WeROCK 101: Hana supports SAKI's first solo live show!!

Gorgeous play and stage presence

A close-up interview with the guitar girls!

SAKI X Hana

(Gacharic Spin)

---

SAKI has begun her full-fledged solo career. In February she released the single "GERMINANS", and on June 21st she will release the EP "GERMINANS EP", and on the same day she will hold a solo live at Yokohama Bay Hall. Hana (Gacharic Spin) will be participating as a supporting guitarist at the live show. The two have performed together many times before. We had a wide-ranging discussion about their interactions so far and their thoughts as guitarists!

―――Do you remember the first time you met?

SAKI: When was it?

Hana: Mary (Mary's Blood) or the band before that?

SAKI: Was it during Mary's time?

Hana: Did the band you were in before Mary perform at "Electric Lady Loud" (an event featuring female bands and bands with female vocals held at multiple venues, mainly at Nagoya E.L.L., held once a year in the summer from 2012 to 2016)?

SAKI: I don't think it was Re:MAKER (SAKI, Fin/b, Anri/ds, a Vocaloid trio, which went on hiatus in June 2013).

Hana: I see. I think we only became aware of each other's existence after SAKI joined Mary.

"I've been getting offers as a solo artist, and I've been invited to play in other solo shows, so I'll be announcing those too. And from the summer onwards, I'll be in Like an Angel mode. I'll also be continuing the instrumental unit live show ROCK INST NIGHT, which is put together by Jun Minari," (SAKI). The photo shows the "GERMINANS EP," which will be released on June 21st.

I want to present how amazing the guitarist Hana-chan is

SAKI: Mr. Tsunoda (Takanori), who arranges the music for Gachapin (Gacharic Spin), is a senior of mine at university, although we are from a completely different generation. So I remember talking about that at some point... but I think the first time we had a proper conversation was around the time of "Electric Lady Loud".

Hana: By the time we started talking about Mr. Tsunoda, I felt like we had already become good friends.

SAKI: Indeed. We became good friends and talked about Mr. Tsunoda. We met at the Yaon concerts too.

Hana: We also performed together on "NAON no YAON", and in the dressing room I'd call her "SAKI-chan".

―――Did you know about each other before you met?

SAKI: I'd been seeing Gachapin even before we met. I went to see them during "Gacha Pinch!!" (a nationwide tour with support vocalists from February to May 2012, when original vocalist Armmy suddenly fell ill) and also before that. And I had already exchanged contact information with Armmy and she invited me to her live show.

Hana: I see.

SAKI: This was before I joined Mary, when I was in Destrose and mixx.

―――You still weren't talking properly at that time?

Hana: I was really shy around then, and after a live show people would say things like, "It was great to see you today," but I was like, "Oh, yes..." (laughs). Armmy and KOGA took the lead in getting to know the musicians around us, and I was putting up walls, so I don't think I was talking to SAKI properly at that time. 

SAKI: Yeah. I started talking to Hana-chan much later (laughs). After I joined Mary.

―――What's the topic of conversation when you two talk?

SAKI: What do we talk about?

Hana: We talk about the latest happenings with the band, and lately, I've been thinking about how it's tough getting older (laughs). Like, you have to keep a smile on your face. So, we probably won't talk about music in detail. We've never gone out for drinks, but we do go for tea and have a nice warm and cozy moment (laughs).

SAKI: Of all the people I have met in the music world, there are very few people besides Hana-chan with whom I'd have a leisurely cup of tea with.

Hana: I'm glad.

SAKI: Because I'm shy too.

Hana: Huh? I have an image of SAKI-chan as being very sociable.

SAKI: Even if we become friendly on the spot, if someone invites me to have tea with just the two of us, I become reluctant to go out (laughs). I think Hana-chan is one of the few people I can have tea with.

"Gachapin is doing live shows, and starting in December there will be a Dolls Box tour... I'm so busy I don't even know what my schedule is (laughs). Also, Gachapin's new EP "Ace"was released in February. All the songs are ace-level songs. On this EP, TOMO-ZO and I were able to create more interesting twin guitar arrangements than ever before, making it an album that can be enjoyed from a guitar perspective as well! Please listen and pay attention to the guitars as well (Hana).

SAKI-chan has such a strong presence that she is captivating

―――How do you see each other as musicians?

Hana: SAKI is a guitarist who catches your eye. Sometimes I see her as a guitarist who makes you feel happy with the groove of her backing, but more than that, when I see her live, I think she is a cool guitarist and her live performances are fun. And SAKI has a great presence. That's why I immediately thought I wanted to become friends with her, and even now when I see her live, I think "Wow".

