AL.NI.CO
SHOW WESUGI & HIROSHI SHIBASAKI
LONG INTERVIEW

"The Future of Their Voices"

Show Wesugi and Hiroshi Shibasaki. They are the people who left their office for the sake of rockn' roll; the people who sought for their future and won their dreams. What are they going to sing now, and where would that voice reach? This interview is a record of what they have gone through.

I think it's been long since you last had an interview.

S. Yes, it's been a long time. It's hard to express your feelings.... But I'm glad I can get it across with my own words to the people who have been waiting for us.

H. It's not easy to explain everything so instantly, like what we went through, and what kind of music we want to play in the future.

But you're starting to nail down some solid vision of your music?

H. Well, not a solid vision, but we don't want to get too conceptual, and we do have certain images for al.ni.co. We decided to get together last November, but during the past year, we weren't sure if we would do it as a group or in solo, and I started helping Show in shaping his ideas into music. That's how it started off.

So for Hiroshi, it's more like helping Show?

H. Yes, it's just another way a duo can be formed. If I'm only a helper, it's just a matter of putting my name in Show's music as an arranger or sound producer. But I've made great contributions to his music, and I see myself as part of the group. I don't want to be boastful or anything, but everytime we make music, I was always impressed by our amazing collaboration. At times, I arranged them by my own feelings and realized we were already working as a duo. I'm planning to make my personal work some other time. Most of all, I really enjoy producing music with someone like Show, because he holds fascinating ideas.

Did you always want it that way?

S. Well, it's natural that it came out this way......I'm not sure why. (laugh)

H. It was like this when we realized. (laugh) But it's really a natural result for us.

S. Um, quite a natural result.

In order to know how al.ni.co was formed, I'd like to know why you two withdrew from WANDS. I don't mean to be offensive, but at first, I wasn't interested at all in WANDS. However, when I heard the song, "Same Side" from "WANDS BEST," it caught my attention. Then I heard that in al.ni.co, you're going to extend the vision you had there, so I wanted to interview you.

S. The reason why we withdrew from the band, is basically what you just said. And we're glad you felt that way by listening to the CD. (laugh) Well......we weren't really happy with the music that we made in WANDS. It wasn't enough. The band members originally were selected individually by the producer, then put together. The music was also directed by the producer. Our stance was to stay within the framework that the producer gave us, and yet to stretch it as far as possible. Everytime we made music, we tried to expand the limit. But after a while we realized that the musicality of WANDS has expanded so much, that it could explode any second. Plus, the initial image of the band WANDS and the image of the music that I wanted to create in the future were so far apart.

The fans were looking for pop rock with a catchy tune and sweet, mellow love songs, but you had resistance against that?

S. To make it simple, that's exactly what I'm saying. (laugh) But I tried my best in expressing myself while I was in WANDS.

But you didn't feel so out of tune when you first joined WANDS?

S. I didn't think so much about the band itself, because my main interest was being involved in rock. I thought of myself more as a "vocalist." I started creating some songs, and it took me a few years to notice that something was different.

During the time in WANDS, you discovered what you really want to do?

S. Yes. When I was in WANDS, I didn't think of it as a time of discovery......when I look back, though, that's probably true. But I guess that the former fans won't be so delighted to hear this......

Well, you were true to your feelings when you were in WANDS, right?

S. Yes, I enjoyed it. There were good times. I decided to quit that band because I wanted to create music that I can be more satisfied with.

Do you still cherish the fans who supported you as the vocalist of WANDS?

S. I wonder if they would like my new music the way they liked my old ones. Even if they don't, that's that and I can't help it. This is the type of music I like now, and I can't betray myself.

We've talked with Show, now Hiroshi, why did you withdraw from the band?

H. For me, WANDS was where I created music within what Show, I, and the company had in common. We couldn't do whatever we wanted to, but I was looking for a good balance. The ultimate goal was to keep the balance within the band, and be free from the company's policy. But then Show said he wanted to quit, so I started thinking what I should do. In my vision of WANDS, Show wasn't just a vocalist, but the one with the spirit. When he withdrew, the WANDS within myself left with him, and I started to lose interest in the band. Everything was undecided at that point, but I chose to leave the band because I wanted to stick with things that I had interest in. Also, as a WANDS fan myself, I wanted to keep the band in my memories.

When you quit the band, did you have a strong feeling for being together with Show?

H. Yes, and no. Of course Show is an attractive person but since I wasn't in WANDS anymore, I wanted to do my own things too. However, our music did have a lot in common, so I thought we could support each other in that way.

But in creating music, you have it your own way, right? Without worrying how Show would react to that.

H. That's true. (laugh) But that's saying too much. I don't know about the future, but right now, when I listen to Show's demo tape I play what I feel is right. It's different from having it my own way. Show appreciates my feelings for his music.

So, would you explain the relationship between you two?

H. Well, it's like what I said in the beginning. I'm...I don't like the wording but, an intrusive helper? (laugh)

S. We're both individualists. (laugh)

H. But I enjoy creating music in al.ni.co a lot.

S. Yes, I enjoy it too. Our relationship now is very easy-going and smooth, and it's easy to say my opinions. Very relaxing.

