NANA: I feel like it was really dense and rich. Even if 2 years and three months went by quickly. I have the feeling that MAX has gone through the most change since MAXIMUM GROOVEE in more ways than one. Up until then we were kind of operating on a Lets just keep moving ahead!Ekind of philosophy, but after that....
MINA: We went through a lot of emotional waves, and there was a lot we had to fight for as well. (laugh)
It seems like that fightEis continuously ongoing, but what do you mean when you say wavesE
NANA: In the beginning, we just rejoiced or worried over the things that we were given, but as we performed and were around longer we absorbed a lot of different things, and we began to want to take the things we had absorbed and use them, to do them in our own special way. However...the four of us our MAX, but of course there are a lot of people involved with us. It was around this time period when we realized We cant just do what just the four of us want to doE and began to think of how to get all of those other people involved and interested into those things. The waves were huge then, the difference between when we were able to of thatE when it didnt go wellE So in that way, we began to face a whole new set of challenges from that time on.
MINA: Like, we had some really comfortable, pleasant times, and some really mortifying times as well.
LINA: But the four of us came to understand that each time we hit a wall, our feelings and emotions became one. I also feel like they became stronger with our feelings of, We have to accomplish this, one way or another.EAnd I think thats why we were able to overcome these waves and get over these walls.
REINA: In the midst of it all, various desires of what we wanted to do and be as MAX were born. I think that all of us have different ideas of what we want to do individually, but the four of us all have the same idea of what we think of as MAXs way of presenting things.E
NANA: This was also around the time when our expectations for ourselves grew higher. When the four of us are together, of course we have a lot of fun, but like Li-chan said, I have a feeling that we become strong like this because we do have these walls that we run up against, and we come understand what the things we have to do are. In that sense, I think that each time we hit a wall, each of us grows up a bit.
So, with those things you do at those times, your reaching towards a certain outcome, but do you think that in a way it becomes a foundation for something in the future?
MAX: Oh! Yes. Thats very true.
By the way, what would you give as your basic fight in the midst of the wallsE and wavesEin 1999? I seem to remember you have many different singles then?
NANA: The MAX that we ourselves envisioned then continued to pursue the direction which we set forth in with Grace of my heartE And from Love impactEour direction began to change a bit. And this was when we began to wonder, Maybe the vision that is our ideal is a little different from what the era and the people around us are longing for...E Then it was a battle of whether to Change ourselves to match what people want, or wind them over to our side a bit more.EBut we had a feeling that it would get to the point that no matter which we made our style, we had to keep releasing [singles] or wed get swept away. So on the singles from that year we stressed our own way of presenting it all. To use that technique.ESo we had a lot of talks together in order to do that, and they grew a lot deeper.
LINA: When we were doing Love impactE we actually had one more possible song. We liked it a lot, and even went as far as doing a preliminary recording of it, but it ended up not being used. It was a really great song, and even now Ill find myself humming it.
Oh, this is news to me. Hmm...
REINA: And...this year our direction changed with each new single...it was hard work.
MINA: But [it wasnt so bad], because around when we put out Ano natsu he toEwe were already in discussions about Issho ni...E and we were able to begin accomplishing one goal there.
Your release for that year ended up being a Best ofEalbum, but was their a plan to make an original album ?
MINA: I dont believe there was.
NANA: We ourselves thought there was, but...
If you had released an original album then, what kind of album do you think it would have been?
REINA: Umm...I wonder how it would have been... A little scary, to tell you the truth. (bitter laugh) The feel of the songs, and the direction we took changed each time, so...I dont think we would have been able to tie them all together into the form of an albumE
So, maybe it was best that the tie up for this year turned out to be a Best ofEalbum. I remember you four saying that it felt a little early for one, but perhaps it was best as a kind of conclusion, a stopping point.
MAX: Yes, maybe it was.
Now, a year passed in between your current release, but with Issho ni...Eyou began to begin again creating the flow leading to your next album. From then I had a strong impression of it all basically being lead by MAX.
MINA: But you know, the time when we went from Issho ni...Eto Never gonna stop itE.. it was amazing. We had to fight so hard for that.
NANA: And our feelings are renewed at the beginning of each year, (laugh) so wed gathered a lot of strength for it.
Huh? I thought that both Issho ni...Eand Never gonna stop itEwere exactly what you wished for... What?!
