CA4LA MUSIC CONNECTION vol.5
bikke blanka
The turning point is still ahead. Just a step to understand yourself.
For artists, there is always a turning point in the process of creating works and the source of their activities.
"CA4LA MUSIC CONNECTION" is a series of projects where artists will be interviewed about what turned out to be a turning point in their own activities.
The artist who appears in the 5th time is Vicke Blanca.
Vicke Blanca made her major debut with the mini-album "Slave of Love" in 2016. Combining the gorgeous British pop that is familiar to Elton John and Mika with the sense of J-POP that all Japanese people will be attracted to, the drama theme song "Mashiro" and the Spotify CM song "Ca Va?" are hits. established its own position. In recent years, the number of listeners from overseas has increased due to tie-ups with anime, and preparations for the next development are steadily progressing, such as conceiving a new name, Vista, to create world-class dance music. In addition to how he came to call himself "Bicke Blanca" and why he is conscious of the world, he also talked about the bucket hat produced in collaboration with CA4LA as a tour item.
Text by Atsutake Kaneko
Photo by Yuri Suzuki
Interview: Vicke Blanca
I decided tocreate two different personalities, Junya Yamaike, who only thinks about songwriting, and Vicke Blanca, who only thinks about live performances.” “
Bikke: I don't have that yet. Until now, I've continued to work with the spirit of "doing exactly what I want to do and what I need to do with high quality", and everyone on the team is on the same vector, so I'm making progress, so I didn't have any difficulties along the way. . If it comes, it's about time, and I feel like I'm preparing now.
Bikke I thought it was a good time without it. It's like, "At this stage, it seems like we're at a turning point." So, I thought that as a result of overcoming it properly, I was able to get the impression that I was climbing the stairs properly.
Bikke: In the old days, I didn't like live performances at all. That's why I thought, ``I want to play the sound source with a blast, instead of doing a live performance'' (laughs). However, I felt that I had to do live performances, and I thought that I would be able to realize things that can only be done at live performances. I thought it would be So, I decided to create two different personalities, one for Junya Yamaike, who only thinks about songwriting, and the other for Vicke Blanca, who only thinks about live performances.
the Vicke Blanca Indies, our local radio station in Aichi Prefecture played ``Fabulous'' so much. So, when I did a one-man show at ell fits all in Nagoya with a capacity of about 300 people, I experienced for the first time the situation where all 300 people knew the song and sang along with me. Until then, no one knew about my songs, so it was like a recital. People who have listened to the sound source many times want to hear it live. It was then that I fully understood that this was a live show.After we made our debut with
's big. I can't help but have fun. It changed completely. (laughs)It
“If we decided from the beginning, it would be nothing but a pre-established harmony of ‘well done’, so that would be boring. It’s also fun to make new discoveries during a live performance.”
Bikke: If you start making songs with the assumption that they will be performed live there, it becomes a mess. The meaning of separating personalities disappears. So, Junya Yamaike didn't think about live performances at all, and made songs with the stance of facing only the sounds that were ringing in front of him. Then Vickeblanka thought, "It's impossible to reproduce this kind of song live, so how can we make it more interesting?" It was such a pass match.
Bikke, live performances became too much fun, and even though we have a split personality, we are still the same person, so when I was making songs, the images of live performances came to my mind, and it started to affect me. I want to focus only on the song, but I'm like, "In order to make it easier to clap live, it's better to make it easy to understand... that's not what I'm talking about! Wow!" (laughs).Even with
bikke, and the solution is to...accept it. Live is too much fun, so I can't help it anymore. We split it up once, fell in love with the live, and now it feels like the fusion has begun. However, the hurdles there are very high, and it feels like "I'll put it on the table for the time being." So, in the end, I still haven't taken in my opinion about songwriting on the live side. I just became able to look.It's
the track "Shekebon!" However, I feel that the songwriting has changed in the first place, and I think that's an interesting change.There's something like "Oh!" in
Bikke yes. It's fun to make new discoveries during lives, like, "Are you going to sing here? Then I'll go this way." If I decided from the beginning, it would be nothing but a pre-established harmony of "well done", so it would be boring, so my stance is not to decide.
"What I like and what I can do, I just spend a long time unraveling the strings... That's why I don't have anything to look forward to."
Bicke No, "Avalanche" was a story before calling himself Vicke Blanca. When I washed my clothes at the laundromat, and while I was waiting for them to dry, I was looking at the city from the rooftop and wondering, "How long will I be doing this?" I don't have any money at all, and I'm living hand-to-hand, but strangely enough, I don't give up, and I don't think I should get a job. Since my family doesn't have a salaryman, I'm convinced that I won't be like that either, but I don't know what to do. I made it by looking back at myself at that time.
I see. It's pretty sensitive to find a link there. I didn't expect that. Well, when thinking about the name of a different personality, at the point of naming a savage existence, I guess it means that you originally have that kind of mind. It's the same with "Devil", but I think it's my personality to unconsciously turn my attention to things like trying hard and changing. That's why I think it's naturally linked to the recent lyrics.