SAKI: When I met Hana-chan, she was the best at drumming, but now she's a guitarist... so she can do anything. She's so multifaceted, I've always thought she's a very talented person. Did you start out as a vocalist in the first place? 

Hana: Yes, initially it was a dance and singing group.

SAKI: Yeah, what an incredible career.

Hana: What a strange career (laughs).

SAKI: No no. There are male musicians who have a long career, but there aren't many female musicians who have a long career, and I respect her for that. Also, Gachapin has overcome many things, but I don't think they could have done it without Hana-chan, including her conversion to a guitarist, and I really respect her as an amazing person.

Hana: Thank you.

―――I don't know if I can call it a commonality between the two, but Hana-chan is the musical leader of Gacharic Spin. And SAKI-chan is currently creating her own music as a solo artist. Is there anything about that aspect of music production that inspires you?

Hana: I've had the opportunity to listen to and play some of the songs that SAKI will be performing at her solo live show in June, but this time they're instrumentals. In the case of Gachapin, when arranging the music, I first prioritize the melody, then consider the balance of each part, thinking things like bringing the keyboard to the forefront in one place and letting the guitar rest. I think it would be a different feeling if I tried to do that with an instrumental, and in SAKI-chan's case, the guitar has to be the main focus, so I think that's also different from bands with vocals. But I just received another new song and was listening to it earlier, and it's so much fun! 

SAKI: Thank you.

Hana: When I write a song, I want to create something that paints a picture. For example, I'm walking and a forest appears and this kind of sound is playing, and then when I get to a new road, this kind of sound is playing... I find it most fun to write songs like that, and SAKI-chan's songs also tell a story. That's why I like it a lot. It's fun to listen to and fun to play. When I'm learning songs for work, it can be difficult, like, "The intro is eight bars, and the A melody is like this..." But SAKI's songs are fun, easy to get into, and make you want to play them over and over again. But with the new songs that will come out soon, I might be like, "Wow, that's difficult" (laughs). So, I'm curious if there's a difference in the feel of writing songs for Mary or Nemophila and writing songs for a solo project.

SAKI: The first thing that bothered me when I was making the instrumental piece was that it felt like I was making a song melody.

Hana: Mm-hmm. 

SAKI: When writing songs with a band, you think about the vocalist, right? You think a lot about the range of the vocals.

Hana: Yeah.

SAKI: But with an instrumental, you don't have to worry about that (laughs). At first, I didn't realize this and had the habit of deciding the range of my voice on my own.

Hana: Is this your first time making an instrumental?

SAKI: I released one song before ("BRIGHTNESS"/2021), but when I tried to make a new one this time, I realized that I had gotten into the habit of thinking about the range. Also, what I find difficult about instrumentals is that if you have lyrics, you can add expression to them.

Hana: Because it has lyrics. 

SAKI: That's right. However, there are no lyrics in instrumental music, and when it became necessary to add expression through development, I had a hard time deciding what approach would be best.

Hana: Mm-hmm.

SAKI: For example, even if I play the same melody with a slight change, it's like "Hmm...", but that's what I found fun. Even with the same melody, I think I can create different expressions by changing it, like bending it here and smoothing it here. If I play something too different it sounds too far apart, so I guess it was difficult to get the balance right. I realized I had to think about things that I didn't worry about when composing with a band.

Hana: In the case of Gacha, the melody is the most important thing to consider when arranging. Sometimes I arrange the non-guitar parts of songs written by TOMO-ZO, and sometimes the composer even comes up with the guitar riffs. Sometimes TOMO-ZO and I arrange the songs together in the studio, and sometimes yuri and I arrange the songs while recording. Sometimes I even turn KOGA's humming into a melody! She's a little tone deaf though (laughs).

―――When will the new song you mentioned be released?

SAKI: It will be released on CD on June 21st along with "BRIGHTNESS" and "GERMINANS."

―――Also, Hana-chan will be participating as a support guitarist at SAKI-chan's solo live in June, but was the first time they stood on stage together at Hana-chan's solo live (in 2019)?

SAKI: If it feels chaotic, has it happened before? There was also a two-man concert with Nemophila (November 2020), but Hana-chan's solo concert came before that, right? 

Hana: I know that the drummer from Metallic Spin, Nose, who I know well, performed on stage with SAKI at NAON no YAON (laughs). So, I think my solo live performance was the first time we stood on stage together properly. At that time, SAKI was the first guitarist I thought of wanting to work with, so I contacted her.

