On 14 December 2022, the guitarist of the Japanese rock band GLAY, TAKURO, released a solo album The Sound of Life. Most of the songs in the album are instrumental tracks, with an exception of In the Twilight of Life, which has a vocal performance. The album was made in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning keyboardist Jon Gilutin, who recorded and arrange it.
According to TAKURO, he created The Sound of Life as a “healing” album. He wants to raise awareness of many problems in our world, such as the pandemic and wars, which have made many people experience anxiety and despair. Therefore, he hopes that this album can help those who are affected by the problems with his music.
KAORI Nusantara had been invited to interview TAKURO regarding this solo album. During the interview, he talked in detail about his inspiration and creative process while creating The Sound of Life. Here’s the interview:
After hearing the album for the first time I feel your album sounds really unique. They sound sad, but also uplifting in a way. How difficult is it to compose songs that contain such emotions?
TAKURO: Your first impression was correct. When I started writing the songs for the album, there was a lot of sadness I was trying to convey, but by the end of the recordings, I felt I had been uplifted. It was a healing experience for me, and I hope it can be that way for others.
Some of the songs also have melancholic yet strong titles, such as Red Sky, In the Twilight of Life, and Pray for Ukraine. Can you tell us why you give the song such a title? What’s the story behind it?
TAKURO: As you know, the war in Ukraine started around the same time I started writing these songs. My sympathies never lie with any political ideology, but I have deep sympathy for the people undergoing the hardships of war, such as the mother sending her son off to war, and the suffering and uncertainty that war brings.
I can see that you took a lot of inspiration from what’s happening in our world right now. What do you think about the world today?
TAKURO: I think the world is facing some big issues. We need to make positive steps towards unity and avoid divisions and misunderstandings not only between countries, but also in our societies and our social lives.
Another influence for this album is the COVID-19 pandemic. How did the pandemic influence you as a musician?
TAKURO: Personally, I was feeling a great deal of helplessness at the time. I felt that there was something I needed to do, but that I was incapable of doing it. I think a lot of people were feeling that way.
That’s why, I wanted to write songs that expressed that helplessness. I also wanted to address the theme of isolation that many people have been experiencing in their lives during the pandemic. This can be such a destructive feeling, and I wanted to offer a more positive and uplifting alternative.
What is the difference when composing for piano and composing for guitar?
TAKURO: With the guitar, I’m familiar with the chords and the sounds that I can make. With the piano, I find I’m always discovering something new: new chords and new techniques for creating sounds. It was really exciting for me to have the opportunity to compose the new album entirely on piano.
You mentioned in another interview that you’re more comfortable as a composer than as a guitarist. Can you elaborate on why that’s the case?
TAKURO: I feel like there are three faces to my work: the lyric writer, the composer, and the guitarist. People always compliment me on my lyrics, but I think I’m better as a composer. Creating melodies is something that comes naturally to me. As a guitar player, I always feel like I’m a work in progress, and, thankfully, I have a great guitarist in my band, so I don’t have to be the best at that.
There’s only one song with vocal performance in this album, which is In the Twilight of Life. Why is that? Do you have any message that you want to convey from its lyrics?
TAKURO: LOVE. Wherever you are, we should never forget that there is love in our lives. Even in times of isolation and sadness, there is always someone we can turn to. We can always reach out to other people for support.
Usually when composing for GLAY, you usually create songs with lyrics. What’s the difference between making a song with lyrics and without lyrics?
TAKURO: When writing songs with lyrics, it really helps to have a great vocalist, and I always have Teru in mind when I’m writing songs like that. He gives me a certain framework. Writing songs without lyrics, and without that vocalist framework, gives me more freedom musically. The possibilities are really unlimited. But, at the same time, working without any kind of framework can be a bit frightening.
Is there any special preparation to create an album that consists of the instrumental song?
TAKURO: For this album, I made a conscious decision to create natural sounds such as water, wind and wildlife. I think this really ties into the healing aspect of the album. I recognized that nature is the best musician, and that people can be healed through that natural music.
Speaking of the healing aspect of the album, you mentioned in a previous interview with JRockNews that you wanted this album to be a “lullaby album” for people who listen to it. Why does TAKURO want people to listen to this album while sleeping?
TAKURO: Sleeping well is so important to both mental and physical health. All of us need that kind of escape from our noisy lives, and we’re all free from suffering and pain in our dreams. My goal was to create sounds that help people enter into that state and to create a good night for all.
The artwork for the album is created by the vocalist of GLAY, Teru. Do you personally pick him for that? If that’s the case, why?
TAKURO: Yes, of course I picked him personally to do the artwork. We grew up in the same town and saw the same things growing up, the same changes. He did a wonderful job of capturing those images visually, and, of course, this was a great compliment to my own vision. Actually, Teru has been doing a lot of painting recently, and is planning to exhibit his work in the near future.
Last question, do you have any message for your listener from Indonesia?
TAKURO: We are planning to have a concert in Indonesia in the near future, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all our friends and fans. I also hope I can have a chance to work with some of the really great musicians in Indonesia. It’s always great to meet and collaborate with people who share similar ideas of love and peace.
Also Read:
Vocaloid, “Senbonzakura”, and “Vocalo Zanmai 2”: An Interview With Wagakki Band
The Indonesian Anime Times | Interview by Dodi Kusumanto with helps from Dany Muhammad and Luthfi Suryanda.
