Interview] Gorgeous Artists Participate in "R∃/MEMBER"! SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]'s 3rd album "R∃/MEMBER" opens up a new world

Composer Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project SawanoHiroyuki [nZk] has completed a new album. As the title "R∃/MEMBER" (remember) symbolizes, the new album features the participation of various artists in addition to the [nZk] family. The album features a gorgeous lineup, led by Akihito Okano (Porno Graffiti) and SUGIZO, who sang vocals on the lead track "EVERCHiLD"!

The artists took the best approach for [nZk]!

─ ─ Your third album "R∃/MEMBER" was a work with the participation of various artists. What kind of things led to this?

Sawano: From 2017 to 2018, I had the opportunity to provide songs and collaborate with artists, and I made connections with two of them, Takanori Nishikawa and Sukima Switch. with SUGIZO, we performed together at the special ceremony for the Unicorn Gundam standing statue in Odaiba (September 24, 2017). One of the reasons I wanted to make an album with the people I met in this way.

─ ─ Last year, there was also a string of collaborations on singles. First, you collaborated with Uru on the 6th single "Binary Star / Cage" (released April 25, 2018).

Sawano: It was right around that time that the concrete idea for the album was born. When the recording was finished and the mastering work had begun, we said, "Since Uru sang on this album, why don't we try collaborating with various artists on the next album? We decided to collaborate with Nishikawa-san for the next album. It was right around that time that we decided to provide music to Mr. Nishikawa.

─ On November 28, 2018, your 7th single "narrative / NOISEofRAIN" was released in collaboration with Mr. Nishikawa and LiSA.

Sawano: "narrative / NOISEofRAIN" was completely produced with an album in mind. Actually, both jackets were shot on the same day, and the girl holding the book in the jacket of "narrative / NOISEofRAIN" and the girl in front of the piano in "R∃/ MEMBER" are the same person.

─ I see that's right, the album contains a total of 11 songs, including the four title tracks from the 6th and 7th singles. How do you feel about the album as a whole?

Sawano: I was wondering how the album would turn out, since there are more songs collaborated with artists for the first time than with vocalists who have sung with us up to now and are also members of [nZk], but all the artists took the best approach for [nZk]. I think it turned out to be a cohesive album.

─ All the songs are written and arranged by Sawano, but were there any differences from the past, especially in creating new songs for the album?

Sawano: Basically, no. I am using the same method as in the past with [nZk]. We prioritized what kind of songs to make for the album, and then we thought about which artists to ask for which songs.

─ ─ How did you come up with the title of the album, "R∃/MEMBER"?

Sawano: While working on the album, I happened to hear the word "REMEMBER" on TV that I was watching, and I simply thought it sounded good. I often write lyrics that remind me of my childhood or that I want to remember the thoughts I had when I was young, so I thought it was a word that had something in common with what I usually think about. Furthermore, by adding a slash in the middle to separate "RE" and "MEMBER," I tried to include the meaning of being different from the members of [nZk] up to now.

───The reversal of "R∃" and "E" is a play unique to you, Mr. Sawano.

Sawano: I made it look like the number "3". o1 (the first album) and 2V-ALK (the second album) both had numbers in their titles, so I wanted to unify them this time as well.

─ ─ It is also an album to be released in March.

Sawano: Yes, that's true. But that is just a coincidence (laughs).