INTERVIEW：Tanaka Mahiro

Interviewer : Motoyama Kanako,Noguchi Akiko
Translation: Dobashi Nozomi

singer song writer
lyric,melody and her voice that pierce through our heart.
Pure, gentle, delicate gems - Giving strength and warmth to people that hear,
How does she do this? In the spotlight, her message is reaching many through her songs.
An interview with Mahiro Tanaka.

-So, you lived in Singapore for 3 years from the age of 12 - It was then you started music , what made you start?

well, to be honest, when I moved to Singapore, I didn't have much to do . Being in a room alone with nothing to do , no mobile phone and wasn't interested in TV either , it was only natural I started creating something. It was then that I heard YUI (Japanese singer song writer) with great joy - . I just wanted to listen to her songs forever, and realized I wanted to make something great like she does, and that is how I started writing songs.

-do you think your Singapore days has influence on your music?

Yes certainly, Singapore is a very beautiful city. It felt unreal and almost imaginary. The typical orange color sunset we know in Japan looked so different in Singapore. It was pink color turning purple . I even have a song that has developed in hope I can express this amazing experience.

-6 months have passed since the release of your 1st mini album "Little Lindsay" (chiisana Lindsay). How is it?

I get message saying they heard my album "Little Lindsay" . I am very encouraged and happy to receive such message, For me, reading through their message is almost like listening to other peoples' songs. The message i get from them soak into my soul just like my songs reaching out with warmth to their heart. I'm clumsy , expressing my feelings are difficult, sometimes even stressful. but it makes me happy to realize that my message reached all right when reading through those warm comments

-How was your recent concert during Yoshitomo Nara's exhibition at Yokohama Museum ?

I would say it was such a wonderful warm live concert that reflected Mr. Nara's personality I was quite nervous being in an unusual environment before I performed but listening to Mr. Nara's short speech (which was not planed originally) in front of the audience , I loosened up and felt I can do it my usual way.

-were you surrounded by his works when you performed ?

yes, I performed in front of his work called "spring girl" Singing there made me feel as if it was the girls from Mr. Nara's drawings singing for me I also felt their eyes watching me closely as well (laugh) This was the most enjoyable concert I ever had. It's hard to put into words but I feel sympathy to the works of Mr. Nara his drawings are of little girls but I feel that their age is a mystery. The girls inside the girls could be grandmas, babies. It made me wonder how old they are . oh, by the way I'm 19 and , i felt emotional discord within me ,,,

-You have drawn Little Lindsay 's CD jacket yourself?

I initially didn't plan to draw it myself. It was supposed to be a draft of the photo image I was going to shoot

-and it became the jacket itself at the end !

yes, it was just a quick draw , I actually did think twice about my decision- I guess I just like to express and create. I'm now doing music as priority but I also like to draw. I like thinking about how I would be if I express myself in various different creative activities.

-anything you want to challenge in the future?

I have so many things I want to do , I sing with the piano now but I want to try performing the songs with other instruments too. I even want to experiment it in band style ! I get ideas like drums might be real fun to add in a certain song, I can almost hear a violin when performing ! Apart from my singing to the piano style gentle performance , I would like to continue exploring, and I'd be happy if people will enjoy it as much as I would.