[Autographs will be given away! The first attempt at "neutral singing"! In commemoration of the release of "Rabaku Ou no Sourei" OP "Waga, Rabani ni Nyusu", in which he freely goes back and forth between the world of the anime and his own expression as an artist! Interview with Shin Furukawa

Shin Furukawa is in charge of the opening theme song "Waga, rosara ni shiwasu" for the first cool season of the TV anime "The Funeral Arrangement of the Rose King".

This 4th single, with lyrics by Alika Takarano of ALI PROJECT, expresses the world of the work to the fullest. In addition, the artist's edition includes the song "first light" with lyrics by Mr. Furukawa, and the anime edition includes a different coupling song, "Hikari no Kairo (Corridor of Light)" with lyrics by Saori Kodama.

In this interview, the first for Akiba Research Institute, he talks about his impressions and favorite points of each song, as well as the musical roots of "artist Shin Furukawa" and his impressions of the anime "Funeral Row of the Rose King.

I, Rose, I Whore," sung with the feeling of Richard

Tatsuya: What was your impression of "I, Rose, Whore" when you heard it for the first time?

Furukawa: It is a symphonic and solemn song, which I like very much, and my first impression was "I like it a lot, it sounds cool.

What kind of sound do you like?

Furukawa: It's difficult to describe "this sound" in a single word, but I think it's something like this piece, with its orchestral background and violin strings, which have been used in animation and games for a long time, that I have built up in my mind as my "favorite music". My father, who loved classical music, influenced me to listen to a lot of Beethoven and other composers, so I have a preference for orchestral and symphonic music.

The melody of "I, Rose, Whore" is very lively, and the lyrics, the impact of the words, and the way the world view is expressed really stuck out to me from the tentative recording stage. I love the expressions that I would never use in everyday life, and the decadent and fantastic worldview of Ms. Arika Takarano. Your sense of lyrics is one of the best in the world, isn't it? I write lyrics, too, but I am reminded once again that I can never reach this level. I was impressed by the many words he layered on top of each other that I would never have thought of. I really think he is an amazing person.

How was the recording?

Furukawa: For "Wagamu, Rose ni Nyushisu", I focused on singing in an atmospheric way. The producer, Mr. Sei Kuwabara, was particularly particular about the "neutral singing". The gender of Richard, the main character in "Funeral Row of the Rose King," is also a theme in the anime, so I was directed to sing the song in line with that theme. The chorus has a bit of Furukawa in it, but I think it is the most neutral song I have ever sung, and I sang it in accordance with the characters in the song.

T : Did you find it difficult to express yourself in a different way from usual?

Furukawa: There were some parts that I found difficult to sing. This time, the theme is neutral, but as a voice actor, I had no experience in creating a feminine voice, so I wondered how I should tighten my vocal cords. I tried several times to erase the male part of myself, and then I was able to choose a good take. In that sense, I think the voice was recorded in a slightly different way than usual. It was difficult, but the sound and lyrics were very much to my liking, so it was fun to express myself. It took a lot of takes to figure out how to make it cooler as the opening of the work, but it was very interesting to sing the best I could in keeping with the world of the work.

Taken together, I was very interested in trying to sing the best I could in keeping with the world of the work.

Furukawa: The original story was based on Shakespeare's "Henry VI" and "Richard III," so I read the original story with a Shakespearean feeling, always thinking "Oh, I shouldn't go that way" and "Why did you make that choice? I got the impression that it is a work that can be viewed in various ways, such as how one should live one's life and the establishment of one's identity. I also felt that it was a work that allowed me to look at things from various perspectives, such as how to establish one's identity, what kind of life one should live, and so on. The feelings I have for Mr. Henry are such that I see him as a "not that way" in order to reach my goals. While the viewer feels frustrated by his behavior, which makes him think, "Go that way, not that way," romance also comes into play. I felt that this work is full of fascination and makes you wonder "what will happen next" while giving a sense of grandeur to the multiple layers of problems and events that flow simultaneously.

How do you like the animation?

Furukawa: Some of the scenes are a little different from the original, but I again thought it was fascinating to hear the characters' flesh and blood when they are voiced. Richard runs in agony, trying to shake it off, and then suffers again. I can imagine this kind of person Henry is from the manga, but the way he expresses himself goes far beyond that was wonderful. The moving animation, sound, background music, etc., all make me think, "This is what happens in an animated film. This is just my opinion as a viewer (laughs).

Tatsuya: Are there any similarities or differences between singing character songs as a voice actor and singing as a singer, or is there anything that you pay attention to?

Furukawa: When I sing character songs, I pay attention to the key. If I feel that a character's voice deviates from the key, I consult with the singer to adjust the key. We also consider whether the character is a good singer or not. Recently, I often sing character songs as a character who is a singer, and what is important in any case is whether the character would feel comfortable singing this song. Character songs are assembled based on the "order form" that I somehow have inside me.

When I sing under my own name, I tend to do it rather freely and honestly. The image of the song may be similar to that of an abstract painting.

I think "Wagamama, Rose ni Nyushisu" has a character song-like flavor.

