#thank you so much mob psycho 100!! i hope we see more of these beloved characters some day in the future

[botanautical]

Thank you, Mob Psycho 100!

[spacetalin]

Interview with Crystal Cola

Hi, Crystal Cola! Thanks for agreeing to speak with us about your music and other stuff! Tell us please, how was your project created?

I first started this project back in late 2015 just for fun. I didn’t plan on releasing anything at that time and just wanted to challenge myself to create music influenced by my favorite artists and video games. After I recorded a few songs, I thought to release it for feedback and people seemed to really like it, so I decided to take it further and eventually made my first album, Ocean Breeze.

https://youtu.be/2irEYetjQe4

When someone’s talking about original city pop music, it’s mainly about Japan during the economic bubble of the second half of the 1980s and j-pop artists of that time. In your opinion, does the modern city pop have these elements which were in 1980`s music? Can modern city pop be regarded as a sort of vaporwave music?

If there was any kind of influence economically on the music from the bubble era, I don’t think the economy of today is the same as it was back then since we are in more of a recession now. I think it could be that we are looking back at a time of great prosperity and want to re-create the feeling of that era by making music that sounds like the kind from that time period. I suppose you can say it’s got elements of the vaporwave pastiche, but that also feels like it takes away from some of the truly solid efforts of musicians making new city pop.

What is the source of your creativity? In your opinion, where’s the source of 80`s Japanese pop uniqueness and why it`s the huge source of future funk remixes?

I think like most of my peers, we like this style of music because it was popular when we were young and listening to it and writing music like this feels very nostalgic. In Japan there was city pop but in the west, there was similar music like yacht rock, jazz fusion and even music in anime, which was becoming popular and mainstream in the west, so we were all exposed to this style in one way or another. Future funk uses these songs as a source because they have this nostalgic quality and much city pop is disco influenced which lends itself to be remixed easily because of the 4/4 time signature.

Tell us your secret: how do you manage to achieve such atmospheric sounds like from 80`s retro anime or TV shows? What is the world created in your music?

The best way to achieve the sounds from the 80s is to use technology from that time period. Synthesizers and VST’s based on synthesizers from that time period are what I use. The Korg M1 is used a lot in my songs, along with the D50 and DX7. I spent a while researching equipment set ups by city pop musicians. I also watched a lot of Youtube videos of them playing live to see playing techniques and instrument rigs. Analyzing songs was very helpful to me when it came to constructing my own music. I grew up with retro anime, so it remains a big influence on my music and some of that songwriting comes naturally.

If talking about something closely connected with Japan, it`s impossible not to say about anime. Do you think old anime is better than modern? Name us your three most beloved titles!

A lot of my favourite anime is older, but there is a lot of great new anime’s now! One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100 are excellent new anime, and my friend introduced me to an anime called Overlord which I really like. My top 3 anime however are Kimagure Orange Road, Ranma 1/2, and FLCL. I’ve heard really good things about Heart Cocktail and I want to watch that next!

Imagine that you got in 1986 in Tokyo`s center, say, through time travel. Your next steps?

Hmm, after a period of panic, probably I’d try to figure out how to get to the Air Records HQ and try to work with my favourite artists from the time period, as unlikely as that would be, haha.

Have you ever performed anywhere with your music? If not, do you have any plans to do so? What would you prefer: to play on 100% Electronicon fest or some small concert area somewhere in Japan?

I have not performed live yet, though I am not opposed to it. I would have to work out the logistics of performing it live, I’m not sure how I’d do that. I think I’d rather start with a small concert area before moving on to a bigger festival event.

I noticed that on Bandcamp fan page you have many chillwave releases and not a single one city pop album. Do you plan to close your project in future and move to chillwave?

A lot of my friends in the online music scene are in the chillwave genre. I was introduced to them after meeting my friend A.L.I.S.O.N. We both enjoyed each other’s music and began working together on some things which led us to other artists who we all talk with on the chillsynth community discord group. While I am a part of this group, I wouldn’t describe my style as chillwave. I’ve tried making music in this style, such as the song Zenith from my EP Orion, but I didn’t feel it was very successful, my style is too city pop at heart, haha. No, I don’t think I will stop my city pop style. In fact, my next album is looking to be even more city pop than my previous releases.

https://soundcloud.com/crystalcola/zenith

So the last question is: your project is anonymous and you asked me to not talk about your person and geographic location. Do you think the anonymity of an artist is an important part of the music aesthetics or it`s something else?

I dont think it’s important to the aesthetic as there has been many artists who are not anonymous and do quite well with fans. For me, I just like having my music as the centre of attention rather than myself, so I try to maintain a distance from it if I can.

Thanks a lot for this talk! Hope this meeting is not the last one. Arigato!

