On November 10, 2022, Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS, who celebrated their 12th anniversary since their debut, made a comeback after about 1 year and 4 months of silence. The latest single “STARS” released on February 1 this year marked the beginning of that.
In addition, from February 18th, the arena tour “J SOUL BROTHERS III LIVE TOUR 2023 ‘STARS’ ~Land of Promise~” will start for the first time in nine years.
What kind of feelings do the 7 people who once carved out their own lives as 7 shooting stars face JSB III now that they have gathered again? On behalf of the members, we interviewed NAOTO, ØMI, and Takanori Iwata. (Aoi Saito)
Check out the original video!
“Determination to spend the rest of my life with you” (NAOTO)
ーーIn announcing the resumption of activities, please tell us about the feelings inside the leader, NAOTO-san.
NAOTO: In 2021, as a memorial year for the 10th anniversary of his debut, he will hold a dome tour “J SOUL BROTHERS III LIVE TOUR 2021 “THIS IS JSB”” and release a best album and original album “BEST BROTHERS/THIS IS JSB”.
It was a year spent communicating closely with all the fans, and I felt like I had accomplished one thing. The year 2022 will be a period in which each of us will reconsider ourselves in different places, and think carefully about our future movements as a group.
And as a result of searching for various things in that, first of all, I would like to tell MATE (fans) who have been close to me for the past 10 years, “JSB III will spend the rest of my life with you”.
Holding an arena tour for the first time in 9 years, “J SOUL BROTHERS III LIVE TOUR 2023 ‘STARS’ ~Land of Promise~” and going to see you all is what JSB Sandaime should be doing right now.
I thought. That’s why we spend a lot of time preparing, launching a fan club, and holding the “MEET&GREET TOUR” at the same time as the arena tour. Of course, I think it will also be a place to meet new people who know us.
It’s a place where we can directly look at each other’s faces and tell them, “Thank you for your continued support.” . To put it bluntly, I think it’s the beginning of “third generation JSB Chapter 2”.
ーーWhy did you add the subtitle “Land of Promise” to the title of the opening tour? These words are also spelled out in the lyrics of “Kono Uchu no Katakami de” (Lyrics: ØMI, UTA, SUNNY BOY / Composition: UTA / Producers: UTA, ØMI), which is included in your latest single “STARS”.
ØMI: Yes. The word “Land of Promise” originally appeared in the Bible. When I was writing the lyrics for “In This Corner of the Universe”, I was thinking about an expression that would be a key word, and I found it.
I thought it was a wonderful word that is perfect for us who are reuniting with our fans after a long time. So, I used it as it is for the lyrics. With the hope that each and every performance will become a “place of happiness,” I added a subtitle to the tour title.
–From the story of “In This Corner of the Universe”. Mr. ØMI, please tell us how you made it.
ØMI: For this song, the word “in this corner of the universe” came to mind before thinking about the atmosphere and melody, and I wanted to create a song with this title. So, first of all, throw an image to Mr. NAOTO.
If we, who have grown up and matured as a group, come back, it would be nice to have a ballad with a strong message. Regarding the title song “STARS”, I told him that I wanted to make “In This Corner of the Universe” a song like Episode 0.
Looking back on our activities in 2022, it was rare for all seven of us to be together, whether at work or in our private lives.
I think it was a year when everyone was fighting in their own world, or rather, they were living in their own ways. That’s why I wanted to make a song that hopes for the day when these 7 people gather in a corner of the universe together with MATE.
Along with that, I recorded the vocals as if they were speaking naturally rather than singing.
ーーI felt that the calm atmosphere of the beginning of the song and the sunny lyrics of “Let’s walk again when the rain stops” are linked to the world view of ØMI’s solo song “After the rain” released last year.
ØMI: We’re working with the same crew, and we’re both drawing small things about ourselves under the same big theme, so maybe our methods of expression naturally became closer.
In this corner of the universe, the word “universe” is a large scale, but what is actually drawn is the world of the individual in that corner. The theme of my solo song, “Sky,” is magnificent, but the sky that I see alone is a small world.
That said, I didn’t create it in connection with my solo song, rather I wanted to express the connection with “RAINBOW” that I made with ELLY in 2018 and the passage of time as JSB III. rice field.
ーーELLY is in charge of the rap for “RAINBOW”, but ØMI is the rapper for “Kono Uchu no Katasum de”.
