![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rielity posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
starsailThis interview is translated from LisOeuf vol. 17, April 2020.
This translation was made upon purchase of a physical copy of the magazine.
You can purchase a copy from AmazonJP here. (ships internationally)
※Disclaimer:
Please do not reproduce, reupload or repost this interview on any other site without my express permission, and do not claim any of my translations as your own.
Read here for more information.
The 2nd Live, where we felt we had grown
Q. How was the 2nd LIVE that was held in December last year?
Itou Masahiro: Doesn’t it feel like 2nd LIVE was a long time ago?
Hyuuga Daisuke: It feels like more than a year has passed (lol).
Morishima Shuuta: We poured in all our hearts working towards it, and expended all our energy on it, so it feels like time has passed quickly since then.
Itou: Last July, our 1.5th LIVE was a collaborative one with D4DJ, so there were many people who were seeing us for the first time, but at the 2nd LIVE, we were performing before Navigators who came to watch us. It felt like we had returned home. And with all the hard work and practice we put into (preparing for 2nd LIVE), our thoughts and feelings also changed and became more music-like, and it was a live where we felt we were able to convey those thoughts to our audience.
Hashimoto Shouhei: As we perform at more and more lives, I feel like we’ve become friends with our instruments. Also usually, with our in-ear monitors, we can’t hear any other sounds, but this time the energy of our audience was so fervent that during “Goal Line” even when I had my in-ear monitors on, I could hear the audience’s cheers. I thought to myself - that’s how much Navigators are supporting us.
Hyuuga: With more and more live performances under our belt, I sensed that the quality of all our members’ performances has improved. I wonder if we were able to deliver the same kind of performance at 2nd LIVE as the ones that we have during regular practice.
Maeda Seiji: Even before 2nd LIVE, we were able to hold release events, and there were many people who told us “I’m going to 2nd LIVE!” What we could do then was part of a path connecting and leading up to 2nd LIVE. I hope we could create the Live alongside Navigators.
Q. After such a 2nd LIVE, at long last it is time for the TV anime “ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!” to start.
Hyuuga: It's exciting... and nerve-wracking (lol).
Itou: Though we’ve already finished recording for it, it still doesn’t feel real yet. Before this, the 5 of us had carried out activities like lives and voice dramas, but for me this was pretty much my first time doing a dub, and I was so glad that everyone was there~ (lol). The things that I had to do, I felt that I could tackle them fearlessly because I had these friends with me, and when I think about it like that, these members are great.
Q. With both veterans and newcomers here, how was the recording?
Itou: I would like to hear from Morishima-san, who’s experienced.
Morishima: Before the recording, we should already have had a grasp of our characters, but when the recording started, new sides of them that we didn’t know showed up, creating opportunities for us to add another layer of synchronisation with them. As people who have experienced the anime, I think we will be able to bring their anime selves into our own performances at the next live show.
Itou: While checking all the various scripts, I was blown away. I felt like I could empathise with them just from that alone, and I felt that my understanding of the characters had deepened.
Maeda: The voice dramas we’ve been doing up until now, are about an Argonavis who have already come together and formed bonds with one another. The anime goes into events from before that, including the time when they were first meeting each other, so recording that “reset“ of their relationships was fun.
Hashimoto: When we were recording, the visuals were not ready yet, but I wondered how it would feel once they were completed. I’m excited to know whether we will be able to transmit Argonavis’ world view to everyone with the final product.
Maeda: We were allowed to do dubbing for the first episode, but when we saw the Argonavis members moving even just a little, it was like, “Ah… they’re moving…!” (lol) From then, there’s been nothing but anticipation of how the actual broadcast will look like.
Q: We’ve heard that the anime will be in 3D, with the use of motion capture of the members.
Itou: That is the case for the live scenes. While the anime allows us to better understand our own characters, during the live scenes, what we usually do during performances is overlaid onto our characters. It’s a really bewildering feeling.
Hyuuga: I think when our viewers watch it, they too will sense even more strongly that it is us who are performing in it.
Brand new challenge, the OP theme song
Q: The opening song for the anime will be “Hoshi ga Hajimaru”. This song, which was first revealed at December’s 2nd LIVE, is written by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s Tabuchi Tomoya. How did you feel listening to it?
