COTD FAN Blog: 2012

Special thanks to foxiii for interviewing NARASAKI!
This special interview was for foxiii's undergraduate thesis on the underground Japanese indies scene. Keep in mind, questions were asked to help with his thesis.

(copy & pasted from facebook)

The interview was in Japanese. The questions were pretty standard good-old-band stuffs though. This is a quick and more contextual translation, not literal. If you found any significant mistake that made huge difference in meaning, please tell me and i will correct it ASAP. As I'm not an expert in Japanese.

A : Azam, N : Narasaki

A :「COALTAR　OF　THE　DEEPERS」という名前はど 371;から来ているのですか？また、バンドの結成の経緯を教えてください。 > (Where did you get the name Coaltar of the Deepers'? Also, please tell the formation history of COTD)

N : このバンドには sinking slowly があり、その曲の中で「ゆっくりとコールタールの海に沈んでいく& #12301; という歌詞があってそこから取ってます。名付け親は当時のギターを担当していた人です。彼は英語力がなかったため　このような意味の通じにくいバンド名& #12395;なりました。ドラムスのカンノとはこのバンドを組む２年前にスラッシュメタル& #12398;バンドを組んでいたこともあり&# 12414;した。はじめた当初は他にボーカルがいましたが彼がやめてからそれまで& #12462;ターだけだったＮＡＲＡＳＡＫＩがボーカルもとるようになりました。

There’s this song “sinking slowly” in this band, and there’s something like this in the lyrics : “Yukkuri to Coaltar no Umi ni shizundeiku” (Sinking slowly in the sea of “coaltar”). We took the name from there.

[azam’s comment: perhaps sinking slowly song has been written before they release the white EP]

That [coaltar] name came from our guitarist at that time [Not sure if this is Narasaki or other person]. Because he has no English ability, that kind of hard-to-explain 'coaltar' word became our band name.

[It's interesting how Japanese make strange words and sentences that sounds English but has no particular meaning.... like Cruyff in the Bedroom, Float down the Liffey, 4 Bonjour's Party, etc. I see some templates there. lol]

2 years prior to joining this band, Kanno the drummer was in a Thrash Metal band. At the beginning of the band, there’s actually a vocalist [watanabe] but he quit. Since then, Narasaki the guitarist became the main vocal in this band.

A : COTDの曲の背景や、曲の作り方及び 524;コーディングする方を教えてく{ 84;さい。また、COTDの曲にはどのメー&# 12475;ージ持っていますか、あるいは 2393;の話を伝えますか？ > (Could you please explain the songwriting process and recording in COTD? Also, from COTD’s songs, what message or stories that you are actually want to tell?)

N : さまざまなプロセスで曲は作られます。でもまず　どんな曲を作りたいのかイメージすることからはじめる事が& #22810;いです。主に楽器はギターで作ります。　コード進行やリフを作ることから& #12399;じめそこにメロディーをつけるような順番です。歌詞つくりは最後です。伝えたいようなメッセージはありません。逆に何を言っているのかわからないようなものを好んで作ります。

Actually there are lots of different processes on songwriting. But, anyway,

At first, I usually imagine the song that I want to write. Mostly, I use guitar for songmaking. I begin from chord progression and guitar riffs. Based from that, I make the melody. The lyrics are written at the end. There’s no message that I want to tell [from our songs]. On the contrary, I love to write things that I don’t even know what I’m talking about. [Not sure about the last sentence translation. Please clarify]

A : COTDの曲は色々なムードを持ってい 390;、素晴らしいサウンドを醸し出{ 75;ます。例えば: 「WIPEOUT」のしゃみせん、「DEAD　BY　DAWN」 ;の突然ムード変わり、「RECEIVE ASSIMILATION」の素晴らしい創作、などな 393;。なぜとどうやってそんなサウ} 31;ドを作りましたか？ > (COTD’s songs always carry many kinds of mood and produces amazing sound. For example in Wipeout (the shamisen sample), Dead by Dawn’s sudden change of mood (from dark to lighter), Receive Assimilation’s epic composition, and many others. Why and how did you create these unique sounds?

N:「WIPEOUT」のしゃみせん・・・は　激しいノイズギターの上で日本の楽器のサンプリングを& #20055;せたらどうだろう？という発想から作りました。日本人にとっては妙な音楽だと思いますが自分は聞いたことのない& #38899;楽を作るのが好きです。

For example, in Wipeout, I was like, “what if I put Japanese traditional instrument sample on top of the heavy guitar sound?”, it began from that kind of Idea. I think, for Japanese people, that song is kind of strange but I like to make songs that I never heard before.

