Love is something that should make a person happy.
Interview with Machi in SHOXX (January 2002).
Interview by: Junko Arasawa, Photography by: Masayuki Kusakari(?)
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--Soon it will be a year since you've left LAREINE.

machi: I hit a wall! of life... While being active in LAREINE, all of our hearts began to slowly become more mature. And then it (his activity in LAREINE--Niji) all became sort of vague, or maybe you could say empty... like, for what reason am I doing music? That worry began to consume me.

--And so you went back to a point before the music.

machi: Yes, that's right. I thought that I needed a period of time to think about all the things that I've done up until this point. I had begun to have doubts concerning the existance of the person underneath the artist who had come to be the drummer of the band LAREINE... because I had that worry, I thought if I didn't settle that...*.

--Do have have the feeling that you've been restored from that state (of doubt)?

machi: Certainly, since I've released this CD.

--Then, this last year has really been a year of dark days...

machi: Sprititually I definitely tossed and turned. But, when I thought of what I can do, the first thing that came to me was being able to convey feelings to others through music... and because no matter how much I worried & struggled, it wasn't getting me anywhere... so, I thought I would try to do what I could now. I began to think positively and hurriedly decided to release a CD.

--Concerning the maxi single "L'horloge," besides the vocalist, everything was managed by you. Did you ever consider letting any other members in?

machi: Not at all. As for this CD, I think it's an extremely impolite (work), because it's very much a CD for myself. For me, it is healing when others listen to it. Also, since I've been part of a 4 member boys' band *laughs* up until now, I wanted to do something completely different. So using a female vocalist, I thought I would make it putting everything inside me into the CD.

--Could you tell us about how you met the guest vocalist?

machi: Ryoko Sato is involved in a band called Princess Deep Purple. I went to one of their live concerts once by chance. Listening to that singing voice before my eyes, my heart was really moved and I cried. I became aware of the true power of song then, and I thought since then that when I become musically active, it would be really great to have this person sing for me. Vocalists all play the game with with their own originality, and searching for one to suit oneself is really difficult. However, Ryoko Sato is so excellent, I thought that she would definitely be able to skillfully speak for my feelings.

--Just reading the lyrics, they really express the worries that we've just heard from you.

machi: I'm happy if they communicate them even a little bit. I also had the opinion (from others), "machi, you should just sing it" though. *laughs*

--You didn't feel like singing at all?

machi: Of course, I do feel that I want to sing. However this time, because the feelings are so fierce, I put up a filter. And so, in aiming to make this CD, my existance as a single troubled person took precedence. My being a drummer will come later. Working on this CD, I clearly made it with the one thing that was most important to me. A beautiful melody is one of my biggest principles, and so I thought if at least I have that I don't need anything else.

--And so, what is your solo project aiming at?

machi: Chanton L'amour is a name used during the days of LAREINE too... that was just at the time when I first put forth the word "Romance Kakumei" (Romance Revolution). Through Chanton L'amour, I'd like to confirm the romance revolution that I believe and, chanton l'amour literally translates to the meaning "love song," so I'd like to aim for the "love" part of that. I don't know if I can make this kind of song, but I'd like to become to kind of person who makes songs that make others happy. Love is something that should be able to make a person happy, and I think I'd like to write lyrics and songs in order to do just that.

--Does this mean that we'll see a change in the form of your activities?

machi: On the contrary, I'd like to proceed carefully.** I'm still, as a musician, as an artist, and as a person, growing. Until circumstances come where I'll be able to work with other artists, I'll hold myself up. If I meet someone who would carry out the same ideals as I, I think I'd really like to work with that person. For now, I'll just believe that fate will probably pull us together.

What will unfold next?

machi: The next song has already been written... it's actually a second part (to L'horloge--Niji). Since I coughed up the dirty and weak parts inside of me this time (in L'horloge--Niji), I think that a work that will clean all of that is necessary. This time I'd like to create a work to return the love of all the fans who listened to the first work. Also, I'm advocating the "esthetic romanticist," where beauty=all love, and would like to do an activity which radically declares that. I've made the fans wait a really long time, but now I'd like to create works which can make them happy.


*He means to say that because he had worries concerning his existance as a person, he wanted to settle/solve that before he continued his musical career. It's not so clear up above... (^^;)
**Literally, he says I'd like to become careful, but that sounds really silly in english and what he means is that he'd like to proceed cautiously.

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