[OWV] Classy 220307

https://classy-online.jp/lifestyle/200792/

I’m only here because of the fans, so I want to give back to them even more.

The popular boy group “OWV” will release their 5th single “You” under the concept of “beginnings” on March 9. In reference to the title track “You”, which depicts the beginning of a new season and new feelings, we asked them about “You” as “rival”, “admiration” and “fans” , as well as “I” (=oneself). The first one will be Honda Kosuke, OWV’s leader who is adored as a caring and passionate “aniki” (big brother) like figure.

I always want to look at myself objectively… and surpass “yesterday’s me”

When you hear the word “rival”, who comes to your mind?
Actually myself. Fufufufu I ended up laughing about it (laughs) It’s been always myself. I’m sorry… That must be the most bland answer ever. But after all it’s myself. Yesterday’s me and today’s me. For example, when I’m rewatching live footage, I try to find points to reflect on such as “This way of singing is a bit off” or “This incitation was messy” or “This dance could have been better”. I try to improve on what is good, but basically I try to look at what is bad and keep on improving myself in daily practice. I always try to look at myself objectively. For example, the same applies for the body management. Sometimes, I slack off, but during the comeback period when we have a lot of lives and shooting schedules, I’m quite stoic about my body.

I admire people who have an steadfast heart and their own beliefs.

When you hear the word “admiration”, who comes to your mind? Luffy. He has a strong faith and his surroundings accept him. I like the deep trust of his comrades who chase their dreams with him. I admire his steadfast heart and that stays true to beliefs. While talking with the staff and the members, we have compared each other to anime characters once, but I always hoped to become someone like Luffy for OWV. I always want to keep this as an aspiration for myself.

I’m only here because of the fans, so I want to give back to them more and more.

Next is about “You” in the meaning of fans. Please tell us about a feeling or an episode regarding the fans.
We can only meet the fans at the concerts, but there are also people who can’t come to the concerts. It makes me so happy that they chose us to be the ones who they want to support all the time despite all those various circumstances and feelings in their lives. Depending on the person, there are also people who devote their lives supporting us, right? Because we are the recipients of a part of their lives, we have to pay attention to our actions and words. My current self has lived for 26 years, but I think a huge part of my growth comes from my connection to the fans, so I’m only here because of them. I want to give back to them even more.
As a memory, I strongly feel that I have received quite a lot of support since the audition. (Through the result of the audition) I have made everyone sad at times, but the most impactful memory is that I was able to debut with OWV because of their strong support. I was able to debut because of the fans and their continuous strong support. I feel that OWV is a group that was created with the wishes of the fans.

Lastly, we would like to ask about I = your current self. Please tell us about your growth and tasks that you experience in your daily life and how you look at the future.
Regarding myself I think I’m the type of the person who always has a bird's eye perspective on his tasks and growth. I want to work hard on various things from now on. I want to produce or rather be more hands on and be involved in everything we create. In the future, writing songs or directing live shows… I want to be proactively involved in a lot of things from now on and I want to improve my technical skills even more.

The new song, the mid tempo ballad “You” will be loved by everyone

Please tell us about your recommendation and your favourite part of the single.
I like the coupling track “TALK TALK TALK”. It’s a song during which everyone can wave their hands together, sing once this is possible again and get excited together. I like it so much that I hope that it could become our standard live song! The concept of the single is “beginnings” and “TALK TALK TALK” sings about the beginning of “getting to know the other one”. I’m sure with the start of the new life you will have a lot of meetings and I hope this will be a song that can calm your mind and check your feelings in this season.
TN: “New life” is a bit hard to explain in English. On 1st April the new fiscal year and the new academic year start, hence it’s the time when a lot of people start a new life at a new place/school/company. Hence, spring / April is a season full of worries for a lot of people and you will find advice for your “new life” everywhere.

Were there any memorable events or small incidents during the creation process of the 5th single?
In the beginning there was talk that the typical OWV dance track “Sound The Alarm” could become the title track, but this time, after much discussions, OWV made a mid tempo ballad as the title track for the first time. The title track “You” is a complete change from the previous aggressive concept, so we couldn’t imagine what it would be like. But together with the lyrics and the choreography I strongly feel that “‘You’ has become a song that is going to be loved by everyone!”
In the dance track “Sound The Alarm”, there is a part where me and Nakagawa Katsunari rap over each other, which troubled me a lot. I remember how we recorded it over and over, sent it to each other and talked about it a lot. Katsu is so good at rapping, so I was the one who was taught by him, but in the end we are able to check and finish it together during the recording. It is my favorite part to the extent that I also think of myself as really cool when I listen to the finished recording. Please make sure to listen to it.