What is your intention there? I think it wouldn’t be strange for the third generation JSB to have NAOTO-san, who is active as HONESTBOYZ®, and Iwata-san, who has started full-scale as a solo artist. ?
All: Ahahahaha!
Takanori Iwata (hereafter, Iwata): Yes, I’m trying to hold back (with a straight face).
NAOTO: I can do it if I want to, but I decided not to do it this time (laughs). But next time it might be different.
ØMI: If it’s the third generation JSB, there’s a lot of possibilities (laughs). But before trying various things, first of all, what kind of group was the original Sandaime JSB? “I want to express that.” Regarding the song for the single “STARS”, we decided to finish it with just the two vocalists.
ーーPlease tell us about the highlights of the MV (the interview was conducted before the MV was released).
NAOTO: The MV for “Kono Uchu no Katakami de” has a fantastical feel to it, but it’s unique in that it’s composed of solo cuts, just like in 2022, when each member was putting effort into their own activities.
ØMI: In the solo cut, items related to each member are scattered, so please pay attention to that as well. For example, in my scene, the image of Artemis that appears in solo music videos and live performances is showing how it has decayed over time.
In ELLY’s scene, there is a bronze statue of himself that appears in ELLY’s solo MV, and it’s also decayed, and it shows that time moves in the same way even when you’re away. death.
In the case of (Imaichi) Ryuji, the piano that he uses as a solo appears, and the solo project “CHAOS CITY” can be seen beyond the cliff Ryuji is standing on. I’m doing a program, so the news paper comes out.
ーーAh, so it’s not a DIY house building scene.
NAOTO: It’s not DIY! (smile)
ØMI: It’s not even a fishing scene (laughs). (Kobayashi) Naoki-san can play the guitar, so while playing this song on the guitar, wait for the train to go to the next place.
When NAOTO-san appeared in a car at “J SOUL BROTHERS III LIVE TOUR 2021 ‘THIS IS JSB'”, he was the one driving the car, so as an extension of that, he traveled by car. Since Iwa-chan usually draws, we filmed a scene where she draws a picture of a white rose.
NAOTO: Iwa-chan’s photo shoot took a lot of time, didn’t it?
Iwata: No, it was really hard. It took me about half a year to draw a picture…just kidding, that picture was prepared by the staff.
Everyone: (laughs).
Iwata: Everyone had a lot of locations, so it was affected by the weather, and it seemed like it would be difficult to move a lot, but I was comfortable indoors and finished shooting smoothly (laughs).
However, the white rose that I draw in the MV is an item that represents the fans, so I feel honored to be in charge of such an important scene. In the concept photo of “In This Corner of the Universe”, each of us has a member-colored rose.
“We can say ‘It’s not a once-in-a-lifetime experience’ for us who have achieved our dreams.” (ØMI)
–And the title song “STARS” (Lyrics: sty / Composition: Dirty Orange, sty) was produced by sty, the music producer and author of the representative song “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” increase. How was this born?
Iwata: We didn’t directly approach sty and ask him to make a song like this. I listened to the demo with the thought that I should find it. After listening to several songs, the one that all the members were convinced was “This is it!” was the EDM style “STARS”.
This is because when JSB Sandaime started to gain public recognition, the songs we released were mainly EDM-styled songs like “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” It’s a genre that is easy to express.
With sty writing a new song with the theme of “R.Y.U.S.E.I. pt.2”, I had a strong sense of anticipation that “we’ll be able to show the new third generation JSB!”
ØMI: sty-san wrote “R.Y.U.S.E.I.”, and he expressed the feelings and dreams we had at the time with the lyrics “I want to grab a DREAM for once in my life, so now”, and from there.
“STARS”, which was born after 8 years, has a different choice of words. Looking back now, we were so focused on ourselves at the time that we told ourselves that we only live once. “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” was the strength to push forward toward that dream.
But now that we have actually grasped a lot of dreams and experienced many things, we are now able to tell others that “it’s not just a once-in-a-lifetime experience”.
With this story in the background, I think “STARS” becomes a song with a deeper meaning, and this is exactly the kind of lyrics that only sty-san, who has always been watching over us, can write. I thought.
ーーIwata-san, who often says in interviews that “you only live once”, how do you take the lyrics of “STARS”, “You can’t live only once / No matter how many times you start over”?