On the left is SAKI's main guitar, the killer KG-Fascinator Seven the Empress galaxy black petals. SAKI owns two, a prototype and a production version, but this is the prototype. Recently, the guitar has been modified so that the front pickup can be coil-tapped by pulling the volume knob, allowing her to use the single coil tone even in solo recordings. On the right is Hana's main guitar. It is a signature model by Vellmor Guitars, and in order to differentiate it from TOMO-ZO, it is not equipped with high-output pickups. It also features a 6-string peg that can be switched to drop D and a neck scale of 635mm, which is longer than the typical mustang type.

―――Why did you invite Hana-chan to be the support guitarist for your solo live show in June?

Hana: Really (laughs). 

SAKI: We had (Kawaguchi) Chisato-chan participate in the recording, so we asked her to do a live performance as well. So, when I was thinking about what to do about guitar and bass, I thought it wouldn't be right to ask a regular guitarist.

Hana: I am not an ordinary guitarist (laughs). A bit of a strange guitarist (laughs).

SAKI: (laughs). I've participated in Hana-chan's solo live shows before, and I've been hoping that she would play at my solo live shows too.I've seen Hana-chan perform live as a guitarist many times, and she's a good guitarist, her pitch is accurate, and her harmonizing phrases with TOMO-chan (TOMO-ZO) are also precise. If I were to ask someone to play my harmony phrases on an instrumental piece, I would like someone with a good sense of pitch like Hana-chan. However, this time the request was different from your usual Hana-chan, so I was thinking, "I'm sorry" (laughs).

Hana: I'll make sure to practice my harmonies properly (laughs). But when it comes to being a guitarist, SAKI has everything that I don't have and has only good points.

―――In that context, what do you think is your unique trait as a guitarist?

Hana: Maybe it's because I've spent my career as a multi-instrumentalist, but people sometimes tell me that my guitar solo phrases sound like keyboards. I wonder if it's because I've played a variety of instruments that my phrases are different from those of ordinary guitarists? My history with guitar is still short. 

―――That being said, the fifth era started in March 2019...

Hana: I'm a fifth-year guitarist (laughs). Even though so much time has passed, I'm still really bad at it (laughs), but I can play better than I could back then (laughs).

―――What does SAKI think is her own individuality?

SAKI: I like how Seikima-II, and Luke (Commander Takamura) often says, "I have nothing but charisma," and I think to myself that I might be that kind of guitarist.

Hana: No, that is important. 

SAKI: Yeah. Of course, it is important to be good, but it is also important to be fun to watch.

Hana: Mm-hmm. 

―――Hana-chan also has that same floral quality.

Hana: That's right. Like making it look like you can play something even though you can't (laughs). That technique is second to none (laughs).

SAKI: No, Hana-chan is good. After Hana-chan's solo live performance (in 2019), I remember talking with my fellow musicians in the dressing room and saying, "Hana-chan is also good at guitar." 

Hana: That's because there are a lot of people around me who are easy on me (laughs). 

SAKI: No no, Hana-chan comes from a different background than your average guitarist, and she has a good sense of rhythm too. I can play the piano a little, but I can only play the guitar.

―――Hana-chan, is there anyone who has influenced you as a guitarist?

Hana: I don't think there's anyone in particular. When I was in high school, I liked metal and 50's music and enjoyed playing only the three chords with the 7th. But then, I'm not so sure I'm good at rock and roll... However, the way I create pitch may have been influenced by rock and roll. My introduction to metal was through Pantera. I loved their hard guitars and drums and enjoyed playing the guitar by imitating them, so that may have been an influence for me.

―――And your solo live at Yokohama Bay Hall on June 21st - what do you think it will be like?

SAKI: I've been recording new songs until today (the interview was conducted in early May), so I'll be sending the new songs to Hana-chan within this week... At first, we thought about inviting a vocalist, but we decided to start with a completely instrumental show. When I talked with ISAO-san, he told me that he had high expectations for me because there are not many guitarists who play completely instrumental music, and I thought I would give it a try. As for the content, I'll mainly be playing my own songs, but I'm also thinking of covering songs that I think the audience will enjoy.

―――At the live show, Yunika Impact (b/Kakumei Meloic) will be participating. Who is this person?

SAKI: I saw a video of her on X and thought, "She's good," so I asked her to join. She's still young, but there are videos of her performing solo routines with IKUO and MASAKI.

Hana: Wow.

SAKI: So, she's from Osaka, and although I'd never spoken to or met her before, so I decided to ask her to send me a video of her doing the one-take recording.