WickeIn the end, I just spend a long time figuring out what I like and what I can do... that's why I don't have anything to look forward to. I live my life with an eye on something, but there's a turning point in that process, and there's no such thing as turning this way, I'm just walking to understand myself. The idea is that if you deepen your understanding of yourself, you will progress on your own, so you will eventually reach somewhere without looking at anything.
"I've always liked foreign countries too much. I'm a person who always thinks that 'Japan is too small'. But I don't want to travel to find myself, I want to compete there."
Vicca Holland and Paris, and I wanted to practice a few times in Japan for that purpose, but I couldn't do that last year, so I put it on hold for now. But it's boring to leave it alone, so for the songs I did with Dai Matsumoto of LAMP IN TERREN (``Little Summer'') and the songs I did with Taiiku Okazaki (``Bakashi Hour Night''), I made the tracks myself and recorded them in LA. I'm mixing it. Although the language is Japanese, I feel like I have created a sound that is a world standard, in the sense that I am gaining experience for the future. Therefore, the preparation period has been extended, but the fire is still there.I had plans to play my songs at clubs in
Bikke: I've always liked foreign countries too much. I'm a person who always thinks "Japan is too small". My sister studied abroad in Canada for five years, but I always thought, "Why not me? I should definitely do it," and I always want to go abroad. However, I don't want to go on a journey of self-discovery, I want to compete there. I would have gone to the world with That's why I've been conscious of overseas for a long time.
Bikke: I've always been talking to the team like I'm an idiot about going overseas, and I know it's impossible, but I've always said things like, ``Let's do a live in Shanghai or something like that soon!'' I was like, ``If you have time, let me live in Holland for three months. Give me a salary during that time.'' (laughs) ``If you do anime tie-ups, people overseas will listen to them, so please do something for me.'' I've been saying this since my first year in the majors, and they thought, ``It can't be helped,'' and they did it with great results. came out, so I was like, ``Right? Well, I have no choice but to go to Shanghai.'' So, when we went out together, the rest of the team was drinking and having more fun than me (lol).
Wicke always said, ``Wicke Blanka will do anything overseas, so just give it to me,'' and that's the idea. I'm talking to myself now and reconfirmed.
the J-POP soul that has been dormant inside me suddenlyexploded.”“I made a song that feels like
BikkeI think that in order to succeed, I have to hide the fact that I am Japanese and Asian. The only one who does it well is Steve Aoki, and even BTS should be seen as "Asian guys". My goal is to have a festival with Armin van Pullen, Don Diablo, Martin Garrix, Vistä, and Tiesto, so I want to remove as many unnecessary elements as possible. It's useless to take pride in saying, "Even Asians do good music."
Bikke, I don't think the view of "Asians" will disappear, and I think the words "It's becoming easier for Asians to listen" are proof that they haven't completely mixed up yet. Although the hurdles have become lower than in the past, if the hurdles themselves can be removed, they should be removed.Even with
Bikke: That is gradually becoming the case, isn't it? However, music has a big language barrier. In games, if you press the same button, the same movement will occur all over the world, so I think there are no barriers. Speaking of which, I think it's amazing that BTS is singing in Korean and being properly evaluated.
a long time ago. Maybe I put Korean in first (laughs).It's
Bikke It's useless to think about such things.
Bikke: Thankfully, Japanese people look five years younger when they leave Japan. In the first place, there is no culture in Holland or America to ask someone's age, so if they agree, it's fine, but I wanted to use the fact that I look five years younger to my advantage.
BikkeBecause I spent a year unable to go abroad, I turned my attention to Japan as well. I made a song that feels like the J-POP soul that has been dormant inside me has suddenly exploded.
The bikke development is super simple, and what he says is super simple, and he's amazingly honest. In the past, I used to say "SMAP is good", but after that I learned about Western music, and as I deepened my music, I thought that if I deepened it, I would have to do something deeper, so I made a lot of songs that I didn't understand. (laughs). Fortunately, there were a certain number of people who were happy with that, so I was doing well, but when I was placed at a time when I couldn't show it, the water that was coming out of the door so far began to stop. At that time, I was like, "Huh? There's another door next to it." That's why I made a "ponytail". It's really good, so please listen to it.
"While having the intention of being in the mainstream, playing in it, whether it's music or furniture, is something that only talented people can do."
Going back to the origin of Bikkei, I have had the feeling of wearing hair band on my head since I was in elementary school hair band I went to school with it. I feel like the feeling of decorating the head and feet like that has been around for a long time. Then, in junior high and high school, I started to like RIP SLYME, and I used to wear cap and tight-fitting knit hats, so I began to imitate them and wear them on a daily basis. From there, it's only natural to cover your body with shoes and a hat. If you don't block the top and bottom, it will overflow, right?
Akimoto: You say "tighten", but you don't say "cover" (laughs).
BikkeI feel like I'm putting a lid on it so that the energy flow circulates.
