interview jrnr An interview with Cocoro Auction

[BrenGun 2259]

 

READ: https://jrocknroll.com/interview-with-cocoro-auction/

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Cocoro Auction is a rock band from Kansai, Japan. The band consists of Masayuki Awako (Vo, Gt.), Tenmei (Gt.), Yuji Ohno (Ba.) and Satoru Ikawa (Dr.). The band was formed at Kansai University’s Parlour music club and began its full-fledged activities in 2011. 

In 2011 Cocoro Auction performed at “eo Music Try 2011,” the largest music contest in the Kansai region, and made it to the finals out of 681 entries, winning the grand prize of 1 million yen. In 2014, their mini album “Nijiiro no Dice”, which was distributed nationwide, was loved by many people, and in 2016, they made their major debut with their mini album “Canvas“.

Their music video, “The Summer Quadrilogy“, which was based on the concept of summer, has been viewed more than 5 million times in total and gained recognition. 

Cocoro Auction also appeared at many music festivals including “ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL”, “RUSH BALL” and “OTODAMA” as well as various circuit events. 

On September 9, 2020, Cocoro Auction released their fifth mini album “Memorandum”.

Before we know it, we forget “The feeling of “that” time”. If you can remember or realize those feelings, you will be able to know that that “time” is connected to the “present”, and that you live your life more careful in the future, won’t you? 

With this in mind, Cocoro Auction creates songs based on the hidden brilliance of everyday life with their own unique worldview, regardless of era, genre or category.

 

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Cocoro Auction thank you very much for this interview!

INTRODUCTION

Please introduce each other.

– 粟子’s introducing of the members:
Ohno: A strong leader and a very stoic person.
Tenmei: Serious but gentle.
Ikawa: Natural and hot-blooded.

– Ohno’s introducing of the members:
Awako: All the members love his voice.
Tenmei: Tenmei is someone who keeps on fighting now matter how difficult the circumstances are.
Ikawa: He has a very unique sense of style.

– Tenmei’s introducing of the members:
Awako: He’s the face of Cocoro Auction.
Ohno: A calm, cool, and collected leader.
Ikawa: A soft but fair person. 

– Ikawa’s introducing of the members:
Awako: If you have a problem, he gives you an enlightened message, like a Buddha.
Ohno: If you have a problem, he will clear a path together to move forward.
Tenmei: If you have a problem, he will be friendly and talk with you to support you.

 

Some people don’t know the world of the Cocoro Auction, so please introduce the band in a fun way!

Awako: The band expresses sadness and preciousness through music that allows you to see the world in a much more delicate sense.

When and how was Cocoro Auction formed? Also, please tell us how you all met.

Awako: The group was formed in 2011 by members of my university’s parlour music club. Rather than getting a job, we mainly gathered members who wanted to play music. Onno, our bass player asked us all “can we become a rock star?”. That’s how it all started.

If you had to describe Cocoro Auction with one kanji character, which one would you choose? 

Awako: 風 (kaze,wind), Because our general aesthetic color is green, also we value music that has the sadness and preciousness of “the moment’ and shows their own worldview. So it feels like wind.

It’s been a while since your last music video was released. Do you have any plans to release a new music video soon?

Awako: We’ve already started working on a new album, and we’d like to make a music video for the release. However, we would like to make an experimental music video that is a little different from the band’s previous music videos.

 

Why is playing a live show so important to the band?　What makes it a fun challenge?

Awako: What makes playing a live show important is because we can see with our own eyes the moment when our music is transmitted to the audience. The human touch, the sensation of mixing the sounds that sound, which is only unique to that moment of time, it has an irreplaceable joy, gratitude, and emotional excitement.

How would you like to be supported by your fans?

Awako: We would be very happy if you listen to our music. Also hopefully, we will be able to give our fans courage with the music we have made.

 

CORONA

Currently we live in the world greatly affected by the Corona pandemic, did you learn anything during this hard time?

Tenmei: Currently we cannot release CDs and tour anymore like we used to. However, the four of us were able to reaffirm the ideal and importance of Cocoro Auction as a band. If the four of us are able to look forward to the future, then we can create a bright future through our music.  

Has Corona had any positive impact on Cocoro Auction’s? For example, close friendship with fans. 