Hana: I don't think I've ever met her either... I've met Chisato a few times though.

―――I thought that one thing you two have in common is that you're both cool on stage but have a laid-back vibe off stage.

Hana: That's right. Maybe that's why it's easy to talk to SAKI-chan.

―――Is there some kind of on/off switch?

Hana: If you ask me if there is such a switch, I'm not sure, but I don't want to turn that switch on during a live performance. I've noticed that putting too much effort into it makes me tense up unnecessarily, so I try not to flip that switch as much as possible. I can't really put it into words, but live performances are the most fun when you can bring your emotions to a level where you are not just trying to look cool or trying your best, and I think it would be great if you could find the switch that allows you to take that level.

SAKI: I kind of understand.

Hana: But watching from the sidelines, I wonder if SAKI can easily enter that level.

SAKI: Yeah, I might have a switch.

Hana: There are all kinds of tensions during live shows; sometimes we get really excited, and sometimes we stay calm while looking at the other band members' faces, but there are also times when we're just having fun. The tension is high and it's fun!  But sometimes the performance is a mess (laughs). However, the best shows are those that are not affected by such tension.

SAKI: I think there might be times when I get a sudden shock backstage at the start of the show and a switch gets flipped on.

Hana: Wow, that's cool.。 

SAKI: But I totally understand what Hana-chan is saying. I've also had times when I enjoyed a live show but the performance wasn't great, but the audience's reaction was good.I switch into "performer mode" even during sessions. When it comes to songwriting, once I get that "fun!" switch going, I feel like I'm working forever. On the other hand, if I can't get that switch going, I just keep worrying and saying "Hmmmm" (laughs).

―――What are each of your visions for the future?

Hana: I'm still not able to express exactly what I have in mind in sound, so I think I need to clear that hurdle first. I want to get better. However, being good at it doesn't mean showing off my skills, but rather I want to be able to play the guitar in a way that is enjoyable to watch and that can bring a scene to mind.

SAKI: This overlaps a little with what I was saying earlier, but when I started my solo career, I thought it might be a good idea to include vocals. But rather than releasing something half-baked, I want to try my best to see how far I can go with just the guitar. Also, I want to release a solo album, so I'll continue writing songs. I want to do instrumentals on top of K-POP tracks, so I've been introduced to some track makers, and I'd like to do a lot of new and interesting things like that.

Hana: I'm sure the audience is looking forward to it.

SAKI: My goal is to become someone who can entertain people with guitar.

Hana: SAKI is someone I can respect as a fellow guitarist. However, I still have the desire to make people think I'm cool when I'm on stage. When she supported me at my solo live show I was happy and excited and it was a lively atmosphere, but next time I'll be the one supporting her, so I'll do my best for SAKI senpai and I'll be more motivated in a different way.

SAKI: When I supported Hana-chan's solo live performance, there were a lot of phrases that I wasn't good at, and I felt sorry for KOGA-chan and TOMO-chan who had to help me practice. There are many things I admire about Hana-chan, such as her cutting rhythm and good pitch. So, in my solo live, I want to present to the world, "Hana-chan is amazing even as a guitarist."

Hana: I will do my best for SAKI-chan. It's fun to play SAKI's songs, and there are a lot of phrases I don't know, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn. So I'll do my best.

SAKI: I'll do my best not to hold everyone back (laughs). I want to have fun performing live.

Hana: I'm sure she'll play a variety of solo songs, and I'll get to see a different side of SAKI that I haven't seen yet. I'll be supporting her on guitar, and I'm looking forward to enjoying SAKI's live performance as a fan!

---

Source - WeROCK 101 [On sale June 14, 2024]: https://werock.stores.jp/items/665944f33626e40039c54297?_gl=1*jghmc7*_ga*NjE4MTY3MjcuMTc0MDYxODE3NQ..*_ga_8RLDMYVT90*MTc0MDY5NTM5OS4yLjEuMTc0MDY5NTQwMy41Ni4wLjA.

RR116: F Chopper Koga interview

F Chopper KOGA

Gacharic Spin

profile & information

Born December 22nd. Blood type O. She is the bassist and leader of Gacharic Spin, which was formed in 2009. The other members are Hana, TOMO-ZO, Oreo Reona, yuri, and Angelina 1/3.The 15th anniversary album "Feast" will be released in October 2024. Starting on Sunday, December 8, 2024, they will hold a two-man Zepp tour with DOLL$BOXX, "Gacharic Spin × DOLLSBOXX Zepp TOUR 2024-2025 "GACHA BOXX". They plan to hold their 16th anniversary live show in October 2025, and a festival live show called "Liver Banquet Festival" at the end of 2025.

https://www.gacharicspin.com

A promise to meet again

October 8, 2024. Gacharic Spin, who just celebrated their 15th anniversary, suddenly released a statement saying, "From 2025, we plan to slow down the pace of our activities as a band."

