Atarayo, a self-proclaimed three-piece band “a band raised in grief,” released their new song “I am…” on January 8. He has been constantly praised for his lyrics, which are subtle depictions of people's emotions and sound, which help bring out the lyrics to even fuller effect. “I am…”, their first release of 2024, was written as the opening song for the second season of the TV anime The dangers in my heart. It is written from the point of view of the protagonist of the show, reflecting his inner feelings. Billboard Japan spoke with Atarayo about their past and future development, including their first overseas performance, playing in Taiwan in 2023, their latest song, and their plans for future overseas shows.
In 2023, play at LA RUE ISLAND Music & Arts festival in Taiwan. What was it like playing a show outside of Japan for the first time?
Hitomi (vocals and guitar): At first, I was very nervous, but the audience was really engaged and everyone was singing along in Japanese. That blew me away. Japanese audiences almost never sing along with us, they listen attentively. The Taiwanese audience was different. There was a real sense of oneness with the crowd. It was really fun.
Takeo (bass): At first, I was also quite nervous, but then, when we started playing, the audience's atmosphere was great.
Marcy (guitar): Yeah, everyone was taking videos on their phones, but they were really at the show. There was a real sense of freedom. It felt very different from Japan and it was a lot of fun. The stage was also huge. When we were checking out the venue the day before, I was idly wondering how the place would be packed, but on the day of the show the crowd was huge.
Did the experience of your first performance outside of Japan give you a greater desire to play overseas more?
Hitomi: Yes, it was a wonderful experience seeing how warmly they welcomed us. After we played the festival in Taiwan, we got offers from other countries in Asia, saying 'Come and play here too'. If there is such a large audience that wants to see us, I would like to actively play more abroad.
You recently released “I am…”, your first release of 2024. It is the opening theme for the second season of the anime The dangers in my heart. What kind of idea did you have in the writing process?
Hitomi: First of all, since it's the opening song, we wanted it to have a lot of energy. As for the lyrics, the anime producers asked us to write the song from the point of view of the series' protagonist, Kyotaro Ichikawa, so we always had that in mind while working on the song. I had read the comic that the show is based on, so when I was writing the lyrics, I imagined what kind of poem Ichikawa would write if he were to write a poem. There's actually a scene in the show where he writes a poem, and my personal impression is that people who write poems have something buried deep inside them. Ichikawa must have a lot inside him that he thinks but doesn't say out loud, so I thought about how he would express that if he put it to music. Ichikawa's feelings are particularly reflected in the first verse.
What kind of character do you see Ichikawa as?
Hitomi: Hmm… kind of difficult and stubborn (laughs). He has these ideals and things he wants to do, but he just can't fully accept himself and his ideas of who he is. However, in the second season, he gradually accepts himself more.
What are your feelings? The dangers in my heart himself?
Hitomi: It's not just a plain, simple romance anime. There are many lines that really pull you in, emotionally, in the depictions of how Ichikawa grows as a person. When I read it, I had a lot of knowledge myself.
Marcy: When I read that, I just thought, “Man, I'm jealous. I wish a beautiful girl was in love with me when I was that age” (laughs).
Hitomi: You are very honest (laughs).
Marcy: But seriously, in the song, there are two guitar solos, which represent the relationship between Ichikawa and his love. We wrote the song so that its entire sound – both its highs and lows – reflected Ichikawa's own feelings.
Takeo, what do you think? The dangers in my heart?
Takeo: I sympathize with Ichikawa.
Hitomi: Ichikawa looks a lot like Takeo (laughs). Sometimes, looking at Ichikawa, I say “Is that Takeo?”
Takeo: And Hitomi and Marcy were telling me that, so I read the comic, and there were all these times where I found myself thinking, “I see, Ichikawa. I know exactly how you feel” (laughs).
I feel that the lyrics of “I am…” portray a real sense of change, as highlighted by the line “It's like I'm not I'm anymore.” In your activities as Atarayo, have there been any changes of your own that have exceeded your own expectations?
Hitomi: Ichikawa's changes are changes for the better. Through his interactions with Anna Yamada he discovers parts of himself that he didn't know before. I have felt the same about myself. I was very shy and withdrawn when I was little. Now, I stand on stage and sing in front of people. And that's because these two people changed me. I'm still scared to get up on stage sometimes, but I think if we continue as a band, I'll be even more daring and one day myself being up there on stage will be something I didn't even do. I realized it was in me. This will likely change our live performances and how we express ourselves as well.
Marcy: During our concerts, I used to really watch from the outside, kind of aloof, but lately I've been really absorbed in the shows, and sometimes I find myself crying in spite of myself. I think now I'm more into the songs and I've been able to play my guitar in a way that better conveys the emotions of the songs to the world. Another change is that I couldn't afford draft beer before, but now I can drink it every day (laughs).
(laughs) Marcy and Takeo, have you seen any changes in Hitomi?
Takeo: Um… Not really (laughs).
Marcy: It's been the same since we were in school (laughs).
Hitomi: No, I've changed! (Laughs) For example, my voice no longer shakes in performances. I feel like before I couldn't focus on how to express myself or my performance, I was just trying to make it through the performance.
Marcy: Yeah, musically, you've changed. Listening to old demos, your voice was really, how should I say it…green? Very young. Now your voice has become much bolder. Also, the feeling you give to the lyrics and the song is completely different from our first live performances. It's not just Hitomi. Our legs were always shaking when we played, so this was a big change. But our daily lives haven't really changed, have they? At least, when we go to a bar, nothing has changed (laughs).
Hitomi: As long as I grow musically, that's enough (laughs).
—This interview with Fumiaki Amano first appeared on Billboard Japan
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/atarayo-interview-dangers-in-my-heart-song-i-am-1235590518/