[EN] Talking Rock! (May 2024): SixTONES Feature
SixTONES
Led by their 4th album “THE VIBES” released in January, SixTONES’ 4-dome tour “VVS” is in progress, and they will be releasing their 12th single “Neiro” on their establishment anniversary, May 1st! This song, which also serves as the theme song for Kantele Fuji TV Ka-dora★Eleven’s “Omukae Shibuya-kun”, possesses yet a different charm to their previous releases, featuring a melody that blends natural and smart vocals, with a band groove sound that is both comforting and energetic. The lyrics brilliantly depict the pureness of the 6, and suits them marking their 9th anniversary, and concurrently, stepping into the 10th year of their establishment on May 1st; it’s a special number that represents their past, present and future! This time again, we had a photoshoot with the 6 members, and conducted interviews with them in 2 groups: Jesse + Kyomoto + Kouchi, and Matsumura + Morimoto + Tanaka. We started with questions about their thoughts on the 4-dome tour “VVS” and continued with their considerations behind the new single “Neiro”. First, please enjoy the interviews with Jesse + Kyomoto + Kouchi!
■ Jesse · Kyomoto Taiga · Kouchi Yuugo
- First, let’s talk about your first 4-dome tour “VVS” led by your 4th album “THE VIBES” that’s in progress. In our last interview (January 2024), Kyomoto-kun said “we aren’t taking a conservative position anywhere”. You gave a preview that “just because we’ve performed in a dome before, we definitely won’t go the usual route and let people think ‘so that’s it’”.
Kyomoto: It went exactly like I said.
Jesse: It’s a completely different staging to our previous dome performance. (Held in April 2023, “Kansei no Housoku in DOME”, their first dome show over a total of 5 days in Osaka & Tokyo.)
- In regards to that, you still have the Tokyo shows (April 20~22) upcoming so we won’t give any spoilers, but how were the Osaka (February 17~19) and Fukuoka (March 9~10) shows?
Kouchi: This time, we suggested a general staging plan to the staff and they refined it into something concrete, but up till the end of dress rehearsals, apparently the staff were a little apprehensive (bitter smiles). They felt it was difficult to feel our passion and got a little worried, but when it was finally showtime with the audience present, they told us “SixTONES’ coolness is really highlighted with the presence of the audience” and “the audience’s power matched perfectly with the staging plan this time, and the power that SixTONES’ derives from that is colossal, it was super fun”. On top of that, they also said “the crowd’s energy excited me so much that I almost forgot to give out the cues”, which made us really happy. To be honest, there were parts that we felt “do we look good?” and worried about, but it was extremely fun to perform in front of the audience, and that feeling of “this is definitely gonna be a great tour!” is still going strong.
- How about you Jesse? As the leader of SixTONES this year.
Jesse: Yes I’m the leader (laughs). Well, I’m called the leader but my responsibilities haven’t changed that much (laughs). But overall, it’s almost as if there’s a greater sense of fulfillment from this tour, the exhaustion after each performance is no joke.
Kouchi: Yes! I’m more tired than usual by the time we get to the ending. It’s like we’ve spent every ounce of our energy to sing, using everything to complete the performance. Of course, we’ve given our everything for our previous tours, but the output is a little different in a way; it really feels like we’re baring our heart and souls out while getting knackered.
- Songs from “THE VIBES” have a rock toughness to them, so wouldn’t it require a lot of energy to reproduce that?
Kouchi: I think that plays a part.
- How about you Kyomoto-kun?
Kyomoto: The stage plan for this is something that we’ve thought about since before debuting, but we were far too unexperienced and lacked the potential to make it a reality, so in a way, it’s always been on the back of our minds. To be able to attempt it this time for our first 4-dome tour makes me very happy. And personally, I love the rock influence in “THE VIBES”, there are lots of chances to showcase SixTONES’ rock style on stage and I look forward to that; it’s been a tour that’s been refreshing and powerful at every show. I’m sure you, Yoshikawa-san, will feel the excitement too if you come to watch!
Kouchi: You definitely will!
Jesse: No doubt about it!
- I want to watch it tomorrow already!
All: Hahaha (laughs).
