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SCANDAL Finishes First-Ever 47-prefecture Tour, Confirms Joint Tour This Autumn

SCANDAL, who held their first-ever 47-prefecture tour,「SCANDAL TOUR 2017『SCANDAL’s 47-prefecture Tour』」, and whom went about for around 4 months since March this year, welcomed their tour final at Tokyo’s Toyosu PIT.

This round’s tour was tied to their February best album release,『SCANDAL』, an album commemorating the band’s 10th year anniversary since formation. Thus, the band generously revealed both new and old tunes that were recorded within the best album. Additionally, on this round’s tour, the band also tried changing up the setlist each time for all of their 53 performances, bringing special content to each and every show.

On this day’s show for the tour final, the moment the members hit the staeg, loud cheers could be heard from the audience and the atmosphere reached a high instantly. They opened with the fan-voted No.1 song,『SCANDAL BABY』, then continued with their hit singles,『Shunkan Sentimental』,『Shoujo S』and『DOLL』. They also performed brand new songs that were recorded within their best album,『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』and『HELLO』.

As they welcome the final day of this round’s tour, the longest one yet in their career, HARUNA (Vo & Gt) commented,「We’re really happy that through this 47-prefecture tour, many fans from the entire nation could come watch us live. There are times where I thought this tour was both long and too exhausting, but to have the time to be able to meet all of you like this, it’s the best. Since we love the moments like these, we want to continue on as a band. The 47-prefecture tour may end today, but our journey will still continue on. So please, continue following us for a long time.」Loud claps and huge cheers then enveloped the entire venue.

Additionally, when (the band) announced that they’ll be holding a first-ever 3-city joint band tour this October, in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, the entire venue was once again filled with heat. The joint band artiste line-up sees 3 bands’ participation: UNISON SQUARE GARDEN in Tokyo, 04 Limited Sazabys in Nagoya, and BLUE ENCOUNT in Osaka. The band spoke about their thoughts towards their first-ever joint band tour,「Since we’ve had many one-man lives up till now, we’ll like the get in the groove with everyone, and show ourselves to the other band’s fans, and also hope (our fans) can watch these other bands’ lives as well.」

This summer, SCANDAL will also be participating in multiple rock festivals and events. After experiencing their 47-prefecture tour, please continue to witness an even tougher rock band that is SCANDAL.

Original article by dwango HERE, translated by fyscandalband. For all tour final tweets and the full joint band schedule, please click HERE.

SCANDAL; “53/53! The tour’s finished! We’ve came all this way thanks to everyone! Also, Tokyo; tonight was also the best ever! Let us meet again next time! #SCANDAL #scabest47 #SCANDALsJointBandTour”

• HARUNA: Thank you very much for「SCANDAL’s 47 prefecture tour」Tokyo final We went about and back from all the prefectures, and I’m glad today’s live was watched by many people! The tour may be over, but our journey will still continue. Our first-ever joint band tour is also set for October! Nothing but things to look forward to✨✨

• TOMOMI: Thank you, Toyosu! We’re done with all 53 performances in the 47 prefecture tourーーーーー! Everyone who came to have fun from across the nation, I’m truly grateful from the bottom of my heart! Job well done to all the staff and members as well. We did it. Let’s have a delicious meal.

• MAMI: Final・Tokyo!!! Thank you for the best night everーーーーーーーーーーー!!! No, no, no, no, seriously!! It was suーper fun⤴︎✨✨ I had so much fun that I totally forgot to take photos of our hair arrangement! That’s why, I drew it Tonight felt like this A brown ponytail from on top of Tomo-chan’s head

• RINA: We’ve finished all 53 sold-out performances on SCANDAL’s 47 prefecture tour with no problems! Yayー! We did itー! I’m really grateful, thank you! Next up, we’ll be doing our Higashi Meihan joint band tour in October, with UNISON, 4mm and BluEn! It’s the besttt!!!

At tonight’s tour final at Toyosu PIT, SCANDAL reveals that they’ll be going on yet another tour titled, “SCANDAL’s Joint Band Tour” this October. The details are below:

• 6th Oct (Fri): SCANDAL x UNISON SQUARE GARDEN @ ZEPP TOKYO

• 20th Oct (Fri): SCANDAL x 04 LIMITED SAZABYS @ ZEPP NAGOYA

• 21st Oct (Sat): SCANDAL x BLUE ENCOUNT @ ZEPP OSAKA BAYSIDE

SCANDAL’s official fan club,「SCANDAL MANIA」has begun its pre-sale for this tour, from now to 24th Jul, 11:59PM (JST).

Tonight’s tour finale at Toyosu PIT was also attended by: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Mihara Yuki and SUPER BEAVER’s Yanagizawa Ryota.

SCANDAL; rockin'star★ Collaboration

From ROCKIN'ON comes a ROCK collaboration brand, “rockin'star★” featuring various characters! This 2017 NEW COLLECTION is worn by SCANDAL!

Official site HERE. Loveee the photos.

SCANDAL; rockin'star★ Collaboration

From ROCKIN'ON comes a ROCK collaboration brand, “rockin'star★” featuring various characters! This 2017 NEW COLLECTION is worn by SCANDAL!

Official site HERE. Loveee the photos.

SCANDAL; in “GiGS” magazine, Mar 2017 issue - Original Set List

SCANDAL creates their own setlist for a shorter-length stage.

──HARUNA’s Set List「Showing All Sides of SCANDAL」

“In event that the fans who’ve known every single one of our songs, and the ones who know absolutely nothing about us come to our one-man live, we’ll also present our songs differently. The point of this (setlist) is about presenting ourselves to whoever may come. We want to give back, 100x more than what everyone expects from us. This setlist is envisioned for a fes. We’ll attack with 3 high tension songs at the beginning, throw in an MC session, then continue on with another 4 songs. The overall strength of all the songs allows everyone to enjoy all sides of SCANDAL. Afterwards, as the acoustic version of ‘Sisters’ shall be included, I think everyone can enjoy us, both visually and musically.”

• M1:Image
• M2:Shunkan Sentimental
• M3:EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!
• M4:LOVE ME DO
• M5:Awanai Tsumori no, Genki Dene
• M6:Sisters
• M7:SCANDAL BABY

──MAMI’s Set List「Feelings of Wanting To Attack Right Now」

“At a fes, you don’t know what’s your appearance number, which timezone it may be, what the audience expects, or what kind of feelings they hold coming to a live. I made this setlist thinking about all these unexpectedness, but it will also reflect our current mode. Since we have feelings of wanting to attack right now, this is how the setlist has turned out. Firstly, we’ll kick off with our debut song, "DOLL”, then play “Shunkan Sentimental”, a song with all sorts of turning points. Then, we’ll bring out everyone’s voices with “Taiyou Scandalous” (laughs). After an MC session, we’ll let everyone hear our new song, “HELLO”, and then “FREEDOM FIGHTERS”, to get the tension up. We’ll then end it with “Image”. It’s a great (setlist) that reflects SCANDAL at all our time periods, and I thought about it pretty seriously.“

• M1:DOLL
• M2:Shunkan Sentimental
• M3:Taiyou Scandalous
• M4:HELLO
• M5:FREEDOM FIGHTERS
• M6:Take Me Out
• M7:Image

──TOMOMI’s Set List「Something That None in the Audience Will Get Sick Of」

"I had a period where I thought of not wanting anyone to be sick of us. I’ll go with including some songs that aren’t as well known. But I wonder how that’ll turn out (laughs). As part of audience, when you go watch a (live), surely there are some songs you hope won’t be left out right? I’ll like to place importance on that, and thought about not letting any of audience feel bored. We’ll attack right off the start and get everyone screaming, in return, capturing our audience’s feelings. Surely, there are many people who know of "Shunkan Sentimental”. Afterwards, we’ll get people twisting their towels with “DOLL”, before inserting an MC session. We’ll then say, “This is our new song, please listen to it”, before continuing with our winter song, “HELLO”. We’ll then bring out everyone’s sentimental feelings with “Bitter chocolate”, then turn up the tension with “Image” at last. The ending chord is E, so everyone is able to wave their hands in the air while we’re performing (laughs). We’ll then go, “Everyone, thank you!”“

• M1:EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!
• M2:Shunkan Sentimental
• M3:DOLL
• M4:HELLO
• M5:Bitter Chocolate
• M6:Awanai Tsumori no, Genki Dene
• M7:Image

──RINA’s Set List「Let’s Do What We Do Best」

"Since it’s a fes, I like attacking with high spirits. I had a period where I thought about how we should return the thoughts of those who were anti-SCANDAL. But right now, I just have very light-hearted feelings, and think about how to stand on stage doing what we do best. These are songs that I hope will capture everyone’s feelings, and that I hope for everyone to know. I’ve put a high spirited song as the first on the list. At the end of that song, we’ll throw in the band-sounding "EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!”, and have HARUNA elongate the intro, getting everyone’s screams in the air and turning up the hype. Then, we’ll have “FREEDOM FIGHTERS” and “Take Me Out”, before doing an MC session, as we’ll like to speak right about now. We’ll make the MC short and sweet, before brightening things with the pop-sounding, “OVER DRIVE”. To hype things up even more, lastly, we’ll attack with all our might with “Image” (laughs).“

• M1:Shunkan Sentimental
• M2:EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!
• M3:FREEDOM FIGHTERS
• M4:Take Me Out
• M5:OVER DRIVE
• M6:DOLL
• M7:Image

Photos and translations by fyscandalband. Whose setlist do you think is the best?