N:「DEAD　BY　DAWN」の突然ムード変わり・・・２種類の声の使い分けを面白くやろうとして考えたものです& #12290; 機械をつかってやるのではなくライブで再現できるものとして考えました。

As about the change of mood such as in Dead by Dawn, I thought it would be interesting to make two kinds of voice in the song. I think it’s impossible to make it by machine, but it’s possible to reproduce it on live. [not sure about the translation.]

N:「RECEIVE ASSIMILATION」の素晴らしい創作・・・ギターを３本ほど重ねてコーラス感をつけ極上美のサウンド& #12434;作ろうとして作ったものです。これには時間がかかりました。微妙に違うコードを重ねることにより音に広がりと奥行き感を持た& #12379;ました。

間奏の長いアンビエントタイムは宇宙からのパワーをレシーブしている様子を表現しています。

As for the epic composition in Receive Assimilation, It was using 3 guitars layered. I want to make epic-beautiful sounds of chorus feel in the song. It took a lot of time for this. Perhaps by layering subtle different chords, it will give the sense of depth and width of sounds.

The long ambient interlude in the song was to show the feeling / situation of “receiving power from outer space” [this is interesting]

A : 多くの人によって、COTDは第一代の 085;本シューゲーザ・バンドです。{ 81;れは、どう思いますか？また、COTD&# 12395;よって、「シューゲーズ」とは 2394;んという意味だと思いますか？ > (According to many people, COTD is the first generation of Japanese Shoegazer band. What do you think about this. Also, in your opinion, what’s the meaning of “shoegaze”?）

N : シューゲイザーがブームの特にこのバンドがピックアップされただ& #12369;で実際のところ　自分はこのバンドはシューゲイザーのバンドと思っ& #12390;いません。シューゲイザー的な手法を用いた曲がいくつか存在するバンドだと& #24605;います。ただし自分はシューゲイザーに多く影響されているのは間違いない& #12375; ギターがもつ響きがシューゲイザーのものに近いものが好きだとい& #12358;ことは事実です。

Though COTD picked up the heyday of shoegazer boom, the fact is, we never consider COTD as a shoegaze band. We are just happen to be a band that has some songs with shoegaze style. But we don’t deny if shoegaze is a big influence to our band. Also, it’s fact that I like guitar sounds that is something like / close to shoegazer.

A : COTDが多くのニューゲーザー・バン 489;（最近のシューゲーザー・バン| 89;）に大きな影響を与えることがӓ 4;るといわれていました。また、多 ;くの日本・シューゲーざバンドによると、「COTDはLEGENDARYバンド！」と言 431;れました。それはどう思います{ 63;？ > (Many newgazers (recent / new shoegazer bands) said that COTD gives big influence to them. Also, many of them said that you’re a legendary band in Japan underground scene. What do you think about this?）

N : まだバンドが活動しているのでLEGENDAR Yというのは少し可笑しいです。シューゲイザー、ニューゲイザーというカテゴライズは気にしませ& #12435;がニューゲイザーの人たちにこのバンドの曲の中ですごく気に入って曲があったら　それはとても嬉しいことです。

Because we're still active in doing music, it’kinda funny if people say our band is legendary. Though i don’t really care about 'shoegazer' or 'newgazer' categorization, I’m very happy that newgazer bands love / interested to our songs.

A: 「DEAR　FUTURE」のシングルはアニメ・& #12469;ウンドトラック音楽になりまし&# 12383;ね。この曲について、少し背景 2394;どを教えてください。また、ど 358;してアニメに興味がありますかʍ 11; > (Dear Future became an anime soundtrack. Could you please explain what is this song about. In addition, why do you have an interest in Anime?)

N: レコード会社からオファーが来たときはアニメのエンディングの曲& #12392;してうけており、そのときそれはまだ誰が歌うのか決まっていませんで& #12375;た。

ＣＯＴＤに決まったのはしばらくしてからでした。シューゲイザーっぽい曲にしよう、ということは決めていました。

When an offer for making anime ending soundtrack song came from the record company, it was not yet decided who will perform for that. Then, after a short time, it’s decided that COTD will do it. Then we were like ‘Let’s make shoegazey songs for it’

A: だいたいのCOTDのCDに歌詞が印刷あり&# 12414;せん。それは故意のことですか 5311;なぜですか？ > (Most of COTD’s CD has no lyrics printed inside them. Was this intentional ? Why?)

N: あまり　歌詞は重要でないと考えるからです。何をいっているかわからないほうが曲が持つ世界観を聞き手が自由& #12395;とらえる事ができるからです。

Because i don’t really think lyrics are important. By not knowing what the musician saying [/the lyrics], the listener can freely interpret / capture the feeling by themselves.

[I always thought why many people can just love foreign songs without even know the lyrics, and I always think Narasaki's answer the reason.]

