KOKIA is ready to start celebrating he 25th anniversary! For the occasion, we managed to talk to here about her career. Read our interview, support KOKIA and follow her through her sns!
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TN: You are reaching your 25th anniversary. Time flies! What do you remember of your early career days?
KOKIA: I don’t even remember what I was like 25 years ago. I think I let myself go with the flow.
And everything comes as a consequence.
If there’s one thing I can say, I never gave up singing whatever happened however I struggled with something which led me to 25 years.
TN: You have released more than 15 albums. Is there one that has a special place in your heart? Why?
Personally, I always come back with the album “Where to go my love?” but it doesn’t mean that was the best album.
I would say, the music that I wrote is like my diary from the past, so it’s a very nostalgic feeling to look back.
For instance, the more you struggle, the more you remember the experience. From that point of view, when I was recording “Where to go my love?” was the hardest moment of my life.
TN: Your career has changed a lot throughout the years. Why have you decided to be more independent?
Simple.
I wanted to have freedom in creating.
TN: You decided to share your music in Europe and you know many languages. How do you feel about expanding your music all over the world?
Firstly, I really appreciate that people from all over the world like my music.
Music is my language so when I found out my music succeeded in other countries it made sense.
And I always believe music is for all living people on this planet, so I never limit myself to sing only for Japanese people.
TN: Your Japanese peers talk about the “KOKIA style”. Kalafina’s KEIKO talked about studying and loving your music style to shape her solo career, for example. How would you define your own music style?
This has been the most difficult question for me to answer.
I do have my own style, but I can also do any style and mostly, it all fits.
Maybe I am like a chameleon.
Maybe no genre and not to be defined is my style.
TN: You are known for your amazing live performances! Through the pandemic but also before you delivered many beautiful concerts both live and online. What do you like the most about holding a concert?
As a musician concerts bring out the best in me because support from the audience is intoxicating and empowering. You can’t match that in the studio.
TN: On 7th May you released the song “I would have golden tea with a silver fox during being lost” (迷子の私は銀のキツネと金の紅茶を) from the album “Golden tea with a silver fox” (銀のキツネと金の紅茶を). Can you tell us about the creation of this song and what does it mean to you?
Such a poetic way to express how I feel about being lost during COVID situation as an artist.
I had to cancel a big concert that I had already set up for spring 2020.
It was all ready just to waiting for the audience to welcome.
But suddenly, the situation forced me to cancel it without any compensation/reparation from the government.
In so many ways, I was shocked.
It’s almost like creatively my time was frozen at that time.
But after all, I sensed my heart started to glow again, I felt hope.
That is the feeling I captured into this song.
My belief about musicians, is giving a bit of essence to make our lives more colorful.
So, even though what I’ve been through wasn’t a great thing to experience, I could rather make this moment meaningful in the future.
“Having tea with a silver fox” is a metaphor for an unexpected, strange situation that I had. This is a song about my being ready to sing and move from it.
TN: Can you talk about the latest album “Golden tea with a silver fox” (銀のキツネと金の紅茶を) too, released on 29th April? How was the creation process?
This time it wasn’t that hard.
Because it was clear to me what I exactly wanted to express through the song from the very beginning.
Usually process of writing music just needs to be honest to my heart, and if so there’s nothing difficult to me about creating.
Sometimes, it takes more time to get to the core.
I decided to make a mini album since COVID.
It was my need to release pent-up feelings which came from this unexpected situation.
The first album is like the voice of my heart calling for help.
And the second one is its determination!
And the third album is full of my conclusions.
I’m sure listeners can sense how my feelings are changing through these 3 mini albums.
As an artist, I always transform my own experience into music.
I write meaningful songs more when I am in difficult situations than happy situations.
So, from that point of view, even though the last 2 years have been very unusually challenging, they made me to improve as an artist- that’s how I see it.
TN: Is there something you can share about your future projects?
There’s upcoming online livestream concert on the 25th June at 20:00(JST).
I’ll perform from my works that I wrote for animation and games, for example “Mahoutsukai no yome”, “Saiyuuki Gaiden”, “Gunslinger Girl” theme songs that are rare for me to perform live.
Please don’t miss this opportunity to see it.
You can purchase tickets for the concert from here.
TN: Could you please leave a message to all of your fans?
My 25th anniversary is coming in next spring.
I could only achieve such a long career because I have always had such a heartwarming loyal fanbase.
So, thank you everyone for supporting me and be there for me throughout my career.
The energy that I have received from fans feeds my music. I appreciate this great feedback with you guys, and I will always give this feeling back to you through my music.