I just want to make sure, but was it absolutely impossible to create the sound that Show wanted in the band, WANDS?

S. Well when it comes to absolution, maybe it wasn't so definite......but......when I made the last album in WANDS, I knew I did it to the given limit and that I couldn't have gone any further. Also, I don't believe continuance is everything. For example, if I thought that quitting the band would be a positive influence to my own music, I would quit. If I want to, I can form a band again. If there was something that we built up in WANDS, continuance isn't necessarily the way to protect it. There are things that could be ruined by going on. However, I wasn't so quick in making my decision. Even in the B-PASS articles from those days, it obviously shows that I was being indecisive. (laugh)

What things held against you in quitting?

S. Well, the fans, of course. The music of WANDS was created by a combination of the company, the producer, and all of us. But when it comes to releasing the song, we are the representatives, and everything goes through us.

By the way, what were you doing when you first withdrew from the band?

S. Playing computer games. (laugh)

In my sense, I thought you would start writing songs immediately in all gladness. (laugh)

S. I can't resist good things. (laugh)

You weren't nervous about what you would do next?

S. No. Since when I was young, I always had some kind of unreasonable confidence in myself. And I knew I wouldn't quit singing. So I was ready to sing under any circumstance.

When did you start writing songs for al.ni.co?

H. I didn't write any for al.ni.co, but Show has been doing it.

S. Yes, I've been writing since when I was in WANDS.

H. I listened to one of those songs when we were still in WANDS. I remember being moved, but at that point, neither he nor I nor anyone thought of playing that in WANDS. Now, it's one of my favorite songs. The one with only two chords, you know.

Was it in the al.ni.co tape I listened to?

H. Yes. At that point, we didn't have any vision of the music that we wanted to do.

S. True. Even now, I don't have any vision. I've been mentioning the phrase "the sound we want" so many times, but this is different from things like "the style we want" or "the melody and the voice we want." I like punk music, but I don't think there should be a clear definition of what punk is. More than that, I want to be true to myself, and to express that freely.

I see. If you're impressed by something, you just show it. And you can call that "my song."

S. Yes. I don't really care about the sound as long as it expresses me, and the music comes from me. Also, I want to challenge something new. That's about the only two things I have in mind.

How about Hiroshi?

H. I absolutely agree with him. Show's way of disregarding the style gives me more choice as a partner, and even if it ends up in an established genre, that musical approach is important for us. I don't know much about punk music, but if it's what Show is talking about, then I can say I like it.

S. Yes, that's where he was most understanding. Which leads to why we're working together now. "Let's create something touching, in a situation where we're free of everything."

H. It's hard to write the songs, but it's a lot of fun. We don't have limits or categories, so the ideas just expand. For example, when Show brings the song in a tape, it could be guitar and voice, or a humming of a tune. That expands as we work on it, and the past year was when I rediscovered how interesting that could be.

Would you like to go on adding more members like a band, or would you choose to stay this way?

S. Umm, right now, I believe the two of us is fine. (laugh)

You might add more members if you want, but you might stay this way if you find that easier?

S. Yes, depends on how things will turn out. (laugh)

Why is it that you're starting off from a major record company? I thought you didn't really care about these things as long as you could create music your own way.

S. I guess it's also just how things turned out. (laugh)

H. But both of us wanted to turn to major some day.

S. At first, we were going to release one as an amateur, but as a pro, I didn't want to leave things like that. I also wanted to see the continuing story of "Show Wesugi" myself, and I wanted my fans to see it too. We didn't have any preferences for the company as long as they understood our stances, but I think we were very lucky to find a place where they support us.

Do you two get along well?

S. I'm a hard person to get along with. (laugh) I think that's how Hiroshi thinks. (laugh)

H. Well, we have a lot in common. (laugh) Neither of us are social, and Show can't open up to people who don't understand his music. (laugh) We're understanding each other through music. Also, because I share many experiences with him, it's probably a bit easier for me to get along with him. (laugh) To tell you the truth, I do want to be tougher, mentally. (laugh)

Not the social kind?

H. No.

But I heard Hiroshi tells good jokes. (laugh)

H. Well, I'm the "lion at home, mouse abroad" type. (laugh) It's easy to joke around with close people.

What are some jokes that you've shared with Show?

H. I think Show thought of this one. There was a movie named "meguri-ai" and Meg Ryan was in it. Combined, "Megu-Ryan"......

..................

S. I guess it's not funny. (laugh)

H. Um, that's about it. (laugh)

By the way, Show, I heard that you lost a lot of weight. Are you okay now?

S. There was a period of time when I didn't want to eat much. I guess something was wrong with my body. (laugh) After a while, I got better. (laugh)

Lastly, is music still something special for you?

S. Music is really fascinating. I know I sound like Haruo Mizuno. (laugh) I've always been listening to music, and I enjoy it. "Enjoying" in this case, is different from "being amused." Rather, it sinks into my heart. In the future, I wish to create that kind of music.

al.ni.co