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The Mashup Makers
~Creating 72 Uniquely Harmonized Songs~
Part 2
▶ Yo Oyama
ZIZZ STUDIO: Audio Producer
In addition to composing and arranging music, as well as working as a recording and mixing engineer, Yo Oyama also plays guitar and bass for the Muse's music.
Favorite Song: "Fruit of Evil" as performed by Aoi Fuji
▶ Katsuo Kawasumi
ZIZZ STUDIO: Songwriter
Katsuo Kawasumi wrote twelve of the Muse's songs in Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord.
Favorite Song: "Shadow Boundary" as performed by Saki Mitsuki
▶ Ikuko Ebata
ZIZZ STUDIO: Lyricist
In addition to acting as the Supervising Director and Production Assistant for Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord, Ikuko Ebata also oversaw the Latin translation in "Ignis Fatuus" by Kaori Oda.
Favorite Song: "Ignis Fatuus" as performed by Kaori Oda
▶ Makoto Kitano
Compile Heart: Producer
Favorite Song: "Notes of Faith" as performed by Yui Ishikawa
Part-2, Section-1
The lyrics are filled with Kanji (words) I've never seen before.
Songs that were fun to make, and songs that were hard to make.
Katsuo Kawasumi
Ever since I heard the demo of the song that Saki Mitsuki (Kamen Joshi Group) sang for us ("Shadow Boundary"), I always really liked it. That was also a very fun one to write.
All the lyrics were difficult. In the first half, I set the standard, which meant in the second half I couldn't really go too far out there. During the production, I numbered the Dark songs 1 through 6. The earlier songs certainly have something more closely resembling proper Japanese, or a deeper completeness to them, like a poem. (Laughs)
Yo Oyama
And the second half deviates from that?
Katsuo Kawasumi
We had a rule that "Light is positive and Dark is negative," so the words we used in their lyrics was different.
Continuing with that thought, along with trying to match the vowel sounds, and not deviate from the world we were creating, I feel like the words we used got more and more dispersed. We were told that the Glace's lyrics should sound threatening, but the Fleur versions should sound kinder, and more friendly. I didn't want to use words that were too difficult, or expressions that were too strange, which was a bit of a struggle. It led to the Light songs being filled with words that are easy to understand, and the Dark songs having more complicated words that might be unfamiliar for some. I think that also made the Dark songs more difficult to sing.
Yo Oyama
Everyone was quite surprised. The lyrics are filled with Kanji (words) I've never seen before. The differentiation in the lyrics is quite amazing.
Makoto
Kitano
I think all the songs were very well-balanced, and I feel like the individual singers, as well as the power of the songs themselves, really brought out the uniqueness of the songs.
Katsuo Kawasumi
I think all the singers sang with the conscious intent to have the words reach all the listeners. It was really impressive.
Yo Oyama
All the singers seemed to be having a lot of fun, but they also sang with a lot of emotion.
At the time, we would record a quick version of the song and send it to the production side to ensure that the singing style fit with the character. All the singers did a great job and the production side would always come back with something like "We have nothing to add on our end! Please sing as you like!" That made the recording for this project very easy.
Ikuko Ebata
All the singers did a fantastic job. It was God-tier casting!
Yo Oyama
If there was one difficult aspect to mention, it would be the key. Normally we might say, "Let's try that a half-step up or down," but in this case we had to ask all twelve singers to sing in the same key.
At the time, I think a few of them might have said reaching the high notes or low notes were too difficult, but they are all very talented, and we were able to get through the recording without any problems.
Part-2, Section-2
I could listen to them all day!
Assigning songs to singers
Yo Oyama
First thing we had to think about was key, for example, which singer is gonna be able to hit these higher notes in this key? We also considered which singer might fit better with "Light" characters and which would fit better with the "Dark" ones. We discussed all this with Kitano-San and made decisions from there.
The casting there was really fantastic, so the whole process went rather smoothly.
Makoto Kitano
We also listened to the previous songs each singer had sung and matched them to the image we wanted to create.
Yo Oyama
Yes, I think everyone fit in really well.
Makoto Kitano
I couldn't agree more. The lyrics and music made for a great song, but the singers added so much individuality to the music. The synergy was really incredible. I had the impression that each song became its own one-of-a-kind music.
Yo Oyama
Nami Tamaki mentioned that she's been singing a lot of fun songs lately, and that it was really nice to work on something more difficult. She seemed to really enjoy singing with us.
Katsuo Kawasumi
We have so many different types of singers, veteran singers, Vtubers, idols... It was really interesting to see how people from different fields all have their own unique way of singing.
Makoto Kitano
In what ways was their singing unique?
Katsuo Kawasumi
Well take, nicamoq for example. Her way of singing was totally different.
Yo Oyama
Totally different, her vocalization among other things. So incredibly unique.
