Hi, How’s it going?
May 1, 2019 is the first day of Japan’s new era, 令和 Reiwa.
And it is the release date of my new mini album, “Free Somebody”.
Among hundreds of songs I wrote, I chose 4 songs and recorded during Oct last year and Jan to March this year. Then I had an engineer mixed in April.
It’s been about 4 years since I released my last full album “Skyhigh” ,which was my first and an experimental work using a lot of instruments including synth guitar, vocal effects, banjo, violin, soundscape, etc.
This new album has the message “Set yourself free to free people around you.”
I focused more on words, melodies, and vocals this time.
Just like the last time, I composed and played all instruments, and then wrote lyrics and took all vocals (the guitar solo on 1 and 3 are played by Yoshihiro Kajita, the guitar player I admire the most in Japan).
The analog mixing technique by the engineer, Michifumi Onodera helped the album create the feeling of floating.
If you have speakers in your room, I recommend that you play my music using them and you can fully enjoy the acoustics.
The album artwork is by Gaku Yamazaki, a cartoonist in Tokyo.
The door represents the way to the freedom.
It is always up there right in front of you and waiting for you to open.
I feel that I’m very fortunate to be able to work with great talents!You can watch movies of the recording process on my another post: https://hidanotaka.com/happy-new-year/
Here are the 4 songs and lyrics.
1.Angel
I wanted to express true love through this song.
It has a unique floating feeling with the sounds of synthesizer and the air.
Lyrics:
“I’ll be waiting for you to come here
Until the day I’ll be with you
No matter how long it takes I really don’t care
‘cause my life is for you
You are an angel for me
There’s nobody else like you
Must be an angel for me
I really love the way you are
When I see your eyes that make me feel alright
When I see your smile that makes my world so bright… “
2.One
This song is about “Living through anything”.
We only live once and with strength and belief, I believe that we can push the limits to achieve what we desire.
Lyrics:
“窓の向こうの青い空 ずっと見つめている
You are looking at the blue sky through the window
何かを探しているような 迷っているような
You seem like looking for something or maybe wondering where to go
そんな顔で君は もううつむかないで
Don’t look down with the sad face like that anymore
何も起こらないよ
Nothing will happen doing that
誰かの声を待っていちゃ 奇跡だってさ
If you are just waiting for someone to show you the way
さあその手で扉を開いて その足でこの世界を行くんだ
Now, open the door with your hands and live your life
そこで待っているよ もっと大きな自分自身
And you will be a lot greater
未完成のままで誰も皆 流されながら歩いているんだ
Everyone is incomplete, and walking/flowing in time just like you
だって一度きりの 二度とない世界で生きているから
We all have one life and living in this world
3. Sounds of Words
This song is about the miscommunication, or the relationships among people who can not understand each other just saying words meaninglessly.
That is sort of a situation which lets everyone down.
I wanted to include this song in the album to express the difficulties we face in life.
Lyrics:
“What are these things we are talking every day and night?
Just like another world’s end,
Nowhere we can go
And there are only words that floating in this empty space
Is there anyway we can find a way to go?
I just want to be with you and that is all
But when I look at you ,you look away and nobody knows
what is going on and then this moment of silence
comes and goes and take us to the place we’ve been before
You just want to be with me that is what you say
But when you look at me I look away unintentionally
moving away from the time we should share
and the sounds of words are fading away again.”
4.Free Somebody
This song is about living harmoniously with someone important.
And that is the way one should take after setting his/herself free, I believe.
Lyrics:
“僕らはこの毎日の意味を知らずに歩いていた
We were walking without noticing the messages we receive everyday
あの日いつもの交差点で出会うその日まで
Until the day when we met at the crossing that we would go through
何かが始まる音がして 時計が止まった
We felt that something started and the time stopped for a moment
この先の道に何も 確かなことは無くとも
We don’t know what the future brings
ずっと笑い合っていようよ 今はこのままで
But let’s be together and stay as we are
寂しさや悲しみさえも 分け合えるように
And we can share the ups and downs
どうかそのままでいてね
So please stay as you are
いつか思い出が風に消えるまで
Until the very last day when the memories fade in the air
そっと手を重ねて 離さないように
Let’s hold hands and be as one
ずっとこの日々が輝きますように
I hope to continue this forever
そっと手を重ねて 離さないように
Let’s hold hands and be as one
Here is the link to download/listen to this new album: Free Somebody
My previous work, is also available: Skyhigh
I will keep on creating art and music.
I’m very thankful for being able to do what I like and really appreciate everyone’s support.
I hope my works will be your inspiration.
Taka
