Described as "a band that grows by consuming sadness," Atarayo quickly attracted attention for their emotional songs featuring relatable, bittersweet lyrics. They released their first original song 10 Gatsu
Mukuchi na Kimi wo Wasureru on YouTube in November 2020, and appeared on the popular one take performance YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE less than a year after.
This January, their song Boku wa... was used as the opening theme for
the anime series "The Dangers in My Heart," exposing their music to many new fans overseas. The band released a new album titled Asatsuyu wa komorebi ni tokete on September 11th, and just before it hit stores, JaME had the opportunity to ask the members some questions about
their latest work, their creative process and
their plans for the future.
Your band name, Atarayo, means "a night so beautiful, you hate to see it end." How does this concept influence your music and lyrics?
Hitomi: The name Atarayo reflects our hope that people listen to our music on a night so beautiful, you hate to see it end, and that we can become a band who makes people wish our performances didn’t end. We often sing about beautiful
scenes and emotions like those that don’t ever want to end.
Your first original song, 10-gatsu mukuchi na kimi wo wasureru, was released in November 2020. Can you share the inspiration behind this song and what it represents for the band?
Hitomi:10-gatsu mukuchi na kimi wo wasureru expresses my raw emotions not as “Hitomi from Atarayo,” but as myself, Hitomi. This song was a turning point that helped the band grow and
solidified my decision to pursue a career in music.
It quickly topped the charts on platforms like TikTok, LINE MUSIC, Spotify, and AWA. How did you react to this sudden popularity, and what do you think resonated most with your audience?
Hitomi: I'm not sure if there was a specific reason–I just think this song has a certain power to it. This song led to us forming the band, and has this huge energy to it!
Takeo: At the time, it really just made me happy!
Maashii: I was honestly just surprised! I wonder if it had the same impact for everyone else that it did when I first heard 10-gatsu mukuchi na kimi wo wasureru on social media.
You've provided the opening theme Boku wa... for the second season of "The Dangers in My Heart." How did this collaboration come about, and what was the process like for creating this song?
Hitomi:Maashii created the band sound, which served as the foundation, and I added the lyrics and melody over top.
Maashii: I aimed for something emotional that carried a sense of youthfulness within the fast-paced sound.
Hitomi: I read the original manga thoroughly while writing the lyrics. The manga has many beautiful scenes that made me reflect on myself, but of those, I specifically chose scenes that would express the message we wanted to deliver in the opening
theme and focused closely on Kyotaro Ichikawa’s emotions when writing the lyrics.
Your music often features emotional and melancholic vocals with urban vibes and bittersweet lyrics. What personal or collective experiences influence these themes in your music?
You had a successful Asian tour this year with multiple sold-out shows. What were some memorable moments from this tour, and how did it feel to connect with your fans across Asia?
Hitomi: Since that Asian tour was the first time we’d held a solo concert abroad, we each had our own worries. But since the audience understood Japanese, we were able to convey our feelings and gratitude directly in our own words during our MC
segments, which made us very happy.
Maashii: In Japan, most people listen quietly, while overseas, more people sing along. It was great to see how everyone has their own way of enjoying our music. No matter which way they choose, it's clear they’re having fun! Moving forward, I think
we could adjust our performances to match the audience’s reaction.
Your song Boku wa...
achieved over 18 million streams and 20,000 downloads shortly after its release. How do you feel about such a positive reception, and what do your fans' reactions mean to you?
Hitomi: I was overjoyed! I put the song out into the world with confidence, but was still worried how listeners would feel about it. But after seeing how many people listened to it, I was so happy. Most listeners probably didn’t know about Atarayo before.
I can see from the numbers that they accepted the song with open arms regardless.
Could you walk us through your typical creative process when writing and composing a new song? How do you collaborate as a band during this process?
Hitomi: There are two different ways we approach production. One is where I write a song on piano or guitar and give it to Maashii, who then arranges it for the band. The other is where Maashii creates the band
sound, then I add the main melody to it. I don't think it's a particularly unique way of making songs, but I do think it's unique that Maashii and I listen to completely opposite genres of music, which is one of the reasons Atarayo’s
music is so wide-ranging.
Maashii and I both having opportunities to write songs from scratch allows for things I can’t express to come from Maashii, and vice versa. Our ability to take on a wide variety of genres is one of our fortes,
which I think is unique about our band.