- Just hearing you talk about it makes me excited! Now, onto our main topic for today, your new single “Neiro” to be released on May 1st - it has a different charm to your previous releases and leaves an impression of being a gentle and pure number close to the 6 members of SixTONES. The incredibly natural and smart vocals paired with the comfortable melody is in no way intimidating or aggressive, and the peaceful and energetic band groove sound is memorable. And then the lyrics describe the 6 of your journey so far, your current state of mind, and your wishes for the future; it is a special song that marks a new beginning for SixTONES! It’s the theme song for “Omukae Shibuya-kun”, the drama that Kyomoto-kun stars in, but was this song written for that reason?
Kyomoto: Yes is was. It’s a theme song first and foremost, but the release date coincidently was May 1st, SixTONES’ establishment date, and it just so happens that May 1st this year is our 9th anniversary, which leads us into our 10th year to bring us to our 10th anniversary next year, so while the song links up with the drama, we thought it would be nice if it could also look back on the path we’ve taken as SixTONES so far and be something in preparation for our 10th anniversary. We actually had lots of discussion with the staff about using “Neiro” as the title or not for this. “Neiro” is a word that’s symbolic of SixTONES, so we debated different ideas, whether we save it for our 10th anniversary, or to even save it for another occasion, but ultimately, for it to release on the fateful date of May 1st, and after hearing the completed song, “Neiro” was the only choice for the title. It’ll become something with extra meaning, but we all decided to release the song with this title at this timing.
Kouchi: SixTONES’ has this intimidating aura, a decidedly more rock image, and while I take pride in that being one of SixTONES’ charms, I believe this is a piece that presents the kind and pure side of us. If I had to give an example, I think it’s similar in worldview and atmosphere to “Kono Hoshi no HIKARI” (included in the regular edition of the first album “1ST”, released January 2021), a song that we’ve cherished since before debut. Rather than that aggressive side that we’re good at showing, “Neiro” embodies an updated version of our bare selves, straightforward without any embellishments.
- I really feel that! The whole song’s atmosphere does too, but parts like the line “this outstretched hand / has it gotten closer to that star?” remind me of “Kono Hoshi no HIKARI”.
Kouchi: You’re on the money. We included phrases with those sorts of references. In a good way, people say that SixTONES aren’t idol-like, that we’re much more like artists, but when the 6 of us come together to sing frankly like this, it might be weird to call it idol-like (laughs), but I really feel the rounded and warmness of it. It really reminded me of that. That’s why I think it was released at a very good timing, and I also look forward to how it’ll match with the drama.
Kyomoto: I also look forward to that, I think the song will link with the drama even stronger as the story progresses.
- How about you Jesse?
Jesse: I actually searched it up. About when we could release something on May 1st. It turned out to be quite a while down the track. Moreover, it wasn’t just May 1st, it would be our 9th anniversary leading into our 10th year which isn’t something you can make happen.
Kouchi: You’re right about that.
Jesse: Amongst discussing about how much May 1st [is a Wednesday] this year is a miracle [T/N: Music is traditionally released on a Wednesday in Japan], “Neiro” is like a message to ourselves and also a message to the fans, while also serving as a very meaningful song that reinforces the bond between us and the fans. Furthermore, it’ll probably sound different when it’s played as the drama’s theme song, so it’ll be a song that you can enjoy in different ways.
- Sound-wise, it has a similar tempo to, for example, “Boku ga Boku jyanai mitai da” (single, released February 2021) but it has a different flavour, and almost soul-like; the grand strings and horn session cocoons its groovy band sound, and just like you said, it straightforwardly illustrates your past, present and future thoughts realistically, in addition to really cinching the essence of the present SixTONES.
Kouchi: The composer for “Neiro” is actually Saeki (youthK)-san, who also wrote “Watashi” (released June 2022) and “Kokkara” (released June 2023).
Jesse: He wrote “Boku ga Boku jyanai mitai da” too.
Kyomoto: And “Kyoumei” (released March 2022) too.
- Ahh, I see.
Kouchi: So he’s someone who knows SixTONES very well and he’s always involved in singles that we release at key moments.
- So he’s able to write songs with SixTONES’ viewpoint and history.
Kouchi: Yes. All the composers do that, but in a way, Saeki-san has come along with us on our journey, so we truly feel that he’s put in a lot of love into capturing our present selves, and it’s become a song that accurately reflects our feelings right now.
- I think it’s a fantastic number depicting the pureness that lies within the 6 of you! Also, the new songs “ONE by ONE” and “LIKE THAT” included in the regular edition are different yet again. Did you select those yourselves this time again?
Kyomoto: Yes. “THE VIBES” was an album we created with the concert in mind, and the leading tracks and couplings in our recent singles were often chosen in preparation for the concert. But this time, that wasn’t our focus and simply chose what we liked.