Katsuo Kawasumi
Same with their types of voices. With Saki Mitsuki there was a kind of, how can I say it, an "ah, I get it" kind of feeling. I felt I gained an understand of her background with Kamen Joshi. That was quite interesting to me.
Makoto Kitano
I think that reflected in the music as well. Additionally, we were able to cast both Yui Ishikawa as Fleur and Yoko Hikasa as Glace, both of whom are excellent singers.
Yo Oyama
Those two were really great, weren't they?
No matter where we asked our cast to sing, high or low, they were able to do it. And then there was the chorus, everybody picked it up so quick and we were able to wrap up recording very quickly! They were all so talented, I could listen to them all day!
Ikuko Ebata
The music production side of things was very tough, but I always felt at ease during recording. It was like there was nothing left to worry about!
Yo Oyama
We also recorded everyone's comments at the end of the recording session. We asked them which lyrics left a particular impact on them and I found all of their responses to be very interesting!
Katsuo Kawasumi
I'm looking forward to hearing them!
Part-2, Section-3
Bird is fine, but chicken is not.
Challenges and "playfulness" in the music.
Yo Oyama
I'm sorry if this sounds a bit cliché, but when I work on a game or anime, the first thing I want is to create something that sounds like a theme song, something that's upbeat, and will get everyone excited at the chorus. While I think there are certainly songs like that here, we really struggled to help create a diverse range of songs within these 12 songs.
Makoto Kitano
Yes, you offered us up a lot of different genres and melodies during production.
Yo Oyama
Take "Shadow Boundary" for example. This song has an EDM (electronic dance music) feel to it. Its tempo is set to 196 beats per minute, so it's a little on the fast side. Rather than keep the same tempo as the other songs, we tried to double the normal tempo with this one. Another interesting song would be "Fire in the Crescent Moon" by Chihiro Yonekura . While this was a "Dark" song, we didn't use the typical minor scale. We were a little adventurous and used melodies built around a scale that evoked a sense of danger and uncertainty. Yonekura-San also sang it in a very eerie voice that added a lot to the song.
So when combined with a normal ballad, the scale is slightly modified, but it is also full of surprises. I think I was particularly proud of that one. Were there any other lyrics aside from "resonance" that you all played around with? I wasn't aware that you guys were putting a focus on resonance.
Katsuo Kawasumi
We didn't exactly have a lot of time to play around! (Laughs)
Yo Oyama
So you really made the decision to focus in on the word resonance then?
Katsuo Kawasumi
Yes, that's right. Resonance was a theme we wanted to come through in all the songs. We also really wanted the notes to all hit at the same time. For example, in "Notes of Faith" by Yui Ishikawa and "Frozen Polar Nights" by Yoko Hikasa, the way the word "Soul" hits in the chorus! Yeah, that was a lot of fun.
Ikuko Ebata
We were really serious about matching the vowels together, and part of the way we did that is we tried to get the same words to come together. I was always thinking, "Ah, maybe we could write it this way too..."
Katsuo Kawasumi
I talked with Ebata-San a lot. Two heads are better than one and all that! (Laughs) It was particularly difficult because each song needed to be able to stand on its own.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that each song needs its own beginning middle and end, but there needs to be some kind of flow. It was really like threading a needle to create that flow with all the restrictions we had. Take for example nicamoq's "Memories of the Key" the first words are "gazing at the moon" and later "celebrate the sun" so you get a "Sun and Moon" motif, like a poem. With Nami Tamaki's "The Fool" you get "screams step on hope," "laughs erase the promise," "angry eyes," "tears from hell," so we get a whole range of emotions. I like it when a theme from a song seems to stand out on its own.
Ikuko Ebata
Moon and Sun, I believe we initially had those in another language...
Katsuo Kawasumi
That's right, but we were told not to include too many non-Japanese words...
Ikuko Ebata
In Japanese, essentially one syllable equals one letter, but in foreign languages many letters can make one syllable. For example "way" isn't "w a y" its "way" one syllable, so a lot of meaning gets packed into one sound. But when you're not able to use other languages you find yourself saying things like "I want to add a one syllable word with meaning in here, but I can't find anything that only has one syllable."
Katsuo Kawasumi
Take "Chord", I initially wrote it as katakana 「コード」but I was asked to change it to 「系譜」and have it read that way. It made it quite difficult. The real world and the world of Fairy Fencer F are quite different, so we didn't want to use too many proper nouns. Bird is fine but chicken is no good.
Ikuko Ebata
Yeah, I remember a conversation where we were like "Really? No chicken?!" "No chicken..." "Seriously?!" You brought things to a close and just said, "Well, let's just submit it anyway." I had a feeling it wouldn't work out, but I submitted it just in case... Yeah, that didn't work.）
Katsuo Kawasumi
Yeah I remember that! (Laughs)
Part-2, Section-4
We even went so far as to do period research.
