Part 2:
Interview with Ookubo Kaoru:
Please tell us your musical roots.
-The first artist which I felt inspiration was Prince (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)). During that time I basically only listened to Prince so I wanted to imitate his sound and the first few songs I did were a similar pattern that looped forever at about four minutes. There was no variation with that so I researched the people Prince said he was inspired by like James Brown (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown), P. Frank (TN: I'm not sure who this is), Zapp (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_(band)), Jam and Lewis (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Jam_and_Terry_Lewis), and Teddy Riley (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Riley). During this time I was part of an indie brand but I also started working at a composer-management company and started working on arrangements in J-Pop.
How do you feel about the dance music trend?
-I always keep up with current trends. Lately R&B music has incorporated aspects of electro-music. The vast majority of what I arrange is J-Pop so when I come across a piece that I can incorporate trends, I try to. Lately I've been putting in a lot of dubstep in Morning Musume. songs.
What kind of discussions do you have with Tsunku-san?
-More than anything we keep going back and forth until we complete the song. Things like changing the rhythm to four hits or changing the synth to be more baki-baki (TN: onomatopoeia that I don't know how to translated), or to change the BPM. They are very specific and detailed conversations.
What do you think was a turning point for one of your own pieces of work?
-In many ways I think it was Mo-Musu's 1.2.3. In many ways it garnered attention as dance music and that was a catalyst (for future work). I think it allowed me to remove my own limits and express myself in a new way.
When you take on arrangements, what do you think is most important?
-I pay attention to making one "main character" in a song starting with what kind of groove the melody needs, the rhythm pattern, baseline, etc. Sometimes as I work on an arrangement there comes a phrase or melody that ignores the baseline but I try not to think too much of it and keep going forward. Every so often they turn up being songs with a new feel to them. I also focus a lot on the chorus line. I try to pay attention to the chords and arrange them in a way that feels like me.
Shirofuku Interview (Dude who does Odotte mita)
On niconico you were "perfumen" and primarily danced to perfume, why has that changed to H!P?
-I always liked MM. since my junior high school days. Last year as a surprise on my Nico-Radio program I got a comment from my oshi-member Suzuki Kanon-chan and she said "please dance to MM. too!!" and that was what prompted me.
What's your dance background?
-None. I'm an amateur. When I entered college I started watching nico videos and started dancing.
You've done odotte mita to Wktk, 1.2.3. and Renai Hunter as Musumen, what have you discovered since dancing?
-I thought that the dance was impactful because of their number but after meeting up and trying to do the same dance with the same number of people we learned that it's in fact very hard to put it all together. There's no point if there's only one good person. But it's so much fun to dance. Musumen's members are from all over the place like Hokkaido and Kansai. It's not like we've always been very passionate about MM.. We originally met through the Odotte Mita category with some of us having to realize what current MM is like.
Starting with the Odotte Mita category, there's been an increase in the number of MM. dances even on Youtube.
-Their quality of songs is high and the dance formations are interesting. I think they really exploded. But I/we don't want to lose so we're going to work really hard!
What song from the past year of MM's was the most impactful?
-Definitely with the start of Renai hunter but I feel like 1.2.3. was definitely the start of a revolution. There may be some who remember the dances because of the song but more importantly it was really fresh. I've been a fan since Love Machine but I like current MM the best.
Musumen also released an original song.
-We didn't think that we would last this long. After having seen Renai Hunter we decided to make our own goals. We are aiming for H!P's holy land, Nakano Sun Plaza! Lastly, I will always cheer on Zukki!