[English Translation]
What if three unique characters play one harmony? The irreplaceable voice and melodies catch your ear all the more because they are so simple, leaving delicate feelings vacillating between them.
Interview & text by Yasuo Murao
Hec & Pascal is a bit of a quirky trio: Shunji Iwai, the international award-winning film director, Kotone Sheena, an actor/singer-songwriter, and Mako Kuwabara, a composer and arranger. These three are from different generations and have different characters, but they met, just like fate had attracted them.
“At first, Kuwabara-san was helping me to arrange my songs. Then, I thought I could do something together with her because she is also a composer, and asked her if she would be interested. After that, I had a chance to listen to Sheena-san’s demo tape and felt ‘This is awesome!’ So I dragged her into the loop.” (Iwai)
About Iwai’s offer, “I didn’t take it seriously at first and thought ‘If it’s just for fun, find somebody else!’” says Kuwabara with a grin. But she recalls “We managed to make a powerful jump-off” with the participation of Sheena. Hec & Pascal’s feature is that all three of them are composers, but they have only one singer. Sheena’s voice became the key element of this trio.
“I usually try not to practice too much and try to fully understand the lyrics and melodies instead. The deeper I understand, the stronger I can communicate when I sing. Also, I sing as if I’m acting, from the beginning to the end, with the feel that each song is a story.” (Sheena)
With regards to Sheena’s charm as a singer, Kuwabara comments, “I like that she devotes herself to each song, and her voice and color of her eyes change, affected by the lyrics.” But since she is also an actor, her ‘loyalty to expression’ is clearly reflected in her vocals. Having her voice as the main character, the world of Hec & Pascal unfolds in the first mini album “Bokura (meaning Us).” The album includes tracks produced jointly by the three as well as songs written individually by each member: “Kaze ga Fuiteiru (meaning The Wind is Blowing)” (lyrics/music by Shunji Iwai) was the trio’s first group work, “YUME (meaning DREAM)” (lyrics/music by Mako Kuwabara) was written “to bury the sad memories from my nightmares,” and “Tomei Ningen (meaning Invisible Man)” (lyrics/music by Kotone Sheena) is “A song about lonely feelings of the main character who becomes invisible because he doesn’t want to see anybody.” Apparently, Iwai showed his harsh disapproval when they made “Bokura.”
“I wanted to make a song that portrays a realistic moment at dusk of a young person who vaguely feels anxious about the future, so I didn’t give approval until it was precisely expressed. As I had a particular image from the beginning, I imagine it was tough for Kuwabara-san.” (Iwai)
“I’m used to being disapproved, but at that time, I was so pissed off and dumped the data into the trash can (laughs.) Probably I was thinking too much in the beginning, so I deserved the disapproval. After that, I managed to do it easily. Of course, I made the previous version in all seriousness too, so I still can sing that version, though.” (Kuwabara)
Simple sounds of piano and ukulele, and extraordinary vocals spin Hec & Pascal’s music where delicate feelings vacillate in beautiful melodies. “What really counts for each of us should be solo, so I’d like to enjoy the chemistry namely ‘collaboration’ when doing Hec & Pascal,” says Iwai. In this album, the trio performs harmonies, rather than their characters shooting sparks. I asked them ‘What if you run a shop together?’
“A curry shop. Because I like Indian Curry.” (Iwai)
“A furniture store. Iwai-san designs the furniture, and Mako-chan and I paint. When the furniture is complete, we start singing and playing... Sweet.” (Sheena)
“I imagine all of us would neglect our works, so I prefer not to do it (laughs.)” (Kuwabara)
As you see, they all have different opinions. Music seems to be the best choice for the trio, after all.