Thank you for the questions and thank you for the love and support! I really appreciate everyone who listens to my music! You are all the reason why I continue to release music! どうもありがとうございました！

______________________

CRYSTAL COLA BANDCAMP: crystalcola.bandcamp.com/

TWITTER: twitter.com/Crystal_Cola

YOUTUBE:www.youtube.com/channel/UCwFCCP_wvhV4Svq5BYEzsBg

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/crystal_cola_/

SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.com/crystalcola

[mikumanogi-blog]

2017-11-24 “What happened today” Kubo Shiori blog #29 [ENG]

Hello everyone, thank you for your continuous hard work today. I’m Nogizaka46’s 3rd generation member, 1st year high school student, 16-year-old Kubo Shiori. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

This year, I’ve finally been able to be reunited with my Uniqlo fleece. Thank you for keeping me warm today. I'll be in your care again this year.

 Without any further delay!

 November 19th, AGESTOCK, thank you very much!!

 I was surprised by the distance between us and the fans! It was really close wasn’t it! I’m so glad that I could see each and every person’s face〜

There was also a second and third floor. Thank you to those people as well. It was easier to spot the penlights from the people on the upper floors. I thought many times “AH! There’s a Kubo fan over there! I’m so glad!”

 Here’s the setlist!

Boku no Shoudou (full)

Seifuku no Mannequin

Dank Schoen

MC

Mirai no Kotae

Girls Rule

Hadashide Summer

Omoide First

MC

Inochi was Utsukushii

Oide Shampoo

Sanbanme no Kaze (Full)

 There were 10 different songs!! There were a lot of dance numbers and so I was sweating a lot. Recently, I’ve been feelings strongly about working more on my dance skills.

It’s all thanks to Boku no Shoudou. I want to change my atmosphere depending on the song. I want the atmosphere to change so much that you say, “What? Kubo-chan? Where?!!” (I don’t want you to lose sight of me though…) For this reason, I need to work hard to be the first person you spot no matter where I am.

I felt once again that ‘Live concerts are a lot fun’. Thank you so very much.

 Oh yeah, that’s right.

 Two days ago, I lost the remote control to my air conditioner. It was super cold. I haven’t seen it in 3 days… Honestly, where did it go, I said while looking for it. I found it a short while ago. I felt so relieved. “Hold up? I’ve read this somewhere before…” I though as a different kind of coldness came over me. (Please check out the 3rd generation blog updated on the 5th of November 2017)

(TL Note: apparently Yamashita Mizuki also lost the remote to her air conditioner. Link to the original Japanese blog is here https://blog.nogizaka46.com/third/2017/11/041937.php)

The other day I went to buy some secondhand clothing〜However when I arrived at the store, I wanted to shop at it seems that they were closed. I guess there are days like that aren’t there.

 I bought some really cute western clothing. I’m thinking about wearing them at the handshake events. I’m excited. Thanks to the day that Miona-san invited me to go out I’ve become more active. Hehehe. Miona-san’s photobook is released today! I haven’t seen it yet, but I really want to (´･_･`) and yet, on the day we were at Tokyo Dome, in the car she said, “I bought you a birthday present from when I was in the USA!!”

(´；ω；`)

I had to use a different emoji than my usual one. I was honestly so happy. Thank you very much. I’m looking forward to looking at “Kimi Rashisa”!! Congratulations on getting a photobook published!!

 Wakatsuki-san’s “Palette”

Shinuchi-san’s “Doko ni Iruno?”

Yoda-chan’s “Hinata no Ondo”

Matsumura-san’s “Igaitteiuka, Mae kara kawaii to Omotteta”

 These are all my beloved people’s precious books. Congratulations!!!!!

 A little while ago I cut my hair a little bit. Only just a little. I was so happy and excited. Thank you to everyone for reading such trivial information.

Beam.

I’ll be waiting for the request at the handshake event.

 I met with Himeka-san the other day. On the Radirer day. There’s was a lot I want to tell her, and I don’t think I forget to tell her anything. I’ve also been writing a lot of letters. I haven’t sent them yet though. Himeka-san. Congratulations on your graduation. Please continue to look after me! Himeka-san’s existence in my life will always continue to grow bigger and bigger. I love you.

 Please let me make some announcements.

·         November 30th BUBKA-sama

Riria, Mizuki and I talked together. I love interviews. I’m not very good at talking to people but when I do interviews, my feelings seem to pour out of my mouth without effort. However, there’s always so much I want to say, the feelings I want to convey are so strong and sometimes I’m unable to speak properly… I, I really want to honestly speak my feelings. I want to convey them to everyone.