Furukawa: In a way, I felt a little like Richard myself. When I think about whose feelings I am singing about, I think Richard is the closest to me. I think that is why I was ordered to use a neutral expression, and I think that is what the lyrics are about. I am not Richard, but this is a different approach from what I have done in the past, which I found interesting.

Coupling Songs Linked to Life

Tatsuya: You said that when you sing as an artist, you are "free".

Furukawa: That's part of it. The staff always asks me, "What kind of song do you want to sing? I always propose a song that I would like to play. I tell them what genre and image I have in mind and ask them to provide the music. From there, I select what I think is "the one" and start the lyric writing process. Since I am the one who writes the lyrics, I feel very free in the process of thinking about how to flavor the lyrics.

TM: Do you tend to write the music first and then the lyrics?

Furukawa: Most of the time, yes. I write down phrases and words that I like, but I rarely use them (laughs). They don't fit the concept, or the number of words doesn't fit in the first place. I think it is better for me to write after listening to a song.

T : Did you write the lyrics for "first light" in the same way?

Furukawa: I wrote the lyrics for "first light" after listening to the demo. The demos provided by Arte Refact are always very nice, and this time, too, I received a very nice demo, which was so perfect that I thought, "There is nothing better than this. Even if I wanted to express something different from the lyrics (of the tentative song), there are honestly cases in which nothing else comes to mind.

TM: So the song is so finished that you feel compelled to do so.

Furukawa: I started "first light" with the image that the beginning of the song is like the dawn. This song is actually a remnant of the mini-album "ROOM Of No Name". The title track of the mini-album, "Forsaken Kiss," is in the acid jazz genre, and it was created during the production of the mini-album. The theme of the album is that the dawn of a new day is a time to reorganize oneself, to be born anew, and to start walking again. However, since the music was unexpectedly pop, there were some parts where I wondered if it was the right song. I was wondering if it was a good fit for the song.

T : Please tell us about the song "Hikari no Kairo (Corridor of Light)", which is included in the anime version. The dialogue part makes me nervous.

Furukawa: Since this song is included in the anime version, I wrote it while keeping in mind that it is close to the world of the anime. I felt the power of Saori Kodama's lyrics. As I sang the song, I was drawn into the song more and more, and it has a kind of charm, a kind of magic. The feeling of being drawn deeper and deeper into the song is common to "Wagamama, Rose ni Nyushisu".

 "I was born with no way of understanding the meaning of my life, and then I died like that..."

I really like this phrase. I think there are many people who don't know the meaning of birth, and to be honest, I don't either. But we still do our best to live our lives. In the midst of it all, there are events that make you lose confidence, things you thought were right turn out to be totally wrong, or you make a big mistake and sometimes you feel like you want to die. I felt that I could superimpose my life and events like that on various things. When I look back at the lyrics, I find links to myself, and I like them more and more.

 "Trapped and Alive: ......"

I also find it interesting that the phrase "Â" is somewhat linked to my life. Perhaps it is because I am a backward-looking person, but I feel that it can be applied in a universal way and is also in line with the worldview of "Funeral Row of the Rose King.

T : Please tell us what kind of music you usually listen to.

Furukawa: I listen to J-pop, Western music, anime songs, and many other kinds of music, but "some J-pop and anime songs" would probably be the best answer. If we are talking about acid jazz, the only acid jazz artist I know is Jamiroquai. But the great thing about anime songs is that they are open to heavy metal, idol songs, J-pop, rock, and even acid jazz, as long as they fit the worldview. That's how "big a pot" I think I am (laughs). (Laughs.) I think it was my love of listening to anime songs that allowed me to naturally come into contact with various genres.

Toward the end, what are your goals for 2022 and what is your message to our readers?

Furukawa: Thank you for your support. My goal is, as I try to do every year, to stay in good physical condition this year, and to work on each of my works with all my energy. I also hope to compose my own music to use the phrases I have in my stock, although I think it will be difficult to achieve this during 2022. I hope you will watch over me slowly (laughs).

I hope to express myself in various ways this year, both in music and in theater, so I hope you will enjoy watching and listening to my works, and I look forward to working with you!

(Interview and text by Shinobu Tanaka)

Outline of Present Campaign

<Prize
In commemoration of the release of "I, Rose ni Nyusu! One winner will receive an autograph card signed by Shin Furukawa!

Entry period: February 15, 2022 (Tue) - February 22, 2022 (Tue) 23:59
Number of winners: 1
Announcement of winners: Prizes will be shipped to winners.
Prize delivery: Prizes will be sent out sequentially.
How to apply: Please fill out the application form below.

<Please note
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Product Information

Single "Waga, rosani ni shiwasu" / Shin Furukawa

Release date: February 16, 2022 (Wednesday)

Price: 1,430 yen (including tax) for both the artist and anime editions

Sold by: Namco Bandai Arts Inc.

＜Songs included in the artist's edition

M1 "I, Rose ni Nyushisu

M2. first light

M3 "I, Rose ni Nyusu" -Instrumental

M4. first light -Instrumental

＜Songs included in the anime version

M1. my, I am a whore to the rose

M2. corridor of light

M3. me, rose ni yosu -Instrumental

M4. Hikari no Kairo -Instrumental- (Included in the anime version)