SCANDAL; in “GiGS” magazine, Mar 2017 issue - TOMOMI Interview

──When SCANDAL was formed, did you choose to play the bass yourself?

TOMOMI: “When we were recommended to play instruments at the start, honestly, anything was fine. The first thing that came to mind was the guitar, which I tried playing, but it was difficult after all (laughs). When we went to the instruments shop to take a look, I was told that there was something that bore a similar shape (to the guitar), but had 2 fewer strings, so I picked it simply. People at the dance school also told me that I’ll do well with the bass, so that’s how I started off.”

──Did you not ever feel that it is more difficult than the guitar?

TOMOMI: “Doesn’t playing the guitar begin by remembering guitar chords? However, I started off on the bass by remembering single notes, and it wasn’t actually hard to produce a sound. If you pluck it, there’s sound. In such a sense, I didn’t feel it was hard or that I was poor when I first held onto the bass.”

──Did you feel how interesting the bass and being in a band was, being in a world you had not known of before?

TOMOMI: “We’re split 2 and 2 between those who lives in Nagoya, and those who lived in the Kansai region. The only times the 4 of us would meet and play together were during weekends. So when the 4 of us finally get to play together, we’re also finally able to finish up our songs. ‘Ah, so this is how it feels like’. This is true for anyone, but since we really started from zero, I felt that we’ll be able to do more and more by each day, and that was really fun.”

──In that process, you guys got to do more and more original songs, were you also getting more inspired by the members?

TOMOMI: “On the bass? At the start, I’d sing as I play, and the first song that had a completely different vocal melody and bass melody was "Kagerou”, I think. Ah no, I thought that “Kagerou” might be a more troubling song for when I sing as I play. The one that has a different rhythm is “SAKURA Goodbye”. We only just started making our own original songs; There were a lot of bass roots, and the phrases weren’t that difficult. It was a level for someone like myself, who’ve just started playing the bass and whom had to sing as I play. But after that, we had even more of our own songs, and after listening to other songs, I got to know the amount of bass riffs that were in them. It’s not only a rhythmic instrument, but also a melodic instrument, and it’s actually quite deep. I realised that the bass isn’t such a simple instrument after all (laughs).“

──With the bass play in your original songs, the hurdle has gone up.

TOMOMI: "Yes, yes (laughs). But as there’s no short cut, I practiced earnestly. By playing the bass, I also got to gradually know the system that I like. I would want to play a certain phrase of a song, so I’ll copy that. That’s how it went, but I think my awareness for bass play increased through it.”

──As your favourite bassist, did you often devote yourself to (learning from) the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea?

TOMOMI: “When I had zero idea about the bass at the start, the first thing I watched was Flea’s playing. If you’ll pluck the bass, there’ll be sound, but mine would sound like a cry (laughs). All these ways of playing were shocking. I did have plenty of phrases that I liked, but I didn’t feel like they provided any direct influence. A bass play that I really liked all the way, since I started out on the bass, was TRICERATOPS’ Hayashi Koji’s play. It wasn’t super complicated, but he would play a different rhythm on the bass, while singing another during the chorus, and all of that is very technical. His phrases not only left an impression, but they also brought out a lot. As a bassist myself, I thought of wanting to know more of all kinds of phrases.”

──Surely, as a bassist for 10 years, you’ve met with many challenges right?

TOMOMI: “In "Koe”, which MAMI is the main vocalist for, I played a bass phrase actively at the bridge. That was extremely new then for me. Up till that time, I’d be singing along either on the chorus or as the main singer, but in “Koe”, I practically didn’t sing at all, and so, I was able to move as I like, without thinking about having to sing. It was the first time that I was able to play the bass in a bassist-like way (laughs).“

──Other than that song, there was other songs with lines in which you had to move furiously. You’re good at that, aren’t you?

TOMOMI: "Nah, I don’t know about that myself (laughs). If our arranger, Kawaguchi-san arranges it, it does tend to turn out pretty intense on the bass. In the past, I had to practice on that aspect (laughs). When MAMI took to composing songs, and when Kawaguchi-san came in for the arrangement, the rhythmic team would be very intense, as according to MAMI’s wishes, and it’ll be even harsher on the bass (laughs). There’d be more complicated, technical phrases. Even if they might be hard in the beginning, but it was fun slowly getting used to it.”

──As a songwriter, it seems that you gone through a slump about 2 and a half years back. As a bassist, did you not ever go through that?

TOMOMI: “Compared to producing, I never had a point where I felt that terrible about myself. However, I did hit walls too. When I was appearing on "Domoto Brothers” (year 2014), I’d be given the score 2 days before the taping. Whenever I see tough scores, although all the musical notes were written down, I’ll be stumped (laughs). Plus, before the taping, Domoto (Tsuyoshi), Shishido Kavka and myself would meet with the audience as the 'Tsuyoshi Man Sisters Band’, where we would do a bit of a funk session. I never did a session before then, so at the beginning, I wasn’t able to play anything besides the same phrase from start to finish. I was rather down then (laughs). So I went back to listen to Flea’s playing once again, and studied the rock phrases by Tower of Power.“

──After such intense learning, did you feel a sense of release afterwards?

TOMOMI: "Well, rather than feeling released, I felt it was more like I got stronger mentally (laughs). I would enter the venue feeling like they were pretty much family, plus, I was alone and didn’t have all the members of SCANDAL with me. In the beginning, I was very careful, but after half a year passed, I was able to better read the scores gradually, and for our last episode, we did about 17 songs in the style of a live (concert). Still, when I got the score 2 days before, I did think it was insane (laughs), but I also felt that I’ll just do the best I can and my heart felt stronger. From then on, whatever happened, I was no longer as scared. Although I don’t remember if it was my playing that got better or what it was.”

──In these 10 years, you’ve also gotten much attention as a lyricist. You performed shockingly during the earlier days, and was praised for your lyrics just overflowing with personality.

TOMOMI: “Thank you very much. However, I’ve been writing lyrics since SCANDAL was formed. I was really happy when I wrote "Switch”. Last time, be it when it was sadness or happiness, I’ll just write these simple feelings down, simply as they are. But for “Switch”, although it was very flat, it obviously moved hearts in its words. Since I wrote this song’s lyrics, I also got to gradually understand the system I like to work with. But when I want to turn more delicate feelings into lyrics, they aren’t exactly write-able material. Be it sadness or fun, aren’t people usually able to tell their feelings at that moment and just write? But whenever I want to record that and turn them into words, my emotions would get all worked up. I’ll say that it’s nothing, but not write them down as notes, and it’s just iffy. That’s why, it’s easier to give birth to flat lyrics naturally.“

──Do you start off your writing by determining a message you’ll like to convey first?

TOMOMI: "That’ll be something recent. During the earlier days, I’ll listen to the tune and just come up with a single word that comes to mind with that sound or melody, then expand from it, as if it were a puzzle, but it wasn’t like the song is being pulled by a certain theme we wished to convey from the start. For the ones who’ve seen the band grow, they’ll know this, so I feel a bit responsible (laughs). I begun to think that we definitely do have things to convey to such people too, so then I’ll write notes and jot down certain things that the members talked about, and make lyrics out of them. It rings true for "HARUKAZE” too. There was another girls band that was formed at the school, around the same period as us, and that was written for those people. Although we talked about standing on the stage together, but it didn’t go as we planned. In the end, the only one that’s still persuing his/her music dream is the vocalist. It’s not just that person, but there are also people who formed bands after looking at us, and towards those who said they look up to us, I thought that I might have things I want to convey to them too, so I turned those thoughts into lyrics.“

Photos and translation by fyscandalband. I’ll be translating the personal setlist portions next~

SCANDAL; SCANDAL TOUR 2016 IN EUROPE Photobook - Part 2 of 2 sneak peeks

Gotten my copy of this photobook last week! It documents SCANDAL’s entire “YELLOW” tour in Europe, when the band played from the Netherlands to Germany to France etc.

Alike the HELLO WORLD photobook, the photos show the girls on the road - From visiting the streets, to eating, to them at rehearsals and playing the live itself. They also pose for quite a couple of group shots (which are also used for the 2017 calendar and SCANDAL MANIA pamphlet). So much love for this book☆

To buy, click HERE @ Kitty Enter Shop. For CDJapan users, you can also request this via their proxy service HERE.

SCANDAL; SCANDAL TOUR 2016 IN EUROPE Photobook - Part 1 of 2 sneak peeks

Gotten my copy of this photobook last week! It documents SCANDAL’s entire “YELLOW” tour in Europe, when the band played from the Netherlands to Germany to France etc.

Alike the HELLO WORLD photobook, the photos show the girls on the road - From visiting the streets, to eating, to them at rehearsals and playing the live itself. They also pose for quite a couple of group shots (which are also used for the 2017 calendar and SCANDAL MANIA pamphlet). So much love for this book☆

To buy, click HERE @ Kitty Enter Shop. For CDJapan users, you can also request this via their proxy service HERE.

SCANDAL; on “ROCKIN'ON JAPAN” magazine March 2017

SCANDAL looks back on their 10 years and the new best album in this issue’s interview. They’re also featured in the COUNTDOWN JAPAN 16/17 SPECIAL BOOK.

For SCANDAL in the latest CDJ live, my tag is HERE.

