── The phrase "Tokyo prison" appears in the lyrics of "LOST IN PARADISE". Over the last few years, redevelopment has changed the city of Shibuya. With that in mind, I was wondering what kind of statement this stood for.
Leo: When I was thinking about the theme of "LOST IN PARADISE", it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, and more about how I felt the oppression of the world. Even if you’re shopping on your smartphone, you will be advised and directed to enjoy it in a certain way. In Shibuya, the number of party event venues has increased, but the sound is often insanely bad or too quiet. The environment which I grew up in had respect for the quality of the sound which was the driving force to bring people together, but then organizing events became systematic and this important aspect changed for the worse.
── So you were frustrated how these venues had less care of the content of the music and only functioned systematically.
Leo: It was really boring that the music was like background music. I had resentment towards this whole phenomenon because that was not what I longed for in the city. In that sense, I had the feeling that I could ignite Tokyo, breaking out from of this prison.
── I would like for you to tell us a little more about what you mean by “prison”...
Leo: I was anxious when the city was literally in lockdown due to COVID-19. However, I think that kind of feeling has been reset once, and everyone feels the necessity to be relieved and I think music plays a major role.
During the lockdown I wasn’t able to fully commit to my work, not knowing how things are going to turn out but this feeling is now reset as well.
I feel that every industry can only survive by being able to have a soul. There were a lot of music venues trying to maintain their business, but the ones that were too systematic without any real connection with the people, in other words, soulless operations, tended to all shutdown. From now on, I think it’s an era where you can’t make it unless the SOUL is there.
