MUCA Magazine seibin interview

When I first started music, it was MIDI files of classic games that I first got in touch with.

I loved the melody lines that makes you think of memories from the younger days, and I felt special with the music played in the games.

In that way, making tracks for games are fun and meaningful to me.

That’s why I introduced myself as a ‘game music composer’.

It would be wonderful to keep working on this area of work, but sometimes I felt it would be dreamy to expand my work to become a composer like ‘Tanaka Kohei’ working for games and the animations and such.

Well, when I first got asked to create a track for DJMAX, it was hard since there are already so many tracks in DJMAX.

Title of this series was RESPECT, so when I worked, I tried to add that meaning as much as possible.

Then, I remembered ESTi’s Ladymade Star movie was displayed in DJMAX, and I felt since the theme was RESPECT, how about I try RESPECT that movie.
So the genre naturally became ‘Ani Pop’.

Also, thinking about how I first compose music, then it became this, ‘sophomoric weird dystopia magical girl’ story.

Then, I could not stop on composing, and felt I want to be involved in the movie as well.

So I contacted other people to plan and create.

PaXim, who produced this movie, works with me in the same company and always create the best contents possible and the illustrator, Clover is an illustrator I always admired because of the unique and pretty characters.

These two put so much effort and love into ALiCE with me. I want to send a thank you to them in this interview again.

First, thank you. I intended that in the music ways when I composed and it feels satisfying that someone noticed.

Well, when I was composing this track, I was worried about the concept or the story, but the most frustrating part was editing.

Personally the point I feel satisfied during playing DJMAX is when I try to process notes in an appropriate density and playing sounds of electric guitar, so I try to send these experiences by spending lots of times on configuring instruments.

I am not really involved in patterns, but to the pattern designers, I send my respect!

Often, to ease producing, vocals go into the booth one by one and record, even chorus parts.

However, to take shots for making film, I asked them to go into the booth together and sing.

We didn’t turn the mic off, but they sang even better in some parts singing together and some kind of karaoke atmosphere was made… (Laugh)

So I added some takes from them singing together even though there were some noises.

I learned that the scene’s atmosphere really matters in some point.