All photos by fyscandalband. Not translating this one, but will do Tomomi’s interview from GiGS soon! Please look forward to that ^^

SCANDAL; “SCANDAL Wows The Audience in SCANDAL’s "Kumamoto Special”, on the First Day in their 47 Prefecture Tour"

SCANDAL started their first-ever 47-prefecture tour,「SCANDAL TOUR 2017『SCANDAL’s 47-Prefecture Tour』」, with their performance at Kumamoto’s Kumamoto B.9 V1, on 11th March today.

This tour is in relation to the band’s best album,「SCANDAL」, that was released in February, as a commemoration to the band’s 10th year anniversary since forming. It has been about 2 years, since they were in Kumamoto for the year 2015 hall tour. SCANDAL had generously performed popular songs, as chosen by fans and recorded within their best album.

HARUNA (Vo, G) said,「For this round’s tour, we definitely all thought of wanting to welcome its first day in Kumamoto」. She also shed light on the day’s setlist, saying that it was a「Kumamoto Special」that is limited to the day only. During the MC in the middle of the live, they not only wowed the audience with a call-and-response performance segment, using a CM song that’s aired in Kumamoto, but also enveloped the venue in heated energy from start to finish.

SCANDAL will be performing a total of 53 shows on this tour. The tour final will take place on 17th July, at Tokyo’s Toyosu PIT.

Selected post-concert tweets by SCANDAL →

• HARUNA: “First day of「SCANDAL’s 47-Prefecture Tour」, thank you very much, Kumamotoー! Cut my fringe short in accordance to the tour”
• TOMOMI: “First day of the 47-prefecture tour finished! To be able to carve out its start at Kumamoto on 3.11, I’m really thankful. We’ll be going all out for it till July!” / “Somehow, today’s MAMI-chan kept calling herself ‘Candy Candy’. I’m scared”
• MAMI: “Thank you very much, everyone in Kumamoto⤴︎ To be able to enjoy the 47-prefecture tour that started today… Really, honestly, my mood was candy☆candy☆( ᷇࿀ ᷆ ) Kyarabukiー⤴︎”
• RINA: “I’m really glad that the tour started at Kumamoto today! Thanks for coming! Since being here, my love for Kumamoto has just been getting deeper. I love it here (´-`).｡oO (High sense…”

For today’s setlist, the band performed older tunes, such as S.L. Magic, Awanai Tsumori no Genki Dene, and Koe, to new songs such as FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

The band are on their way to Miyazaki, and will perform a one-man live there for the first time tomorrow!

Original article by natalie HERE, translated by fyscandalband. Additional photos from SCANDAL’s various SNS.

SCANDAL; SCANDAL’s Fashion Style「Image Change & Purple & UK & Instagram」- Interview with Modelpress

SCANDAL, the girls band who welcomed their 10th year anniversary since forming, on August 2016, has undergone an interview with Modelpress. In the previous episode, we talked about visuals and things related to music. In this next episode, we’re featuring their personal fashion, and more.

◆HARUNA’s Bold Image Change

──In the earlier interview, we spoke about things related to music and visuals, but can everyone share about your own personal fashion and make-up, that’s important to you?

HARUNA: At the end of last month, I changed my hair style. Up till then, I thought it’ll be good if my fringe was long and had a calm colour to it. But during the period where we took our artist shots for the best album and everyone had taken images of things that were close to what they had in mind, nothing matched for me since I have clearly changed from who I was 10 years ago. I thought that’ll be unsatisfactory, so I cut my fringe and also changed its colour.

──How was the image change?

HARUNA: Rather than it be a weight off of my chest, it felt like I understood the fun of having ventured out of my boundaries.

──That’s good, isn’t it? When you want to change how you feel, this is a very feminine way of doing so, by cutting your hair.

HARUNA: That’s true. Once you’ve cut your hair, you’ll also change your outfits. I had a jacket I bought but couldn’t quite match with. Surprisingly, I think I go for it now after cutting my hair.

──There are such timesー!

HARUNA: I thought such things do happen indeed. So from now on, I’ll look forward to enjoying gradual changes in fashion as well.

◆About MAMI’s Hairstyles

──Following on, what about MAMI?

MAMI: The timing I shed my uniforms, I also dyed my hair blonde at once. Since then, I’ve been challenging all sorts of colours. I also have increasing gratitude for the girls who noticed me at those times. With that in mind, the scenery that I saw from the stage changed instantly. As such, I’ll like to keep having fun with my hair styles and colours from now on too.

RINA: Her personal clothes are pretty unconventional too. She wears clothing that has a lot of personality.

MAMI: Yes. For colours or shapes, I have a huge liking for things that are deformed. Since I often choose clothing to match my hair, be it bright and colourful fashion (items), or monotone colours, I do tend to match them regularly.

──By the way, what hair colour goes well for this colour?

MAMI: Purple.

TOMOMI: Purple is great, I like it.

MAMI: Thank you very much (laughs).

──Anyway, why is purple the best?

MAMI: I like cool colours. Since I also wear blue pretty often, if you look at it over the period of a week, I often put on cool colours. I wonder (laughs).

TOMOMI: It fits you.

RINA: It does.

◆TOMOMI’s Music and Fashion

──Now for TOMOMI.

TOMOMI: Recently, privately, I’ve been going on a London streetwear-ish theme.

RINA: You often put on checkers, eh?

TOMOMI: Yes. I’ll wear checkers and stuff. At end last year, after watching Oasis’ documentary,「Supersonic」, I’ve been in a constant UK mode (laughs). That’s why I think the music you listen to also decides your liftstyle and fashion styles.

──Music helps to decide your fashion style?

TOMOMI: I go there naturally. I’ll get into the tension of the music, and want to put on such clothes…

──By the way, what was before the UK (fashion)?

TOMOMI: It was by no means, the US. I listened to Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as I do regularly listen to easily understandable American rock. At that time, I liked the American casual (fashion) style.

◆RINA’s Vintage and Instagram

──How about RINA?

RINA: Since I like vintage items, my (fashion style) is generally vintage wear. Within that, I like European items, and went on a Europe trip for the sake of going to vintage stores. During the New Year, I went to vintage stores in Paris and London.

──Ooh, that’s amazing. What’s the charm of vintage wear?

RINA: The fact that it isn’t old. It is trendy in a broad term, but I think vintage items are extremely flexible. It has its own era, and it can’t be overshadowed by anyone else. It’s fun to play around with styles that I really like myself.

──Anyway, what are some vintage stores that you often frequent?

RINA: I often visit Shibuya's「Grimoire」and「birthdeath」. I’m on good terms with the shopkeepers. But I’m also curious about the shops that I haven’t gone to before, so I’ll enter them casually.

──Speaking of RINA, you’re also very fashionable on Instagram.

RINA: I’m happy. I’m overly particular, so my heart is always pounding whenever I upload something (laughs). In order not destroy the balance of my world view when I look at it in entirety, I’m serious with it.

──It’s really like a photobook.

RINA: It feels like I’m making my own magazine. It’s really lots of fun.

──Looking at it, I don’t think you have any selfies there.

RINA: Recently, I’ve been thinking about how to take selfies in the right way (laughs). It’s easy to take selfies as reflected off the mirror, but I haven’t been turning my lens the other way and taking selfies anymore. Since I also upload photos of objects and things on the street, and not just fashion, I also hope to everyone to take a look at those.

──Instagram is where RINA displays her world view. In this current era, it’s often that we decide the kind of photos to be uploaded, so we set a standard as to how the people around can view us.

RINA: Looking at the teens, I really feel that they’re taking action based on SNS. Such as going out on this day, or wearing clothing because they want to upload (photos) onto Instagram. It’s an era where everyone is very conscious. It’s fun just by looking at them.

──Certainly. There are also many places that are placing emphasis on the side of their stores, making them picture-worthy for Instagram.

RINA: That’s right. Such as making food or interior picture-worthy. What a fun era!

◆The Secret to Achieving Your Dreams

MAMI: I didn’t have dreams of being in this world previously, but the staff from the (dance & vocal) school encouraged me to take up an musical instrument and gave us the chance to be grouped as a band. From there, we started off on our street lives, got to debut and carried on with our activities till now. Now that I think about it, it was thanks to the voice in my head then that told me,「Why not give the instrument a try?」, that it turned out to be a really huge opportunity, although I honestly had no idea where that opportunity could’ve steered me towards. Therefore, so long there’s a chance, don’t be influenced. Even if you start out with the simplest of feelings, I hope you’ll give things a try.

TOMOMI: I think it is important to voice out. For us too, we started out from zero in the audience, with simply a dream to do a one-man live at the Osaka-jo Hall. As we played our street lives, we screamed out, that we will definitely play at the Osaka-jo Hall. When you voice it out, you’ll be able to gather those who think alike and widen your chances. You’ll also be held responsible by your words, no matter what happens. Since we also got to play a one-man live at the Osaka-jo Hall in reality, surely, that’s the power of language.

RINA: I will go in depth into the things I like. For example, as a lovers of films, I’ll make it so that I understand exactly why I like them; I’ll find out the movies this director has made, who the designer is, before liking these 3 pieces of work, and also in order to go a step further of being able to speak about them. Just by knowing one more piece of information, I’m able to be more confident, and I think those things are somehow linked. That is why, I think it’s really great to start by going more in depth into the things you like.

