Hot on the heels of their 6th studio album Jodeki the Kyoto rock unit tricot are preparing to release their first single of 2022, End roll (エンドロールに間に合うように).
The new single also serves as the opening track to the new J-drama liar staring Taiki Sato (EXILE/FANTASTICS) and Mikami Ai.
We caught up with tricot on their nationwide WALKING x WALKING tour to talk about their new single and get some insight into their latest album.
Your new single End roll (エンドロールに間に合うように) will be used on the TV drama liar, a show about a young woman who falls for and gets into an intimate relationship with a senior colleague only to find out he’s engaged. It’s a show about manipulation, love, and lies. How was it writing a song for such a series?
Ikkyu: It was very stimulating because we usually don’t get to write songs based on an existing story, and also, the content and theme are so distinctive that it was really fun to write.
Despite the subject matter the track is a super punchy rock song containing your trademark complex melodies and blisteringly fast drum work. It’s not exactly your typical romance drama opening to say the least! What made you go with this approach?
Kida: The theme of the drama was very stimulating, so we gave the song a spicy finish.
Yoshida: It was a romantic drama portraying complex feelings, so we expressed the complexity of transitional feelings.
Sound wise did you have any inspirations while making End roll?
Kida: I used the guitar phrasing and speed to express the true feelings that one wants to say but tends to hide and those feelings that you want to shout out.
Your 2021 single INAI (いない) was also featured on Curse of Spring. Are you a fan of TV dramas?
Ikkyu: I don’t watch a lot of TV dramas. So I’m happy that I get a chance to become interested in them when we produce the main song for a drama show.
Are there any dramas you would recommend?
Hiromi: I also don’t watch a lot of TV dramas, but I am currently watching a drama on Netflix called 新聞記者 (The Journalist). I recommend it because it is entertaining and quite educational as well.
What’s the process like writing a song for a drama compared to making music for yourselves?
Kida: At the point of getting the offer, we receive requests for how the song should sound, so we produce the song according to that and also add our own interpretations.
Both the dramas you’ve worked on in recent years are quite tamed compared to Sion Sono’s Tokyo Vampire Hotel. What do you think of his gruesome madcap style of film making?
Ikkyu: Our members are all fans of Sion Sono and we have watched many of his works together in the past. We were really excited to be asked to work on a song for his series. I remember we made the song very quickly in the studio because we had an idea of his work.
Your 2021 album Jodeki (上出来) was one of your most ear-wormy records yet. How was it developing that record now the pandemic restrictions have started to settle compared to your last records, 10 and Black?
Ikkyu: With the pandemic, we’ve been lucky to get more work other than music and live shows and have had many opportunities to try out projects that we would have never done in the past. Among these was production for tricot and I think the things that we learned at each time are reflected real-time in this work.
What music did you find yourself listening to during that time (of recording Jodeki)?
Yoshida: I was electrified during production with Hiatus Kaiyote’s Mood Valiant.
You can really admire the band’s technical playing style with the instrumental tracks released alongside the album. Was there a particular thought behind releasing instrumental versions of all the songs on the album?
Ikkyu: I’ve always listened many times to the instrumental track of a composition when I need to write a song for it. But even at that stage, it was interesting as a composition, and I thought that it would be a waste if only we knew about it. A member said to me that the impression would change when we put in a song, so I thought I wanted everyone to experience it as well! I like tricot’s songs because there are many ways to enjoy them.
I still haven’t gotten Super Summer out of my head, it’s such a catchy song! It was first released in 2013 on PIZZA OF DEATH RECORDS’ And Your Birds Can Sing compilation album, right? Why did you decide to re-record this track for Jodeki?
Ikkyu: It had always been a popular song at our live shows but we had not included it in our work. So, we came to agree that it was time to put the song in and re-recorded, we re-recorded it as the 2021 version.
I was really surprised to hear a synth bass on Esa ni mo narenai (餌にもなれない), it has such a funky old school sound. What inspired you to use it on the album?
Hiromi: This song was produced by Kentaro Nakao of the NUMBER GIRL, and we borrowed from him the synthesizer that we used. We wanted to try something new and asked Kentaro-san, who we all trust, and it was also decided to use a synth bass as an instrument.
Production wise, was there anything you did differently on this album that you’ve never done on any of your other records?
Kida: There were many more types of effects used for the guitar than in the past.
Yoshida: Until the previous work, we tried to play with a different atmosphere for each song if possible, but for this work, we intended to have a uniform atmosphere for the entire album.
What’s your favourite song from Jodeki at the moment?
Ikkyu: My favourite is Jodeki (上出来).
Kida: Mine is Talk (言い尽くすトークします間も無く)
Hiromi: I like Hitoyasumi (ひとやすみ)
Yoshida: My favourite is Tissue (ティシュー)
How’s Wicket (the dog on the album cover) doing?
Ikkyu: He’s sleeping next to me, showing his belly. He’s gained a bit of weight, so he is currently on a diet!
You’re still in the middle of the Japan shows of your WALKING x WALKING tour, how has the tour been for you so far?
Ikkyu: There were many places that we haven’t visited for a while and I felt the heat and warmth of everyone who had been waiting for us. I felt happy to get the feeling of “We’re doing a tour” when I saw small changes and growth in the same song because we were going around and playing it.
Kida: I am very happy to go to places for the first time in two years (or more) to perform. I am performing while looking back on my memories of each place.
Is there anything you want to say to wrap up this interview?
Ikkyu: Here is the message I want to tell you the most… please follow my Instagram.
Tricot
End roll (エンドロールに間に合うように)
Release Date: 16/02/2022
Label: 8902 Records
Get at: Links
Tricot
Jodeki
Release Date: 15/12/2021
Label: Cutting Edge
Get at: CD Japan | Spotify
LINKS:
– Tricot | Official Website
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– Twitter
– Instagram
– YouTube