NAOTO: Certainly, Iwa-chan often says that (laughs). how is it?
Iwata: You only live once! (laughs) That’s a condition that everyone in the world is given equally. However, it is important what you choose in your one-time life, and you can change your life depending on yourself.
It’s a song that sends out such a positive message, and I think that what it conveys is the same as “R.Y.U.S.E.I.“, just with different expressions, so I listen to it while empathizing with myself.
ØMI: To add to that, I think one of the reasons these lyrics were born is the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the corona disaster, our 10th anniversary memorial year was delayed by one year. But just because we stopped doesn’t mean it’s all over.
In that sense, I think it’s a song that can push everyone’s back, and when I was recording it, I sang it with the intention of properly conveying the message.
ーAs for the way you sing, last year I had a lot of opportunities to listen to ØMI’s solo songs, so I had a strong impression that ØMI was a relaxed and soft way of singing, but “STARS” has a different direction. I felt nostalgic in a different way.
ØMI: For the recording of “STARS”, I listened to the sound source of “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” again, and wondered how I was singing at the time. “I recorded it after confirming that.” It’s a song that was officially made as “R.Y.U.S.E.I. pt.2”, and I think it’s a song that everyone in MATE will be stunned by just listening to it, so I thought I’d pay homage to the way I sang it.
I approached the recording with the feeling of recreating myself back then. After 8 years, I really feel that my singing style and musical thinking have changed in a good way.
Up until now, it was only natural for me to always think that the way I sing now is the best and keep updating it, but by facing myself in the past on this occasion, I think that my horizons as a vocalist have broadened once again.
NAOTO: It looks like a running man (laughs). However, I don’t want to do Running Man as it is, but I thought, “I want to put in a symbolic dance that is unique to this song.” Actually, it was created by a choreographer, and while it has similar nuances to Running Man, the choreography was completed at a much higher level.
So, if all the fans were to ask if it would be an easy challenge, it might be quite difficult. But if you look closely, it’s a simple gesture! I would like you to take on the challenge, like Lesson 2 following “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” Let’s level up together (laughs).
Other than that, there are impressive moves in the chorus, so I think it’s easy to imitate those parts.
ーーIf you were to name the catchy chorus dance, what would it be?
Iwata: Eh, what is it?
NAOTO: The official name is jerk dance. It’s not a genre with a long history, but dance has become popular in recent years. It’s a swing that uses that jerk. It’s Jerking Man!
ØMI: Just hearing your name doesn’t sound popular, is that okay? (smile)
NAOTO: Well then, the “STARS Dance”!
ーー(laughs). Does your music video also focus on dance?
NAOTO: The highlight of the MV is the performance of the seven members. As I said before, the 7 members never got together in the MV for “Kono Uchu no Katakami de”. It’s a song that’s like a starting point, so I’m dancing from the beginning to the end.
I think it’s a very impressive work in a different direction than “In this corner of the universe”.
ーーDuring “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” only 7 people danced with Running Man, but this time 7 people are dancing from beginning to end.
NAOTO: Yes, yes. Isn’t it usually the other way around? That’s what I think, but we have a mysterious tendency that our vocals dance more and more each year (laughs).
ØMI: Regarding this song, NAOTO-san said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve done a song, so we want to perform from start to finish with everyone.” At the age of 35, I face new challenges every time (laughs).
NAOTO: Before, I used to worry about “Do you want to dance this part? Do you want to dance? You can focus on singing”. It’s not that I stopped paying attention to it, I really forgot (the premise that the vocalist wouldn’t dance)! “Perhaps because I’ve been away for a year, my senses have been reset.”
Everyone: (laughs).
ーーIn your solo activities, Imaichi-san and ØMI-san dance as a matter of course. I think that even among the fans, the image of “JSB III = everyone dances” has become established.
NAOTO: Moreover, both of them are getting better and better at dancing, so I think the expectations of the fans are also rising (laughs).
“We’re nurturing performance skills suitable for a comeback” (Iwata)
–Furthermore, for the coupling, “REPLAY” (Lyrics: ZERO (YVES&ADAMS) / Composition: Matt Ermine), which was pre-released in October last year, and the latest song “VII CROWNS” (Lyrics: ZERO (YVES&ADAMS) / Composition: RICO) GREENE, CHRIS HOPE) will be included.
