The following interview is from the June (2001) issue of "J-Groove Magazine."

Mai Kuraki
The Scenery in Kyoto

      With the coming of the new season, many grand changes have started happening. They even visit new college entrant, Kuraki Mai, who has had few opportunities to stand center-stage, promising even further growth from here on. Her latest song, "Stand Up," has also arrived. It is the commercial song for "Soukenbicha" (a type of iced tea drink), and gives her a chance to perform her first live concert, which is the subject of much attention. This song, which introduces us to a new Mai, is a rhythmical rock-number which will evoke in your mind a scene that will fan the flames of anticipation for that concert, and make you hum along while clapping your hands to the beat. Moreover, the words "Stand Up" are filled with the idea that one will set themself into movement. It is a song that will inspire empathy; you cannot help but think that it is precisely because of her current situation that she can sing it. Thus we talked about various things, including just that side of Kuraki Mai, her new song, and the mental aspects of adjusting to a new lifestyle.

--Recently, you've been conducting quite an enthusiastic campaign, what with the radio appearance and all.

Kuraki Mai: I was so nervous when I was on the radio. (laughs) But, because I was able to speak in my own words through the radio, I think it turned out to be a really good experience. Though I do worry if I was able to effectively convey what I wanted to say to the listeners.

--I hear a lot of people saying you seemed pretty with it.

Kuraki: No, I was really so nervous. I was trying my best to respond, that I kind of forgot what I was talking about. My mind went totally blank. (laughs) I want to be able to stay more calm and accurately speak my opinions the next time. I'm really shy around strangers.

--Your new maxi-single which will be coming out soon, "Stand Up," is a song with very rhythmical rock taste to it, isn't it.

Kuraki: When I first heard it, the melody was so fresh and different from what I've done until now, and it was such a smooth and fun song. I was surprised, myself. (laughs) But, I could honestly think to myself "It's pretty cool." That's why, the images gradually emerged as I was writing the lyrics, and I chose to call it "Stand Up."

--As a listener, it's alright for us to just casually say "This song is pretty fresh," but aren't you the one singing it, Kuraki-san? Is it really okay just to think "It's a cool song?"

Kuraki: Yes, well, it's because I had also wanted to sing this type of song, and I want to keep singing all differnt kinds of songs. One of them was this one, with its rock-style and new feel. That's why I was able to sing so easily.

--They say the vocals ride comfortably on the melody. Was it a feeling like you could enjoy the singing?

Kuraki: I had fun singing it! (laughs) But it wasn't consciously. I could sing without thinking about anything, just riding the melody naturally. That was because the chorus-line was just so striking when I first heard it, the lyrics just kind of fit right in. Kind of like I was just singing with the image from the tune.

--Does that mean the first inspiration, which you value, from the song was good?

Kuraki: I thought that it would be the absolute best if everyone would hum it, and dance while they sing. That was why I was careful about the flow in the lyrics, and wrote them mixing both English and Japanese.

--It's a good balance. If it was only English, then it might have become a song that was too focused on the flow. But because it was balanced with Japanese, the message comes across clearly.

Kuraki: You know, I first wrote it entirely in Japanese. But, after listening to it, I decided that I wanted to bring out the fun side of it more. After, I thought that it would flow better with Japanese and English, so I tried writing it with a good mutual balance.

--In other words, you really worked hard on it?

Kuraki: I guess so, what with the balance, meaning-wise, between the Japanese and English. That was what was really hard. For example, I had at first written Japanese lyrics after the line "Dore dake no yoru wo koete kita no darou". Later, I thought that I could still get the meaning across, even if I changed it to English. I thought quite hard about whether or not the wholistic meaning of it would come across with the combination of English and Japanese.

--But, even if the flow is good, there are just some parts where the words leave a strong afterimage. After all, the words "Stand Up" are very impressionistic.

Kuraki: When I think of what I wanted to say with the words "Stand Up" in this song, "Stand Up" is actually connected with the idea of setting into motion. Hmmm... what would be a good example... For example, in school, when you have to go to the bathroom during class, but can't bring yourself to interrupt the teacher, first you have to stand up, then the words will naturally come out from there. (laughs) Though it doesn't have to be the bathroom (laughs), anytime you think of doing something, if you start with the motion, then the words will follow naturally. Later you might regret it, or else think it turned out great. That's why, you have to start with the thought, "I'm gonna try doing something!" I believe that others might start helping you, and you'll also be able to create a new world, all through that action. I wanted to try writing about such a thing with these lyrics.

--Where did that idea, "I'm gonna try doing something" come from?

Kuraki: I guess it's because, usually, whenever I can't quite express my own thoughts, I just keep thinking "Oh, what should I do, what should I do," and the time just keeps passing by, and I wind up regretting it later. When that happens, I start by speaking, and thinking that it would be better if things started after I acted. Of course, since the tone of the song is smooth, I thought that maybe "Stand Up" might match it afterall. (laughs)

--Do you, yourself, find yourself doing that?

Kuraki: Yeah, there are some times when I can't bring myself to get going. There are also times like I said before, when I'm in school and think "I want to go to the bathroom, but it's embarassing to say something." There are really lots of times in my everyday life. That's why I believe there must be others like that.

--In other words, you have to start with action?

Kuraki: Yes, that's right. For example, right now, while we're talking like this, if I don't say anything, then everyone else will stop talking. And if I say something, then it becomes like a game of catch-ball, with the conversation just going on and on. So, with that, everyone could become happy, or become sad. I think that I can change the world around me with what I say. That's why I myself want to go on creating such things.

--It seems to me that you're communication with all sorts of people will just keep increasing from here. When it comes to your job, all sorts of relationships will be born: those with people you know by sight, but don't really know... those with people whose names you don't even know... Will it be difficult to communicate with them?

Kuraki: Well, I'm really shy around strangers. I get really nervous when I'm talking to someone, wondering "what kind of person is this person?" But in the end, I really do want to get to know the person I'm talking to.

--At your own pace?

Kuraki: Yes. Even if I think this is a person I know a bit about, if I don't do anything, it will end right there. When I start talking with them, as we talk about all sorts of things, I believe that I'll begin to see all sorts of facets to them. That's why it might sound strange to say that we explore people (laughs), but I think that I want to hold a questing attitude towards people.

--From here on, you'll be starting college life. From that, you'll get even more new avenues of communication, won't you.

Kuraki: You bet! I think that college is a place full of encounters, with people with completely different opinions. All coming from different places.

--And you're one of them, aren't you? (laughs) Coming back to that "Catch me a dream! Feel the music in me," everything will be at your own pace. But you have the music that will act as your support, and I've felt your message that the music will also become something that will become a support that will change all sorts of things into hope.

Kuraki: If you look at this song and these lyrics and feel that way, then that makes me really happy. In the end, music can change the way you feel. When I listen to gloomy music when I'm depressed, I start to sigh. (laughs) And when I listen to happy music, I start to feel like "I'm gonna give it my best shot!" I sometimes get a letter from a fan that says that they decided to try harder tomorrow after listening to my song. At times like that, I really feel that music has an incredible power.

--Have you yourself ever gotten energized by a song?

Kuraki: I sure have. I've had times when I felt "I feel so lifeless," and then put on my favorite songs. When I do that, emotionally, I start to relax, and I start to forget the feeling of being weighed down mentally. There were even times when I'd overcome those feelings. When I come home, I always put on some music and then start doing homework like that. (laughs)

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