[JO1] J-WAVE NEWS 211219

https://news.j-wave.co.jp/2021/12/post-8893.html

JO1’s leaders Yonashiro Sho and Kawashiri Ren talk about the highlights of the new single and episodes related to “presents”.

(Excerpt from their appearance on December 13)

JO1 won an award at one of Asia’s biggest music award ceremony
JO1 won the “Best Asian Artist Japan” award at 2021 MAMA（Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS), one of the biggest Asian music award ceremony held on December 11. Kawashiri commented on his joy.
Ren: I didn’t even dream of winning this award and we performed on one of the biggest stages in Asia. It was a great present that we got.
Sasha: You got an early Christmas present.
Ren: Thank you very much!

The 5th single is released in December!
On December 15, JO1 released their 5th single “WANDERING”. It is sold in 4 versions; regular, limited A, limited B and anime edition (BORUTO - NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS design)
Sho: This time it’s a double A-side single and the songs “Bokura no Kisetsu” and “Prologue” are featured. “Prologue” is the ending song for the anime “BORUTO - NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS”. The single is full of winter songs that are perfect for this season.
Sasha: If you bring all different versions together, it’s 7 songs all together.
Sho: Yes. Because it’s full of winter songs that are perfect for this season, please listen to it.
Sasha: Do the songs have a warm feeling?
Sho: They have. For us I would say these were a new kind of song. A lot of the songs have a melody that makes you want to snuggle up to someone.
Sasha: It’s a change from your previous songs that were upbeat and driving?
Sho: Yes. There are a lot of songs that have a slight “mature” feeling.

The two talked about the points that they kept in mind for this single.
Sho: Until now, we were using our energy to the fullest, but I feel like we’ve put more strength into conveying the feelings with the lyrics.
Ren: When I took time to read the lyrics of “Bokura no Kisetsu”, (I realised that) they were all in Japanese. There is no English. We are active in Japan currently, so I felt it would be easier to convey the virtue of the Japanese language.

How do you bring together the individual members?
How does a recording of JO1 which is made of 11 members takes place?
Sasha: When you sing the song, do you discuss it with the members and everyone else before recording?
Ren: That’s right.
Sho: We try to grasp the meaning of the lyrics ourselves and express it during the recording.
Sasha: That’s amazing. You are a big group and do you two big brothers guide and lead?
Ren: I’m the performance leader, but it’s different from being the vocal leader. Member leader and Kono Junki are leading everyone in regards to the singing.
Sasha: Is that so? So the center member changes for each part.
Ren: That’s right.
Sasha: At last, the leader brings this together.
Sho: We are all working as one in this. It’s fun.
Sasha: I had been the host of one of the stages where JO1 had appeared and your teamwork was really good. I was amazed how you brought together those masses of different personalities. The ages are also different. Isn’t it hard?
Sho: Mamehara Issei is 19 years old and our youngest member, but when the younger generation is lively, I become lively, too. If only the older members do it, there is inevitably a composed image, so it’s helpful to have the energy of the younger members.
Neuhauss: For balance, the young energy is a necessity.
Sasha: If you looked from the standpoint of the younger members, the experiences of the older members are a resource of security. I think it’s amazing that you can all grow together.

Realising dream collaborations with leading figures of the music business
In honour of the upcoming Christmas season, the two talked about episodes related to “presents”.
Sho: Speaking of an early Christmas gift, we were able to perform a collab with Wada Akiko-san at “FNS Kayosai”.
Sasha: Wow!
Sho: For us, it feels like this collab might be a Christmas gift. We also appeared at the summer “FNS Kayosai” and back then we were able to perform along Go Hiromi-san. Both felt like receiving extraordinary presents.
Sasha: You were able to perform along with leading figures of the music business.
Sho: These two were really cool.
Sasha: Both of them had been guests of this program already, but they have an aura, right? I’m glad that you got a wonderful Christmas present early.