HARUNA: I will imagine myself as someone who has already achieved my dreams. If I’m able to imagine it, I’ll naturally be able to find it within myself to figure out what it takes to get there, what sort of actions should be applied, and how I should voice it out. I’ve always had the dream of becoming a singer ever since I was young, and I’ve lived my life thinking about that. Not only have I gotten to get nearer to it naturally, but I was also able to grasp all kinds of chances.

──Thank you very much.

Original article by modelpress HERE, translation by fyscandalband. For another earlier Modelpress translated article, do click HERE^^

SCANDAL; The Conflict During Their Uniform Days, And Their Current Thoughts「Music, Fashion, Hair & Make-up, Makes the Band」- Interview with Modelpress

SCANDAL, the girls band who’ve welcomed their 10th year since forming, in August 2016. For these girls who have sealed their position as the fashionable, cool “girls band”, back then, they debuted with the catchy phrase,「High school girls in a band, with black hair and in uniforms」. As they sped along in these 10 years, they also had their moment when they made the decision to be rid of the uniforms too. Modelpress have undergone an interview with them this round, and we will unravel the girls band called SCANDAL, not just in regards to music, but also making visuals the central of our interview. (First of two episodes)

◆The Coolness of “Not Deciding”, A Right by Girl Bands

On 15th February 2017, the best album「SCANDAL」was released, in commemoration of their 10th year anniversary since forming. Having had their fans vote for the songs that were to be inlcuded, it contains the best of what they have right now. Plus, that artist shot is also the best of the coolest.

──The artist shot this time around is really cool.

RINA: Thank you very much. Basically, since we’re girls, we all like fashion and make-up. For this round, we all tried to place each of our interests into the visuals, such as MAMI in trendy gangsta-like fashion, or HARUNA incorporating leopard print, so it turned out to a free and funky shot that has hints of fashion trends in it. Even we think it’s extremely natural ourselves.

──When it’s the 10th year anniversary, you’ll assume it’ll be a decisive shot, but I think it’s also really good that it’s a natural shot instead.

RINA: Yes. We played around as we took it - that sort of feel.

TOMOMI: In these 2, 3 years, we’ve also been doing photoshoots with a relaxed atmosphere. Previously, we have a lot of shots of us holding onto our instruments and standing at a specific position.

──Such occurances felt like they started from「Stamp!」(22nd Feb 2015).

RINA: We took this in the dressing room, while we were on our world tour.

TOMOMI: It’s like an off-shot.

──「Take Me Out」(27th Jul 2016) has a street feel to it too.

MAMI: These are streets that we always walk on usually. We shot them while walking constantly along Center-gai (Center Street).

──There are a lot more fashionable elements in these recent few singles, as compared to your earliest times. Do you have any episode as to why the change?

RINA: It’s a right of girl bands after all, to be able to enjoy fashion while being musicians. We changed as we thought it’ll be fine to display more of that. Ultimately, in order for SCANDAL to continue on for a long time, there must be all kinds of gradual changes, so that we may be a band that also looks fun visually. Feels like we’ve come this far doing what we like.

◆We Took Off Our School Uniforms Positively

──On the other hand when you started out, you gave the impression that you’re a high school girls band, with black hair and uniforms on. How did you decide on that very visual?

RINA: That time, we were middle or high school students, with no money and who couldn’t quite afford costumes. So we talked about the costumes that we all owned, which turns out to be our school uniforms, and so we wore them to play lives. The record company and production company who saw that said to us,「There’s impact and it’s interesting」, thus, we debuted in blazers while carrying onto our musical instruments.

──For some time after your debut, you left a strong, impressionable visual as the,「High school girl band」. And then, you took off your school uniforms…

RINA: We took off our school uniforms in the single,「LOVE SURVIVE」(27th Jul 2011). There’s also the scene of shedding our uniforms and going into a different outfit in our music video. It was around then that we changed.

──As SCANDAL, it was a moment of change that you all welcomed.

RINA: Yes. We were thinking about the band’s future. We weren’t extremely hell-bent of doing it at that moment, but we’ve come to think about the kind of style we’ll like to adopt as a band 5 years later. Between the members, we talked about how we’ll like to continue on 10 years after our debut, how it’ll be painful to keep on wearing our uniforms all the time, and how we’ll like to display more of our personalities; We took off our school uniforms really positively.

──The school uniforms were taken off in a positive manner.

RINA: Not only were we told that a band that wears school uniforms「isn’t a rock band」and「are idols」, but that in itself was also conflicting. There were other musicians who shared the same mindset about music as well, but why was it that we weren’t invited to rock festivals? We always had these regrettable feelings. And so, in order to let people know about our music and about us, we chose to wear clothes that we like that were close to our personal clothing.

──Were there any changes after taking them off?

HARUNA: Many girls started coming to our lives.

MAMI: Yes. During the timing when we shed our uniforms, we also changed our hair styles and hair colours overnight, so there were fans who copied that when they came for our lives and there was a huge increase in girls who’d upload those photos onto SNS too.

RINA: The ones who got interested in our fashion also increased. We were really happy.

◆Involving Visuals and Music

──After hearing all that, it feels like visuals and music influence each other. You’ve had your visual transitions, 10 years after your debut, so what do you think of that?

RINA: I think the kind of fashion, hair and make-up and the music that we should do totals up to the band. You can like a person who wears certain clothing and who sings certain words, and I think without consciously realising it, fashion and music do connect together.

MAMI: Now, it isn’t just music that makes fashion, but it’s often that fashion inspires music as well. For example, when you look at magazines and see the cute clothes on a musician whose music you’ve never heard of before, you’ll gain interest in the kind of person they are and check out their Instagram. Then you’ll want to try listening to that kind of music.

──I see. The ways people can reach out to artists has transformed, haven’t they? Do SCANDAL also feel it yourselves?

HARUNA: Yes.

RINA: I do feel it.

MAMI: RINA is an exact example.

RINA: I personally have an Instrgram, where I put out news about our own apparel brand,「Feedback!」, and where I also get followers who are girls that take an interest in me, and whom ask me,「What sort of make-up brands do you use?」「How are your nails like now?」There’ll be the ones that do listen to our music in actuality, and listeners who will be able to connect with each other from here onwards. Since I think that my lifestyle emulates in my musicianship, I am really happy that through SNS, I’m able to get people who have similar interests as I do to listen to our music.

──Such a way not only appeals to girls, but it is truly a special right by girl bands after all.

◆“A Song” That Achieves Your Dreams

──There are many Modelpress readers whom are largely girls that are chasing their dreams. If you could choose a song to help encourage them, which one would it be?

RINA: It’ll be「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」. When you’re in your 10s, it’s when you’re finding your path or working, and it’s that point in life that changes unexpectedly and where you’ll hit some walls. You’ll be concerned about how the world looks at you, and choose paths that are stable but may not be what you actually want to do. I think sometimes, people just happen to choose without purer feelings. However, what’s most important after all is to do the many things that you like, and to live a life that you’ll love. (This song) has the lyrics,「Why is it that you don’t choose a future that you like」. I’ll be really happy if people would like it when they hear it, and realise it’s fine to live freely and happily.

──That speaks right to the heart! Lastly, as SCANDAL the band, how would you like to be 10, 20 years later?

RINA: I’ll like for us to be a band that can be enjoyed from all kinds of angles. Not just the people who have followed us after liking our music, but even for our fashion and for our characters. I’ll be happy if people would find all of that fun, and above all, if they’ll think that we’re a good band.

──Thank you very much.

Original article by modelpress HERE, translation by fyscandalband. Part 2 coming up tomorrow night.

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.

SCANDAL; Our Fans’ Love, 10 Years of History, and Moving Ahead In Our Own Will “From Now On” - Interview with natalie

(The following interview translation focuses on: The tracklist for the BEST ALBUM + ‘FREEDOM FIGHTERS’ + 'HELLO’)

Excitement for the Fan-voted Results

──Please tell us your feelings now, after releasing the voluminous best album as a commemoration of your 10th year anniversary since forming.

RINA: We didn’t specifically decide to release a best (album) at this timing where it’s our 10th year anniversary, instead, just having got to this point naturally. Since we made something with really good content, we have many feelings about wanting everyone to hear it quickly.

──The tracklist was decided by fan-voting this time around.

RINA: That’s right. The members were only told about the results after it was all tabulated, but up till then, we didn’t know how it would be, so we waited in anticipation excitedly. Without thinking, I voted myself too (laughs).

──By the way, what was the song that RINA voted for?

RINA: That’s a bit of a secret (laughs). I was pretty troubled, but the song that I voted for made it onto the album.

Fans Showing Off Their Maniacal Side, Surprising Song Selection

──Were there any song choices that surprised you guys?

RINA: Basically, we all had an idea. We kept thinking,「As expected!」at the song choices. Except, I think if it were up to us, we wouldn’t have included some like「SCANDAL IN THE HOUSE」or「Flashback No.5」. Looking at it, all in all, we would’ve included singles that were more easy to understand.

HARUNA: We were able to kind of feel the maniacal side of our fans. There are also interesting parts like that.

TOMOMI: I was really happy that「Bitter Chocolate」got chosen. This round’s best (album) will be enjoyed together with everyone at our lives, and we anticipated and planned for those songs that would bring about a great call-and-response to be at its center, so I was a bit surprised that such a medium-tempo song that needs to be properly listened to would be included.

RINA: I also have that impression for「Chiisana Honoo」. Since it’s a song that also contains a really important message, I’m really happy that everyone shared the feelings of wanting it to make the best album.