Your new album Asatsuyu wa komorebi ni tokete
is set to be released soon. Can you explain the overall concept and themes of this album? How does it differ from your previous works?
Hitomi: Allow me to explain the title, Asatsuyu wa komorebi ni tokete: "Asatsuyu" refers to morning dew on leaves in Japanese, which tends to happen most from summer until autumn. I used the word in the title as a seasonal keyword. In
the past, "Asatsuyu" was used as a metaphor for fleeting things because it disappears so quickly. I think that’s a perfect fit for Atarayo since our songs are often about things and emotions that vanish in an instant. The songs on this
album also feel like light and the warmth of sunlight filtering through tree leaves, which is why I used the word "komorebi".
Up until this point we wrote music based on specific concepts. This time, however, the album includes demo songs that
were produced a while back, and we also tried some songs we’d always wanted to make but hadn't yet. I think the album reflects what Atarayo really wanted to create.
What was the recording process like for this album? Were there any memorable moments or challenges that stood out during production?
Hitomi: The production process went very quickly! We once recorded two songs in one day. I remember it set the record for the longest recording session in Atarayo history. (laughs)
Maashii: It was long, but we worked hard! We managed to enjoy recording to the very end.
Takeo: Overall, I think recording went very smoothly. And this time, I thought the sound making matched our songs perfectly!
Do each of you have a personal favorite song from the new album? If so, which one and why does it hold special meaning for you?
Hitomi: My favorite is
Refrain, which is an autumn-themed song. I personally love the overall melody and rhythm. From the moment I started composing it, I was determined to include it in the album.
Marcy: Mine is
Kimi to. I think it’s a stand-out track, and really want everyone to get hyped for it during live performances! Despite its intensity, it captures
Atarayo's characteristic strength and has an encouraging message for listeners.
Takeo: I love Akegata no natsu. It’s not just my favorite, but the whole band’s. I think it’s a solid track that feels very complete. Please listen to it!
Akegata no natsu is one of the standout tracks on the album. What is the story or message behind this song, and what inspired its lyrics?
Hitomi: This song is entirely based on real-life events. The beach at daybreak is something I actually saw, and the things piling up because I couldn't throw them away really are things I own and can’t throw away. (laughs) It's a song inspired
by scenery I’ve seen, and emotions I’ve felt.
Your songs often seem to tell a story. Do you have a specific narrative approach when writing lyrics, and how do you ensure that each song conveys a distinct story or emotion?
Hitomi: I always try to include lyrics that set the scene in the first verse. My hope is that imagining the scene in your head and then listening to the rest helps you immerse yourself even more in the atmosphere of the song.
What are some of your long-term goals as a band? Where do you see yourselves in the next five to ten years?
Hitomi: From a concert perspective, I want to perform at even larger venues and there’s so many places we haven't been yet, I’d love to bring Atarayo to all different parts of the world. From a music production perspective, my
hope is that we can continue to be a band that challenges ourselves without being confined by our own preconceived notions. I'd love for us to focus on what we want to do right now and not be held back by the past. (laughs)
Maashii: I don’t ever want to forget how we feel at this exact moment. I hope we can evolve significantly as a band, but I don't want us to lose our rough edges. I want us to remain flexible. Even though our audience might grow and the way people
listen to Atarayo might change, I believe we'll continue to be a band that stirs up people’s emotions.
Takeo: I want for us to move forward one step at a time without compromising our health. I believe that we, as a band, are capable of that.
What are Atarayo’s plans for the future? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that fans should look forward to?
Atarayo: Starting in October, we'll be going on tour across Japan. We'd also love to perform overseas again, so keep listening to our songs and wait for us! We can’t wait to see you all!
Finally, do you have a message for JaME's readers?
Atarayo: It’s been five years since we formed Atarayo. There’s been so many more opportunities for people to get to know us, and we cherish each of those connections. We want to deliver our music to whoever seeks us all over the
world, not just Japan or Asia. We hope to see you soon!
JaME would like to thank the members of Atarayo for this interview opportunity.
Links to download and stream Asatsuyu wa komorebi ni tokete on various music platforms are available here.
Following the interview, Atarayo also kindly recorded a comment video wishing JaME a happy anniversary. Check out their message below.
*Turn on captions to watch with English subtitles.