Things to listen for!
Yo Oyama
I haven't played the game yet, but I did see a test version. It's pretty incredible. It really is the two songs at play. When I saw the first teaser movie, I felt really great when I heard the part where the Light and Dark tunes joined. Then I thought, what? It's switching? I showed it to my family and they knew what I meant. They kept saying "Oh! It's changing! It's changing!" (Laughs)
Makoto Kitano
We really wrestled with how to present the images in a way to make them match what was going on with the music.
Yo Oyama
In the video, things switch before you even realize it. I found it to be very interesting.
Ikuko Ebata
If you think about it, there really shouldn't be any discomfort or strangeness when switching between the songs. You also don't want anyone saying "Ah this is boring..." But I'm relieved, I think we struck a pretty good balance.
Yo Oyama
That said, I don't think that "mashups" will be the first thing a lot of people think. They'll just have to play the game and see it for themselves. I think they'll be shocked when they listen to it and think "Hey, I hear something else playing equally on the other side. Could that be the other song I heard?" And even more shocked when they realize there are 72 combinations.
Makoto Kitano
That's right. 6x6 is 36 songs, but each is arranged differently based on which song comes first in battle. In the game, each combination will be different because Glace chooses which song she is going to bring to battle, and the player chooses which song they'll bring (AKA which buff they want), so each battle will produce different results.
Yo Oyama
So that means you could beat the game without hearing all the different combinations? That would be bad luck to get through the game without hearing all 72 different possibilities!
Makoto Kitano
I would say it's certainly possible... So players, if you get a new song that you're into, we hope you'll try a lot of different combinations!
Yo Oyama
That certainly sounds like a revolutionary new way to enjoy the game! I hope players find a way to listen to all 72 songs!
Ikuko Ebata
Sounds like a total win! (Laughs)
Makoto Kitano
Also not to get too into promotional matters, but the limited edition comes with the soundtrack as a bonus. The first thing you'll find on the soundtrack is the 12 songs by the Muses and the digital deluxe version includes the mashup versions of the songs. While the music is included in the special features, the feeling you'll get from hearing the music while playing the game, the start of the music, the mixing, and the tension of battle, will be totally different than just listening to it.
Yo Oyama
If possible, I hope players will listen to the music in game, not just the special features!
Ikuko Ebata
I really want people to have that "wow" factor while playing the game! If you're just reading this interview you might be thinking, "Mashups?! What the heck are these guys talking about?!" But when you hear it in game, I think you'll have an "Oh! This is what those guys were talking about!" moment, and you'll be really excited!
Part-2, Section-5
I hope they'll post online about the moment they first heard the songs come together.
Words to the fans!
Yo Oyama
I was so impressed when I first heard one of our mashups, and I hope you will be too. If fans like what they hear when they experience it in game, I hope they'll post online about the moment they first heard the songs come together.
Katsuo Kawasumi
Given the importance of the Muses to this story, I think music will play a very fundamental role in the game. I hope that our musical contribution will be able to help enhance your enjoyment of the game! And of course, I really hope you all enjoy the game!
Yo Oyama
It was such an honor to have music be such a big focus in the game. I'm really grateful for it.
Katsuo Kawasumi
But, I don't want people to listen to strain themselves to listen to it. I hope folks just enjoy it naturally!
Yo Oyama
Right. If you listen closely, you'll hear that I've just got a passion for this stuff! (Laughs)
Ikuko Ebata
If you guys post about it online, I'm totally going to look through what you have to say! I hope you'll say things like "I loved the combination of this song and that song!"
Yo Oyama
Since this title is popular overseas, I'd be interested to hear what non-Japanese speakers think of the Muses' music. We understand the language, so we can grasp the meaning of the songs but maybe for those who don't understand Japanese it'll be even easier to listen to?
Ikuko Ebata
That's true. I wonder how it will sound to them?
Makoto Kitano
In this instance, the mashups are not only music to listen to in the game, but they are firmly connected to the gameplay. The way the songs will be presented in the game will feel natural, so when one song starts to play and then the other comes in to blend with the first song, I think it will make the battle even more exciting for players! I really hope players get the chance to experience this, so everyone, we really hope you'll give this game a shot!
Ikuko Ebata
When I think about the mashups, I'd love to see a video on YouTube or something, where the lyrics are spelled out in black and white roman letters, and visually see the vowels line up.
Yo Oyama
It sounds like you're wanting someone to do this...
Makoto Kitano
I feel like you're hinting you want me to... (Laughs)
Yo Oyama
Want me to send you a copy the sheet music with the 12 songs? (Music sheet shown in Part 1)
Katsuo Kawasumi
That was a demo version so some of the lyrics are different in the final version.
Yo Oyama
You mean like just temporary notes?
Ikuko Ebata
How many times did you write "Chicken"?
Katsuo Kawasumi
Not once! (Laughs)
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