──Having「one piece」on it also reflects the fans’ warm thoughts.

RINA: That’s right! This song was written with the image of us carrying our earliest of dreams, to be sung at our one-man live at the Osaka-jo Hall. I think all of our fans probably knew about the personal history of this song, and voted for it after taking our history into consideration. For that, we’re extremely touched.

A Frequent「Voice (Koe)」At Important Scenes

──Following on, there is「Koe」, which MAMI takes charge of the lead vocals for. It seems that it was ranked No.2.

MAMI: Yes. I’m happy….

RINA: Ahahaha (laughs). Finished? That’s it?

MAMI: It’s not that, but this song wasn’t a single, neither was it a lead song on an album. Yet, many people really liked it.

HARUNA: It’s not like it’s always played at lives either, so isn’t there a feeling of rarity to it? That’s why I think everyone wanted to hear it.

──At last August’s SCAFES (「SCANDAL 10th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL『2006-2016』」), it was performed.

TOMOMI: It was. It was an important scene that happened (laughs).

MAMI: Looking back, it’s like we’ll definitely play it once every year.

RINA: It’s also an emotional tune eh. I want to play it instantly (laughs).

──By the way, why is it that this song is sung by MAMI?

MAMI: At the start, of course it was planned that HARUNA sing it, but the suggestion popped up from our then director, so it turned out to be a challenge for me.

RINA: At that time, she sent us a voice memo of what it’ll feel like if MAMI were to sing and play it at the same time. That was really great, so we ended up recording it for the album.

MAMI: Ah, that’s right. It happened. That event (laughs). I’m glad that it turned out to be such a well-loved song.

A Love Letter from MAMI in「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」

──New songs are recorded with the best (album), and we also get to properly see SCANDAL at your latest. Firstly, the first song,「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」’s lyrics are written by RINA and composed by MAMI. It’s a powerful number that gets your feelings dancing.

RINA: We created the lyrics first, as a song that places emphasis on 'freedom’. Actually, it was written with the same idea as「Sisters」, which is also included in this album, and was to be worked on similarly, such as having a impressionable title that appealed to the ladies as a supportive song. It’s a way to really gain a huge reaction. For myself, I wrote it to all the comrades out there that are living in our time now, but I had a regret for myself after reflecting upon it, yet「there is no way but to accept it the way it is」. So now, I want to say the same thing to everyone once more. Since it’s a theme that we’re bringing across once again, it’s a big job that was worked on, to a point where I thought「this is nothing short of a life-shortening experience」, but which I’m glad to have written.

MAMI: When it comes to songs, it’s like I was born to guide the rhythm and melody according to the lyrics that RINA has written. For the first time, I felt the slightly unbelievable feelings of,「Ah, such a thing exists」.

──The message in the lyrics were well-delivered in its sound.

TOMOMI: When we received the demo, I thought it was a love letter from MAMI to the rhythmic team (laughs).

MAMI: Ahahaha (laughs). It was intense.

TOMOMI: Since the past, MAMI has spoke of her liking for the rhythmic team, so I always thought that I held huge responsiblity (laughs). It’s unbearable. However, with regards to the tone, it’s a little different from the usual, and it’s been fun recording a more passive tone, something that we like recently. It really strikes me that our liking for (different) sounds have also changed over these 10 years, and it’s good to feel those portions as well.

HARUNA: I too, thought that this was a written challenge from MAMI (laughs). It’s a sound that screams,「You can expect things from me!」. In terms of the melody, it does feel like something that I’m good with, but it was a new way of singing for me this time around.

Made By The Same Duo, Yet A Song With A Completely Different Atmosphere

──And then, the one other new song called,「HELLO」. This was also penned by RINA and composed by MAMI, right?

RINA: Since the best album would hit stores on Valentine’s Day, we wanted to include a Winter love song that everyone can listen to. Although it was created by the same duo, it turned out to be a song that’s of a completely different atmosphere from「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」(laughs). I’m pretty good with this type of lyrics, so it was written without a hitch.

MAMI:: Actually, we had a period in the past where we talked about「making plenty of Winter songs」, and this was a song that was made during the same time as「SUKI-SUKI」, which was included in「YELLOW」. I sent RINA one chorus for the song, and she returned with 2 chorus worth of lyrics, so it was executed very smoothly.

HARUNA: In terms of its content, you’re able to listen to it as a person that’s currently in love, or you can also listen to it as a person that’s sort of remembering a past romance. I’m the latter, so I’m singing it while recalling some bittersweet memories from my high school days.

TOMOMI: I really like songs that are related to seasons. Including「SUKI-SUKI」, we have had an increase in all types of Winter songs lately, and I’m happy about that. I’m generally not great with Winter, but when I think about performing a Winter song, I’m able to end up liking Winter a little more (laughs).

Original article by natalie HERE, translation by fyscandalband. That part about 'Koe’ was especially interesting for me, since we rarely hear Mami chat much about it ^o^

SCANDAL; If A Song Had To Be Sung At The Members’ Wedding Ceremony, It Has To Be This! A Bold Prediction On Even Wedding Partners!? - Interview with Excite Music

SCANDAL’s first self-titled album,『SCANDAL』was released on 15th February, as their 10th year anniversary best album. From their year 2008 debut single,「DOLL」, to all 23 singles and 7 albums that followed, fans have voted for 34 songs; Along with 2 new song, it makes this a 2-disc strong set, with 36 songs. Since the tracklist was left to the fans in this piece of work, we’ll rely on the members now on a different theme. It’ll be introduced in episodes. In this 2nd episode, it’s about the songs that they’ll like to sing at the members’ wedding ceremony.

◆To TOMOMI -「Taiyou Scandalous」

RINA: Mm. It’s probably「Taiyou Scandalous」.

Rest of the 3: Why’s that (laughs).

RINA: It’s my own image, but I feel that TOMO’s will be a friendship-py couple, like the couple will be of the same age and get along well.

HARUNA: She has even predicted the husband on her own (laughs).

RINA: That’s why, I think at the party, rather than be overwhelmed with emotions, she’ll like to have something that feels more upbeat. So that’s why it's「Taiyou Scandalous」.

TOMOMI: I’m happy (laughs).

◆To HARUNA -「one piece」

RINA: It's「one piece」after all.

HARUNA: Why~ (laughs).

MAMI: I know it, I know it (laughs).

RINA: HARUNA has her own stoic, serious side, and getting married is also one of her dreams.

All: (sings together) ＜The dream that we’ve always dreamt of has come true＞ (laughs).

HARUNA: It might be like that (laughs).

◆To RINA -「LOVE ME DO」

MAMI: Let’s go with「LOVE ME DO」.

RINA: That I’m happy with.

MAMI: RINA gives me the image that she’ll date for a long time, and only then will she get married at the end. It contains the meaning of even if anything happened, so long the two of them are in love, they can do it.

RINA: When I feel calm about it, then I’ll get married (laughs).

MAMI: But, in that sense, it’s ideal, isn’t it?

RINA: You won’t know from the start if you’ll make a good married couple or not, eh? (laughs)

◆To MAMI -「Image」

RINA: It's「Image」.

MAMI: Because to paint over a new tomorrow?

RINA: Because getting married is a new startline. There’s the image of ‘after going out for years, let’s go for a new future!’ It’ll be an emotional wedding (laughs).

TOMOMI: (paradies the song) When you open your eyes…you’ve become someone’s wife (laughs).

Original article by excite music HERE, translation by fyscandalband. (Completely unrelated but) image from TBS’ Good Time Music HERE.

SCANDAL; 10th Year Anniversary BEST ALBUM,『SCANDAL』Interview with Billboard Japan

「The 10th Year Anniversary That Was Reached By Their Own Strength」- Each member speaks about their recommended tune~ a plan is in midst!?

－－SCANDAL, in the way you are, have released your 10th year anniversary BEST ALBUM『SCANDAL』. It’s a piece of work that is as voted by fans, but when you all looked at the results, what sort of impression or thoughts did you hold?

HARUNA: It was as we thought (laughs).

MAMI: We were like,「Yeah right?!」Since we’ve gone the whole way putting our lives at the center of our activities, it was obvious when songs that are popular at lives ranked well. We were purely just happy at that.

TOMOMI: As they were practically all songs that are popular at our lives, we kept performing them. For the ones we did live arrangements for, we still perform them at lives today. So when we heard the original audio for the first time in a long while this round, we were like,「The intro used this bar?」or「Eh, it was such a song?」 It felt a little bit weird (laughs).

－－I’ll bet that each of the songs were well thought out, but one by one, can each of you tell us which is your personal, most favourite song?

MAMI:「Departure」. I wrote the lyrics and composed it, but as we went about on our year 2015 world tour, it was then I got to know that this song is actually super popular among the overseas fans. The content about the song revolved around Japan’s 4 seasons, and depicted the change in people’s hearts and their environments as these 4 seasons shifted, alongside the use of a Japanese-style melody. For that, the overseas crowd felt it was「extremely catchy」.

RINA: Because they could feel it illustrated Japan, it was fun.

MAMI: I think, we probably don’t feel something like this regularly. But everyone researched on all the words in this song and its situational elements, and got to understand the lyrics by actually looking at the sceneries. The intro used an orgel, and the moment the sound came out, the audience went, ‘Woah!’…I was like,「Is it this popular?」, but was really happy about it. Not only is it a song that brought me confidence as a songwriter, but to create a song in Japan and to bring it overseas…it got me thinking exactly how important this job was.