My dream is a long interview. I also love photoshoots, but I like interviews to the same degree, and they are as precious to me as photoshoots. I’m thankful to always be able to talk about various things with everyone. And thank you to everyone that reads my magazines.

·         Nogizaka Bunko

Ogawa Yoko’s ‘Brahman’s burial’ I was surprised that I was able to be on the cover of a book. I am super happy. I never thought I would ever be this happy. I hope that I can reflect upon this happiness with everyone. Please make sure to check out the book.

 On top of that! The stream has finally started.

·         Nogizaka Rhythm Festival

Did everyone download it yet? I’ve played it many times already! I’ve challenged “Yubi Bouenkyou” I very happy that I cleared the song, thank you very much!! But it seems that I’m not good at it… I know the difficulties of rhythm games (´･_･`) but it’s still fun!!! Even though it’s the same song, once you get used to the map you can play while watching the live concert in the background and you can do it many times. It’s very fun so please make sure to check it out everyone!

 This suddenly came to my mind. Once January comes around it’ll be time for a fresh start to the year. Many things will begin again! Things like that will happen, but I don’t feel like I’ll be doing that in 2018. I wrote this before but it’s important to act when the opportunity arises, but I want to be someone that acts before it arrives. After all, I don’t want to lose to myself. I’ve recently finally come to accept this fact. I hate losing. I don’t think the fact that I hate losing is a bad thing. I first have to accept that part of myself.

2018. Heading toward next year, my dream, I’m carefully re-thinking my goals. The time to start is now.

Blanklyyyy.

I’ve come to realize that we have a lot of things in common, like the way we think, we’ve been talking about various things.

Congratulations on being cast in the drama version of Mob Psycho 100!!!! I haven’t read the source material but before the first episode airs, I think I want to read it ☺︎

Since the time we did Principle, I’ve loved Yoda’s acting ability. She’s so cool. When Yoda is acting, she’s like a hero. I’m looking forward to her drama　☺︎　

This may be sudden but recently I feel like I’ve been forgetful. I forget things and have to go back home for them and when I finally find it, I realize that I forgot something else… but I can’t remember where it is… I’ve been having this problem constantly recently (´･_･`) I need to pull myself together.

 Oh.

Huh, in the blink of an eye it’s already December… Why does the year go by so fast? It really does feel like a blink of an eye. There’s still a month isn’t there!!

How will you spend this time? What will you do? It’s not an exaggeration to say that the month hangs on those decisions. I don’t want to waste even a second of it.

 I’m clumsy. I’ll say it many times. I’m clumsy. Therefore, I can’t try and be like everyone else. I can’t be impatient when I see someone else do it, I can’t compare myself to someone else. I need to do my best in my own way. A clumsy way of doing my best. I’d be glad if you were to go easy on me.

 In order to meet your expectation, please expect me to do it my way, but with all my strength. Everyday I’ll keep griding away, doing my best.

2 times in a row it’s Yoshida Ayano Christie. Excuse me for being on your shoulder. Ayano-cahn sidled up to me to take this picture on top of that when our eyes met on stage, she winked at me. As expected, I wonder how long Ayano-chan’s wink popularity will continue. Please stay tuned.

 The other day I received a call from my mother. “Miyagi received it’s first snow fall.” It’s finally started to snow in the Tohoku region. Next year at this time, this is also going to be the expected weather. It’s not that obvious right now though. When I thought about this, right now each and every moment is being carved into my memory. I want to have a new day every day. I want to be able to realize this before I take it for granted. If I was asked how precious each day was to me I’d say it was like an asset. The reason that I live. The wide world. The long periods. Within all of that the fact that I’m able to meet everyone is that asset. Once again, please continue to look after me.

 I’ll write again soon.

Kubo Shiori.

 Right now, the person in front of you just asked, “are you ok?”

How would you respond? “I’m okay.” Or “please help me.”

When I’m given this sort of question I often respond in my own way. However, I can’t find a suitable answer to this question.

‘I’m okay’

In this case you’re thinking about the other party.

‘Please help me’

In this case you’re thinking about yourself.

If you put it like that most people would probably choose the former. However, recently I’ve thought about something tremendous. To take care of yourself. Take care of yourself more. Be nice and take care of yourself. It’s completely different.

Originally, I couldn’t come to like myself. In anything. However, I’ve decided to take care of myself. When you look in the mirror you can hear the voice from you heart, when I do that the me on the other side is saying, “please help me” I feel like that’s what it’s pleading. Nevertheless, this isn’t a dark conversation. That’s why I can’t choose an answer. Rather, neither is the correct answer.

 I need to take care of myself. You need to take care of yourself. If you do that when you hear the words “are you ok” you’ll believe your own answer.

 You are also all precious to me.

https://blog.nogizaka46.com/third/2017/11/041937.php