Itou: “It’s UNISON! It’s Tabuchi-san!” I was so happy. I never thought I would get to sing Tabuchi-san’s music in my lifetime, so I was really happy that I’m part of Argonavis (lol). I was very excited to know how Argonavis’ band colour would sound when blended with the bass line and happy atmosphere that is characteristic of Tabuchi-san’s style. We practiced really hard to perform it to perfection, and it felt like we had improved a lot, like we had arrived at a new milestone.
Hyuuga: The song itself feels like an energetic sprint, and I think it’s a song that will bring your spirits up when you are feeling down. The first time I listened to it, I pictured the stars, and personally I think that our role is to deliver that image to Navigators so that they may picture it too.
Morishima: Performing it live, my spirits soared together with it, it got fun, and it felt like turning a toy box upside down time and time again. For me as well, when I heard it for the first time, I felt like the grains of the music were scattered across the universe. And I thought about connecting that with the bouncy image of the song. Even as we played, it evolved steadily and changed forms, so it was fun for us too, and I think Navigators listening to it will feel very happy as well.
Itou: Compared to all of Argonavis’ previous rhythm patterns, it’s different this time, right?
Hashimoto: Yes, it’s completely different (lol). The first time I heard it, I was thrilled and found it a really great song, but when we got to practice, it was like, “Eek!” But it didn’t distress me; rather, I think this is a song with the power to uplift our spirits, and so I actually have fun throughout all of practice.
Hyuuga: The more we practice, the more fun it gets.
Maeda: It’s really fun. Though the first time I heard it, I thought, “What, we’re gonna play this?” (lol) but as we picked it apart and it became more melodious phrase by phrase, it was as though there was another guitar or song. (Matoba) Wataru and the Argonavis members, I think they’re working fervently to connect “this very moment”, but you’ll also be left behind if you take your eyes off this song. So I feel that I must treasure every moment, and treat every note with the utmost care when I play.
Q: Another new song that was unveiled at the 2nd LIVE was “AAside”, the theme song for the mobile game “Argonavis from BanG Dream!, AAside”. This too was a rockin’ song that got the crowd pumped up.
Hyuuga: It was great, right (lol). It’s a song with a strong rock feeling, an Argonavis you’ve never seen before this. It feels like, “Look at me!” (lol)
Itou: Concept-wise, it’s a story of bands including Argonavis aiming for the peak of “Live Royal Fest”, where the cream of the crop of amateur bands are chosen. That’s why the lyrics are like that. The same for the rockish tune - it’s a song that brings out the meaning of the mobile game.
Determination as we look forward to April’s 3rd LIVE
Q: As new songs are being released, you will be holding your 3rd LIVE in April.
Itou: With the anime and such kicking into gear, Navigators will be coming to attend it with a little more knowledge of the story, and there will likely be a difference in how they look at things. Also, starting from 2nd LIVE, there were lighting changes, and at our entrance there was the image of the night sky. I think touches like that make lives even better, so I would like them to all come together, for us to deliver Argonavis’ charisma even more.
Hashimoto: Up until now, everything was packed into a single day, but this time will be our first 2 Days, so there are lots of things we haven’t experienced before. Of course, this doesn’t mean we won’t go at max power on the first day…
Morishima: I guess it feels like “We'll play with full strength on the first day, sleep, and bring everything we’ve recovered as we set out for the second day”. When we finish the second day’s performance, I think we will surely be hit by feelings we’ve never experienced before. It’ll be a level up for us there, and I’m looking forward to it.
Hyuuga: Presently, we consider everyone’s feedback and refine the details part by part together as we go, so I feel we can deliver an even more band-like Argonavis to everyone. Or rather, we will deliver it!
Q: Lastly, with live performances, the anime and the game, 2020 is a jam-packed year. Looking towards all that lies ahead, please share your excitement with us.
Maeda: The anime is starting and so is the game. I think this year will be the year where we can deliver even more Argonavis than ever before. The first upcoming one will be the anime. I hope everyone will look forward to seeing the faces of Wataru and the members that you didn’t know before.