Bikke That's right. In an interview when Jamiroquai had just debuted, they asked me, "Why are you wearing a hat like that of an aboriginal?" So it's hard to walk around town, isn't it? That's why I wear a hat to hide my face."
A young 18-year-old who had just debuted in Bikke said that, and it actually happened, so I really like that. But in my case, I can't calm down unless I wear a hat, so I wear a hat even in private, and on the contrary, my hat will be exposed (laughs).
Bikke I was impressed when I first learned about CA4LA. I've been indebted ever since I found the shop when it was still on Meiji-dori.
Bikke: Above all, I like CA4LA 's design. There was a hat called "UZU" that I really liked, and it had a short brim on one side and a long brim on the other. You can't see it at first glance, but when you put it on, it looks different and gives a three-dimensional effect. I was the most popular when I was wearing that, so it was the power of "vortex".
Akimoto : You sympathize with CA4LA 's twisted side, and you can relate to Bikke-kun's musicality, don't you think? CA4LA has that kind of thing, too.
Bikke: There's cap that Mr. Akimoto recently made that has a very long brim, and it's just before it becomes eccentric. Just before it becomes a neta hat, it's the last line that fits stylishly, and I really like that. Whether it's music or furniture, or anything else, I think it's something that only people with talent can do. That feeling is perfect...I love you, CA4LA! It's not that I'm flattering you, but I feel it again. I love you
“If you like it, wear it.”
Wicke: I kept saying, "Let's do something together."
Bikke Yes, if you make them say, "If you say so much, I'll do it."
We asked them to slightly increase the bulk of the original bucket hat to make it more original. Also, since it's "Devil" tour goods, it says "Devil Contracted", and when you wear it, you're like, "a person who has made a contract with the devil."
Akimoto The design of putting this in the back instead of the front is also excellent.
Bikke That's right. Lined up the beautiful spread of colors that I took a lot of shots for the jacket. After discussing the size and coloring in detail, we completed this gem of a hat.
Akimoto Pink also seems to be Bikke-kun.
Bikke I wanted to use black that can be worn with various clothes, and another color that can be used as an accent. Very cute!
Akimoto: Bucket hats are popular now, so I think that's a good thing. But Bikke-kun is also good at incorporating orthodox elements, so I focused on the bucket hat, so even after a year it hasn't faded at all. It was nice there too.
It's going to be a bikke accessory, but in the past I used to wear the largest ladies pants and trainers. Men's wear has become rugged and curvaceous. I like things that are feminine, especially wallets.
AkimotoA lot of our hats are unisex, so I think they go well together.
Akimoto Basically, we don't have any set gender or race. I don't choose people, so I say, "If you like it, wear it."
It's nice to say, "If you like it, wear it." I'm like, "If you like it, listen to it." It's not just limited to fashion, but there are many people in the world who have no choice but to demonstrate their talents in their field and live in that field, and I think I'm happy to be associated with such people. . Immersed in the charm of hats, keep thinking about hats, people who can't live without doing it, brands who can't live. I'm happy to be able to do something together with such people, and the hat this time is the gift of that, so I really enjoyed it.
AkimotoThat 's an honor for CA4LA, and the most interesting thing is the combination with other industries. Combining a musical perspective with hats is very rewarding for us, so we definitely want to work together in the future.
Bikke this makes me happy. Actually, in anticipation of the future, I named the hats "No.1" and "No.2" (laughs).
bikke blanka
The song "Mashiro" from the album "wizard" released in 2018 attracted a lot of attention as a drama insert song, and recorded 2nd place on the iTunes general album chart. The song "Mashiro" won first place in the USEN request J-POP HOT30, YouTube MV surge ranking, and LINE MUSIC real-time ranking.
The following year, "Ca Va?" was used as a TV commercial song for "Spotify", and the 3rd album "Devil" containing the same song was released in March 2020. Recorded 1st place on the iTunes J-POP chart.
Overseas, the opening song in charge of the anime "Black Clover" series continued to be a long hit, and the number of Spotify monthly listeners exceeded 1.2 million.
All songs have been played over 200 million times on music streaming services.
The latest 4th single "Mirage" was announced on August 19th. (Opening theme song for Kantele/Fuji Television Network, Inc. Fire 9 drama "Dragon's Road: Two-faced Avenger")
As a presence in the music industry, he is expanding his activities in various fields such as providing music, radio DJs, advertising models, and eSports streamers.
LIVE INFORMATION
2021.02.23 Devil Tour “Promised” [Fukuoka/Fukuoka International Conference Center Main Hall]
2021.03.13 Devil Tour “Promised” [Aichi Japan Specialty Ceramic Industry Civic Center Village Hall]
2021.03.18 Devil Tour “Promised” [Osaka, Orix Theater]
2021.03.20 Devil Tour “Promised” [Hokkaido Doshin Hall]
2021.03.28 Devil Tour “Promised” [Nakano Sunplaza Hall, Tokyo]
* Latest MV "Ponytail" to be released on 2/12 (Fri.)
