Produced by Goro Ito, Who Collaborated on "on-doc."

"noon moon" refers to the moon visible through the blue sky during the day. While the moon has appeared frequently in Harada's lyrics, this is the first time it has been used as the album's title.

"I tend to look up at the moon quite often. As I watched the moon wax and wane, I felt the passage of days. Even though its appearance changes daily, the moon is always there in the sky when I look up. I thought it might be interesting to make the moon the theme of an album. That's how it began. 'noon moon' was a phrase I came across while thinking about what specific kind of moon to focus on for the album. Just before that, I had been writing a poem called 'Moon in the Blue Sky,' so I felt it was a perfect fit and decided on it as the title."

"Moon in the Blue Sky" opens the album. Its gentle bossa nova rhythm and the melody that softly spills out are captivating.

"This was the first song Goro-san wrote. Ryuichi Sakamoto also participated by playing keyboards during the recording. Strangely, this song had the image of being the opening track of the album in everyone's minds from the time we were making it."

"The last song recorded was 'Brand New Day.' As soon as I heard the melody Goro-san wrote, I was able to write the lyrics immediately. It's a song where many feelings came out honestly, and I felt from the stage of writing the lyrics that it should be the last track on the album."

"In that sense, 'noon moon' is an album I was able to make very honestly. Rather than the method of rushing to create 10 songs once I decide to make an album, my ideal approach has always been to carefully face each song, thinking 'this one is good, that one is good too,' and then realizing, 'Oh, the album is finished.' I've always wanted to create music in that way. Releasing the album when it naturally reaches its peak. I'm glad I was able to create it this way this time."

Goro Ito, who produced the album

Because the album was created in this way, the songs seep into your body effortlessly. All 10 tracks are melodious and pleasant to the ear, evoking a sense of nostalgia even on the first listen.

An Homage to the 1980s Throughout the Album

"I believe Goro-san had the intention of paying homage to 1980s kayōkyoku and pop music throughout the album. Melodies from the past have a certain power, with many songs lingering in people's ears and hearts. Goro-san also wanted to create such melodies, and from that emerged songs like 'Moon in the Blue Sky,' 'Ephemeral Love,' and 'Double Rainbow.' They all have completely different colors, so much so that you wouldn't think they came from the same person. He also paid close attention to the arrangements; for example, 'Double Rainbow' has a memorable guitar riff intro. In terms of sound, we used keyboards and upright bass that evoke the 80s."

The natural resonance of acoustic guitar and piano also brings a sense of peace. The extensive use of live instruments likely stems from Harada's "on-doc." activities, which she has been holding regularly for the past few years.

"Until then, my live performances were always in a band format. But 'on-doc.' is just Goro-san on acoustic guitar and me, singing and reciting. We do everything with just the two of us, and there I really felt the importance of melody. When you strip away all the other sounds, you realize the power of melody. I thought that if I were to make another album, it would be nice to gather songs that could stand on their own, even if performed by just two people, like in 'on-doc.'"

The Synergy of Lyrics and Melody That Resonates Pleasantly

What stands out even more on this album are Harada's lyrics and her clear voice. They blend pleasantly with your ears, and the world depicted by the lyrics easily comes to mind. You naturally become an inhabitant of that world.

"Goro-san is someone who is very particular not only about the sound and meaning of words but also about how lyrics fit the melody. I was also very conscious of this aspect this time. Goro-san would write the music first, and then I would write the lyrics. Sometimes, I would adjust them, thinking 'four syllables, four syllables, three syllables would be good for this melody,' or conversely, if there was a word I absolutely wanted to include, I would consult with Goro-san and ask him to extend or shorten the melody slightly."

"This is one of the strengths of our relationship now – being able to do such things without hesitation. By doing so, we may have been able to create an album that flows naturally when listened to. It's been about 8 years since Goro-san and I met, and this is our third album together. We've toured many times, which led to 'on-doc.,' and I feel I can say anything to him and be myself. I consider him a crucial understanding partner in my music. Meeting someone like that is truly significant. I feel we've arrived here today because of our 8 years together, listening to the finished album."

"Looking Back, Each Album Contains the Me of That Moment"

Since her debut, Harada has consistently pursued her music career alongside her acting. Does she feel any difference as a performer between acting and singing?

"In acting, there's first the work, then the director, and then my role. It's about how I fulfill my part within a larger piece. In other words, it's a time of intense focus, peering into and experiencing the lives of completely different people."

"In music, of course, there's the producer and the musicians, and we collaborate on various aspects like the sound, but fundamentally, I have to think from scratch about what to create. It's about how to express myself at the present moment."

"It's the place where the current me is most reflected... it's close to my true self. That's why, looking back, each album contains the me of that moment."

"noon moon" expresses the current, authentic Harada. She plans to tour nationwide with live performances.

"Some venues were booked last year at my request. They are places where I've wanted to perform someday. The former Guggenheim House in Kobe is one such place. We'll be performing in various venues, and the number of musicians might change slightly depending on the venue. We plan to play the same songs, but I hope you'll enjoy the live arrangements that change from time to time. Come to think of it, the number of performances has increased quite a bit. But as the tour progresses, I find myself wanting to add even more dates."

Through "on-doc.," she conveys the comfort of everyday music, and from that, the new album "noon moon" was created. While it's certainly wonderful to listen to intently, it's also comfortable to have it playing in the background while doing other things in your daily life. The album possesses that kind of encompassing quality.

"I would be incredibly happy if you did. For my previous album, I personally felt it was more of an album to listen to with headphones, immersing myself in my own world. This time, it's more of an album that I hope will flow through your daily life. I would be very happy if this album were playing in someone's life, and I truly hope it becomes an album that people can listen to for a long time."

"noon moon"

Tomoyo Harada
Now on Sale
3,240 yen (RZCM-59598) http://www.commmons.com/noon_moon