With the change of era, a new era has truly begun. We've launched a new interview series, asking artists who are building this new era about their attitudes and mindsets in the modern world, and the possibilities they see for the future in music and society.

The first volume features Mega Shinnosuke, a young creator who was selected for Spotify's "Spotify Early Noise 2019" list of 10 up-and-coming Japanese artists who are expected to make a big leap this year. Born in 2000, the now 18-year-old says he has never bought a CD and rarely attends live shows, but he writes, composes, and arranges all of his songs, which are characterized by their stylish sound.



We asked Mega Shinnosuke, who is about to release his first nationwide release, "HONNE," on June 5th, about a variety of things, from the start of his musical career to his own stance. His answers give us a glimpse of the sensibilities unique to the new generation.

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--Mega Shinnosuke, I heard that you started your musical career when you were in high school after being invited to join a band by a senior colleague.

Yes. We were going to perform at the school festival, and I was invited to join a cover band, but when I went to see the band that the senior colleague was playing outside of school, it wasn't very interesting (laughs). I started to get this unfounded confidence that "maybe I can make more interesting music than that."

--What musical experience did you have up until then?

I hardly had any. I'd play guitar and sing in front of friends at the park for fun, that was about it. However, even before I entered high school, I had been thinking about joining the light music club.

--Why is that?

My mom urged me to join some kind of club so that I wouldn't have a lazy high school life. But I couldn't find anything I really wanted to do. So, if I had to choose, I thought maybe the light music club would be it.

--Aside from music, was there anything else you were passionate about from a young age?

I wonder. Monster Hunter and Puzzle & Dragons, I guess. I also played baseball in elementary school, but to be honest, I kept thinking about quitting halfway through (laughs).

--So, in a sense, was music the first thing you were passionate about?

That might be true. But music has only been around for about two years. Normally, middle and high school club activities last for three years, right? So this is a story about a shorter period than that. Also, I like clothes.


© Runako Sakai

--When did that start?

Around sixth grade, I think. I think it probably started with YouTubers. People like Watanabe Mahoto wear street-style clothes, right? I think I started to get interested in them little by little by seeing them. It's hard to imagine now, but back then I would do a lot of shopping at a store called "Avail," which is part of the Shimamura (Fashion Center) chain, without thinking about size or material at all. It's super cheap (laughs).

--Did you ever aspire to be a YouTuber?

I used to help a friend who is still a YouTuber. Filming and editing. So when I was in junior high school, I wanted to use the same editing software, Final Cut, as HIKAKIN, so I begged my parents for a MacBook Pro. They bought it for me in exchange for a language study abroad program in Canada. I don't have any special memories of my time there, but that MacBook Pro later became my go-to for music production and changed my life.

--I see. Before you took on your current name, you were active as a band project called Fow two. Can you tell me how that came about?

I saw a senior band and wanted to do it myself, so I started writing songs. But it's hard to say, "I'm starting my own solo project, so please play (an instrument)" as a high school student (laughs). I also wanted to be in a band, so I gathered together some talented people around me. However, our actual operating structure hasn't changed much. I write the songs and get others to perform them.


--What prompted you to change to your current name and operating structure?

To be honest, I don't really get along with people my age. I'm the only one who's high-energy and quick on my feet, so I feel distant from the other members. I realized that it's okay to ask other people to arrange each part.

--Last March, you released your self-produced album "me me glue." as Fow two. What kind of response did you get after releasing it?

Rather than the CD itself, the day after I uploaded the music video for the track "O.W.A." (the previous version has been deleted from YouTube, although I've since deleted it), I started getting a ton of messages in my DMs on social media. People from major labels and distributors, etc. I was able to make connections in Tokyo, and it made me think that maybe I could continue my music career in the future.



--You're releasing your first nationwide distribution EP, "HONNE." It includes previously released songs, but were there any challenges you faced in producing this album?

Hmm. Not really. Basically, the arrangement is already in my head when I'm composing, so I just ask them to play it. If I had to pick one, it would be the engineering aspect. I don't usually create using anything as a reference, so I'd ask them to give me a reference and then I'd look for a song that would suit my song. I'd ask them to say, "The drums should be like this song, and the guitar should be like this song," and I was there for the whole thing.

--I see.

I'm not conscious of being influenced by anything, and I have no knowledge of it. So all I can trust is my own intuition. How can I justify my intuition? At first, even if I had a feeling that "this will probably work better," I would sometimes feel uneasy. But now I've made a conscious effort to trust my intuition more. 」。


© Lunako Sakai

--Is there anything you would like to do in the future?

If I could play the piano, I think the songs I write would change. I would be able to play synthesizers and do a lot more. However, right now I'm not in any way worried about the breadth or direction of my compositions, so I'm not practicing. I still have the luxury of knowing that I still have room to evolve (laughs).

--So, if you were to imagine an ideal image of your future self?

In terms of my musical career, I would like to continue enjoying the constant change that I'm experiencing now. Or maybe...getting married and living in Yoyogi (laughs).

--Hahaha. Is there a possibility that you might try your hand at creative endeavors other than music?

Of course I think that's possible. I'm not doing music because I want to do it. I'm just doing it because I think music is interesting right now.

--By the way, is there anyone you admire?

No. I don't set any goals or objectives for music or other creative endeavors, and I don't work hard. I just do it because I want to. You don't say "I'll try my best" when you're hungry and eating, do you? There are times when you can't eat any more, but you try your best to eat. You don't say "I'll try my best" when doing what you want to do, do you? In music, there are still so many things I want to do, so I just do it. They say that if you love something, you become good at it, and I think that's definitely true.



© Lunako Sakai