However, the statement continued with this:

"But... we are already preparing for the 2025 live show (laughs)."

For the past 14 years, Gachapin has been working at a furious pace with both releases and live shows, but what does it mean for Gachapin to slow down the pace of their activities?

We spoke to leader F Chopper KOGA about how they came to this conclusion.

Interview and text by Tanaka Dai

---

Ultimately, what I want to do is Gacharic Spin, and if I do it, I want to do it with the current members.

- It's been a while since "Feast" was released. How do you feel about it now?

I have the impression that a lot of people have picked it up.

We had an online signing the other day, and at first we were told that the numbers were not growing much. I thought that was to be expected, since we're doing a lot of other things, but then people from overseas started buying it, and it was really exciting.

- How was the performance at Shibuya Stream Hall on October 14th where you performed all the songs included in "Feast"?

It ended pretty quickly. I thought it might feel longer, but it was more like, "Huh? It's over already?"

- The "ROCKET SPIRITS" tour, which began in 2019 and has visited 47 prefectures, is still ongoing.

Yes. The intention of this tour was to visit each place and help Angie (Angelina 1/3) grow, but it was canceled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. So we're continuing to tour little by little. We even had Levin play drums for us while yuri was on hiatus, so I think we're able to deliver a completely different Gachapin (Gacharic Spin) every time. This tour also shows Angie's growth. I feel like she has truly become a frontman. When she joined, she was just a high school student and didn't know what to do on the stage.

- Gachapin has been very active this year as well, but it seems you will be changing the way you work from next year. The announcement was made on October 8th at the 15th anniversary live at Nagoya ELL, but when did you start talking about this?

I don't mean this in a negative sense, but the 15th anniversary is a turning point, so we've been discussing for the past 2-3 years how we should proceed beyond that. We all have our own lives, and there's also the age difference. Even though we've been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been performing live as usual recently, and we're back to the pace we had a few years ago, writing songs, recording, and performing live. I was wondering if we could continue this beyond our 15th anniversary. Of course, there are people among us who want to do Gachapin, so we kept talking about how we could make it happen.

- It's natural to do other activities while doing Gachapin.

That's right. There are things that we want to do as Gachapin, but there are also different things that we want to do alone. Some people want to do solo one-man live shows, while others want a little more time for themselves. As for Angie, she has been doing more solo work in the past few years. We had been talking about these things for a long time, but in my case, my father had passed away and my mother had become ill. I moved to Tokyo when I was 14, and was thankful to have been able to do what I wanted for as long as I wanted. My parents were happy about that, but the fact that I wasn't with my parents always bothered me. It was also a time when I started thinking, "I want to be close."

- Your hometown is Nagoya, right?

Yes. For the past year or two, I've been going back and forth between my home and my band life in Tokyo. Before my father passed away, I was living my life doing as many things as I could, but realistically, I felt I needed to think a little more about my life as an individual. I shared those personal details with the other members, and they were all very understanding.

- Did you talk about wanting to change the way you operate?

Yes. We talked about wanting to slow down a bit after our 15th anniversary, but that wasn't just my wish. We each have our own issues and we thought it would be wrong to continue at the same pace, so we decided to make the announcement. But we didn't want to make our fans anxious. So I thought, "If we decide to do a live show, everyone will feel more at ease."

- It has already been announced that you will be holding a live concert for your 16th anniversary and at the end of next year.

Yes. When I told the staff, "I want to reserve a venue because I want to do a live show next year for our 16th anniversary and at the end of the year," at first they were like, "Huh?" (laughs). When humans have a promise, they feel reassured knowing that they will see each other again. It also shows that we are not going on hiatus or disbanding. Gachapin is a band that has a bit of a fantasy element to it, so I thought it was a good opportunity to show that each of us is a real human being. Well, some people say we are aliens (laughs). 

- TOMO-ZO is a Nicolin alien, after all (laughs). I see it as a choice that will enable Gachapin to continue in a positive way.

That's what I think. After all, we can't be the same now as we were 15 years ago. Even if we continue at the same pace, I think we'll try our best, but I think at some point it would become too much for us. I want to be around my mother more, so if I push myself too hard now I'll end up regretting it, and it might even make me hate the band. I don't want that to happen. I think it is important for each one of us to take a proper look at our own time and life in order to continue Gachapin in a way that is good for all the members.