A: 最近の日本のメインストリーム音楽（JPOP）及びインディーズ音楽（ĥ 05;には、シューゲーズ）についてӌ 9;どう思いますか？ > (What’s your opinion about recent JPOP music and Indie / Underground music (especially shoegaze)?

N: まったく興味がないので詳しくないです。街でながれる流行歌は聞いていて不快になることが多いです。日本のシューゲイザーバンドはあまり詳しくありません。

Because I absolutely has no interest [in JPOP / mainstream stuffs], I’m not really familiar with it. Lots of popular songs in the town are really horrible to listen to. As for Japanese shoegazer bands, I don’t know much about them.

A: 一番好きなバンドは誰ですか？最近、どのような音楽を聴いていま& #12377;か？ > (What’s your favourite band / musician and what music do you recently listen to?)

とても難しい問題。なぜなら好きなジャンルがたくさんあるから。でもmybloodyvalentineはリマスターが出たので ;最近　それを聞いてます。あとは　kaki king やfionn regan ばかり聞いてるよ。

Well that’s a hard question. Because I really like lots of different genres. But recently, I listened to MBV’s newest remastered releases. I also listened to Kaki King and Fionn Regan recently.

A : ASTROBRITEと一緒に合作しましたね、合߯ 6;の経緯を少し教えていただけませ ;んか？ > (You worked together with Scott Cortez’s Astrobrite, could you please tell me about the collaboration process?)

N: なぜかASTROBRITEの曲をインターネットӗ 1;聴くことができて、これは好きだ ;。と思って、詳しい友人に「このバンド知ってる？」と聞いたらスコットと個人的なつながりがあって、日本でライブがしたがって& #12356;るというのを聞いて、日本での公演のメンバーサポートを提案しました。それならそのメンバーでついでに録音もしようということになった& #12290;

合作といっても曲はすべてスコットが作ったものです。

[The answer of this question was pretty confusing to me. My friend and teacher, Maya Yonesho, who happened to be online helped me a lot in this. But if you have better interpretation, please tell me]

(I don’t really remember how) I listened to ASTROBRITE music on the internet by chance. I really like the music.

I asked a friend of mine, “Do you know this band?”. Apparently, he personally know Scott [Cortez], and asked to play live in Japan, then suggest me as support member for the performance. Well, from that, we started doing records.

Though it’s a collaboration, all of the songs were written by Scott

A: 今、COTDの活動は何ですか？またア 523;バム／SINGLE／EP近日レコード／リリ} 40;ス予定ですか？ > (Right now, what are COTD doing? Do you plan to release new materials soon?)

N: ライブを年に３～４本くらいやってます。録音などはあまり進んでいません。

This year we will do around 3 or 4 gigs. There’s no plan yet for recording and stuffs.

A: 最後、海外のファンに、何かメッセージをお願いします > (Last question, what’s your message to many of your fans outside Japan?)

N: 日本以外でこの音楽が気に入ってもらえることはとても嬉しいこと& #12384;と思います。ありがとう。

Having listeners outside Japan who love our songs makes me really happy. Thank you!

End of interview

Interview and Translations by Azam Wijaya R.

Additional credits to M. Satria and Maya Yonesho

Apologies for the lack of updates! I finally started to update the COTD FAN website! It's still under construction, but please be patient since I am the only person working on it. I hope you all enjoy the fansite's new appearance! The layout is based off of COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS' Yukari Telepath album cover!
http://cotdfan.hit.to/

Please join the COTD FAN Forums! We're a friendly community!
http://cotdfan.proboards.com/

The long-awaited RABBIT EP has been delayed due to NARASAKI's injury and possibly because of his involvement with working on anime soundtrack music with Mawaru Penguindrum and UN-GO.

COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS has done a number of gigs the past few months. They will be doing another gig in May.
2012年5月11日（金）
NESS × COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS
KOENJI HIGH
http://jp.musicmine.com/cotd/live.html

According to NARASAKI's tweet, it seems that he wrote a song for a TV commercial for the neco channel.
"今日はCMの曲を書いてます。チャンネルnecoの番宣です。"
https://twitter.com/#!/NACKIEeeee/status/197600265589891072

ICHIMAKI and BP. are active again!
https://twitter.com/#!/ichimaki_1mk

I think those are the major COTD & COTD-related updates... If I have missed something, please let me know!

Again, I'm very sorry for the lack of updates!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

SADESPER RECORD and TOKUSATSU updates

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sadesper Record cover MY BLOODY VALENTINE

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Beyond Time and Space

Monday, June 18, 2012

NARASAKI June 2012 Interview

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

NARASAKI & Otsuki Kenji

NARASAKI fanart

FINALLY UPDATING THE FANSITE

COTD FAN Blog

.links.

About Me

Blog Archive

Labels