Kouchi: It felt like we prioritised our feelings.
Kyomoto: But of course, we considered the balance of the songs, selecting pieces with a SixTONES’ sound that wouldn’t clash with “Neiro”, while also showcasing our rich and varied musicality to people who buy this single.
Kouchi: But, as it turns out, I feel like they will be great in a concert. Especially “LIKE THAT” will probably be lots of fun at a concert.
- I sincerely hope everyone will look forward to the songs you have prepared. And then in the Limited Edition A and Limited Edition B, you have the rock rearrangements of “Hysteria” (included in the regular edition of “NAVIGATOR”, released July 2020) and “BE CRAZY” (included in limited edition A of “1ST”), 2 particularly popular songs from your pre-debut days!
Kyomoto: That was also my idea; I wanted to re-record these 2 songs in this rock genre. I think it’ll be even more interesting if you listen and compare it to the original. In a good way, our voices have changed, and the way we adlib and finish our lines are a bit different because of the rock arrangement, so I hope people can hear those differences and enjoy the performance we can deliver to them right now.
Jesse: In that sense, the single, including the coupling songs, is packed with the charms of SixTONES at the present. We’ll release this and continue to rush forward, but we want to complete our dome tour first before that.
Kouchi: Yes. I really look forward to it.
Kyomoto: I get a true sense that we’re doing SixTONES’ music in the dome tour, so I hope to bring the best show as a culmination at Tokyo Dome!
■ Matsumura Hokuto · Morimoto Shintarou · Tanaka Juri
- Our last interview was for your 4th album “THE VIBES”. Right now you’ve finished the Osaka and Fukuoka shows for your 4-dome tour “VVS” that’s headlined with that album, but what are your thoughts on the concerts at these 2 locations?
Tanaka: I think they were really great concerts. However, we are usually certain of that during rehearsals, but this time, the stage layout was a new challenge that we proposed. In that way, we really did not know how the concert would go until the first day when the venue was actually filled, and even the staff apparently thought “hmm? Is this going to be okay?” at dress rehearsals (laughs). So although it was quite nerve-wracking, when we performed in front of the audience on that first day, it’s like everything fell into place, it was better than what we imagined. At this present point in time, I already feel that, more than we’ve ever felt, we’ll be filled with a sense of achievement at the end of the tour, and I think it’ll become a tour that will enrich our future concerts.
Matsumura: Additionally, we’re able to receive their energy directly since the audience feels even closer to us than last time, so Osaka and Fukuoka was heaps of fun, and I really look forward to Aichi and Tokyo after this.
- What about you Morimoto-san?
Morimoto: To put it simply, concerts are fun. And like Juri and Hokuto, the response from both locations was very reassuring. The fans cheered with what already felt like peak excitement from the first song, and we maintained that energy while gearing things up towards the end to complete the concert on a total high. I think it’s one of SixTONES’ concert’s strengths that you’re still elated afterwards, and I have a very strong sense that it’s happening for this dome tour, and we’re on a very good path so far!
- I truly feel your sense of fulfillment from the tour! Did you have any changes about your impression of the album “THE VIBES” during the tour?
Tanaka: The songs were chosen with the tour in mind, so none of them felt particularly different. If anything, I was reassured that we chose this route for the album and concert.
Matsumura: On the reverse, some parts felt a little different to me. When the album was released, rather than fans getting excited first, I’d thought there were songs that would lead from us displaying its direction on stage. But, when we actually went on stage, the response from the fans from the very beginning was incredible, and there were songs that surprised me with “it can go like this too!”, and that made me very happy.
- By the way, during the MC in your Fukuoka concerts, you announced information about your new single “Neiro” on stage right?
Tanaka: Yes. We used Kyomo’s (Kyomoto) X account. It’s the theme song for his drama, and he opened his personal account on this widespread platform at the end of last year, so we talked about using that.
- How did the audience respond?
Morimoto: They went “eh?!” at first, but that quickly changed to “ohh!!” and it felt like they took it in. It didn’t feel like “wahh! What a surprise!!” did it?
Tanaka: Yeah. In the first place, Kyomo posted something like “maybe I’ll post something during the concert today” on X and planted the seeds already.