- I think it was a good idea to announce that the live shows next year were already decided. It was such a relief.

I said that we should definitely announce it. The plans are quite far off, so why not just tell them about it now? There were some staff members who said something like. Solo shows for the members have already been scheduled and the venues have been booked.

- The pace of your activities will slow down, but I think it's "slower" because Gachapin has always moved at a high pace up until now. There are plenty of bands that only do one or two solo shows a year and release an album every few years, so this may just be a more natural pace.

That's right. However, when people who were moving at that pace don't announce any live show schedules at all, it starts to lead to strange speculation and rumors, and I didn't want that to happen. Since we have nothing to hide, we decided to communicate our feelings properly. Like you say, if you think about it, it's normal.

- Seeing all of this, I can once again see that you are a band that really cares about the feelings of your fans.

The reason we have survived to this day is because of our fans. There were so many difficult times, but I was able to persevere because I had fans who supported me and people who were right in front of me. That's why we thought a lot about how everyone felt. "What will they think if I say this?" "How would they feel if I told them this?" I wondered. A single word can change the way a message is conveyed, or the tension, or who among the members says it. I am very happy to be with members with whom I can discuss such things.

- Many bands communicate through a manager, but Gachapin members communicate directly with each other, right?

Yes. I contact them and say, “Are you free at this time on this day? I want to talk about that. That also applies to organizing the setlist and schedule. I don't like LINE, so when I want to properly convey something, I call.

- A band is an organization of sorts, and Gachapin may be doing the ideal thing in that respect as well. I think that's a big part of why you've been able to overcome various challenges and have the new members integrate so well.

Thank you. I've learned a lot over the past 15 years and have arrived at this conclusion. When something happens, even if I'm thinking to myself, "This is a problem," I've decided not to start with a negative thought. "This is how it is, but I think it might work if we do it like this. I have about three ideas in mind, what do you think?", something like that. I don't want to give them time to feel anxious. Time spent worrying is a waste. Once we present a number of ideas, the question arises: "What would I think?" or "I agree with this, but maybe not with this?" Then we can start to overcome our anxieties and move on to asking, "What should we do?" It just came naturally.

- I think that's the ideal form of leadership. If a leader panics or gets hysterical when something goes wrong, it has a major negative impact on the entire organization.

I probably had my share of hysterical and frustrated moments over the past 15 years. But there were members who supported me and said, "I'll do it," and let me take a breather. I feel like I've arrived at my current way of thinking with the support of everyone.

- The decision to announce that you would be slowing down the pace of your activities, even though you have live shows scheduled for a year from now, is a decision that was likely made possible only because of the wide range of experiences you have had.

I was wondering if I should mention that we have two shows lined up. I don't want to be vague and have people say "But you said there were some" and get dissatisfied. I think people will be happy with the extra shows, so I said "Currently, there are only two shows. "We will be doing a two-man Zepp tour with DOLL $BOXX starting in December, and we plan to start selling tickets for our anniversary live show in advance. I wanted it to be something like a "ticket that promises we'll meet again."

- Until now, Gacharic Spin has been a gathering of six people, but I think that audiences will increasingly be able to experience the different ways of life of each of the six of us. In fact, recently we've had many opportunities to see Angie working in areas other than music, such as as a radio personality and as a talent.

That's right. I'm also curious about what kind of solo shows they'll do, and excited about each member's activities. Some people may get to know Gachapin through their activities. Even if something changes as we do various activities, we can just discuss it again. As we carry out our activities, including in our private time, if there is something we want to do or if our feelings change, I think it is fine to talk about it each time and accept each thing as it comes up and carry out our activities. I hope that in the future we will be able to make good choices each time.

- Were there any members who wanted to keep moving at the same pace as Gachapin?

Angie was probably the one who felt the strongest about it. We had a one-on-one discussion about this." If I'm being honest, I want to keep going at this pace, but I understand that each of the older sisters has their own circumstances after the 15th anniversary. So I'd like to talk about it a little bit." We had been talking about this for a while now, so Angie was very understanding. I was also looking at each family's situation. So when we talked one-on-one, she didn't say "Why!" Angie has her own activities as Angie, and she gained confidence as the frontman of Gachapin, so she said, "I want to think about what kind of activities would suit me next year."

I don't mean this in a negative sense, but the 15th anniversary is a turning point, so we've been discussing for the past 2-3 years how we should proceed beyond that.

