[2008.04.02] aiko interview

[gloomybear]

aiko interview

[Oricon] It’s already been ten years!

[aiko] Time passes quickly, doesn’t it? When I debuted 10 years ago, I couldn’t imagine where or what I would be doing. Then when I think about it, it feels like I debuted yesterday. (laughs). On this TV show I was on, they said “Within today’s female performers, you’re the oldest, huh?” made me wonder if that much time has already passed. (laughs).

[Oricon] Well… this new album is your 8th one! (laughs). Even so, “Himitsu” (secret) is a deep and meaningful album. Before I knew it, I was really into it.

[aiko] Really? That makes me happy! Thank you! I was making this album into what I had in mind. Without a goal made, I recorded and chose songs that I had liked, or songs that I wanted people to hear, or songs I wanted to make. Because I did it that way, I didn’t know how that album would turn out when we started to record. I had to really think about how to connect the songs and conclude them, kind of like a story.

[Oricon] Is that so? It’s to say that each song creates a fog, but has it’s own vivid color. So each one has something intimate thoughts from you?

[aiko] I wonder if it’s something like that… Even I don’t know why each song has a different feeling to it! (laughs). But maybe I’m getting old. The things I wasn’t open to a long time ago, I’ve become open to now. So then I’m able to express myself more. In the depths of my heart, I’ve finally able to become strong as my worries faded. The things I’ve wanted to say to people, but couldn’t say… Those were feelings I were put into each song on this album. I felt that they were more like a “himitsu” (secret) and so that word became the album title.

[Oricon] The song, “Himitsu” wasn’t made specially made for the album, was it?

[aiko] Yes, that’s right. The song “Himitsu” was recorded around a year ago. Then we later decided to specifically add the song to the album. While making the album, the director and I had a “it’s ‘Himitsu’ too, isn’t it?” discussion. Looking back, I’m glad we were able to add the song.

[Oricon] Indeed. Having the song in the middle of the album really catches the moment.

[aiko] Really? I’m still going for more down the road, marking this spot with “Himitsu”. To have you say that makes me happy.

[Oricon] Ah, well… having you explain the reasoning behind the title, I’m completely satisfied. It’s like being shared a little secret in each song.

[aiko] It doesn’t mater how old you are, there are secrets you hold, right? There may be secrets that you’ll never share in a lifetime. And for me to be able to leave behind one secret within a song makes me feel like I can truly become happy.

[gloomybear]

here's one of her songs 「二人」 and it's a cute music vid =]