Matsumura: We often do lots of things during the MC, so I feel like the audience know that anything can happen. Instead of a “you did that?!” feel, it was more like “oi oi, what are you doing?” (laughs). However, announcing that it was going to be released on May 1st, being our group’s establishment date, I could feel the fan’s excitement and it made me happy.
- Not just that, you also posted on SixTONES’ official X account and uploaded videos from before and after the concert on Instagram, creating a stronger connection on your socials for this tour.
Tanaka: You’re right. Nowadays it’s impossible to leave social media out of the equation, so we wanted to utilise it effectively to a degree that doesn’t stress us out. Of course, our main goal is to create an amazing concert, so making sure there are no hindrances to achieving that is paramount, but we are also aware that there are people who can’t attend even if they want to. So that they [too] can enjoy the concert, although indirectly, I hope to create an environment where not attending isn’t a negative thing.
- What a wonderful thing, to include the fans that aren’t there and for them to have fun too! Now, about your new single “Neiro”. It’s a very comfortable middle-tempo number with a heavy emphasis on groove, and the string and horn ensemble is magnificent as well. In regards to the lyrics, I can see phrases that link to SixTONES’ history, and I think it’ll be an important song to the group, but what were your thoughts when you first listened to it?
Tanaka: I thought it was a simple and heartwarming piece. I was confident it would relate to the drama, while also being significant for us as a group. This song will be released on the 1st of May, our establishment day, and furthermore, at a timing where we enter our 10th year together, so this song will both be commemorative for us and the fans; I believe it’ll be meaningful for all the right reasons and I hope it’ll be loved.
Matsumura: I thought it had a typical j-pop sound when I heard it for the first time, but as I listened to it more and practised as I prepared for the recording, I noticed that it actually had a lot of difficult and intricate parts. It’s complex, such as the harmonising and the acapella section, I think it’s become an even better song after we each worked hard during the recording.
Morimoto: We played a little bit of it on the radio the other day, and judging from the fan’s reactions, I think they’ll like it straightaway, especially with it being released on May 1st and having the title “Neiro” which relates to our name. On top of that, it’s also the theme song for Kyomo’s drama, so it’ll have another facet once it starts airing, allowing them to enjoy the one song twice, and I’m really looking forward to how they’ll like it.
- The coupling songs for “Neiro” are quite varied again this time, first there’s “ONE by ONE” and “LIKE THAT” included in the regular edition, but were these 2 tracks chosen by yourselves as usual?
Tanaka: Yes. While definitely keeping in mind about the balance with the title track and overall, all of us simply chose ones that we thought were cool.
Morimoto: Our preferences came through pretty loudly in these 2 songs too. And especially because “Neiro” recounts our history as SixTONES, we chose songs that fans would enjoy in addition to that.
Matsumura: Also, we decided to include the rock rearrangements for “BE CRAZY” in Limited Edition A and “Hysteria” in Limited Edition B early on, so part of the [coupling] selection was about finding pieces with a different flavour to those 2 songs.
Morimoto: And, we’ve experimented with different genres pretty lately, but, for example, “ONE by ONE” has a sound reminiscent of our early days, or perhaps I should say, it has that distinct character of ours which has never changed; I think it’s also a genre that fans like, so I think it’ll be one that we’ll all enjoy together if we perform it at a concert in the future.
- And then in the regular edition, in addition to “Neiro” and the 2 new songs, the remixed version of “CREAK” (released August 2023) is included as well!
Matsumura: It’s quite extreme and cool.
Morimoto: Yeah. This rearrangement was possible because we’ve done rock songs in the past, and adding the metal touch to it both betrays expectations in a good way, and will probably be well received.
- By the way, what were your thoughts when you first heard the rock remixes for “BE CRAZY” and “Hysteria”?
Tanaka: Talking of “BE CRAZY”, it’s not that we hadn’t done it before.
Matsumura: We’ve brushed up what we did in our 2020 tour “TrackONE -IMPACT-”, but we chose these 2 songs also because it’ll be released on May 1. They’re songs that we’ve sung from way before debuting, and something that we performed in our final tour pre-debut, so it’s also commemorative in a way.
- The rock rearrangement is quite unimaginable when you think about the electric sound of the original, with its unsettled and dark anguish and distinct acoustic guitar line (laughs).
Morimoto: You’re right (laughs). When we first heard it too, we were surprised in a good way, and all said “that’s cool!” after we listened to the full thing. I’m confident of this rearrangement. I hope everyone can look forward to it and overall, it’s a great single, so I want to carry this confidence with me to the very last Tokyo Dome show of this tour and show everyone a good performance!
