Excite : it was a little while ago, starting April 7 that the tour took place from May to July.
I think the content was very much your upper past tours, Nakashima's challenging, wasn't it?

Mika : "VOICE" album itself was full of up-tempo songs.
I was feeling the content and nature of such tour setlist at the time and decided "This is a hairy,"
I think (laughs).
I kind of overdo my body, that's why the second half of the tour was pretty tough.

Excite : Resigning throwing, because it increased, don't you think?.

Mika : Yes. Perhaps because of that, even now I'm still feeling weakness,.

Excite : Is it physical tiredness?

Mika : Maybe it's mental, it depends.
It was difficult to concentrate during the tour, because I felt a little too lost, and it took me a moment to recover.
Even one month after the tour ended, I would go to bed directly when I could. (Laugh)

Excite : Your singles are released one after another, it's far from taking a rest.

Mika : What? (It was released on September 30th) This single is the second following "CANDY GIRL".
Isn't it the first time to release 2 singles in such a short time ?
However that would be OK but I'm basically doing all of this happily.

Excite : "CANDY GIRL" was a dance track which is circus themed,
As for "Nagareboshi" is a ballad tune which is Nakashima's royal road.
Moreover, it is a tune that makes "Star" a theme.

Mika : Yeah. You've also guessed, it's the song of the stars. It is weird, don't you think.

Excite : "STARS" "Mienai Hoshi" "ORION", etc... were all ballads on the theme of stars.
There is a link, don't you think ?

Mika : I would like to say it's a coincidence, but I don't mean to. Afterall, "STARS" was a big debut.
I think that there are a lot of people who have the image too,
even the songwriters who are making a song says maybe "Speaking as Mika Nakashima ..."
I feel it's like I'm the image of the song myself.
That's What I think is interesting in it, don't you think?

Excite : Yes. "Nagareboshi" is also a really wonderful ballad.

Mika : It's right. When the last album was produced, the song was originally in the stock,
I had already been able to listen to it.
The content of lyrics and the melody are terrible and lovely. I felt like it was "confused flavor already!"
It's a tune that is kneaded, and we decided to release it at a good timing (As a single).

Excite : Natural vocal was wonderful.

Mika : Oh, did you find it natural ?

Excite : Yes, it is sung very emotionnaly. It's relaxing.

Mika : Really? Good then (laughs).
I do not always want to put all kind of emotions, but only a pure feeling because I thought it sounded good and kind of cute.
But the fact is, I tried a lot of times. Even when I was recording, sit and sing and sing standing, I had a lot of difficulties during the recording ...
It's been a long time since I didn't had so much trouble recording, last time was "LIFE".

Excite : "LIFE" had many ups and downs through the melody, how was "Nagareboshi" ?

Mika : After all, ups and downs of the melody are terrible, when I first listened to it (writer's demo) I didn't notice at all.
After, I suddenly felt I'm down to pitch in rust.
Before that I've been singing almost like crying, the next moment, I stopped singing and I suddenly felt blank.
I asked myself "Where is the tension from two minutes ago?" (laughs)
There you are listening, it is also another difficult point, as for TV, I think that makes the television a lip sync.

Excite : ahahaha!

Mika : Oh Dear, it's a joke. "Mika Nakashima = ballads" I think that there is a lot of people who actually have that image in head, though the performance
is neatly done. I work hard.

Excite : Well, you are unusually humble (laughs).

Mika : Occasionally hit (laughs).

Excite : (laughs). How are the lyrics for you?

Mika : It's like, cute. There is also a pure image, too. Actually, during my childhood, I often saw shooting stars,
I carrefully looked at them and make a wish.
I could wish stuffs like "I wish the cat will stay healthy"? Thorefore, you can only make a single wish when you see a shooting star, and most of the time
I couldn't think of any decent wish to make. But I think it's true because all of my wishes happened.

Excite : "They couldn't even go anywhere just with one wish".

Mika : In my case, to be more particular. I was burning at that time, I thought you can do everything from anything.

Excite : "I want to become a singer" ?

Mika : I was thinking about various things, like colors. I would like to do that, I want to do this.
Rather than a wish, I would say with confidence " Absolutely become it" to myself, though it might had been a little childish.

Excite : It gives a more concrete vision. Then, is your current situation like "I became natural and so" rather than "a dream come true"? Do you feel that?

Mika : No, there is no such thing. Well, I ask myself "Aren't you happy?" when I feel down, and actually, I'm glad
and I'm very thankfull for everything that happened to me.

Excite : What about love romance? "I would like to be together with this person" did you ever wished that?

Mika : Well, (wry laughs) I wonder... However, even the man and the woman think "I don't see myself with this person in the future,
it might last for a very long time" it seems it's something you understand and feel when you met the person.

Excite : The coupling track "Memory feat. DAISHI DANCE" is house music. Such a sound seems to be Nakashima's first time.

Mika : The person who knows well says so. I was invited to take part in this song by DAISHI DANCE san.
The track is by DAISHI DANCE, lyrics by Lori (COLD FEET/Lori Fine), and I gave the idea for the vocals.
It's an original sound by DAISHI, it was very pleasant to sing it. I liked it.
House music is "enjoy to make noise" isn't it this image we have? But, DAISHI's sound is very delicate.

Excite : Nakashima's vocals shine in this song, too.

Mika : It's so good. I also thought my voice as one and only sound, because I think it
is important to get a good start by listening.

Excite : How about the lyrics?

Mika : Well, the feeling is soaked in unconfused memories, happy feelings but old.
But, it shows a happy feeling, soft somewhere too.
When singing, a "Soft feeling" might have been considered.

Excite : Mika's strong personality is reflected in the music, and that's why I think it is a good single.
...

Mika : It seems to be so. Put it well ~.

Excite : (laughs) Next year and beyond, I hope this will continue like this.

Mika : Well, I'm in the mood to "Go foward fast", it seems so. "VOICE" path seems to still continue.



Translation by Utena. DO NOT COPY
Source : Excite Music