The following is a translation of an interview of Sakai Izumi, lead vocalist of the group Zard, as recorded in the April 2000 issue of "Music Freak Magazine."
Regarding Your Musical Roots:
The first work I
became aware of as a "piece of music" was Beethovan's "Fur Elise." In Elementary
school, I had studied piano for 6 years, and the older girls would play "Fur
Elise" last at the recitals. Incidentally, I played a song from "Brug Muller"
(ed. note: I'm not a classical music expert, so I don't know about this).
Because I hated practicing, up until then I was often scolded by the instructor,
but from that time onward, I began to practice of my own accord. It was with a
wholeheartedness that "someday, I want to be able to play 'Fur Elise' as well as
that (older) girl!" My childish mindset received a shock, a strong impression
that "music is wonderful."
Which artists have you received influence from with regards to writing
lyrics?
Ishikawa Kitsuki (?), F. Sagan, Iwadate
Mariko (cartoonist), the works of Stanley Kubrick, etc... Actually, more than
influences, these are more people I admire.
If you were to analyze on your own the works and artists that stimulate
your heart-strings, what tendencies do you notice?
I
seem to be drawn to people or things that stir up my imagination, like an artist
who lived a fervant life, or the world that remains unknowable, no matter how
much you think about it.
Regarding CD works, what kind of tendancies seem prevelant? For example,
the ration of men to women among the artists you like?
Huh? I would guess that they're mostly men, huh? Though I don't really
pay attention to gender differences, I have the feeling that songs women create
mostly come from out of their everyday lives, and men create songs for the women
they love, to woo them.
This is just my personal
opinion, but I think that women are slightly more realists, while men are more
romantists, and they might be drawn to those things not logically, but
innately.
Incidentally, there are many people who, when they find a nice song, will
go back and listen to everything else by that artist. Would you consider
yourself that kind of enthusiastic type?
If I find
that I like the artist, of course I'd want to collect everything by them. But...
I would also want to know about that artist's personality and background, and I
even have the urge to go ahead and imagine them for myself... (laughs).
There are times when buying CD's that people "buy the jacket," that is,
they are drawn by the design on the jacket and decide to buy the CD. What do you
think of that?
Though I don't usually buy CD's for
their jackets, long ago, I really liked the jacket of one of Yuming's (Matsutoya
Yumi) album because it was so cool.
Lastly, talk about your goals for 2000
I want
to keep creating good music, the same as always. Everything else, while hiding
my fighting spirit within, is a secret! (laughs)