- So sometimes members talk one-on-one, right?

Yes. While there are some things that are best discussed together, there are also some things that are difficult to say because you are worried about what others might think. So, there are different ways of doing it depending on the situation.

- It may seem strange to say this now, but the six members of Gachapin get along well, don't they? I really felt that when I watched the music video for "Hare no Hi," which you filmed together at the beach and staying overnight.

In that music video, the director said, "Just have fun. If you're sleepy, you can sleep." It was fun, and it felt very natural.

- The music video also features an acoustic arrangement of "Hare no Hi" performed by everyone together.

We hadn't planned on adding sound to that scene. But the director thought it was good, so she said, "Let's add it." Everyone was like, "Are you sure the sound is okay?" (laughs).

- It's not just bands, but it's common for factions to form within groups, but what about Gachapin in that regard?

There are teams that talk a lot and teams that just listen and nod, but in the end they all just coalesce into one.

- Speaking of a familiar band that has been working ideally with the same members for many years, it's SHOW-YA. Have you ever received any helpful advice from them?

I once asked Terada Keiko and sun'go☆ (Igarashi Miki), and they said, "We broke up once, so our relationship isn't lasting" (laughs). I get the feeling that everyone in SHOW-YA has been through a lot, and I think it's amazing that they're able to do what they do now. Maybe it's because they were apart once that they're able to have fun now.

- When I think about SHOW-YA and other senior bands, the fact is that even though it is your 15th anniversary, Gachapin's band life is far from over, and you can still evolve musically in various ways.

That's right. Up until now, I've been thinking about songwriting and performance within the band Gachapin, but I think there are still many other ways to think about it. For example, it's possible that different ideas will come out of our solo activities. I've always thought that Gacharic Spin was my only place to be, but each person has their own life and music they want to make. Gachapin is a band where all the members write songs and lyrics, so I think there are actually a lot more worldviews for everyone. I've always said that it would be good to give people more freedom. However, with the way we've been operating up until now, it may have been difficult for each of us to do what we wanted to do. So, from here on, I think each of us will express what we want to do. That's exactly what Angie was like. There were no live shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the meantime, we started getting work on radio and TV. I think it would be good if we could continue to move forward in this way, with more and more positive results.

- Hana is a multi-instrumentalist and I'm sure she still has a lot of musical potential.

Yes. Hana-san, she worked as a support drummer and support guitarist recently, so there may be more opportunities like that in the future. Of course, if Hana wants to do it, she could perform in front of a wider audience, which I think would help her become more well-known and make people wonder, "What is this Gacharic Spin that Hana is doing?"

- After you announced your plans for next year and beyond, did you hear any worried comments from fans?

Surprisingly, that didn't happen. The 15th anniversary live concert was streamed live but also had an audience, so we sent everyone off with high-fives after it was over. I thought some people might be depressed or crying, but everyone was smiling and saying things like "Thank you!", "That was fun!", and "See you soon!" After finishing Oreo said, "Aren't they all a bit too casual about it?" (laughs).

- (laughs). It seems like it's being accepted naturally on social media as well.

That's right. Of course there were some concerns about how things would go since there were only two shows, but people have been pretty positive about it.

- It may have also been a good thing that the "Feast" release live was held right after the 15th anniversary live where the announcement was made.

The 15th anniversary show was streamed so that those who cannot make it to the show would be able to hear the words of the members, but for the Shibuya Stream Hall show after that, I tried not to mention too much about changing the way we do our activities. I said it properly at the anniversary live on October 8th, so let's enjoy the release celebration event. The album release live is a "congratulations" kind of event, so if I said it there, people would be like "Huh?" Anniversary live shows are like a milestone for the band, like a birthday, so although it's not a resolution, I thought it would be nice to say, "This is what we're going to do next year."

- I also think it's ideal that DOLL$BOXX and Gacharic Spin are performing together at this time.

Fuki and us often do things together at various milestones. I've been thinking a lot lately that we're destined to be together. Fuki also really loves singing and being on stage, so I feel like she's like a comrade fighting alongside us. I hope we can continue to have a good relationship and work together as friends.

- DOLL$BOXX has become a band that continues to work at a natural pace.

That's right. We released our first album in 2012, and six years passed without saying anything, we suddenly said, "Let's do it!" (laughs). There are bands like that, and no one sees it in a negative light.

When humans have a promise, they feel reassured knowing that they will see each other again. It also shows that we are not going on hiatus or disbanding.

- You have a lot of live shows coming up until the new year, so your high-paced activities will continue for a while yet.