Tenmei: Even though we are in this situation, we do various things such as live streaming, online distribution, music videos, sell goods etc, to keep in touch. Also we still receive messages via SNS from fans telling us that they enjoy our works. For those who would like to see Cocoro Auction in the future, we will continue to do our best to find comfortable places to make it possible.
 

CONCEPT  

The new concept of Cocoro Auction is to “remind memories“. Please tell us why you did choose the concept.

Ohno: After listening to the songs we’ve written so far, we realized that there was a common theme to all of them. We thought that this theme must be the one we wanted to convey the most, so we decided to put it together as a band theme.

“Dream” is the keyword of the concept “remind memories”. What was your childhood dream?

Awako: When I was young, I dreamed of taking over my family’s business. Before I formed the band, I wanted to be a teacher.

Tenmei: My childhood dream was that I wanted to be a pro baseball player.

Ohno: I wanted to be a farmer.

Ikawa: I wanted to become a ninja and do cool mysterious moves.

What is the true brilliance hidden in your daily life?

Ohno: For example, there is the everyday life. It’s something you don’t take just for granted, but if you think of it, all kinds of coincidences and miracles have led to your present situation. Just by realizing this, I think you can feel that you are living in the present moment.

Also your lifestyles have a story to tell. What’s the story behind this?

Ohno: We don’t just create songs and present them, but we also tell people the reason why we decided to create that song, how we felt while creating them and what we think/feel about it when we completed a song, also how we would like you to feel our songs, we don’t hide anything, so because of that you can feel our world which we tell with our songs more deeply. 

Is there anything that has moved your passion so far?

Ohno: All events related to Cocoro Auction have moved my passion. Just the four of us going into the studio and playing the songs together is very inspiring.

Do you have any memories from your school days?

Ohno: We met each other at university. I still remember the first night we went into the studio together to play.

Do you have any memories or triggers that led you to Cocoro Auction?

Ohno: Ever since I was in college, Awako and Ikawa have been very much in the spotlight as music players, and I always knew that if I was going to form my own band, I wanted to do it with these guys.

 

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

If you were to describe yourself using one of your favorite kanji, which one would it be? 

Awako: 和, (wa,harmony,Japan) I have a gentle personality that represents the feeling of harmony. I also like Japanese culture and food, and I am proud to be Japanese.

Ikawa: 空, (sora,sky) The weather was really nice when I was answering this interview, so I saw the beautiful blue sky, and suddenly this Kanji came to my mind. 

Tenmei: 欲, (yoku, greed) Because without desire, there is no motivation.

Ohno: 春, (haru,spring) The letters of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, represent the seasons and are all in a shape that allows you to imagine the scenery of that season, which is very nice.

What made you want to be a band member?

Awako: I’ve always loved music, but when I heard the Beatles, I was struck by them. I felt the power that only a band can pour out.

Ikawa: I loved to play the drums.

Tenmei: When I saw my favorite band live, I wanted to live like them.

Ohno: I don’t have a particular motivation. I kept trying to get better at making and playing music, and so I became a band member.

Being a band member is very difficult and not always easy. What are the biggest challenges of being a band member?

Awako: One of the biggest challenges is to stay excited all the time.

Ikawa: It is always hard to have new goals.

Tenmei: The biggest challenge for me is when I try to create new good songs, and to hold down to the bands innercore together. 

Ohno: You can’t have a band on your own, so it’s to keep up your friendship.

We are all smiling and we all smile at many things. So what makes you happy? What makes you smile?

Awako: movies, anime, manga, games all let me smile, but in the end music saves me. 

Ikawa: Engaging in games and anime as a hobby. Getting compliments from people.

Tenmei: I’m happy that I can still continue the whole process of making music, making it, delivering it from the stage, toasting when I got off the stage, and so on.

Ohno: Drinking beer before going to bed.

What is the best part of standing on stage and performing your songs to an audience?

Awako: There are moments when you can affirm your existence, and you can feel the life you’ve been living in the songs and sounds.

Ikawa: To be able to sway the emotions of those who watch us, either yin or yang, through our own sound.

Tenmei: The best thing is being able to directly convey your feelings for the song you made and what you want to convey now. The fun memories of a live show will maybe be the lifetime memory of a person’s life.

