SCANDAL; 10 Years Worth of Memories in Their Best Album, Now Released! - Interview with T-SITE (The

SCANDAL; 10 Years Worth of Memories in Their Best Album, Now Released! - Interview with T-SITE

(The following interview translation focuses on: The album title for the BEST ALBUM + ‘FREEDOM FIGHTERS’ + 'HELLO’ + SCANDAL’s new start after 10 years)

For SCANDAL who has welcomed their 10th year anniversary since forming, they’ve release their best album『SCANDAL』, as created from fan votes. Throughout 10 years of conveying the things they had, the members are once again hit with very real feelings of having conveyed them. They speak of their thoughts about the strongest best album that they’ve made together with their fans.

The Best Album’s Title Can’t Be Anything Else But「SCANDAL」

－－They weren’t placed according to their rankings, so was it random?

RINA: We firstly decided that it should be a 2-disc set, so we started off with splitting (the songs) into two. We went about pairing them up as we created it, like, this song will go great with this other song.

MAMI: As we chose them according to, 'The song that’s of a similar position is this song I suppose?’, we wanted to make DISC 1 and DISC 2 the same in terms of listenable content. We selected them in order to make both (discs) equally strong.

－－As you all thought in that way, it became a 2-disc set I see. Since the release periods were randomised as well, you can go 'Oh! They sound so young!’ and stuff, and be able to enjoy the many things in these 10 years.

HARUNA: Our vocals have changed considerably (laughs).

MAMI: This time around, we included the release dates in the lyrics card. So the voices that would sound refreshing would be our earliest songs, which you can see on the cards as you think about it. I think you can enjoy it in such a way.

－－Be it your long-time fans, or those that got into you guys recently, there are different things to enjoy.

HARUNA: Yes. That’s why, we said that the title couldn’t be anything other than 『SCANDAL』.

MAMI: This had been long-awaited. Feels like we’ve done it for this very time.

－－Once again, do you have any songs on this that you feel were your turning points?

HARUNA: There are plenty. If we go down in order,『Shoujo S』and 『Shunkan Sentimental』were huge songs that allowed many to know about SCANDAL. They were both Anime theme songs, but with regards to having been able to do them, we were able to build deeper connections with those overseas, and since we had fate with going overseas since our indies period, we were able to make it happen more frequently. They were songs that gave us the chance to perform one-man lives today, and to convey ourselves to people in all kinds of places.

TOMOMI: Even till now, bands from the light music club are copying (our songs) at cultural festivals etc., which makes us really happy.

MAMI:『Awanai Tsumori no, Genki Dene』was the first single release we had after our very first Osaka-jo Hall one-man live. Since playing a one-man at the Osaka-jo had been our dream since our formation, after achieving that, this single feels like we’re once again giving it our all and restarting over.

RINA: I’m with everyone. I also do think『Shunkan Sentimental』and『Shoujo S』were the biggest opportunities we had (that people got to know us).『Awanai Tsumori no, Genki Dene』was what we’d set out with with renewed hearts, after achieving our dreams.

The 2 New Songs「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」and「HELLO」On The Best Album

－－Plus, in both DISC 1 and DISC 2, new songs have been included.

MAMI: We just finished recording for them 2 days before this interview, sorry (laughs). Both songs are very distinctly different from one another. There’s a pop song and a killer rock tune inside.

HARUNA: The song titles are『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』and『HELLO』;『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』is a rock tune, whereas『HELLO』is pop, and is a slightly pained love song. We’ve represented our current selves in different manners up till now, and we do think that we’re a band that conveys to people who we are right now and what we think, but in『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』, it was yet again a new way of getting that across. It’s a song that really emphasised on being loud. Since the bass sounds really cool, we were practically squirming about wanting people to hear it quickly. And then, in the other song,『HELLO』; Has it been a year ago, I wonder? We finished the demo and have always been mulling over it, but we talked over it and decided with everyone that now is the best timing to release it.

RINA: It’s just right that the release day is Valentine’s Day. Besides being a heartwarming, seasonal type of love song, we thought that it’ll be great to put such a Winter song inside. I’m really into this one too.

HARUNA: Both songs are poles apart and depict different situations, but honestly, we’re looking very forward to (playing)『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』over the 47-prefecture lives. For『HELLO』, we hope it’ll be great to listen to at home, while thinking of somebody that’s important.

－－After 10 years and forging a new start, please let us know about SCANDAL’s vision from now forth.

MAMI: Rather than say we’re in an 'attacker’s position’ after getting up to this point, I feel we still have much more to run towards; even after 10 years. I thought I’ll be calmer, but that isn’t the fact. Not only do I have still have many things I want to do, but there are still many places that we haven’t been to overseas, so I don’t think we can be satisfied just yet with our current position.

HARUNA: I think it’ll be great if we’re able to carry out our activities, while maintaining our own pace. Being able to welcome our 10th year and to be able to release a best (album) like this, I think we have been able to see, digest and send out all kinds of things. I hope we’ll be able to continue in such a position without changing that.

TOMOMI: Making lives the heart of our activities without change. As the years go by, be it privately or at work, I’ve experienced all kinds of things. I hope to continue conveying or singing about those things, as there are increasingly still many things left to say. I’ll like for us to believe in our current selves when the time comes, and do this relaxingly.

RINA: This being year 2017, I have many things that I really want to convey from the heart via our activities. I’ll also like to have more friends, and since I have confidence in the songs that we’re making now and have made in the past, I have very strong feelings about wanting to convey them properly. I want all kinds of people to know that from seeing our lives, and to like us. So we’ll be making plenty of songs by ourselves, and then bringing them to stage with a bang.

Original article by T-SITE HERE, translation by fyscandalband.