That's right. We're planning to work pretty full-time until the Zepp tour. After that, we'll probably start doing different things from around February of next year. Oreo's solo show is scheduled for February, and other members have expressed interest in doing various things as well. yuri said, "I want to play drums when all the members do a live show," and TOMO-ZO said she wants to make a solo song.

- TOMO-ZO has written many solo songs during her activities with Gachapin, so I think she will continue to expand her world even further in the future.

TOMO-ZO once said, "I'm really, really out of ideas for songs" (laughs). Some of the songs we've written have never been recorded, so we've created an incredible number of songs up to now. That's why I've been saying for a while that I want to absorb new ideas. I think the activities from next year will be a good time in that sense.

- Regarding Koga-san's activities, what do you think they will be like next year?

I have no intention of doing music activities outside of Gacharic Spin. After the announcement, I was contacted by some people asking me to work with them. Ultimately, what I want to do is Gacharic Spin, I love Gacharic Spin, and if I do it, I want to do it with the current members. If I were to do it with the limited time, I would only want to do it with Gacharic Spin, not with someone else. I would like to go see the band members' live shows, but I also want to cherish time with my family and my own time. I've been running at full speed for a long time, so I want to take it easy and discover a new side of myself. I want to see what I find fun and what makes me happy outside of Gachapin.

- After talking with you today, I feel that Gachapin is undergoing positive changes.

Yes. I understand that slowing down our activities might be perceived as a negative thing. Of course people are free to interpret it however they want, but I want to convey that we, the ones who are spreading the message, are taking a positive approach.

- After February of next year, it'll be a while until the next Gacharic Spin live show, but considering the preparations for the 16th anniversary live show, it won't be that far off before all the members get together again and start doing things together.

That's right. I guess starting around summer, we'll probably start discussing setlists and making merchandise with the other members. I think it will go by surprisingly quickly. Although it will go by in a flash, it's a pretty big period of time in our lives.

- Fans may also feel like it's going by so quickly.

We've been doing this for 15 years now and have produced a lot of different works, so I'd like to take the time to really review them (laughs). If we keep up with the activities of each member, we won't have time to rest. There may be new people who discover Gachapin for some reason, so in that sense, Gachapin's existence itself will not stop.

- I think it can still get more interesting.

It seems like it gets more interesting as you get older. You can now say things that you wouldn't have been able to say in your 20s. As we get older, we may be able to do anything. You can talk about all sorts of things. I think you'll be really strong if you reach that level.

- There is still room for expansion of your activities overseas.

That's right. When we were working on "Feast," we were asked to do an interview from overseas. I'm glad that people overseas are checking out our work as well. I've been saying for a long time that I need to study English.

I understand that slowing down our activities might be perceived as a negative thing, but I want to convey that we, the ones who are spreading the message, are taking a positive approach.

- Can Angie speak Spanish?

Apparently she can't speak Spanish, but she can pick a fight in Filipino (laughs).

- (laughs). Isn't it good that "Feast" was a satisfying album, as it helped Gachapin to get into a new pace of activity?

I agree. "Feast" really gives the feeling that we've made a proper album for our 15th anniversary, and the limited edition includes two live videos. I'm glad that we were able to capture who we are now. The two live videos were quite a challenge. Not only was I present during the recording of the music, but I was also present during the editing of the live footage. Hana managed the sound for the videos, and I was there to put the sound into the videos.

- At this point, what do you envision for Gachapin's activities in 10, 20 years, or even beyond?

To be honest, I don't know. For example, three years ago, I didn't really imagine myself feeling the way I do now. I guess you can't really understand until things actually happen in real life. Since the environment and other factors differ from time to time, I think it is best to find the best answer at that time. It's not something to do that makes you feel uncomfortable, and I want to do it while wanting to play Gachapin. I want to create something that we can be proud of and say "This is the answer" for us at that time.

- You never know what will happen until it happens, and that's exactly what Koga's path in the entertainment industry is like.

That's right. You never know what's going to happen in life. The reason I came to Tokyo was to work as a gravure model, and I hadn't even started playing bass yet, so I never imagined I'd end up forming a band and becoming a leader. It's the same with bands. There's no such thing as "it has to be this way." Of course I understand that it's not good to think of men and women as separate, but after 15 years I've come to realize that it's not easy for an all-female band to continue. However, even in these circumstances, I would like to continue living life in a way that is true to Gachapin.

---

Source - ROCK AND READ 116 [Release Date 2024/12/04]: https://www.shinko-music.co.jp/item/pid0772431/