VGD Interview with STEREOPONY at Sakura-Con 2012


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STEREOPONY has returned to the United States for the fourth year in a row and for their third anime convention performance. The last two years STEREOPONY performed at anime conventions on the east coast of the United States. This year they finally visited the west coast — Sakura-Con 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Accompanying STEREOPONY was MAO, STEREOPONY’s support guitarist for their More! More!! More!!! Tour.

STEREOPONY made several appearances throughout the convention:

  • Opening Ceremonies (Click to view video.)
  • Concert
  • Autograph Panel #1
  • Q&A Panel
  • Autograph Panel #2
  • Photo Session
  • Signed Poster Raffle (Click to view video.)

VERY GOOD DAYS had the privilege of interviewing STEREOPONY for the second year in a row, given shortly after the STEREOPONY Q&A panel on Saturday, April 7, 2012.


Very Good Days! Interview with STEREOPONY

Saturday, April 7, 2012 — Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, USA


VGD
Q: What did you think about yesterday’s performance?

SHIHO
A: So exciting. Very funky. (Is my English right?)

A: So exciting. Very funky. (合ってます?)


AIMI
A: We had a good time. It was really fun.

A: We had a good time. すごく楽しかったです。


NOHANA
A: It was really fun. I want to do it again.

A: 楽しかったので、もう一度やりたいです。


VGD
Q: How is performing at an anime convention different than performing at live houses or other more traditional venues?

SHIHO
A: Of course the size is different… They are both really fun.

A: まあ、でも、大きさは、もちろん違いますから… どちらもすごく楽しいんですけど。


AIMI
A: Although it depends on the capacity, audiences are generally close to us in live houses. In big venues, such as here, they are far from us, but we can meet so many people. Both are important for us.

A: ライブハウスだと、キャパにもよるけど、お客さんが目の前にいることが多くて、イベントでこういう大きいホールだと、お客さんは離れてるけど、たくさんの人たちに出会えるきっかけになるんで、どっちも大切な場所です。


VGD
Q: I’m sure seeing fans in anime cosplay might be one of the more interesting aspects of performing at an anime convention. Are there any other notable performances throughout your career that you would consider memorable?

AIMI
A: Did he ask about what’s most surprising besides cos-play? But cos-play is most surprising. (laugh)

A: コスプレ以外でですか? でも、コスプレが一番ビックリするよね (笑)


VGD
Q: It’s very exciting to see STEREOPONY venture out to America to perform here in Seattle and three live houses located in California. What are your thoughts on the upcoming U.S. West Coast tour?

SHIHO
A: Hmm… We’re thinking much about how we can interact with the audiences while performing, what we can do especially because it’s a live house.

A: そうですね。お客さんとどう絡めるかっていうのを、すごく考えてますね。演奏しながら、ライブハウスならでは、ていうのを。


VGD
Q: What preparation went into this tour?

AIMI
Preparation for coming to US? Does it answer the question if I say we rehearsed in the studio? Umm preparation…

アメリカに来るための準備ですか?日本でスタジオに入ったりしたことですか?準備する。。。


SHIHO
I think it’s ok? He asked about what we did in Japan, right?

そういうことじゃない?日本でどういうことをしてきたかってことですよね?


VGD
Yes.

Yes.


SHIHO
A: We have been touring in Japan. While on the tour, we tried to make time to rehearse for the U.S. tour.

A: 日本でもツアー中だったので、ツアーの合間を見ながら、アメリカのツアー用のリハーサルをしたりしてました。


VGD
Q: I’m sure you’re aware by now you have many fans all over the world. Do you like performing overseas?

SHIHO
A: I love it very much.

A: 大好きです。


AIMI
A: I love it very much. I want to live in the United States.

A: 大好き。アメリカに住みたい。


VGD
Q: Is there a penultimate gig you would like to perform at, such as Budokan or Tokyo Dome?

AIMI
A: Well… It’s not just because of the size. I want to hold a concert in Budokan, because I promised with someone to hold a concert there. I want to fulfill the promise one day.

A: そうですね。。。 大きさていうものだけじゃなくて、ある人と一緒に、いつか武道館でライブしたいねって、約束をしたので、その約束はいつか守りたい。武道館でライブしたいなって、思っています。


VGD
Q: We have noticed STEREOPONY has performed shows recently with a support guitarist. What has the experience been like with the additional support that differed from how it was before? Why was the addition made to your live shows?

AIMI
A: We have wanted to show more expression in our music, so we added a support guitar. And I sometimes sing with a hand mic. She [MAO] can make our sounds more powerful, and it’s so fun to play with her.

