Ghost like girlfriend, the solo project of singer-songwriter Takekatsu Okabayashi, released his long-awaited debut album, "Version," on June 19th. Now that the era has changed and a new era has begun, how does he view modern society? This time, we feature Ghost like girlfriend in the second installment of our interview series with noteworthy artists who are coloring the new era. Like Mega Shinnosuke, featured in the first installment of this series, Ghost like girlfriend was selected as one of Spotify's "Early Noise 2019" list of 10 up-and-coming Japanese artists expected to make a big leap this year. Despite garnering significant attention, Ghost like girlfriend has remained largely anonymous and faceless until recently. We asked him a variety of questions, including what inspired him to start his musical career, the origin of his artist name, and what possibilities he sees for the future of music and society.

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--You said KinKi Kids and Tsuyoshi Domoto were what inspired you to start making music. What was it about them that attracted you?

I was initially interested in Tsuyoshi Domoto's unique fashion sense. Later, when I read his magazine interviews and his books, I saw that he'd been going through a very difficult time, and I thought that those words were very similar to the worries and pain I was experiencing at the time. In his book, he said, "Music was what saved me from that situation." It was Tsuyoshi Domoto who gave him the option to turn to music when he found himself in a hopelessly difficult situation.

--So, did you also use music to overcome difficult situations, Mr. Okabayashi?

Yes. When I was in high school, the girl I liked stopped going to school. At the time, I thought my goal of helping her go to school and meet people was my identity. But then she suddenly dropped out of school, and we were no longer able to see each other. I thought that the feelings I had for her that remained inside me at the time, and the conversations I had wanted to have, were worthy of being put into song. I felt like I was able to capture those feelings in song.

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--Why did you want someone to listen to the songs you had written?

I think it was because I wanted music to be my new identity. I felt that in order to form an identity, I needed "recognition from others." But there were no live music venues in my hometown, and I couldn't find enough band members, so I started by sending my recordings to various agencies and labels.

--After your indie career, you released your first full-length album, "Version," on June 19th. What kind of album would you say it is?

While following what you've done with your previous three mini-albums, I created this with the image of unfolding a new dimension of my life. As it's your first full-length album, and your major label debut, I think it's a work that you'll look back on often for the rest of your life. So, I want people to listen to it for the rest of their lives, and I want it to be something I can sing for the rest of my life, so I made it while imagining things like, "If I were 80 years old, I'd sing it in a certain key, with these timings." It's not only your greatest work to date, but I also think it will serve as a benchmark for your future works.



--Releasing on a major label, do you feel it's any different from before?

The process of creating an album hasn't changed much. However, the fact that there are so many people trying to spread the word means that even works that you don't have any conviction in could end up spreading. I felt that I had to make an album that was more true to myself. I felt even more strongly than before to try not to pander to others.

--Was there anything that you struggled with when making the album?

The song "girlfriend" had too many different arrangements, which was a bit of a challenge. Originally, I wanted to make a song similar to the band Lamp or Seiko Matsuda's "SWEET MEMORIES," but my skills just weren't up to par... Figuring out how to incorporate nostalgia while still giving it my own personal touch was the hardest part of the process. Thanks to that, it's become one of my favorite songs on the album.



--King Gnu's Daiki Tsuneta appears on "Midnight Rendez-Vous." Were there any parts where he inspired you?

I asked him to do a guitar solo and chorus, but the data I received back was much more than I expected. There was a synth-like sound playing behind the guitar solo, and his colors were scattered all over the place, even in places I hadn't asked him to. It made me realize that this is how he makes music. I'd been working alone up until then, so I didn't have many opportunities like this, and it was a great learning experience.





--While they may be of different ages, they are all referred to as "new generation artists," including Daiki Tsuneta, SASUKE, who also participated as a remixer on the first limited edition of this album, and Mega Shinnosuke, who performed with you at the recent Spotify event "Early Noise Night." Are there any commonalities you feel with these artists?

I just mentioned this during the MC at the event, but four or five years ago, it felt like format-driven music creation was rampant, with fast BPMs, backing beats, and the question of how to incorporate one's own style into current trends. But now, more and more people are making music that honestly reflects their passion and creativity. Furthermore, we're living in an age where these people naturally find themselves in the spotlight. I think the artists I just mentioned, including myself, are the kind of people who will continue making the music they believe in, even if it's deemed "outdated" in 10 years.

--The era has changed, and there's a momentum for a new era. Do you have any thoughts about the current era?

I'm from Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack occurred the year after I was born (1995). I don't know what the atmosphere was like back then, but I feel like a similar atmosphere is floating around now. But ironically, I also think that the more chaotic the world becomes, the richer culture becomes. A sense of resignation toward the world makes work freer and richer. I think I have at least a little bit of that side to me.

In fact, around 1995 was a really good time musically. So, the fact that there's so much music with a healthy stance paradoxically means that the world is in a terrible state. It's a good time musically, but there's no hope for society (laughs). It's really ironic, isn't it?

--What is your vision for the future as an artist?

When I'm around 50 or 60, I'd like to release a song with lyrics that simply say, "The food is delicious" (laughs). Even if I were to sing a song like that now, it wouldn't be very convincing, and I don't think anyone would understand the background of the song. However, if my music reaches many people, and they learn about my life and the way I live, and if they listen to my songs and are moved or empathize with me, then I feel like I will finally be able to find meaning in what I have done and in my life. For that reason, I want to live each and every day to the fullest, and continue to deliver my music to as many people as possible.