.

Not only is Last Idol Family divided into Units, but there is obviously a hierarchy. You could break it up into a pyramid like this from top to bottom. Even within Generations, there is a hierarchy with LaLuce and the 2nd Gen's main group at the top of their respective blocks.

/  1st Generation \

/         LaLuce         \

/GT - CCR - SS - LC\

/     2nd Generation      \

/         Main Group          \

/               Unders               \

I think Moe is saying that that there is a clear boundary between the 1st and 2nd Gen., so by working as one group, those walls have come down and everyone is accessible)

--After looking at the 1st Gen., what impression do you get about the 2nd Gen.?

Misaka: Young (laughs). We're really young, so many of the girls need help when they get confused.

That's not the case with me. I'm more of an introvert. It's also very interesting when we take a picture.

For example, Takahashi Minori will say "The picture's nice, isn't it. Okay, I'm going. Let's go. 1, 2, 3"

she's like her own self shutter (laughs). If you hear a voice that sounds like a Cicada, then that would be Suto Moe (laughs). There's allot of high tension girls with a school like feeling, so I think Last Idol has become brighter.

(*Self shutter is the Japanese term for the timer on a camera. I went with "Introverted" but Misaka specifically says "locked in her shell" which is close enough)

Midori: When we held the 1st Anniversary concert at Tokyo Diver City, many of the 2nd Gen. members had no experience as Idols, so some of the girls didn't know how to rehearse well. Even though I thought they were "a bit of hindrance" in such a narrow space, I didn't say it. On the 2nd and 3rd day, I noticed they started doing better. They even properly organized their luggage, which I thought was cute. Also, because we all rehearsed together while being sweaty, when the 2nd Gen. members saw us like that, they said "we respect you", so I was very glad.

Abe: I've been an Idol for a long time, so when the girls who've never been Idols joined, I felt nostalgic about my early days, and remembered why I decided to become an Idol in the first place.

--Abe-san, you're a shy person, but what do you think about the 2nd Gen. members?

Abe: Yes. Hashimoto Momoka and I often use Line. If we're at an event and staying in the same Hotel, she'll say "let's go back together", and we'll walk back together. Oishi Natsumi from LaLuce is very friendly with the 2nd Gen., so you when you are with Natsumi-chan, you can interact with the 2nd Gen. (laughs).

https://tokyopopline.com/archives/114593

Last Idol - 6th Single Interview with Tokyo Popline - Part 1

Last Idol have a lively discussion when the 1st and 2nd Gen meet.

What do they want to do next after the "Walking Art"?

On March 23rd and 24th, a collective performance referred to as "Walking Art", which took 3 months of practice, will be presented at the B.LEAGUE held in Kawasaki City's Tororo Arena with 52 members. The title song of this single is sung by all 52 members, and the element of "Walking Art" was incorporated into the choreography becoming a work that cannot be imitated (duplicated) by any other group.

At this time, we spoke with 5 members of Last Idol, Abe Nanami (LaLuce), Nagatsuki Midori (LaLuce/Chou Cream Rockets), Majima Wakana (Someday Somewhere), and Shinoda Moe and Hata Misaka (2nd Gen) about the core theme of the new single.

"Now that you've accomplished this with all 52 members, what would you like to do next in the fashion of the 'Walking Art'?"

--Thank you for your hard work on the production of "Walking Art". I watched the performance on the 1st day at the venue, and it was a huge success. Did you cry after the performance?

Everyone: (nodding)

Midori: I started crying when I was alone even before it started... (laughs). I couldn't help it. The tears didn't stop until the moment right before the performance started. Once again, I was getting overwhelming because I wanted it to be successful. After it was over, I cried myself to death (laughs).

--What did you talk about after it was over?

Wakana: I couldn't talk at all (laughs). I cried so much that I couldn't get any words out and I was out of breath.

--What did your Supervisor say to you?

Midori: "All of you were amazing!". In the beginning, he said "What are you supposed to be?". However, the day before yesterday, he started saying "Amazing!" and that we were "courageous and really great", so I cried again (laughs).

--How was the performance on the 2nd day?

