MUSIC

Typically, when you say ‘Koda Kumi’, people think of an artist who puts ‘performance’ first. But in truth, it has always been about the music itself to me. I was filled with insecurities, but Koda Kumi was born out of music itself, and that’s what allowed me to grow confident. Because of this, I want to share the ‘music’ part also with people who aren’t my fans. That is currently a very big dream of mine.

As the first step to make that dream come true, I held a live performance in a place called Billboard Live for 300 people this year, with music as the main component. I held that performance because I want people to know a new Koda Kumi. That’s why I wanted to only use music. I really enjoyed singing so closely to the guests. I focused on the music and gave it my all, so it only lasted 70 minutes, but I felt a real sense of accomplishment. It made me happy that the number of people buying my CD rose after that performance. Surely that’s because people who hadn’t been fans before but went to the performance, afterwards thought: ‘I want to hear her songs’. So I think it was worthwhile. I want to use music as the foundation more in the future.

I don’t just want to hold performances in small venues in order to do that. I also want to hold concerts in big venues that include parts which are only about the music. My concerts have storylines, so I think it’s really difficult to make a scene that has both entertainment and a music focus, but I want to make it work somehow. The viewpoint of people who have liked Koda Kumi’s ‘performance’ aspect up until now might also change. So I now want to create a section where the music takes centre stage at next year’s tour thanks to my experiences at the Billboard Live.

This year my 10th anniversary passed by. My thoughts towards music have intensified with each passing year. Lately I feel that I also have to pay attention to what time of year it is when I select a new song. For example, when picking a new song during the cold season, I gravitate towards gentle songs. But when I hold live performances in spring, the album that I release before that time definitely needs to contain powerful songs as well. So if I release an album in spring, and I have to select songs at a time when I’m excited, I feel I can’t record sharp songs. Actually, I also selected songs in Brazil for my next album. Because my surrounding were different, the things that inspired me were also different, so I selected different songs from usual. It made me realize how much my feelings sway from left to right when I select songs. All the things that have piled up year by year, create the current Koda Kumi. I have lately been reminded of this.

I still have lots of things to learn. Even so, I am working at a 100% every day so that it’ll be okay even if the artist Koda Kumi would have to stop tomorrow. Because you don’t know what will happen in life. I have been working really hard on my career, so I don’t want to have any regrets if anything were to happen. That’s why I never think ‘Maybe I should do it later’. Rather, I want to do all I can do at any given time.

NEVER COMPROMISE

~more to come