ethan

"do you remember the first time you encountered music in your life?" 🐢: the first song i consciously listened to & thought was good was utada hikaru's "first love." it was often played in commercials back then. [ginzamag.com/categories/inte…]

"is there a song that inspired you to become an artist?" 🐢: my song is "DANCE WITH ME NOW!" by e-girls. when i was a child, i watched the music video and often tried to imitate the dance. i've always wanted to dance to it on stage, so i was happy to be able to cover it.

"what kind of music do you like to listen to, and when?" 🐢: i like EDM, techno, and hyperpop, and recently, before going on stage, i often listen to flashy, loud, and beat-driven EDM to get myself pumped up [ginzamag.com/categories/inte…]

(cont.) 🐢: i also look up other works by producers. i looked into songs that the wavys, the producers I worked with on "it's me," have produced for other artists, and i found them to be really good, so i've been really into them lately. [ginzamag.com/categories/inte…]

"has your way of listening to music changed before and after you became an artist?" 🐢: i used to listen to songs that were easy to dance to, but recently i've started thinking more deeply about the lyrics and what kind of song best suits my current situation. (cont. below)

(cont.) 🐢: i don't want to force myself to convey something i don't really mean; i want to dance because i love it, and i want to sing because i love it. that's the kind of honest feeling i have when i approach music. ginzamag.com/categories/inte…

🐢: when i'm feeling down, instead of trying to force myself to be cheerful, i want to listen to songs with lyrics that make me feel like, "it's okay to be myself just the way i am." ginzamag.com/categories/inte…

"what kind of power do you think music has?" 🐢: it depends if you just want to enjoy the sound or connect with the lyrics. when I just want to enjoy the sound, i follow the melody line, but when i want to be cheered up, i listen to the song while paying attention to the lyrics.

"... what are some of the most memorable moments from this tour?" 🐢: in the song "almond chocolate," the fans sang moka's and my parts! everyone sang louder than i expected, and i was so moved, thinking, "wow, i can hear them!" (more below)

you're under arrest! 👮🏻‍♀️

iroha's playlist for ginza magazine! [open.spotify.com/playlist/2h…]

"what does music mean to you?" 🐢: [it] is an expression of what i "love." i love dancing, i love singing, and i love being on stage. and music is the way i can express all of that. that's why when I express myself through music, i want to be honest with myself. (cont. below)

"how do you usually discover new music?" 🐢: i often come across music through musicians i like who listen to it. sometimes artists share playlists, and i pick songs from those. i also like to look for works by lyricists, composers, and producers that I'm interested in.