Wakana: Instead of crying, the 2nd day was filled with a sense of accomplishment, like "we did it right!".

Moe: I was really nervous on the 1st day, and couldn't focus on the audience or what was going on around me. However, on the 2nd day, I was able to relax and give a better presentation. I could smile during the performance of "Otona Survivor", and was able to express my true self.

--"Otona Survivor" was unveiled for the first time.

Abe: There are allot of times when we don't have allot of time to practice before we go out to perform. This time, we had allot of practice time. After we worked things out as best as we could, we prepared for the performance. Allot of customers were there beforehand, and they gave us shouts of encouragement, so I was relieved that we had a good performance.

--I think that the "Walking Art" was a challenge that Last Idol could undertake only after becoming 52 members. Now that you're a group of 52, is there anything else you want to do with this formation?

Midori: Yes! A Sports Day! (Everyone raises there hands)

Moe: Oh, I want to do that!

Midori: After this, I know who has good reflexes and who doesn't. I also have bad reflexes, so it would be more like a competition between the staff, so I'd rather see a contest between the members with good reflexes.

--You want to have a Sport Day, but you don't want to participate in the competition? (laughs)

Midori: Yes. Just let me roll the big balls. Otherwise, leave me out of it (laughs).

(*the big balls refer to a competition where several members roll a giant ball, about as tall as they are, to one end of a goal and then back again to their team. The object is for all the members of the team to roll the ball before their opponents)

--What's makes reflexes so important in this?

Midori: It's everything.

Moe: That's not it!

Midori: Well then (considering Abe and Wakana), these 4 might not be any any good (laughs).

(to Misaka) What do you think?

Misaka: How should I judge it? I'd say we're all average.

Midori: Wow, that's great!

Wakana: An average assessment is great!

Moe: Really?

Midori: (to Abe) What can you do?

Abe: I can jump the hurdles.

Moe: Are you fast?

Abe: Not really...

Midori: Well, then she's going to skip the relay (laughs). We'll do our best in the obstacle course and the ball rolling.

Everyone: (Laughs)

--Is there anything else you'd like to do?

Wakana: I'd like to do something like a stage play or a drama. We all want to shoot a drama. That's the path for an Idol isn't it, to shoot a drama with everyone? We all want to work on 1 thing together, and to overcome another obstacle with everyone, so I think I'd like to do something like this again.

Abe: I want to draw a picture.

The other members: A picture?

--Would you all draw 1 picture? Would you draw one after the other?

Abe: One by one...I want to paint a landscape (laughs).

Wakana: Something like that?! (laughs).

--That's interesting (laughs). On the other hand, even though there are more things you can do with this formation, you have to show your individual personality among 52 members. That must have been especially difficult for the 2nd Gen. What do you think?

Moe: I think that the members are not only friends, but also rivals, so I need to show my strength and personality within this formation. The chance to show what you can do is limited here, so I have to figure out on my own the best way to do that.

--Moe, what kind of character would you like to have in the 2nd Gen.?

Moe: It would be good if I expressed my opinions more. Many members in the 2nd Gen. haven't done anything in the entertainment industry until now. Because we're aware of this difference, we should talk express ourselves more so we can improve.

--What about you Misaka?

Misaka: Even though I host a variety program on Showroom called "Last Idol's 2nd Gen. Evening Distribution", I often have trouble understanding my character. I'm the oldest among the 2nd Gen. members, but I don't know what position I should have or what I should look for.

Moe: But I think that's a strong character.

Midori: I think so too.

Misaka: Really? What kind of character?

Midori: Fluffy.

Everyone: (Laughs)

(*Midori says "Fuwa Fuwa". The literal translation is "Fluffy", but there's a bit more to it. It can mean something that is soft and fluffy, like an animal or clothing, but it can also refer to the lightness of a cake or marshmallows)

Misaka: I think it's just the way I talk (laughs)

Midori: The way you dress too. Very fluffy. I'd like to copy that style in the Spring.

Misaka: Oh, I'm glad! I don't really wear clothes that are fluffy. I just post about them on SNS.

https://tokyopopline.com/archives/114593