Led by their 4th album “THE VIBES” released in January, SixTONES’ 4-dome tour “VVS” is in progress, and they will be releasing their 12th single “Neiro” on their establishment anniversary, May 1st! This song, which also serves as the theme song for Kantele Fuji TV Ka-dora★Eleven’s “Omukae Shibuya-kun”, possesses yet a different charm to their previous releases, featuring a melody that blends natural and smart vocals, with a band groove sound that is both comforting and energetic. The lyrics brilliantly depict the pureness of the 6, and suits them marking their 9th anniversary, and concurrently, stepping into the 10th year of their establishment on May 1st; it’s a special number that represents their past, present and future! This time again, we had a photoshoot with the 6 members, and conducted interviews with them in 2 groups: Jesse + Kyomoto + Kouchi, and Matsumura + Morimoto + Tanaka. We started with questions about their thoughts on the 4-dome tour “VVS” and continued with their considerations behind the new single “Neiro”. First, please enjoy the interviews with Jesse + Kyomoto + Kouchi!
■ Jesse · Kyomoto Taiga · Kouchi Yuugo
- First, let’s talk about your first 4-dome tour “VVS” led by your 4th album “THE VIBES” that’s in progress. In our last interview (January 2024), Kyomoto-kun said “we aren’t taking a conservative position anywhere”. You gave a preview that “just because we’ve performed in a dome before, we definitely won’t go the usual route and let people think ‘so that’s it’”.
Kyomoto: It went exactly like I said.
Jesse: It’s a completely different staging to our previous dome performance. (Held in April 2023, “Kansei no Housoku in DOME”, their first dome show over a total of 5 days in Osaka & Tokyo.)
- In regards to that, you still have the Tokyo shows (April 20~22) upcoming so we won’t give any spoilers, but how were the Osaka (February 17~19) and Fukuoka (March 9~10) shows?
Kouchi: This time, we suggested a general staging plan to the staff and they refined it into something concrete, but up till the end of dress rehearsals, apparently the staff were a little apprehensive (bitter smiles). They felt it was difficult to feel our passion and got a little worried, but when it was finally showtime with the audience present, they told us “SixTONES’ coolness is really highlighted with the presence of the audience” and “the audience’s power matched perfectly with the staging plan this time, and the power that SixTONES’ derives from that is colossal, it was super fun”. On top of that, they also said “the crowd’s energy excited me so much that I almost forgot to give out the cues”, which made us really happy. To be honest, there were parts that we felt “do we look good?” and worried about, but it was extremely fun to perform in front of the audience, and that feeling of “this is definitely gonna be a great tour!” is still going strong.
- How about you Jesse? As the leader of SixTONES this year.
Jesse: Yes I’m the leader (laughs). Well, I’m called the leader but my responsibilities haven’t changed that much (laughs). But overall, it’s almost as if there’s a greater sense of fulfillment from this tour, the exhaustion after each performance is no joke.
Kouchi: Yes! I’m more tired than usual by the time we get to the ending. It’s like we’ve spent every ounce of our energy to sing, using everything to complete the performance. Of course, we’ve given our everything for our previous tours, but the output is a little different in a way; it really feels like we’re baring our heart and souls out while getting knackered.
- Songs from “THE VIBES” have a rock toughness to them, so wouldn’t it require a lot of energy to reproduce that?
Kouchi: I think that plays a part.
- How about you Kyomoto-kun?
Kyomoto: The stage plan for this is something that we’ve thought about since before debuting, but we were far too unexperienced and lacked the potential to make it a reality, so in a way, it’s always been on the back of our minds. To be able to attempt it this time for our first 4-dome tour makes me very happy. And personally, I love the rock influence in “THE VIBES”, there are lots of chances to showcase SixTONES’ rock style on stage and I look forward to that; it’s been a tour that’s been refreshing and powerful at every show. I’m sure you, Yoshikawa-san, will feel the excitement too if you come to watch!
Kouchi: You definitely will!
Jesse: No doubt about it!
- I want to watch it tomorrow already!
All: Hahaha (laughs).
- Just hearing you talk about it makes me excited! Now, onto our main topic for today, your new single “Neiro” to be released on May 1st - it has a different charm to your previous releases and leaves an impression of being a gentle and pure number close to the 6 members of SixTONES. The incredibly natural and smart vocals paired with the comfortable melody is in no way intimidating or aggressive, and the peaceful and energetic band groove sound is memorable. And then the lyrics describe the 6 of your journey so far, your current state of mind, and your wishes for the future; it is a special song that marks a new beginning for SixTONES! It’s the theme song for “Omukae Shibuya-kun”, the drama that Kyomoto-kun stars in, but was this song written for that reason?