A: やっぱりギターの音を増やしたり、私がハンドマイクになったり、いろいろ表現したいことが増えて、もう一人ギターをサポートしてもらっているので、すごく音にもリアル感が出て、楽しいです、演ってて。


VGD
Q: Your latest album More! More!! More!!! is a fantastic addition to an already strong discography. Can you tell us about the song writing and the recording that went into the new album?

SHIHO
A: Before we recorded the album, we had many serious discussions about it and studied it together.

A: このアルバムを制作する前に、みんなで合宿して、すごい打ち合わせをしました。


VGD
Q: Is there a particular song or songs that you’re especially proud of on this latest album?

NOHANA
(coughs) I can’t stop coughing…

SHIHO
A: I appreciate very much the completion of “Blowin’ in the wind.” We were supported by two guitarists when we made it. One of them is a member of serial TV drama, a Japanese rock band we respect very much. I think it has changed my life the most.

A: 私は、Blowin’in the wind て曲ができたことには、ホントにすごく感謝してますね。この曲は、すごく尊敬している、serial TV drama ていう日本のロックバンドのギターの方と、同じギターの方二人で曲を作ってもらったりとか、したんですけど。私の人生を変えてくれた一曲と言ってもいいぐらいの物ですね。


VGD
Q: More! More!! More!!! begins with Introduction, a track written in English. Why did you write this message, and why did you choose to record it in English?

NOHANA
(NOHANA still cannot stop coughing and is escorted to another room)

AIMI
A: So, I made it with my message “Here we go! Let’s have fun! More and more! More! More!! More!!!” to get people excited to listen to the album.

A: そうですね、アルバムに入って行く、曲に入って行く前に、聴いてる人たちに、このアルバムが今から始まるよって、もっと楽しんでねっていう、もっともっと、モアモアモアていうそういうメッセージを込めて、作りました。


VGD
Q: More! More!! More!!! includes responses to “Hitohira no Hanabira” and “Sweet Blue.” Is there a story being told between those two songs and their counter parts “Hana Hiraku Oka” and “Amaryllis” respectively.

AIMI
A: Yeah, “Hana Hiraku Oka” is the answer song for “Hitohira no Hanabira.” The main character of “Hitohira no Hanabira” is a boy, so I wrote it from the point of view of a boy, and “Hana Hiraku Oka” was written from the point of view of a girl.
“Sweet Blue” was written before our debut. It was written about my idea when I spoke with adults from the urban city. Then “Amaryllis” was written about what I felt after I move to an urban city.

A: そうですね、ハナヒラクオカは、ヒトヒラのハナビラのアンサーソングなんですけども、ヒトヒラのハナビラは、僕って主人公が男の子で、男性目線で書いていて、ハナヒラクは、女性目線で書いたアンサーソングになっています。
スウィート・ブルーは、メジャーデビューする前に書いた曲なんですけど、それを周りに、デビューするときに、都会の大人と接して、思うことを書いたんですけども、アマリリスは、都会に出てきて思う気持ちを書いた曲になってます。


VGD
Q: During last year’s interview in Boston, we were told there weren’t any plans on releasing your pre-debut songs. Can you tell us what encouraged you to re-record “Super Girl” and update its lyrcs?

AIMI
A: The theme of this album is “more (do), more (play), more…”, so we wanted to record this unreleased song and give our fans more than we ever gave them before.

A: 今回のアルバムは、More! More!! More!!!っていう、今まで出してなかった曲も、もっともっともっと、演っちゃおうよっていうのがテーマのアルバムだったので、出し惜しみをしないで、このアルバムに入れようと思いました。


VGD
Q: Naturally, we have to ask, if “Super Girl” was released, is there hope for a future release of “Sayonara no Kisetsu?”

SHIHO
A: (laugh)

A: (笑)


AIMI
A: Well, I can’t say right now… (laugh)

A: そうですね、今は何とも言えないですね。(笑)


VGD
Q: It was recently announced that you will be releasing your 11th single “stand by me” on May 30th. Can you tell us about this new song and its accompanying track “Okami?”

AIMI
A: Recently, we, STEREOPONY, really want to express the encouraging heart. “stand by me” shows strong will with appreciation for people who empower us and stand by us. “Okami” is a cover song by serial TV drama. I think it shows a new side of STEREOPONY.

A: スタンドバイミーは、今すごくステレオポニーが表現したいものが、強くなりたいていう気持ちだったりていうのがあるので、いつもそばにいてくれて、自分を強くしてくれる人たちへの気持ちだったり、そういうステレオポニーの強い意思が込められている曲になっています。あと、オオカミは、serial TV drama のカバーをやってみたので、すごく新しいステレオポニーの一面が出せた曲になったなと思います。


VGD
Q: In your tenth single Arigatou you included an acoustic version of your fifth single “Tsukiakari no Michishirube.” Why did you choose “Tsukiakari no Michishirube” as an acoustic track and is it difficult or fun to re-envision and rearrange an earlier track into an acoustic version?

