Interview] Euphoric songs are my specialty. Oishi Masayoshi releases new single "Otomodachi Film

Oishi Masayoshi will release "Otomodachi Film", the opening theme for the TV anime "Tada-kun wa Koi ni nai", on CD on May 23, 2018. Although he has been attracting a lot of attention in the anime song world in recent years, this is surprisingly his second single under his own name. This is his second single under his own name, and his first release in four years.
Otomodachi Film" is a cheerful love song about a camera and a confession. It has a go-jazz sound with plenty of strings. The coupling song on the CD is another "fantastic theme song" written for "Tada-kun wa Koi ni nai shite" (Tada-kun wa Koi ni nai). We spoke with Oishi Onii-san, a favorite of both boys and girls!

For me, this single is a double A-side!

─ ─ "Otomodachi Film" is the second single under the name of Oishi Masayoshi, isn't it?

Oishi: This is my first single in four years.

───I guess the environment surrounding you has changed a lot between four years ago and now.

Oishi: It's hard for me to say, but I feel like a lot has changed. 4 years ago, when I released "Kimi ja Dakidasamae" as the opening theme for the TV anime "Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun," I was almost like an unknown newcomer.

─ ─ But you had already sung the opening theme for "A of Diamonds," and you released "Go EXCEED! and "Perfect HERO" released as Tom-H@ck featuring Masayoshi Oishi, many anime fans recognized your name. I was one of them.

Thank you very much, Oishi. For the two songs of "A of Diamonds," I only did the vocals and didn't write the lyrics or the music, but I thought, "If he's working with Tom-H@ck, maybe he can write the music too. I started talking with various clients. My career as a writer is still short, but thanks to you, I was able to write various songs in 2016 and 2017.

───Your name has become more widely known, leading to the release of this second single. Moreover, "Tada-kun wa Koi ni nai" ("Tada Koi") is a new work by the main staff of "Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun" reunited, so I feel there is a connection with the first single.

Oishi: That's right. It was like, "We are going to do an original work, would you like to participate? I was also asked to participate.

─ ─ What kind of music did the animation staff ask you to write?

Oishi: At first, they wanted an Oishi song that was a continuation of "Kimi ja nakashita dameshime" (I think it has to be you), and when I submitted it, they said, "It has a strong comical element" (laughs). (Laughs.) "Oh, isn't this work supposed to be a romantic comedy?" (laughs). I was given only the scenario for the first three episodes of the original story, which was quite comical. Then, when I received the scenario for the full story, it was more like a love story. Then I decided to make it a confession song, so I rewrote it as "Otomodachi Film.

─ I would like to hear what the first draft of the song was like.

Oishi: Actually, the coupling song for this single, "Zenbu Kimi no Seida" is the first draft of the song. I thought that by stating this, you could enjoy the process of making the opening theme for "Tada Koi".

─ ─ I see. If you ask me, "Zenbu Kimi no Seida" is more lighthearted and fun than "Otomodachi Film".

Oishi: It's a comical song, and the Oishi verse is very effective. The motif of the lyrics is "love," and I wrote this song with "Tadakoi" in mind.

─ ─ "Otomodachi film" is more melody oriented and has more drama.

Oishi: In addition to that, it is easy to dance to. I wrote the lyrics in the motif of a camera, which is an important prop in "Tadakoi. The theme is about a boy's feelings before he confesses his love, and the song has a strong romantic tone.

───Do you submit the music first, and only after the anime side gives you the OK do you start writing the lyrics?

Oishi: No, I wrote the lyrics for one chorus and submitted it. I rarely write the melody first and write the lyrics after the OK is given. I think it is one of the strengths of a singer-songwriter to be able to put the words you have in mind for a melody in a highly synchronized manner. When I have to retake a song, I have to rewrite the lyrics as well, which requires a lot of calories in terms of production, but I always want to submit the song with the lyrics written.

─ ─ It means that you can create songs with melodies and lyrics that are more closely linked. I think that is exactly what fans love about your songs.

Oishi: If that's the case, I'm very grateful. I often sing in my living room with an acoustic guitar, and the song becomes a song.

───As was the case with your previous single, you also arranged the music, didn't you?

Oishi: Yes. I also wrote the arrangement for the strings, so it is 100% Oishi Masayoshi. Other musicians played on the track, though.

───Can you tell us about the direction of the arrangement for "Otomodachi Film"?

Oishi: I wanted to make a gorgeous, light-hearted pop song with strings. Especially the string riff in the intro is pop, and I think it has a danceable element and will resonate pleasantly. Quite a few people around me told me that they knew it was Oishi within 3 seconds of the opening video for "Tada Koi" playing. I thought it was amazing that they knew it was Oishi, even though I had never made an introduction like this before. I thought my music must have strong Oishi DNA (laughs). (laughs) I was very careful about what kind of music I was playing, so I was happy to hear that kind of reaction.

─ ─ The lyrics and the sound are filled with the joy of love.

Oishi: I am good at this kind of euphoric music, or rather, I have an entertaining spirit that I want to make someone excited. I think the arrangement shows my personality well.