Kyomoto: Yes is was. It’s a theme song first and foremost, but the release date coincidently was May 1st, SixTONES’ establishment date, and it just so happens that May 1st this year is our 9th anniversary, which leads us into our 10th year to bring us to our 10th anniversary next year, so while the song links up with the drama, we thought it would be nice if it could also look back on the path we’ve taken as SixTONES so far and be something in preparation for our 10th anniversary. We actually had lots of discussion with the staff about using “Neiro” as the title or not for this. “Neiro” is a word that’s symbolic of SixTONES, so we debated different ideas, whether we save it for our 10th anniversary, or to even save it for another occasion, but ultimately, for it to release on the fateful date of May 1st, and after hearing the completed song, “Neiro” was the only choice for the title. It’ll become something with extra meaning, but we all decided to release the song with this title at this timing.
Kouchi: SixTONES’ has this intimidating aura, a decidedly more rock image, and while I take pride in that being one of SixTONES’ charms, I believe this is a piece that presents the kind and pure side of us. If I had to give an example, I think it’s similar in worldview and atmosphere to “Kono Hoshi no HIKARI” (included in the regular edition of the first album “1ST”, released January 2021), a song that we’ve cherished since before debut. Rather than that aggressive side that we’re good at showing, “Neiro” embodies an updated version of our bare selves, straightforward without any embellishments.
- I really feel that! The whole song’s atmosphere does too, but parts like the line “this outstretched hand / has it gotten closer to that star?” remind me of “Kono Hoshi no HIKARI”.
Kouchi: You’re on the money. We included phrases with those sorts of references. In a good way, people say that SixTONES aren’t idol-like, that we’re much more like artists, but when the 6 of us come together to sing frankly like this, it might be weird to call it idol-like (laughs), but I really feel the rounded and warmness of it. It really reminded me of that. That’s why I think it was released at a very good timing, and I also look forward to how it’ll match with the drama.
Kyomoto: I also look forward to that, I think the song will link with the drama even stronger as the story progresses.
- How about you Jesse?
Jesse: I actually searched it up. About when we could release something on May 1st. It turned out to be quite a while down the track. Moreover, it wasn’t just May 1st, it would be our 9th anniversary leading into our 10th year which isn’t something you can make happen.
Kouchi: You’re right about that.
Jesse: Amongst discussing about how much May 1st [is a Wednesday] this year is a miracle [T/N: Music is traditionally released on a Wednesday in Japan], “Neiro” is like a message to ourselves and also a message to the fans, while also serving as a very meaningful song that reinforces the bond between us and the fans. Furthermore, it’ll probably sound different when it’s played as the drama’s theme song, so it’ll be a song that you can enjoy in different ways.
- Sound-wise, it has a similar tempo to, for example, “Boku ga Boku jyanai mitai da” (single, released February 2021) but it has a different flavour, and almost soul-like; the grand strings and horn session cocoons its groovy band sound, and just like you said, it straightforwardly illustrates your past, present and future thoughts realistically, in addition to really cinching the essence of the present SixTONES.
Kouchi: The composer for “Neiro” is actually Saeki (youthK)-san, who also wrote “Watashi” (released June 2022) and “Kokkara” (released June 2023).
Jesse: He wrote “Boku ga Boku jyanai mitai da” too.
Kyomoto: And “Kyoumei” (released March 2022) too.
- Ahh, I see.
Kouchi: So he’s someone who knows SixTONES very well and he’s always involved in singles that we release at key moments.
- So he’s able to write songs with SixTONES’ viewpoint and history.
Kouchi: Yes. All the composers do that, but in a way, Saeki-san has come along with us on our journey, so we truly feel that he’s put in a lot of love into capturing our present selves, and it’s become a song that accurately reflects our feelings right now.
- I think it’s a fantastic number depicting the pureness that lies within the 6 of you! Also, the new songs “ONE by ONE” and “LIKE THAT” included in the regular edition are different yet again. Did you select those yourselves this time again?
Kyomoto: Yes. “THE VIBES” was an album we created with the concert in mind, and the leading tracks and couplings in our recent singles were often chosen in preparation for the concert. But this time, that wasn’t our focus and simply chose what we liked.