Iwata: First of all, “REPLAY” is the theme song for the movie “Sadako DX”. On top of that, there is also a background that it was chosen because “I want an up-tune for the restarted tour, right? increase.
However, the first performance is yet to come, so it’s an unknown song for us. I think it’s a song that has the potential to be transformed live.
At the moment, I think that “REPLAY” only has the image of a music video with seven members of Sadako dancing, but I would like to show you a performance as JSB III, which is different from that image.
ーーThere are ballads, EDM-style message songs, and songs that get the audience involved in dancing.
Iwata: The beginning of “REPLAY” has a reggae style (laughs).
ØMI: In the early days, mid-tempo ballads were said to be “like JSB III”, but now we’re doing a lot more.
NAOTO: But now, no matter what kind of song we come across, when the two vocalists sing along, it feels like JSB Sandaime. I think the strength of that persuasive power was born precisely because the seven of us have been together for so many years, and because we have challenged various songs as a seven.
ーーAnd “VII CROWNS” is a song written by ZERO with the theme of “The Return of the King”.
ØMI: This was the last song out of the four. When I was thinking of making a 4-song single, the members said, “I want the tightest and most powerful song for a live performance,” so I chose the demo based on that.
So, in a good way, it’s a hip-hop-like tune from yesteryear, and it’s a track that shines with dance. As for the lyrics, it’s hard to say on our own, but… ZERO-kun’s theme of the “King” is us (laughs). But it’s not like I’m sitting cross-legged on the throne of the king, and I’m not satisfied with the current situation.
It is expressed as “the return of the king”, including the sadness, ephemerality, and strength that you can feel because you are on the throne. However, when recording, I didn’t think too much about the details.
For example, “REPLAY” had the “aim” of singing a little st**id in order to make the people who listened to it dance. I sang thinking only about it.
Iwata: Preparations for the arena tour started at the end of last year, and I’m at the stage of memorizing the choreography for this song right now, but this choreography is really intense. Detailed, fast, and difficult. But it would be amazing if all 7 of us could deliver this together! “It’s a choreography that you can think of.”
ーーDoes that mean that the 7 of you will be dancing to this song as well?
ØMI: That’s right. We don’t dance from beginning to end, but there are a lot of parts where the 7 of us dance, so the vocals are also working hard (laughs).
NAOTO: But it’s been a while since the 7 of us made a concert together, so it’s pure fun, right?
Iwata: Yes. This time it’s an arena tour, so I’m thinking of putting in a different kind of presentation than the dome. In the midst of that, everyone gathers together as much as possible and cultivates the performance power suitable for a comeback.
I think “VII CROWNS” is the easiest way to express our sense of unity, presence, and strength.
ーーLastly, please give a message to MATE.
NAOTO: I think we put up with it for a year last year, and we also feel that everyone is looking forward to JSB III’s live performances and transmissions.
That’s why, in order to give more than satisfaction in the new year, all 7 members want to dedicate everything to Sandaime JSB and MATE, and make this new first page a memorable one.
We have a lot of distance and time due to the corona crisis, but I want to exchange the heat that is boiling between us and MATE. And at the end of this year, I’ll have them say, “I’m already full of JSB III! But I still want to eat!”
ーーThe arena tour is going to be hot.
(laughs) In this single, we may be able to release the parts that we suppressed, so please look forward to JSB III in 2023.
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■ Release information
- NEW SINGLE『STARS』
- On sale February 1, 2023 (Wednesday)
- [SG + DVD (Smartphone compatible)] ¥ 3,850 (tax included)
- First time bonus (enclosed): Color card (8 types set)
- [SG + Blu-ray Disc (Smartphone compatible)] ¥ 3,850 (tax included)
- First time bonus (enclosed): Color card (8 types set)
■ Recording content
[CD]
- M1.STARS
- M2. In this corner of the universe
- M3.REPLAY
- M4.VII CROWNS
- M5.STARS (Instrumental)
- M6. In this corner of the universe (Instrumental)
- M7. REPLAY (Instrumental)
- M8.VII CROWNS (Instrumental)
[DVD]
- M1. STARS (Music Video)
- M2. In this corner of the universe (Music Video)
- M3. STRAS (Behind the scenes)
- M4. Behind the scenes
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