[OWV] Classy 220308

https://classy-online.jp/lifestyle/200787/

QWVs existence has helped us over and over ever since our debut.

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 second one will be Nakagawa Katsunari who with his 183cm height and handsome features as well as his gentle nature, is the healing presence that calms his surroundings.

My rival is “my past self”. Lately I finally gained confidence.

Who comes to your mind when you hear the word “rival”?
Rival… I’m not sure. Everyone, what did you answer? (laughs) Hm… (ponders for a moment) I think I’m my own rival. Naming myself is embarrassing somehow. Is this overlapping with any of the members?

Honda-san also answered himself.
Of course Honda-kun thinks so (laughs) Other boy groups are also our rivals, but the feeling that we are comrades who work hard together is strong. Hence, I always keep in mind to surpass my past self and to be able to improve myself. It’s often that I feel my change and growth when I step on stage. I used to have stage fright… Right after the debut I couldn’t calm myself when I stood in front of people and I was indecisive. Since last year we started to have lives with an audience and I could actually experience that there are people who support us and thanks to this I managed to gain a little confidence. I feel that recently I can see more clearly my own world view and role than before.

I want to give back to my parents who supporting me entering the entertainment world

Who comes to your mind when you hear the word “admiration”?
I can answer this directly! My dad. He is the type of person who is quite proactive in regard to his hobbies and he clearly switches between on and off, hence I always feel that I want to learn this from him. Right now he is proactive regarding attending in OWV’s live shows. I’m not exaggerating when I say he appears at every venue… (laughs). I’m happy that he comes but it’s also a little embarrassing.
Also, he is kind no matter the situation. Furthermore, he is like this to everyone. This is something I can hardly do, hence I admire this a lot. I have a lot of episodes with my dad, but I will just retell one. On the day I moved to Tokyo after it was decided that I will debut with OWV only my dad cried heavily out of my family. Seeing his tears solidified my determination more than ever to show myself to my dad and my family at various places. It has also been my parents who supported me in joining the entertainment world, so I’m working hard on giving back to them through performances at live shows and the activities (as OWV).

In our heart there are always QWV

Next is about “You” in the meaning of the fans. Please tell us about a feeling or an episode regarding the fans.
What I want to mention first is thank you very much for supporting us and waiting for us during the time when we could not meet. QWV (as the fans are called) have helped us over and over by giving us cheers and love when a lot of things didn’t go as planned because of the Corona pandemic. When we work hard on something as OWV, the first thing that naturally comes into our minds is “Which OWV do QWV want to see?”. We are really thankful and in our hearts there are always QWV.
I clearly remember when we had our first live performance with an audience. We made our debut in the Corona pandemic, so the only chance to meet are lives. But because of that situation there are of course also fans who can’t come to the lives. I was truly impressed to spend time together with the QWV who cheered for us online and the QWV who came to the venue. I can’t ever forget this sense of unity. We want to continue to give back to QWV through our lives and performances, and we always face the stage thinking that is our way of expressing gratitude and love for them.

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.
I feel that I kinda made quite some progress in the regard of my feeling compared to the time of the debut. I was anxious everyday when we just made our debut, but one of the biggest personal changes in the two years of being active as OWV is that I have gradually gained self confidence. This is thanks to QWV’s existence, thus I feel that QWVs make me able to improve.
We are artists, so our aim is to level up year after year in order to be able to show big sceneries. In the end we want to fill the Domes with QWV and try to challenge performances abroad.

I hope that with the new songs you will feel a a different flavor of OWV

Please tell us about your recommendation and your favourite part of the single.
When we started the creation of the single, there was the plan to make an OWV typical powerful song the lead track, but as the result of discussions we made a mid tempo ballad the title track for the first time. To be honest, because it was our first attempt to do so, there was a lot of anxiousness. But when the lyrics and the demo tape came in and I heard the intro, I honestly felt it would become a song that could win the hearts of the listeners. The chorus part is quite expensive on the track and I hope you enjoy the pure melody. Also, as it is a mid tempo ballad, we came up with a singing voice that makes you feel wrapped up in something fluffy and warm while listening to it. Please make sure to enjoy a different flavor of OWV.
Furthermore, my favourite part is also the die rap with Honda-kun in the coupling dance track “Sound The Alarm”. It is a work we are proud of as we recorded and consulted each other over and over again! Please make sure to listen to it.

Were there any memorable events or small incidents during the creation process of the 5th single?
When we filmed the MV with the white outfits which are not the main outfits, the initial plan was not to dance much in that outfit, but in a haste we also filmed a dance scene in those outfits. I was wearing a white bow tie blouse, but I somehow panicked as the outfit became see-through due to my sweating… (laughs) The stylist must have had an even harder time than me… it’s not a small incident but the incident of the appearance of the sexy Katsunari. It’s embarrassing to say that myself (laughs).