Kouchi: It felt like we prioritised our feelings.
Kyomoto: But of course, we considered the balance of the songs, selecting pieces with a SixTONES’ sound that wouldn’t clash with “Neiro”, while also showcasing our rich and varied musicality to people who buy this single.
Kouchi: But, as it turns out, I feel like they will be great in a concert. Especially “LIKE THAT” will probably be lots of fun at a concert.
- I sincerely hope everyone will look forward to the songs you have prepared. And then in the Limited Edition A and Limited Edition B, you have the rock rearrangements of “Hysteria” (included in the regular edition of “NAVIGATOR”, released July 2020) and “BE CRAZY” (included in limited edition A of “1ST”), 2 particularly popular songs from your pre-debut days!
Kyomoto: That was also my idea; I wanted to re-record these 2 songs in this rock genre. I think it’ll be even more interesting if you listen and compare it to the original. In a good way, our voices have changed, and the way we adlib and finish our lines are a bit different because of the rock arrangement, so I hope people can hear those differences and enjoy the performance we can deliver to them right now.
Jesse: In that sense, the single, including the coupling songs, is packed with the charms of SixTONES at the present. We’ll release this and continue to rush forward, but we want to complete our dome tour first before that.
Kouchi: Yes. I really look forward to it.
Kyomoto: I get a true sense that we’re doing SixTONES’ music in the dome tour, so I hope to bring the best show as a culmination at Tokyo Dome!
■ Matsumura Hokuto · Morimoto Shintarou · Tanaka Juri
- Our last interview was for your 4th album “THE VIBES”. Right now you’ve finished the Osaka and Fukuoka shows for your 4-dome tour “VVS” that’s headlined with that album, but what are your thoughts on the concerts at these 2 locations?
Tanaka: I think they were really great concerts. However, we are usually certain of that during rehearsals, but this time, the stage layout was a new challenge that we proposed. In that way, we really did not know how the concert would go until the first day when the venue was actually filled, and even the staff apparently thought “hmm? Is this going to be okay?” at dress rehearsals (laughs). So although it was quite nerve-wracking, when we performed in front of the audience on that first day, it’s like everything fell into place, it was better than what we imagined. At this present point in time, I already feel that, more than we’ve ever felt, we’ll be filled with a sense of achievement at the end of the tour, and I think it’ll become a tour that will enrich our future concerts.
Matsumura: Additionally, we’re able to receive their energy directly since the audience feels even closer to us than last time, so Osaka and Fukuoka was heaps of fun, and I really look forward to Aichi and Tokyo after this.
- What about you Morimoto-san?
Morimoto: To put it simply, concerts are fun. And like Juri and Hokuto, the response from both locations was very reassuring. The fans cheered with what already felt like peak excitement from the first song, and we maintained that energy while gearing things up towards the end to complete the concert on a total high. I think it’s one of SixTONES’ concert’s strengths that you’re still elated afterwards, and I have a very strong sense that it’s happening for this dome tour, and we’re on a very good path so far!
- I truly feel your sense of fulfillment from the tour! Did you have any changes about your impression of the album “THE VIBES” during the tour?
Tanaka: The songs were chosen with the tour in mind, so none of them felt particularly different. If anything, I was reassured that we chose this route for the album and concert.
Matsumura: On the reverse, some parts felt a little different to me. When the album was released, rather than fans getting excited first, I’d thought there were songs that would lead from us displaying its direction on stage. But, when we actually went on stage, the response from the fans from the very beginning was incredible, and there were songs that surprised me with “it can go like this too!”, and that made me very happy.
- By the way, during the MC in your Fukuoka concerts, you announced information about your new single “Neiro” on stage right?
Tanaka: Yes. We used Kyomo’s (Kyomoto) X account. It’s the theme song for his drama, and he opened his personal account on this widespread platform at the end of last year, so we talked about using that.
- How did the audience respond?
Morimoto: They went “eh?!” at first, but that quickly changed to “ohh!!” and it felt like they took it in. It didn’t feel like “wahh! What a surprise!!” did it?
Tanaka: Yeah. In the first place, Kyomo posted something like “maybe I’ll post something during the concert today” on X and planted the seeds already.
Matsumura: We often do lots of things during the MC, so I feel like the audience know that anything can happen. Instead of a “you did that?!” feel, it was more like “oi oi, what are you doing?” (laughs). However, announcing that it was going to be released on May 1st, being our group’s establishment date, I could feel the fan’s excitement and it made me happy.