NANA: So many people listened to our Issho ni...E so the situation around us was The next single is crucial.EAnd so the staff had a new idea for us then, to tell you the truth. But the four of us were uneasy about going in that direction... [The song that the staff were suggesting] was pretty playful.
MINA: And we thought, Is this really what were supposed to do? If we go there, will we be able to return to our true place?E#060;BR> LINA: We were all of one mind that We want to do something that only we four can do. We want to protect our own style.EThe four of us talked to the staff about that over and over....
REINA: And in the end, they finally respected our wishes.
MINA: But you know, even now Im am glad we did Never gonna stop itE
LINA: Right. That it wasnt a mistake.
NANA: I also feel like it was something that really tied us together. Like it connected us together tightly, in a different way than wed ever been before. Looking at the lyrics that each other had written for the first time, we all realized all over again that Weve always felt the same.E
REINA: Its a really special song. Its a precious song, one that I want to continue singing my whole life.
MINA: We put a lot of emotions into those lyrics.
And following it was MAGICE which reflected your own ideas for a song that will really blossom when performed liveE Your stance changed a bit with Barairo no hibiE though...
NANA: Wed been let to do what we wanted for the last three singles in a row, so we decided to try an inclination from the staff next. Because its important for everyone to have a good time doing things. We thought, it might be an okay style to do an idea from the Staff side, while we think of what we ourselves want to do next.E
But youve scaled up a bit with barairo no hibiEand always loveE Because the four of you are really thoroughly being particular about what you do.
LINA: I think that the power that dance choreography has is amazing. If you just sing, and then its over, it feels sort of flat, but even doing it ourselves we can feel like [based on the dance] everything just moves to an even higher grade.
Now, EMOTIONAL HISTORYEbecame the product based on all your singles from Issho ni...Eon. I remember that the four of you had a vision to make a concept albumE but the actual album turned out to take a completely different direction. What kind of emotions did you pour into this album, what form of MAX is projected into it?
NANA: In the end, it turned out that we only participated in it all after all the songs had been all gotten together, so all we had to work with was our own singing. So I think that what we felt most strongly was that we wanted to show...with the singing styles we chose, and the words, that we have all changed in many different ways, in terms of our emotions and our strength. I have a feeling that we really put in our feelings of how weve been until now, and From now on, this is how we want to be. E
LINA: We really were desperate. So, it is certainly different from what we ourselves has envisioned, but we thought, Since were going to do it, we want to make something really good, and how can we interact with it?EWe wanted to wanted to really answer to what was required of us...and we put a lot of love into each song.
MINA: But to tell the truth, in the beginning, we really werent sure how to let go of our emotions. We worried over it a lot...how to find a place for all of our emotions and our creativity. But, in the end, we ourselves decided the order of the songs, and when we put mumEat the end, we felt as though we had found something. We were really relived.
REINA: When I first listened to the songs wed been given, I could see the direction they were going in, and I thought, What kind of album will this become?E But now, listening to them all again, one after the other, now that the albums done, I have a feeling that there are a lot of songs we can finally sing.EI feel like that about the adult songs the staff brought to us, and the content of the lyrics of mumE which we ourselves wrote.
MINA: The various directors [weve worked with] have opened a lot of doors for us...in terms of singing styles, and styles of expression. I think that we learned a lot from this album in that way. And, each song has its own story. Theyre all really special songs, that dont just end on a flat note. Its a really full album that way.
And, just taking shape now, MAXs tour, which weve been waiting for, has been decided!
LINA: Each song on this album has a really distinct and different atmosphere to it, so Im really excited about how well make them into something for a concert. Were thinking wed like to emphasize the cool taste to them.
MINA: Were doing a hall tour this year, so well be really close to the audience. Consequently, theyll be able to see every tiny detail. So paying attention to small details will really pay off. Well be able to do many kinds of expressions.
NANA: I want to be make it into something you can really feel. Something really moving. A concert so cool it makes you shiver.
REINA: We already have about 5 or 6 plans about how to present one of the songs on the album, so from now on well be entering into our strategic meetings about how to go about it all. (laugh) Im really looking forward to it all, even the entire process its self.
Well then, Ill be waiting for summer with bated breath.
MAX: Oh, but before that. We have feeling something wonderful is coming...hee hee.