－－How about TOMOMI?

TOMOMI: The one that I had the most thought about is「SCANDAL BABY」. It was the song that was voted in first place, but it wasn’t a single; instead, a number from our 1st album as the 1st song. So in order to know this song, you’ll have to have bought our 1st album, or have come to our lives. Still, it came in first. That led me to think about how it’s proof of SCANDAL placing lives at the heart of our activities. Previously in the past, we’ll make songs about what we mean then superficially, but we’ve gone past that now. In any case, the scenery that we’ve seen on stage is amazing. We can make sing-alongs happen, and if SCANDAL was a country, this would be our national anthem. It’s really a song that was raised by the audience, and they made it No.1 and a special song…in such a sense, it’s the song that has the most thought of all placed in it.

－－What about RINA?

RINA: It’s an album song called「Bitter Chocolate」, and since we were able to let many people hear it before, I’m extremely happy that it was selected this time around. All of us have ever lived under the same roof before, and we shared our time together there. When we then go on tours and the 4 of us stay in hotels, it’s like we’re always returning home and the 4 of us are living together. During one time, I sat in my room and tried making the melody on keyboard, thinking,「This somehow seems possible!」Since at the time, the lyrics were made with TOMOMI at the center of it, I brought the demo to TOMOMI’s room to have her listen to it, and asked,「Won’t you try coming up with the lyrics?」It was a song that was completed with both our styles of creation. Since that way of creating had been fun, we still make songs today in the different lyric-writing and mmusic composition pattern. I can still remember the joy of being able to ride upon lyrics that I didn’t imagine would be. Right after that time, all of us lived alone, but when I return to the house that I live in by myself and am trying to put together a demo, I think of how we spoke till late that night…and I’ll remember that as I listen to this song.

－－How about HARUNA?

HARUNA:「Awanai Tsumori no, Genki Dene」. This was released right after our first one-man live at the Osaka-jo Hall, which has always been our dream venue. Not only is it a song that signified a new start, but it also holds lyrics that can only be written at our generation then. It contained a lot of our feelings at the time, and is purely a love song, but as it was sung from a more adult-like point of view, it was the song that got me feeling for the first time,「I want to continue singing forever from now on」. It is a song that gave me the confidenec to (continue) sing such songs.

－－Again, this album contains the new songs,「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」and「HELLO」. Can you tell us what sort of thought or imagination brought about these songs?

RINA: Firstly,「HELLO」was a song that had its demo done about a year ago. Since the release period would be Winter, it was recorded with the idea of wanting others to listen to it as a Winter love song. We thought of presenting it as a royal road pop song, so not only were the lyrics straightforward, but since it also has the story element in its content, it was written in a manner that was meant to be easy to reach out to all kinds of people. We only played it once during Christmas, but I was happy that we’re finally able to release it. And then, for「FREEDOM FIGHTERS」, since we were going to go on our 47-prefecture tour, we thought about「wanting to create a killer tune that’ll look great when shot live」. We imagined and made the melody with that in mind, but we wanted to write lyrics that anyone could understand with the theme, 'Freedom’. Despite clearing that, it took quite some time (to create it). So, it was a song that was really painful to produce, but we do think we're「glad to have held on」. With this song in the best album, it was like,「We completed the 10th year anniversary using our own strength」. It’s a song that we think,「We’ve given it our all」.

－－Once more, you all feel you’re starting again from here on?

RINA: That’s right. Rather than say we’re finally going towards a new stage, we feel as though our hearts are rest once again.

－－What sort of future is SCANDAL aiming towards from here on out?

HARUNA: We’re soon starting our 47-prefecture tour, but I think we hope to stay as band that will always place importance on our lives after all. We’ve come this far by making one-man lives the central of the activities, but we really do want to involve more, and all kinds of people in our lives. Since we’ve moved along, opening our own paths till now, we also hope to play alongside all kinds of people and absorb even more things in future.

MAMI: When the 47-prefecture tour ends, the Summer fes season will also have passed eh. Since we’ll got all kinds of stuff planned, it’ll be great if people would like to「do something together」, with us. As so, please look forward to it!

RINA: Until now, we haven’t got to do a two-man with TRICERATOPS or Kishidan or The Cro-magnons.

－－Those are 3 amazing bands eh (laughs).

RINA: All 3 groups are huge seniors of ours, and we’ve received a lot of stimulation from them. That’s why, even more so, we’ll like to do a two-man and put our confidence into it. Even if we get hurt once in a while, it’s also necessary, since we can get more heated up from that. We want to do more gradually.

Original article by Billboard Japan HERE, translation by fyscandalband. Another huge part of this Billboard interview is translated HERE. Support SCANDAL in the best way by buying their best album HEREnow.

SCANDAL; 10th Year Anniversary BEST ALBUM,『SCANDAL』Interview with Billboard Japan

「That Is Why SCANDAL Continued On For 10 Years」- All 4 of them speak about each member’s charm

－－For yourselves, what sort of band do you feel SCANDAL is?

RINA (Dr, vo): We’ve never heard of this question before. It’s a first.

All: (Laughs)

RINA: We’re happy! For myself, we’ve been a very proper and upright band from the start. It was how I felt a band should be, and that’s how I made it work, but we’ve created our music using all kinds of methods, and did lives in all kinds of styles. That’s why, in the beginning, in order to be easily understood, we donned on uniforms as our costumes, and went on about our activities. I really think we’re a band that has shown all sides of ourselves, and within that, we’ve always been upright and done it from our core. From doing that, I guess we’re a band that saw an increase in the things that we’re able to understand. We went about our music with feelings of wanting to always challenge ourselves.

HARUNA (Vo, g): I think these 10 years have been extremely tough. We had such a special way of beginning, by forming the band from within a dance school and going on a world tour during our indies period etc., but doing lives have always been at the center of our activities since right off the bat. Without getting caught up in the phrase,「We’re girls」, I think these 10 years have been about continuous challenges. You can say we’re a band that’s really got the nerve, and are extremely tough.

－－At the beginning, there were probably a lot of people who looked over you as everything went accordingly as planned, but from there, you used your own strength and became an authentic band that is recognised around the world. How are each and every member in person? Let’s everyone talk about yourselves one by one.

All: Everyone? (Laughs)

－－Now, let’s begin with MAMI.

MAMI (G, vo): Now, everyone please speak. (laughs)

TOMOMI (B, vo): I think she’s the member that had the most change, over these 10 years worth of activities. In terms of appearance, one day, she suddenly turned blond overnight, and from then on, her energy also seemed to be awakened, and I think she became an enriched person. Although whenever the topic of,「Let’s all the members go for a meal together」pops up, she still won’t go. She’s more of the indoor type, but her chances to meet all kinds of people also increased and she really became a more fulfilled person, and all that is tied to our music activities. Now, MAMI is at the heart of our songmaking, whereas in the past, she wasn’t as assertive as before. In such a sense, I think she is the member that has undergone the most change.

RINA: Also, she has always had her own personality. Be it her fashion or the things that she like…down to the things that she likes to eat! I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but she has her own fixation about everything, so I think she’s a「biased person.」(laughs) But no matter what, she’s a good kind of spice for the band named SCANDAL, and I often think about how she’s the person at the door when it comes to us producing music and how it’s lots of fun to talk to her. She’s an「Interesting person」.

－－Why is it that you didn’t go with the members for meals in the past?

MAMI: I remembered that「We wanted to speak about this particular thing as 4, thus you were invited」, and I should just reciprocate that, but I wasn’t thinking of anything at that time (laughs). It’s completely about the mood.

HARUNA: I don’t think it’s nice to judge other people based on their blood-types…but that’s The・Bloodtype AB. (laughs)

－－I see. But you’ve change, haven’t you?

MAMI: I dyed my hair, and both my appearance and inside has changed…but it’s never quite sunk in. The members and staff around me would say,「You’ve changed since then」, and I’d think,「Ah, that’s possibly true!」That’s why, I’ve taken the simple action of「Wanting to dye my hair. If it’s going to be dyed, it should be blond」, but it’s just that my appearance has became flashier, and it could all just be because I did it on a whim. Since then, I’ve also often been told,「Your playing style has also changed」.

RINA: She took a step forward.

－－Continuing on, TOMOMI.

MAMI: Since I met TOMO, she’s always been a skillful kid. Be it on the bass guitar or privately, she’s able to handle a variety of tasks, so there are many times that I think she is「Amazing!」

RINA: Plus, I think she’s someone that’s firm with her private time. Of course, I do understand TOMO, but amongst all 4 of us, she’s the member that I feel「has parts of her that I don’t understand」. She’s the person that has the biggest side of her that’s unlike a musician. I feel she has a lot of friends, be it musician friends or a variety of friends, and she also hangs out regularly with her hometown friends. I feel she’s a person that meets all kinds of people, and is able to make all kinds of connections.

－－So what is it actually?

TOMOMI: I’ll meet friends from my hometown in Tokyo, and if our work schedule allows it, I’ll often bring them around about once a month. Since they’re from my hometown and we grew up together in the same kind of environment, they make me feel comfortable. As I have fun with my hometown friends and we gather at fun places, we also then make friends with people in those shops (laughs). So I got a lot of friends that were made through eating and drinking. Somehow, I’ve always had connections from outside of our activities as SCANDAL.

