THE ORAL CIGARETTES I'll make up my mind and go through all the good and bad for my purpose

ロックバンド　THE ORAL CIGARETTES　(The Oral Cigarettes)

■ Profile
Formed in Nara in 2010, this one-of-a-kind rock band skillfully manipulates sound and words without turning away from the dark side of humanity.
The digital single "Enchant" will be released on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
The Live DVD and Blu-ray "PARASITE DEJAVU 2019 at IZUMIOTSU PHOENIX" and "PARASITE DEJAVU 2022 at SAITAMA SUPER ARENA" will be released simultaneously on Wednesday, April 26th.

The event began in 2010 and is now in its 14th year.THE ORAL CIGARETTESThis rock band fills the main stage at some of Japan's biggest music festivals with huge crowds, raising the excitement in the venue to a fever pitch with their unique music that shines a light on the dark side of people. We spoke to the four band members about the appeal of music and why they chose to become band members.

■Why did you choose to become a musician?

山 中: Originally, I wanted to become a banker. However, when I was about to get a job offer from a bank and started thinking seriously about it, I saw some seniors who were in bands and thought, "I think I'd be happier walking through life with these people, even if I didn't have much money."

中西: I used to work as a car mechanic and truck driver, and made a decent living. At the time, I only played drums while working, and I actually preferred listening to music. However, after about a year of being so busy with work that I barely got any sleep and couldn't even pursue my hobbies, I no longer felt much value in the money I earned. So I cut down on my work and focused more on the band and getting together with everyone. Naturally, my money decreased proportionally, but even though I might not have money, it was exciting, and I found meeting all kinds of people and places stimulating and fun. When I was always working, the only thing that mattered was making money, but being in a band gave me more value than just making money. That's why I chose to be in a band.

■What is the appeal of music?

山 中: The desire to enrich one's soul can be passed on to others, enriching their souls as well. I really like that worldview. I think music is one tool that can enrich the soul. When you create music, it becomes a topic of conversation, and it becomes a kind of communication tool that connects people. Through that tool, I too am able to grow as a person.

中西: For me, music is both a sticky note and a tool for managing my motivation. It often happens that when you suddenly hear a song, it brings back old memories. Listening to a song reminds me of how I felt at the time, so it's like a landmark for me. I also think that music can link to my mind, whether it's a song that cheers me up or a song that makes me feel down.

■What is the appeal of a band?

SASOU: The appeal of a band is the human drama of four people coming together and clashing with each other, the live chemistry with the audience, and the phrases and developments that the four of us come up with after racking our brains and agonizing over. I think each of those things is appealing, and personally I think it's fun to take that input and output it in my own way.

(I.e.: I think it reflects a person's personality. Unlike a high school light music club recital, at a live house the atmosphere in the venue changes completely with each artist, and the manager has his own unique style, which I find fascinating. This may be related to the appeal of music, but when I performed overseas, I was praised even though I played without saying a word, and it made me realize that even without conversation, I was still communicating something.

■How did you feel after finishing the band tour?

山 中: For this joint band tour, I've only invited people whose live shows I truly believe are cool, so I felt like we were also touched by that passion and had our hearts moved. I thought to myself, "These guys are the best, after all," and it made me realize once again how cool band members are.

中西: I honestly think it's amazing that such a great lineup of people are participating in our Live DVD & Blu-ray "PARASITE DEJAVU" to be released in April, as well as this upcoming band battle tour. When I'm on a band battle tour and I'm watching other bands' performances from the wings as a personal view, I sometimes feel like there's no way I can win. But when the four of us are on stage together, I feel like I can fight with confidence. I've realized once again that even the parts that I find frustrating when I'm alone can become incredibly strong when I'm able to act as a band.

■Do you have any dreams for the future?

山 中: To pave the way for the younger generation in the rock scene. Until now, I've left all the responsibility to my seniors and been given free rein. But the COVID-19 pandemic has meant fewer venues for young artists, and fewer venues for us to perform, and I've felt the decline of the rock scene firsthand over the past three years. Despite all this, I think what we can do as people who have been in the rock scene for so long is to pave the way for young artists and kids who want to be in a band, and to liven up the rock scene. Recently, we launched a creative label called "DREAMLAND," and at their events, we basically invite mainly our younger generation. I want the audience to discover new music there, and in the process, I want to create new ways to enjoy music together.

■Please give us a message for university students.

SASOU: I want you to do what you want to do. I think that during your time as a university student, you will continue to be chased by things that you have to do and have to hold back on what you want to do. I want you to create a future where you think, "I'm glad I did this," rather than a future where you think, "I wish I had done it."

山 中: From my own experience, I think it's really important to have a goal and make up your mind. I often hear people say, "I hate my current job, so I'm going to change jobs," but I think that's an absolute no. If you don't have a goal for where you change jobs, you'll just end up repeating the same thing over and over again. People always have to pay the price for what they want to do. So I think that if you make up your mind to do what you want and take action with a purpose, you'll have a future where you can do what you want to do.

(I.e.: I'm sure there will come a time in your life when you find something you truly want to do. So I don't think there's any need to rush into it. If you think about the long road ahead, I don't think you need to feel like you have to find something you absolutely want to do while you're a university student. Rather than being in a pinch, try to live happily and with a sense of ease around you. That said, please don't be lazy (laughs).

中西: I think there are times when the career you aimed for doesn't suit your personality. It's not like you still like the things you liked as a child, and I don't think it's right to cling to a career just because it's your dream. People say you should get into a good university and get a job at a good company, but don't take on too much responsibility for finding a job or working, and feel like you have to accomplish it all. Get to know yourself by talking to the people around you, relax, and live your life the way you want to.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on March 30, 2023 by Masato Yamamoto, a fourth-year student at Meiji University

【Information】