AIMI
A: ”Arigatou” shows our emotional feelings. It’s an important song for us. So, we were troubled in choosing a coupling song. Even though we tried to make another new song, it couldn’t express our feelings correctly. “Tsukiakari no Michishirube” is a very important song for us. It has a message — “Go ahead believing ourselves, even if it’s very hard” — and we wanted to play it again for ourselves. Then we recorded an acoustic version as the coupling song of “Arigatou.”

A: ありがとうっていう曲が、私たちにとってとてもリアルな気持ちが込められた曲だったので、その大切な一枚のカップリングの曲っていうのは、すごく悩んで、本当は他の曲を作ってみたりもしたんですけども、今イチしっくりこなくて、ツキアカリのミチシルベっていう曲は、私たちにとってもすごく大切な曲で、自分たちへの、「自分の中に答えがあるから、それでも進んで行こうって、どんなに辛くても進んで行こう」っていう歌なので、自分たちへもまた、アコースティックバージョンにして自分たち自身へも、もう一回歌いたいなっていう気持ちがあったので、アコースティックバージョンにして、カップリングに収録しました。


NOHANA
(NOHANA returns to the room)

VGD
Q: 2011 seemed to be an emotional year for STEREOPONY, considering the earthquake and remembering Nini through Tengoku Kara no Yell and “Arigatou.” How are these events going to shape STEREOPONY in the future?

AIMI
A: Yeah, “Arigatou”… It was completed at last with much support while “A Yell from Heaven” was being made. In the last year we made the song and the disaster occurred in japan, so I have thought about my life and the others’ lives frequently. Although humans are born, they’ll reach the end of their life one day. It made me think about such ideas, and about what I can do while I’m alive. Then I realized that I have to sing, and more aggressively, to keep working hard. I have to do what I can do now. So, it became clear what kind of music I should make.

A: そうですね。やっぱり、ありがとうていう曲、天国からのエールていう映画で、すごくたくさんの人に支えてもらって、やっとできた曲が、ありがとうっていう曲で、そしてその、ありがとうを作ったり、日本で震災があったりって、すごく自分の命だったり、周りの人の命だったり、考えることが多くなったので、それでもやっぱり、いつか人間って生まれてきた、いつか終わりもあるていうことを、考えるきっかけにもなったりして、その間に、生きてる間に自分が何ができるんだろうって思って、すごく考えたんですけれども、やっぱり一生懸命歌い続けることに意味があるんだなって思って、一生懸命歌い続けて行きたいなて思って、これからも頑張って行こうと思ったし、その、今できることをやろう、てすごく一生懸命思うようになったので、すごく、作る曲もはっきりしてきたなていうふうに、思います。


VGD
Q: Thank you so much once again for taking some time to speak with us. Would you say a final message for our members and your fans around the world?

AIMI
A: Although we’re in Japan, so many fans wait for us abroad. The support helps us so much, and we want to perform around the world. Music can connect people without words. It is very appreciated. Please encourage us, because we want to meet many fans with our music.

A: 日本にいても、こうやって待っててくれている人たちがいるっていうのが、すごく支えになって、これからも世界でライブしていきたいなって、思っているので、音楽で、言葉だけじゃなくて、音楽でつながれているのが、すごくうれしいので、これからもステレオポニーの音楽を通して、たくさんの人と出会いたいと思っているので、これからもステレオポニーの応援をよろしくお願いします。


VGD
Thank you.

ありがとうございます。

STEREOPONY Thank you.

ありがとうございます。

Download the interview audio file.


Concert Pictures

View more pictures…


Buy More! More!! More!!!

Purchase More! More!! More!!! from Sony Music.
Purchase More! More!! More!!! from CD Japan.
Purchase More! More!! More!!! from iTunes.

Very Good Days would like to thank STEREOPONY and their staff (with special thanks to Ryu Takahashi and Nadeshiko Nakahara), Sony Music Japan, Jessica Sullivan, and Sakura-Con for making this Interview happen.

We would also like to thank Dylan Rhoads (Nintendo of America Inc.) for his translation and additional assistance for this interview.

Images courtesy of Eddie Lai (Elsuke)
Interview by Zachary Kopp (arcluna), Roderic Suarez (rsniteblaze), Eddie Lai (Elsuke), and Richard Pangilinan (Drahc)
Additional translation by Hirokazu Tanaka (Hirotana)