Ohno: The ability to feel the reactions directly. It makes me very happy if I play a good show that I get a good response from. 

Are there any challenges you face when you perform a live show?

Awako: Sometimes I’m worried if I can convey the message I put in the song and the emotions I put in the live.

Ikawa: There’s a challenge on how to overcome the tension from playing live.

Tenmei: To take care of your body and physical condition. Creating the set-list and how we wish to present our show. 

Ohno: It takes a lot of preparation to play live, so the challenge is to be able to enrich your ideas at the preparation stage.

What is your biggest inspiration for making music?

Awako: When I relax in nature or hear the sound of rain or wind, a melody often pops up.

Ikawa: It’s fun to see myself coming up with a banging phrase! 

Tenmei: My biggest inspiration for making music is drawing from the essence of my favorite musicians.

Ohno: Everything is inspired by feeling emotionally rich instead of just passing through what you feel in life.

Where is your favorite place to write a new song?

Awako: Park benches, baths.

Ikawa: In front of my drums.

Tenmei: When I’m thinking about arrangements, I spend time in my work room with a cup of coffee.

Ohno: Home Studio.

 

On September 9th you released your 5th mini album Memorandum. 

How is it to see the CD in a music store?

Awako: I’m really happy about it. It’s really exciting to see someone buy our material at the store when I am around too. 

Why did you choose the title “Memorandum” for your mini album?

Awako: I wanted to make an album that would remind us of the important feelings that we’ve forgotten without directly acknowledging it.

How was the recording of “Memorandum”? Have you faced any problems? 

Awako: It was difficult to give some of the songs the right feeling of expression. 

Ohno: The song, “贈り歌”, was a real challenge to arrange. Even after the recording, some parts had to be rethought, so it took a time to complete.

 

https://open.spotify.com/album/23of7MUWS6rZ1v4VZtbXIA

In one short phrase, what is the concept behind each lyric of “Memorandum”?

手作り飛行船
→ The Beginning of Dreams.

ロックスターに憧れて
→ The shock and gratitude for meeting the sound of rock.

贈り歌
→ A teacher’s graduation song for students.

ミルクティー
→ The Sparkle of Youth.

少し長い話
→ The connection between scenery and emotions

Please tell us about the “Memorandum” jacket. What is the idea behind the jacket?

Awako: I was conscious of expressing the theme of the album, “how I felt back then,” in a fantasy design.

 

GOODS

I’ve heard that your official merchandise is very unique and includes many different items. Can you give us some recommendations for what you think are the best?

Ikawa: Everyone would say “Everything”, but I recommend “the pencil with our logo”.

I love the atmosphere of the merchandise, it’s very nice. Who is the designer of the merchandise?

Ikawa: I try to ask people who match the world I want to create. Recently, I’ve been asking Masashi Namihira, who also designed the album jacket.

How do you decide what type of merchandise to sell?

Ikawa: As a band, we met and came up with ideas for the songs to be released and for the overview of the album as a whole, from our inspiration and views of the album, we create merchandise that connects with our view.

How do you link the music to the atmosphere of the merchandise?

Ikawa: We create merchandise that matches the lyrics and the message we want to convey through our material.

The most popular goods are the “OFF Tumbler, Yorimichi bag, Milk tea and Handmade light bulb stands”. They have been sold out, but are there any plans to resell or sell similar products?

Ikawa: If there is a very strong demand, maybe we will consider selling these products again.

 

When will the new merchandise be available?

Ikawa: The new merchandise will be available in early 2021!

Is it possible for overseas fans to purchase directly from Cocoro Auction?

Ikawa: We have a webshop that we manage directly, so you can buy goods from there! you also can buy or stream our music via digital sites such as itunes and spotify.

「COCORO AUCTION Online Shop」
https://ccrumbrella.thebase.in/

「サブスクリプション」
http://LDK.lnk.to/cocoroauction

*note; their base shop is Japan only, I recommend to directly contact them if you want to buy something.

 

Final Questions

What is the ultimate goal of Cocoro Auction in the future?

Ikawa: The ultimate goal for us is that the music and things we create become a lasting part of your life.

Please give a message to your fans and readers.

Ikawa: Please support us if you are interested in the music and the world view that we make!

 

Edited December 23, 2020 by BrenGun