HARUNA: She also has the image of someone that’s active on her off-days.

MAMI: She’s enjoying herself in her private time.

RINA: Someone’s whose satisfied with her work and private life!

－－SCANDAL’s No.1 person satisfied with her life (laughs).

MAMI: She usually doesn’t move around as much until her off-days.

RINA: I think it’s something good! She’s also the first among us to buy a car.

MAMI: Since she bought her car, the places that she goes to have widened.

TOMOMI: Ever since I bought a car, I got to know that「The places that are easily accessible via train and the places that are easily accessible via car are completely different」, and my vision has widened. Feels like I just got to know a world that I didn’t know of before.

－－Next up, RINA.

HARUNA: She’s very stoic. She’s been like this since the past, and she has also always done sports ever since before SCANDAL was grouped together. No matter what it is, she’ll passionately give it her best. I feel that part of her is really amazing.

MAMI: Since starting out SCANDAL and becoming adults, she has properly found “the things she likes”, and has been able to say with pride that she “likes” them, in turn opening the door to all kinds of things. Since she’s a really curious person, when it comes down to it, she’s able talk about it no matter how long it takes, and be able to focus lots of passion onto each and every component, just so at the end of the day, she’s able to say properly that「I got it」. I really respect that.

－－How did you turn out to be such a stoic and hugely curious person?

RINA: Hmm…since we started the band, I consciously thought about「Wanting to increase the number of things that I like」. I’m really not perfect at all, so I end up being this huge perfectionist. I always think,「This is not enough」, and I want to know, see and hear many and all kinds of things. I think like this often. Somehow, I always have feelings of「Wanting to change!」within me.

－－After going through all that, ultimately, what sort of person do you imagine you’d like to become?

RINA: Ah, no~, I’ve always felt like this all along. It’s like I can’t be satisfied (laughs). I love SCANDAL after all! And so, my train of thought revolves around,「In order to make this band better, I want to be a better vresion of myself.」

TOMOMI: That part of her hasn’t changed since we met. It’s like she’s always searching for something. Since RINA is somebody who has always wanted to have a job that appears publicly, ever since she was 3 years old, she does have that amazing passion. That’s why, if RINA doesn’t exist in SCANDAL when it was formed, her interests might be very different.

－－In that case, that makes her a key person.

RINA: (Laughs embarassingly)

－－Moving on, HARUNA.

TOMOMI: HARUNA is really awkward, isn’t she? But her awkwardness has got immense charm to it. Honestly, she hits walls often, and often works desperately to overcome them. She probably had it the hardest among the members in these 10 years, and it was probably difficult and troubling. However, if HARUNA was a person that’s able to get past these walls skillfully, SCANDAL might not have been able to create such music continuously for 10 years either. Since HARUNA is awkward, the thought of「Wanting to surpass her current state!」and wanting to knock down (those walls) will always surface, and she’s able to sing about them. I think that’s what helped SCANDAL continue on for 10 years. That’s why, she’s the person that has to stand in the middle and who has to be our vocalist, after all.

－－How does it feel, after hearing what you just did?

HARUNA: To go through troubles the way one should, I thought that was how it should be. In the beginning, when the band was grouped together, the way I imagined my life to be changed. Since that point, I thought,「Well then, how should I live my life from now on?」, and that continued till 10 years have passed. But I have parts of myself that changed after having met the members, and it was because I chose the band at that time, have I made it this far.

－－By the way, out of all the hurdles you’ve gone past up till now, what was the toughest one of all?

HARUNA: It was the hardest when I had a period of time where I couldn’t sing the way I wanted to. Up till that time, I never had troubles like that…but since we pride ourselves on our lives earnestly, I thought,「In what way should I go about this?」and troubled over it…it took me quite some time before I managed to get past that. But I was able to get past it because I continued to sing, so I think,「I’m glad to have never given up」.

－－A band that’s strong with 4 people’s individual personalities. What do you suppose it is that you emphasised on, to a point where you’re now able to even release a 10th year anniversary best album?

RINA: Our personalities…and how we’re all compatible! I think that is what’s basic.

MAMI: It’s mostly the fact that,「It’s the 4 of us」. We respect and understand each other, and that’s how we’re able to speak about the members among everyone today, like,「This girl is like this because of that」. If that isn’t love or dependability, you won’t be able to think so deeply about a person like that.

Original article from Billboard Japan HERE, translation by fyscandalband. I really liked this part of the interview where they talked about one another like this~ I intend to translate another part of the this interview where they reveal their favourite songs on the BEST ALBUM and why, so please stay tuned!

SCANDAL’s RINA; “It’s me RINA” Style Book Translations Part 4 of 5 - RINA 100 Q&A

From here onwards, it’s where it gets personal with RINA. (I’ve chosen 50 questions that I found most interesting / informative to translate! Now, without further ado…)

• 1: I want to become better friends with Rina♥ Where shall we go for our next meal? (laughs) (From Funayama Kumiko, model): “Since there’s a delicious teppanyaki (iron grilled food) store that I know of, let’s go together the next time♥”
• 2: Since the photos you upload onto Twitter etc., always look so great, I hope you’ll teach me some photography skills next time! (From Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, singer): “I use the mirrorless camera, OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL7! Recently, I’ve taken a liking to filtering them to make them look warmer♥”
• 3: We’ve often gone on movie dates, but if RINA could be cast as the main lead, what sort of role would be good for you? (From Kanno Yui, model): “Waa…that’s tough. (laughs) Since I’m too great with speaking in standard Japanese, a mysterious role where I have few lines will be good, I suppose?”
• 4: How do you spend your off-days? (From Kondo Chihiro, model): “Hair salon, nail salon, French language school. And then on my way back, I’ll do some shopping or go to the cinema. However, I also have days which I spend at home sleeping.”
• 5: What’s the most scandalous thing that RINA has ever done in history!? (From Wakita Keiko, model): “Releasing a style book!!”
• 6: What are areas of yourself that you like and dislike? (From HARUNA, SCANDAL member): “Like = I try hard at things. Dislike = That I’m too stubborn.”
• 7: I’ve always been secretly wondering, but 10 years ago, when the 4 of us had thaat training camp together, you slept with your hair all pulled back and in a bun. Is it still that way now? (From HARUNA, SCANDAL member): “You remember so well…(laughs). I’ll pin my fringe up and sleep like that. But when I had long hair, I hate that my hair gets damaged when there’s friction against the pillow, so I’ll tie it up.”
• 8: When we were on tour, we regularly hit various vintage shops in all the different places. Which vintage shop is the one you enjoyed the most? (From TOMOMI, SCANDAL member): “Takamatsu’s 81/2! I had such good memories talking about girl bands with 2 of the shop’s staff, so it’s a recent place that I enjoyed the most. Since the shop name was a movie title, that drew me in, and is one of the enjoyable points about it.”
• 9: What is your favourite French word? (From MAMI, SCANDAL member): “‘Allo?’ It’s like, 'Moshi moshi’ in French. It sounds cute, and was the first word I took in when I started learning and watching movies.”
• 10: What was the first CD you ever bought?: “Morning Musume.’s 'Best! Morning Musume. 1’.”
• 11: What is your favourite SCANDAL song of all?: “I always like the new songs best! So for now, it’s 'Take Me Out’!”
• What’s the artist you listened the most to up till now?: “Chatmonchy”
• 12: Are you not tired from waving your neck about so much during lives?: “It’s OK even if I’m tired!!”
• 13: Which song gets you feeling the most excited when performing it?: “SUKI-SUKI”
• 14: Have you ever been frantic during a live?: “Not really. Even if anything happened, I will think, 'It’s okay!’ and just do it.”
• 15: Out of all the lives you’ve done up till now, which live left you with the greatest impression?: “Our first-ever Osaka-jo Hall one-man live. It was our greatest goal that we’ve always aimed for. When we performed the song, "one piece”, which was written for the day when wr fulfill our dreams, I could see many people crying and breaking down, and I was really happy. No matter the number of times I get up there, it’s a place that gives me special feelings.“
• 16: When you first came to Tokyo, how did you enjoy yourself?: "Since those were streets that I’ve looked up to ever since I was a kid, I was happy enough just by going to (Shibuya) 109 or (Harajuku’s) Takeshita-dori. I’m really happy to be able to live in Tokyo!”
• 17: What are some pointers to take note of in order to get slim?: “Generally, I don’t really bother! 2 weeks before a shoot or something, I’ll just not eat sweet or fried foods. But I don’t think being slim = cuteness!”
• 18: What’s something that fans have said to you before that made you the happiest?: “I love you!”
• 19: Are you able to speak standard Japanese?: “I think I’ve naturally gotten better than before!”
• 20: What dish are you good at making?: “Gyoza!”
• 21: What dialects do you like?: “Fukuoka dialects!”
• 22: What sport do you like, or a sport that you often enjoy watching?: “Tennis! I did soft tennis as my extra curricular activity from when I was in the 1st to 3rd year of middle school. But I still like it even now!”
• 23: Dogs or cats?: “Cats”
• 24: Words that you like?: “Welcome home”
• 25: What’s the most important thing to you?: “My mother”
• 26: Do you listen to your own songs usually?: “Yeap, I do sometimes! When a new song is done, all the members and I will also gather together in the car to listen to it together.”
• 27: What are some must-sing songs for you during karaoke?: “Hamasaki Ayumi’s ’STEP You’, Otsuka Ai’s ’Planetarium’, and aiko’s ’Andromeda’”
• 28: Up till when do you think you will continue with SCANDAL?: “Until my body and heart is unable to go on anymore.”
• 29: When putting on make-up, what’s the most important point?: “The base make-up”
• 30: What do guys do that make your heart race?: “The expression on their faces, when they talk about the things they like.”
• 31: Since when did you start putting on make-up?: “Since the Summer holiday of when I was 15. After getting together in a band, and also with the influence from the older members, I felt like I wanted to do my make-up properly.”
• 32: Are you the type to confess your feelings to the person you like?: “I think, surely, I’ll be the type to confess.”
• 33: If you were a guy, what sort of job will you have?: “I can’t imagine it (laughs). But, a hair stylist or something seems nice.”
• 34: I heard you went to a language school previously, but why’s that?: “Right now, I’m going to a French language school. Midway through our 2015 world tour, we visited Paris’ Bataclan venue for a live, and 7 months later, there was an unexpected terrorist attack there. I thought, 'The next time when we go to Paris for a live, I want to speak my thoughts in my own words’, and that was the chance for me.
• 35: Anything that made you panic recently?: "When we participated in a marathon at the event in Hawaii, midway, I got the route wrong, my cap flew due to the wind, and when the moment I reached the goal-line, I was instantly interviewed so I was shocked. Is such a small panic incident okay?”
• 36: If you were alone on a deserted island, what’s the one thing you’ll bring?: “Camera”
• 37: What is one thing you want to do before you die?: “Bring my family to Hawaii.”
• 38: What is your dream right now?: “To rewrite the Guinness world record, as the girls band with the record of having the longest activity.”
• 39: Do you have a goal for yourself, 10 years later?: “To go to Europe on my own, and have the language ability to communicate myself.”
• 40: I heard you’re poor with liquor, but how much is your limit?: “Cocktails 3 glasses, champagne 3 mouthfuls, umeshu (Japanese liquor) 3cm.”
• 41: What’s something you’ll definitely bring along during live tours?: “Since I don’t wipe my face with anything other than my own towel, I definitely will bring that. I want to be less of a clean freak, but I can’t.”
• 42: When something bad happnes or when tough times come along, how does RINA move forward?: “I’ll think of how I’m going to die someday. I won’t overthink it, but I’ll think, 'I really only have one life!’ Everything is fine to me, and I want to try doing anything I can, and this helps me move forward.”
• 43: What’s the most fun about your life up till now?: “Being a part of the band.”
• 44: Recently, what has made you happy about your private life?: “Discovering wonderful vintage shops down at Takamatsu.”
• 45: Other than Japan, what our countries do you want to try living in?: “Paris (France), Los Angeles (USA)”
• 46: What licenses or certifications do you have interest in?: “Driver’s license or a nail stylist certificate.”
• 47: What sightseeing spot do you recommend in Nara?: Yoshino Lake. When I was a grade school student, I often went there with my family to do barbeques or swim in the water.“
• 48: Is there something that sits at the back of your mind everyday?: "Updating my SNS everyday.”
• 49: What are you into recently, or something that you’re starting to take an interest in?: “Flea markets and markets abroad. They sometimes have it in Japan too, and I recommend checking out rare and retro goods!
• 50: You’re the indoor type on your off-days right? To be more specific, what do you do?: "I haven’t been staying home all the way during my off-days lately, but sometimes, when I’m home, I’ll be watching movies I suppose.”