Hashimoto: It feels like 2020 will be a milestone year for the ARGONAVIS Project. What we can do from here on, is to charge ahead towards the upcoming anime and the game at full strength. The anime is really interesting too, so I hope everyone will look forward to it. Please also look forward to our live performances.
Hyuuga: Amidst all the different anime productions out there, “Argonavis” is but a single story. Together with the members, I would like to convey the charm of that story to everyone. The same for our lives - for those who watch us in person, and those who watch us through the screens, the feelings we want to convey are the same. We’d like to keep conveying them to you from here on out, and I hope that you will accept them.
Itou: Being involved in ARGONAVIS, I can feel the amount of care with which our staff and everyone involved treat ARGONAVIS. In turn, that makes us feel even more that we want to put our best into our work. Also, we were just having band practice earlier, but it’s because of the bonds and trust we’ve built with each other that I was able to tell them with courage that I want to contribute the music knowledge I’ve accumulated up until now. And they took it right in their stride - they’re the kind of members who can do that without missing a beat. I’m really glad that I’m able to carry out activities along such amazing people, and firmly build (Argonavis) up with them. In a way, I think this is a defining year, but because I’m with these friends, I think we will be able to convey Argonavis with confidence; more than that, I hope many more people come to know us.
Morishima: To me, 2020 feels like a year of explosive progress. When we released singles, we had advertisements airing too, but it feels amazing to think about the anime airing every week. And with the release of the app in the second half of the year, the 5 bands will make their entrance, and information will frequently overflow. More content than ever before will be released, so for Argonavis, and the entire project, I am certain this will be an explosive year, one with rapid growth and progress.
This translation was made upon purchase of a physical copy of the magazine.
You can purchase a copy from AmazonJP here. (ships internationally)
※Disclaimer:
Please do not reproduce, reupload or repost this interview on any other site without my express permission, and do not claim any of my translations as your own.
Read here for more information.
Argonavis
It has been slightly more than a year since the 5 members gathered, and like stars came together to form the shape of the constellation named Argonavis. At last, it is time to welcome what will be one turning point for the band - the broadcast of the TV anime “Argonavis from BanG Dream!”. With the successful completion of their 2nd LIVE at the end of last year, and their evolution as a band, what lies ahead for them with the anime, and the future beyond that?
INTERVIEW & TEXT by Ryuichi Sumikawa
It has been slightly more than a year since the 5 members gathered, and like stars came together to form the shape of the constellation named Argonavis. At last, it is time to welcome what will be one turning point for the band - the broadcast of the TV anime “Argonavis from BanG Dream!”. With the successful completion of their 2nd LIVE at the end of last year, and their evolution as a band, what lies ahead for them with the anime, and the future beyond that?
INTERVIEW & TEXT by Ryuichi Sumikawa
The 2nd Live, where we felt we had grown
Q. How was the 2nd LIVE that was held in December last year?
Itou Masahiro: Doesn’t it feel like 2nd LIVE was a long time ago?
Hyuuga Daisuke: It feels like more than a year has passed (lol).
Morishima Shuuta: We poured in all our hearts working towards it, and expended all our energy on it, so it feels like time has passed quickly since then.
Itou: Last July, our 1.5th LIVE was a collaborative one with D4DJ, so there were many people who were seeing us for the first time, but at the 2nd LIVE, we were performing before Navigators who came to watch us. It felt like we had returned home. And with all the hard work and practice we put into (preparing for 2nd LIVE), our thoughts and feelings also changed and became more music-like, and it was a live where we felt we were able to convey those thoughts to our audience.
Hashimoto Shouhei: As we perform at more and more lives, I feel like we’ve become friends with our instruments. Also usually, with our in-ear monitors, we can’t hear any other sounds, but this time the energy of our audience was so fervent that during “Goal Line” even when I had my in-ear monitors on, I could hear the audience’s cheers. I thought to myself - that’s how much Navigators are supporting us.
Hyuuga: With more and more live performances under our belt, I sensed that the quality of all our members’ performances has improved. I wonder if we were able to deliver the same kind of performance at 2nd LIVE as the ones that we have during regular practice.
