[English Translation]
Yamazaru - “Aikotoba 2”
Interview & text by Tomoyuki Mori
Yamazaru has taken his original name again and turned over a new leaf! Based on his real-life experiences, what is the hidden message behind his “Love” and “Words”?
Yamazaru announced the “breakup” of his solo project LGMonkees last August and returned to his original artist name of Yamazaru to resume his own activities. “Kajika”, which was released in January of this year, took the #1 spot on the digital release charts. In February, he held “Aratamemashite Yamazaru Desu!! ‘Shumei Hirou’ Tour 2015” and is showing a lot more activity than during his LGM era.
“I originally performed as [Yamazaru]. When I debuted, they told me, ‘You’ll be LGMonkees from today’ (laughs). It feels like I just went back to my origins. The fans are like, ‘Welcome back!’, and it is not awkward at all. Actually, I have been able to do music vividly after returning as Yamazaru. It’s been 10 years since I started doing music, and I think I restarted at a good time.”
This second album, “Aikotoba 2”, reflects how good his current state is. The focus on live instruments and the organic touch are the most noticeable.
“I’ve done a lot of sequencing up until now, but there are more live instruments this time. I’ve made more musician friends lately. Mayuko-san of Aqua Timez plays keyboards, and I play shows with Daisuke as well. My musical outlook broadened as I play with different musicians.”
Of course, the core of this release is his lyrics that say, ‘180% real experience (laughs). You will know me as a human being if you listen to the lyrics’. “Sakurairo no Kioku… (meaning Cherry Blossom Colored Memory) “spells out the sad feelings of graduation season. “Shojikimono wa Baka wo Miru! (meaning An Honest Person Sees Foolery)” has a message that says, ‘Be a man who can do what he believes is right’. “Alcohol” is a party song that celebrates the joy of drinking. “4life” is his personal story of a how a young boy came into contact with music through [AIR JAM], the rock fes, and aimed to become a musician. I think it’s very rare to find an artist whose everyday life, his thoughts, outlook on life, and lyrics are so closely related to him or herself.
“I hung out with my friends and spent time with important people in my hometown (Aizuwakamatsu, Fukuoka). I’m putting what I feel there into my words. Having troubles or lending an ear to people also connect to my lyrics. As long as people have feelings, I will never struggle for material.”
Yamazaru’s trademark song, “3090~Ai no Uta~” has been rerecorded as an [Orchestra Version]
Originally, the song was meant as a ‘thank you’ to my father who raised me. But recently when I sing the song live, I think about how ‘I want to become a man like my father’. The audience were saying, ‘You singing the song gentler (than before)’”, and that's when I thought I want to rerecorded the song. I think that kind of natural progression is good too.”
Yamazaru’s <Aikotoba wa Namazaru!! Tour 2015 ~Natsu no Jin~> Japan tour will start at the end of July. Concerts are essential to how he treasures his connection with other people.
“I think that delivering songs eye-to-eye is the most important. I want to put on shows that make me one with the audience that supports me.”
