An Album That Leverages Both Her Acting and Singing Talents

—This is a cover album, but what led to its production?


—This album is released under the 'Verve' label. Did that influence your song selection?

Goro Ito (hereafter, Ito)We didn't consciously think about it that much, but it's certainly a pleasure to have the Verve mark on the CD. Verve is a jazz label, but it also has many classic bossa nova albums, like those by Getz/Gilberto. It's a label where brilliant jazz musicians release works with a pop sensibility. Initially, we envisioned 'Renai Shosetsu' with a bit more jazz and bossa nova influence, but as we worked on it, the scope broadened.

HaradaI suggested 'Fly Me to the Moon' and 'Blue Moon.' It's a coincidence, but both have 'Moon' in the title.




—Where did the title 'Renai Shosetsu' (Love Novellas) come from?

HaradaThe concept of covering love songs came first, so the title naturally followed. I thought of it as being like a collection of short stories. As if ten stories come together to form one work. With original albums, we start from scratch, discussing the concept, composing songs, writing lyrics, and deciding on a title. But for this, it felt more like being given a script and playing a role.

ItoIndeed, she sings as if acting, and the nuance is quite different from the previous album. This time, the songs already existed, and we focused on interpreting them and expressing them in our own way. We put a lot of effort into the arrangement of each song, so it's a very rewarding listen.

—I was surprised by the completely new arrangement of the first track, 'Yume no Hito' (Dream Person).



ItoIt's sentimental, the lyrics are so fresh, and it's heart-wrenching. It's a bit of a deep cut among The Beatles' songs, but a hidden gem. I'm glad we could cover it on this album. It's a truly wonderful song.

Page 2: The Challenges and Joys of Covering Songs

The Challenges and Joys of Covering Songs

—The lineup includes songs from various eras.

HaradaEnglish has a unique way of fitting words to melody, so I started by listening to the original songs repeatedly to grasp that. The most challenging part of the interpretation process was Melody Gardot's 'Baby I’m a Fool.' I loved the original, and her vocal performance is incredibly powerful. I struggled with how to bring out my own style while still embodying the character required.

Then there was 'Don't Know Why.' Initially, I had Norah Jones' voice in my head and was unsure how to sing it. But Goro's arrangement gave it a completely different feel, allowing me to sing it in my own way.

ItoJesse Harris even sang with us.

HaradaUltimately, it turned out that way. It was the only song that took me a long time to be satisfied with my vocal performance, and I re-recorded it many times.

ItoHe's very efficient! (laughs) When we sent him the audio, he said, 'I'll sing it.'

HaradaI was astonished. It was a wonderfully surprising development.

Musician-to-Musician Communication

—You recently appeared on 'RADIO SAKAMOTO' and spoke about the album.

HaradaYes. Yukihiro Takahashi was the navigator. It felt more like a casual chat (laughs). He seemed to be particularly attentive to the drum sounds.

ItoThat's right. The drummer, Keita Ogawa, is only 31, quite young. There aren't many people who can play drums with that kind of nuance. I asked him to play in a style that I thought Takahashi-san would like. I had previously asked Takahashi-san to play drums on my solo album. I mentioned how much I loved the collaboration between Al Green and drummer Al Jackson on the 'Hi Records' label. This time, the sound is inspired by that, so I was delighted that he responded so positively.

HaradaThere's a certain communication that happens between musicians, isn't there? Conveying something through sound rather than words, and having it perceived as intended – that's quite fascinating.

—The arrangements feel very free, and listening to them, one can imagine you enjoying the performance.

ItoYes. Especially with covers, I want to have fun. With original songs, there's the agony of creation, the worry of whether people will like it... but with covers, the original song has already passed that test (laughs).

HaradaBecause they are, by definition, great songs (laughs). That's why they've been loved by so many people for so long. The production process was incredibly enjoyable.

—You and Ito have been collaborating on productions for a long time now, haven't you?

HaradaYes. It started when I sang on Goro's solo album, and then we made the album 'music & me' in 2008. This is our fourth album together. For the past three years or so, we've also been holding 'on-doc.' (Ondoku), an event combining song and recitation, together. It's a very hands-on live performance, and we travel to various venues across the country irregularly. Since it's just the two of us, we have to support each other, creating a tense atmosphere. Singing in places with different acoustic setups each time has strengthened my abilities, and it has allowed us to build a relationship of trust with Goro. Goro isn't someone who explains a lot, but he has a great sense of playfulness, and you never know what will emerge until the very end. Now, I can relax and enjoy that aspect too. I feel like we've both evolved slightly over time, and those moments have been captured as sound.



ItoContinuing to create with the same person is something rare. Of course, there are times when things don't go smoothly, but there are definitely things that accumulate over time. You also become less self-conscious, and I think the ability to add playful elements comes from working together for so long. I truly feel that continuation is a good thing.

—Could you tell us again what the highlights of this album are?

HaradaI believe we've created a work that will be enjoyed for a long time. How people listen will vary, but I'm confident they'll be able to listen to it repeatedly without getting tired of it. Creating an album like that is difficult, so I'm very satisfied with the result. It's for those in love, of course, but also for those who haven't been in love recently, I hope it evokes memories of those feelings. I'd be happy if people of all ages could enjoy it.

ItoI feel the same way. I also think the jacket art is wonderful. Inside the booklet, you can see expressions of Harada that are rarely seen, so please take a look. I'm also looking forward to the live performances.


'Renai Shosetsu'
Tomoyo Harada
3,240 yen (UCCJ-2120)
Label | VERVE
Universal Music
http://www.universal-music.co.jp/harada-tomoyo/products/uccj-2120/
On Sale Now




Tomoyo Harada LIVE TOUR 2015 "Renai Shosetsu" Toyama Helios Performance
Date | Saturday, May 30th
Venue | Toyama Nanto City Circular Theater Helios
Toyama Prefecture Nanto City Yakata 100 Fukuno Culture Creation Center Helios
Tel. 0763-22-1125
nantohelios.jp