- Not just that, you also posted on SixTONES’ official X account and uploaded videos from before and after the concert on Instagram, creating a stronger connection on your socials for this tour.
Tanaka: You’re right. Nowadays it’s impossible to leave social media out of the equation, so we wanted to utilise it effectively to a degree that doesn’t stress us out. Of course, our main goal is to create an amazing concert, so making sure there are no hindrances to achieving that is paramount, but we are also aware that there are people who can’t attend even if they want to. So that they [too] can enjoy the concert, although indirectly, I hope to create an environment where not attending isn’t a negative thing.
- What a wonderful thing, to include the fans that aren’t there and for them to have fun too! Now, about your new single “Neiro”. It’s a very comfortable middle-tempo number with a heavy emphasis on groove, and the string and horn ensemble is magnificent as well. In regards to the lyrics, I can see phrases that link to SixTONES’ history, and I think it’ll be an important song to the group, but what were your thoughts when you first listened to it?
Tanaka: I thought it was a simple and heartwarming piece. I was confident it would relate to the drama, while also being significant for us as a group. This song will be released on the 1st of May, our establishment day, and furthermore, at a timing where we enter our 10th year together, so this song will both be commemorative for us and the fans; I believe it’ll be meaningful for all the right reasons and I hope it’ll be loved.
Matsumura: I thought it had a typical j-pop sound when I heard it for the first time, but as I listened to it more and practised as I prepared for the recording, I noticed that it actually had a lot of difficult and intricate parts. It’s complex, such as the harmonising and the acapella section, I think it’s become an even better song after we each worked hard during the recording.
Morimoto: We played a little bit of it on the radio the other day, and judging from the fan’s reactions, I think they’ll like it straightaway, especially with it being released on May 1st and having the title “Neiro” which relates to our name. On top of that, it’s also the theme song for Kyomo’s drama, so it’ll have another facet once it starts airing, allowing them to enjoy the one song twice, and I’m really looking forward to how they’ll like it.
- The coupling songs for “Neiro” are quite varied again this time, first there’s “ONE by ONE” and “LIKE THAT” included in the regular edition, but were these 2 tracks chosen by yourselves as usual?
Tanaka: Yes. While definitely keeping in mind about the balance with the title track and overall, all of us simply chose ones that we thought were cool.
Morimoto: Our preferences came through pretty loudly in these 2 songs too. And especially because “Neiro” recounts our history as SixTONES, we chose songs that fans would enjoy in addition to that.
Matsumura: Also, we decided to include the rock rearrangements for “BE CRAZY” in Limited Edition A and “Hysteria” in Limited Edition B early on, so part of the [coupling] selection was about finding pieces with a different flavour to those 2 songs.
Morimoto: And, we’ve experimented with different genres pretty lately, but, for example, “ONE by ONE” has a sound reminiscent of our early days, or perhaps I should say, it has that distinct character of ours which has never changed; I think it’s also a genre that fans like, so I think it’ll be one that we’ll all enjoy together if we perform it at a concert in the future.
- And then in the regular edition, in addition to “Neiro” and the 2 new songs, the remixed version of “CREAK” (released August 2023) is included as well!
Matsumura: It’s quite extreme and cool.
Morimoto: Yeah. This rearrangement was possible because we’ve done rock songs in the past, and adding the metal touch to it both betrays expectations in a good way, and will probably be well received.
- By the way, what were your thoughts when you first heard the rock remixes for “BE CRAZY” and “Hysteria”?
Tanaka: Talking of “BE CRAZY”, it’s not that we hadn’t done it before.
Matsumura: We’ve brushed up what we did in our 2020 tour “TrackONE -IMPACT-”, but we chose these 2 songs also because it’ll be released on May 1. They’re songs that we’ve sung from way before debuting, and something that we performed in our final tour pre-debut, so it’s also commemorative in a way.
- The rock rearrangement is quite unimaginable when you think about the electric sound of the original, with its unsettled and dark anguish and distinct acoustic guitar line (laughs).
Morimoto: You’re right (laughs). When we first heard it too, we were surprised in a good way, and all said “that’s cool!” after we listened to the full thing. I’m confident of this rearrangement. I hope everyone can look forward to it and overall, it’s a great single, so I want to carry this confidence with me to the very last Tokyo Dome show of this tour and show everyone a good performance!