Maeda Seiji: Even before 2nd LIVE, we were able to hold release events, and there were many people who told us “I’m going to 2nd LIVE!” What we could do then was part of a path connecting and leading up to 2nd LIVE. I hope we could create the Live alongside Navigators.
Q. After such a 2nd LIVE, at long last it is time for the TV anime “ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!” to start.
Hyuuga: It's exciting... and nerve-wracking (lol).
Itou: Though we’ve already finished recording for it, it still doesn’t feel real yet. Before this, the 5 of us had carried out activities like lives and voice dramas, but for me this was pretty much my first time doing a dub, and I was so glad that everyone was there~ (lol). The things that I had to do, I felt that I could tackle them fearlessly because I had these friends with me, and when I think about it like that, these members are great.
Q. With both veterans and newcomers here, how was the recording?
Itou: I would like to hear from Morishima-san, who’s experienced.
Morishima: Before the recording, we should already have had a grasp of our characters, but when the recording started, new sides of them that we didn’t know showed up, creating opportunities for us to add another layer of synchronisation with them. As people who have experienced the anime, I think we will be able to bring their anime selves into our own performances at the next live show.
Itou: While checking all the various scripts, I was blown away. I felt like I could empathise with them just from that alone, and I felt that my understanding of the characters had deepened.
Maeda: The voice dramas we’ve been doing up until now, are about an Argonavis who have already come together and formed bonds with one another. The anime goes into events from before that, including the time when they were first meeting each other, so recording that “reset“ of their relationships was fun.
Hashimoto: When we were recording, the visuals were not ready yet, but I wondered how it would feel once they were completed. I’m excited to know whether we will be able to transmit Argonavis’ world view to everyone with the final product.
Maeda: We were allowed to do dubbing for the first episode, but when we saw the Argonavis members moving even just a little, it was like, “Ah… they’re moving…!” (lol) From then, there’s been nothing but anticipation of how the actual broadcast will look like.
Q: We’ve heard that the anime will be in 3D, with the use of motion capture of the members.
Itou: That is the case for the live scenes. While the anime allows us to better understand our own characters, during the live scenes, what we usually do during performances is overlaid onto our characters. It’s a really bewildering feeling.
Hyuuga: I think when our viewers watch it, they too will sense even more strongly that it is us who are performing in it.
Brand new challenge, the OP theme song
Q: The opening song for the anime will be “Hoshi ga Hajimaru”. This song, which was first revealed at December’s 2nd LIVE, is written by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s Tabuchi Tomoya. How did you feel listening to it?
Itou: “It’s UNISON! It’s Tabuchi-san!” I was so happy. I never thought I would get to sing Tabuchi-san’s music in my lifetime, so I was really happy that I’m part of Argonavis (lol). I was very excited to know how Argonavis’ band colour would sound when blended with the bass line and happy atmosphere that is characteristic of Tabuchi-san’s style. We practiced really hard to perform it to perfection, and it felt like we had improved a lot, like we had arrived at a new milestone.
Hyuuga: The song itself feels like an energetic sprint, and I think it’s a song that will bring your spirits up when you are feeling down. The first time I listened to it, I pictured the stars, and personally I think that our role is to deliver that image to Navigators so that they may picture it too.
Morishima: Performing it live, my spirits soared together with it, it got fun, and it felt like turning a toy box upside down time and time again. For me as well, when I heard it for the first time, I felt like the grains of the music were scattered across the universe. And I thought about connecting that with the bouncy image of the song. Even as we played, it evolved steadily and changed forms, so it was fun for us too, and I think Navigators listening to it will feel very happy as well.
Itou: Compared to all of Argonavis’ previous rhythm patterns, it’s different this time, right?
Hashimoto: Yes, it’s completely different (lol). The first time I heard it, I was thrilled and found it a really great song, but when we got to practice, it was like, “Eek!” But it didn’t distress me; rather, I think this is a song with the power to uplift our spirits, and so I actually have fun throughout all of practice.
Hyuuga: The more we practice, the more fun it gets.