This section also sees Rina introducing a bunch of her favourite vintage shops. They include:

• Grimoire Almadel: A must-check for one-piece outfits that I want!!
• DEPT@VACANT: Great for large-sized logo T-shirts♥
• SLOW DAIKANYAMA: Very popular with the ladies, and full of accessories or little trinkets♥
• vintage Qoo Omotesando: Can’t go wrong with this place when you’re searching for a vintage bag!!
• birthdeath: Filled with silk or satin vintage wear.

Translations & photos by fyscandalband. To purchase, click HERE. For my “It’s me RINA” tag, click HERE. As I’ll only translate what piques my interest, this is only a part of the interview and not a full translation. More to come.

SCANDAL’s RINA; “It’s me RINA” Style Book Translations Part 3 of 5 - FASHION

Fashion = Things that make the day’s mood. RINA, with her favourite vintage theme as base, meets with a different side of herself each and every day♥

“When putting together my favourite style, I’m happy if it’s something simple. When RINA wakes up first thing in the morning, I’ll have an image of the day in mind, and work towards creating that mood. Fashion is something that’s able to change the people you meet, the places you go to, and the way you spend the entire day. That is why, I, RINA, think that fashion = things that make the day’s mood.”

In this section, Rina shares many fashion co-ordinates and vintage items, in pictures that can also be seen on SCANDAL’s blog, or her own personal Twitter or Instagram account. Many reflect her liking for girlier styles, but she also explores casual, retro or more rocker-type outfits. All of her outfits use vintage clothing as a basis.

Rina also introduces her beloved beauty items! Here are some of the items that she uses:

• Shampoo:BOTANIST Botanical Shampoo and Treatment. She also reveals that she hits the salon twice a month to do regular hair treatments.
• Hair Oil:L'occitane. Rina adores its frangrance and oily texture. After getting out of the bathroom and brushing her hair, she’ll apply some to the ends of her hair.
• Hair Straightener: Bioprogramming’s HAIRBEAURON. She uses this for her fringe everyday.
• Hair Dryer:Panasonic’s EH-NA93. She brings this along with her on tours, be it within or outside of the country.
• Throat:Organic Manuka Honey SnapPak Sachets&lozenges,HICEE 1000. For the Manuka sachets, she makes sure to drink some when her throat hurts when on tours. For the Manuka candies and lozenges, she’ll pop one right before each live. For the HICEE 1000 vitamins, she’s been taking one every night before sleeping since 5 years ago.
• Body Milk:SABON’s silky body milk in Lavender and Vanilla. Rina enjoys using products by SABON for her body care, because of its moisturising and wonderful smell that helps her relax.
• Skin: Various products by La Roche-Posay. As recommended by her dermatologist several years ago, she’s been a fan of La Roche-Posay’s skincare products.
• Eyecream:Chanel’s LA CRÈME YEUX. She especially uses it a few days before any shoot, and is her special eye skin care during more tiring times like these.
• Facemask:Lu Lu Lun. When on tour and if she has the time, Rina will use Lu Lu Lun’s blue face mask, which has high moisture in its face masks.
• Eyeshadow:Various colours by ADDICTION. Rina also has dark colours, which are useful for lives and performances, when she wants a change of mood.
• Eyeliner:Loveliner’s liquid eyeliner in dark brown. She also uses this during lives, as the colour bounces off under the light easily.
• Blusher:ADDICTION’s Shanghai Breakfast and Alice colours. As her hair colour usually more bent towards a reddish tone, she uses a lot more reddish colours for her make-up.
• Lip:RMK’s Irresistable Glow Lips in EX-08,Revlon’s Matt Balm in 45. Rina makes use of both in this order, on her off-days.

Translations & photos by fyscandalband. To purchase, click HERE. For my “It’s me RINA” tag, click HERE. As I’ll only translate what piques my interest, this is only a part of the interview and not a full translation. More to come.

SCANDAL’s RINA; “It’s me RINA” Style Book Translations Part 2 of 5 - MOVIE & DUAL

“Movies are an inspiration to making songs. With the fashion and stimulation, they are an important essence to RINA♥ I love movies, and I’ve watched countless of them. The ones I like are European movies between the 60’s to 80’s era. They have a unique world, and I find myself naturally warped into that time.”

In this section, Rina pays hommage to some of her favourite movies, by dressing up in fashion as inspired by them. She transforms into a ‘Bad girl’, as Mathilda from Léon: The Professional, then into the sweet and girly Lux Lisbon, from The Virgin Suicides.

Rina also selects 15 of her all-time favourite films. They are:

• Daisies
• Léon: The Professional
• The Virgin Suicides
• Blue Is the Warmest Colour
• Ruby Sparks
• Betty Blue
• Identity
• Don’t Deliver Us from Evil
• Prisoners
• Swimming Pool
• Rippu van Winkuru no Hanayome(A Bride for Rip Van Winkle)
• The Danish Girl
• And God Created Woman
• A Perfect World
• A Woman Is a Woman

“Monotone and colour, GOODXBAD…etc. Girls have two sides to them. I am different from who I was yesterday, a person with a 'gap’. I think of wanting to be a 'wonderful woman with 2 sides!’”

In this section, Rina explores the black and white colour scheme, in fashion that are girly sporty, edgy and 'bad’, fashionable and adult-like, and finally, a flashy outfit for the night. She also does a selection of 10 of her favourite fashion-related books.

• 60’s Fashion Style
• GODARD MUSE
• Discharge / Petra Collins
• Babe / Petra Collins
• Tekka (Fire) / Sanai Masashi
• Kawa ga Watashi wo Ukeirete Kureta (The River Embraced Me) / Kawauchi Rinko
• KIDS IN LOVE / Olivia Bee
• BACON ICE CREAM / Okuyama Yoshiyuki
• The Bag I’m In / Sam Knee
• Way Far / Ryan McGinley

Translations & photos by fyscandalband. To purchase, click HERE. For my “It’s me RINA” tag, click HERE. As I’ll only translate what piques my interest, this is only a part of the interview and not a full translation. More to come.