Notice
The purpose of this page is to publish an interview with KOKIA for archival purposes that was originally published free of charge on a web page. However, we will promptly delete the page upon request from the copyright holder.
Source
- Original URL: http://www.fullcast.co.jp/cv/interview_02_09.html (dead link)
- Source URL: a backup in WebArchive (in Japanese)
The Fifth Voice: “Don’t fake your honest feelings.”(2006)
KOKIA says that she is a business-like musician too much. This also means that she is able to produce herself with precision.
— I think there exist two types of people: some can take care of client requests, but some cannot.
KOKIA: But when you do a job that requires a lot of requests, you learn a lot. At first, I wondered what they were talking about. I was really surprised at how many requests I was getting [laugh].
— Have you ever been disgusted by that process?
There have been. There have been many times, but in the end it comes down to what is good for me. I can say “I don’t want to do it anymore”, but after enduring so much, there is always a certain amount of fertilizer for me, you know? There has to be something. No matter how small it is.
— Amazing!
For example, I wanted to write a ballad, but I was requested to write an up-tempo song. But I actually think it’s a bit unlike me. I don’t like it, it’s true, but when they give me a subject and I try to do it…
— It would be like, “Oh, I can write an up-tempo song as well!”?
There are a lot of things about myself that I can’t find out unless I try. This may be off topic, but you can’t say that a video you haven’t seen isn’t interesting. So I always try, and if it doesn’t work, it’s okay. I don’t want to act like a know-it-all without even trying.
— So, you never think “it’s enough”.
I’m not satisfied unless I try. I do not want to leave anything undone.
How professional it is! I guess you can’t make it as a professional musician without this level of heart. From such a professional, KOKIA, we received a message to our readers.
— I believe there are many people who want to be something, but have yet to become it. Do you have your message to them?
KOKIA: Well…, even if one angle doesn’t work, don’t think it’s not good enough anymore. I want them to try, for example, if this angle doesn’t work, how about another one? I can’t be more specific, but I think there are many different approaches (to anything). Especially now, I think anyone can do anything, if they are really motivated.
— Hmm…
I want everyone to do their best in that way. Because…, you know, dreams and what you want to do are the things only you can treasure, and it is an honest feeling. So, I want everyone not to pretend to be something they are not.
— I see.
When I was 20 or 25, I used to think more often than when I was a teenager, “Oh, I’m too old to do this…”. But it’s never too late, right?
— So, the real end comes when you think that you cannot do anymore.
My mother is already in her 50s, but she is determined to face what she wants to do head-on. I think that’s amazing.
“I sing in front of the audience, so I have to have confidence. Otherwise, it’s disrespectful.”
— Are you a type of person who has confidence? I mean, are you confident in showing yourself off, or rather, in presenting yourself?
KOKIA: I’m more of a pretender. I pretend to play dumb, and hide myself. Not like “I’m doing this way!”, but I first try to hide myself, and present who I am at the right time later.
— So you have a lot of hidden cards to play.
I don’t play my cards too early. I don’t know if I have confidence in myself, but I do have confidence in singing, and my actions that I used to do. I don’t care even if my attitude being a confident person makes people say, “You’re a jerk.”
— Why do you think so?
I wouldn’t be on stage if I don’t have that level of confidence in what I do. I would feel bad when I stand on stage with hundreds or thousands of people. There is no way I would perform to people who are paying to see me, wondering if I’m going to be okay. I sing with a lot of confidence, and I think I give a confident performance. Otherwise, I don’t think I should do it. I’m sure of it. I shouldn’t sing, if I don’t have confidence.
— It’s no suprise that you think about it in that way.
I think so now because I’ve had a lot of experience. So at first, everyone is a chick in any field. That is normal. There is a generation that nurtures them. The older ages are always willing to go along with stupid things and close their eyes for us.
— Sometimes the younger generation doesn’t realize how much they care, though.
That’s how they turn young people around, so we have to grow by noticing and learning a lot. But instead of growing, there are young people who sometimes take things in a different way.
— Some young people are cynical.
Yes, yes, exactly. There is nothing good for them. That’s their fault. They do not grow, not any more. So I sing with confidence when it comes to singing.
— I cannot judge whether you are humble or confident.
Maybe, you can’t [laugh].
The professional spirit in pursuit of entertainment is what makes KOKIA sing. She not only sings, but also draws illustrations, makes clothes, and takes photographs. There are so many things she wants to do that she would like to live her life in three different ways.
(This interview…, the end.)