Maeda: It’s really fun. Though the first time I heard it, I thought, “What, we’re gonna play this?” (lol) but as we picked it apart and it became more melodious phrase by phrase, it was as though there was another guitar or song. (Matoba) Wataru and the Argonavis members, I think they’re working fervently to connect “this very moment”, but you’ll also be left behind if you take your eyes off this song. So I feel that I must treasure every moment, and treat every note with the utmost care when I play.
Q: Another new song that was unveiled at the 2nd LIVE was “AAside”, the theme song for the mobile game “Argonavis from BanG Dream!, AAside”. This too was a rockin’ song that got the crowd pumped up.
Hyuuga: It was great, right (lol). It’s a song with a strong rock feeling, an Argonavis you’ve never seen before this. It feels like, “Look at me!” (lol)
Itou: Concept-wise, it’s a story of bands including Argonavis aiming for the peak of “Live Royal Fest”, where the cream of the crop of amateur bands are chosen. That’s why the lyrics are like that. The same for the rockish tune - it’s a song that brings out the meaning of the mobile game.
Determination as we look forward to April’s 3rd LIVE
Q: As new songs are being released, you will be holding your 3rd LIVE in April.
Itou: With the anime and such kicking into gear, Navigators will be coming to attend it with a little more knowledge of the story, and there will likely be a difference in how they look at things. Also, starting from 2nd LIVE, there were lighting changes, and at our entrance there was the image of the night sky. I think touches like that make lives even better, so I would like them to all come together, for us to deliver Argonavis’ charisma even more.
Hashimoto: Up until now, everything was packed into a single day, but this time will be our first 2 Days, so there are lots of things we haven’t experienced before. Of course, this doesn’t mean we won’t go at max power on the first day…
Morishima: I guess it feels like “We'll play with full strength on the first day, sleep, and bring everything we’ve recovered as we set out for the second day”. When we finish the second day’s performance, I think we will surely be hit by feelings we’ve never experienced before. It’ll be a level up for us there, and I’m looking forward to it.
Hyuuga: Presently, we consider everyone’s feedback and refine the details part by part together as we go, so I feel we can deliver an even more band-like Argonavis to everyone. Or rather, we will deliver it!
Q: Lastly, with live performances, the anime and the game, 2020 is a jam-packed year. Looking towards all that lies ahead, please share your excitement with us.
Maeda: The anime is starting and so is the game. I think this year will be the year where we can deliver even more Argonavis than ever before. The first upcoming one will be the anime. I hope everyone will look forward to seeing the faces of Wataru and the members that you didn’t know before.
Hashimoto: It feels like 2020 will be a milestone year for the ARGONAVIS Project. What we can do from here on, is to charge ahead towards the upcoming anime and the game at full strength. The anime is really interesting too, so I hope everyone will look forward to it. Please also look forward to our live performances.
Hyuuga: Amidst all the different anime productions out there, “Argonavis” is but a single story. Together with the members, I would like to convey the charm of that story to everyone. The same for our lives - for those who watch us in person, and those who watch us through the screens, the feelings we want to convey are the same. We’d like to keep conveying them to you from here on out, and I hope that you will accept them.
Itou: Being involved in ARGONAVIS, I can feel the amount of care with which our staff and everyone involved treat ARGONAVIS. In turn, that makes us feel even more that we want to put our best into our work. Also, we were just having band practice earlier, but it’s because of the bonds and trust we’ve built with each other that I was able to tell them with courage that I want to contribute the music knowledge I’ve accumulated up until now. And they took it right in their stride - they’re the kind of members who can do that without missing a beat. I’m really glad that I’m able to carry out activities along such amazing people, and firmly build (Argonavis) up with them. In a way, I think this is a defining year, but because I’m with these friends, I think we will be able to convey Argonavis with confidence; more than that, I hope many more people come to know us.
Morishima: To me, 2020 feels like a year of explosive progress. When we released singles, we had advertisements airing too, but it feels amazing to think about the anime airing every week. And with the release of the app in the second half of the year, the 5 bands will make their entrance, and information will frequently overflow. More content than ever before will be released, so for Argonavis, and the entire project, I am certain this will be an explosive year, one with rapid growth and progress.
