I: With electronic music being the main field he works in, rarely collaborating with rock bands, TeddyLoid had had a good impression of the GazettE even before (their collaboration).
TD: “I´ve started my collaboration with the GazettE with the VORTEX single, but I had personally gone to see their lives and I had known their songs before. I like their song Tokyo Shinjū. The lyrics and their outlook on the world is good, isn´t it? I thought they were a really cool band and that´s why I was really happy when they addressed me (asked for collaboration). When our collaboration was decided, and I heard their sound source (preproduction songs) at last, I was surprised that along rock sound as a basis, they also adopted elements of various other genres. While having electro as a backbone for my work, I picked up a taste for loads of other genres and I often let it reflect in my own music. And this part of me thought: Don´t we have a common concept (way of thinking) here? “
I: How was the production of VORTEX?
TD: “I didn´t meet with the members even once. *laughs* We only exchanged emails with Ruki. I added synthesiser and scratching and processed the vocals in the song he sent me. Then I sent it back to him. Ruki let me know his opinion after he listened to it and I reflected it into the song again. We repeated this several times until it was finished. I was happy that he used my ideas quite a few times. For me collaborating without a direct contact is nothing unusual. I remixed songs with electro artists located in France or people I met on MySpace, with whom you sometimes can actually meet afterwards. So, when working on VORTEX there was no uncomfortable feeling. After that, we talked about TOXIC and finally I met with Ruki. I want to meet the others soon.”
I: TeddyLoid participated on creating four songs in TOXIC. He talked to us about the part he accomplished in this recent work.
TD: “In this album I collaborated on one of SE songs and 3 songs that have lyrics. For INFUSE INTO I received two pieces of material from Ruki and I was told to make these into a base. Unlike a remix, I was allowed to use my own essence (my own style) to my heart´s content. During our meetings, Ruki frequently said words like: I want it to have an angry (buriburi) feeling. *laughs* Or I want to make bass and synthesiser more vexed. He also said he wanted a sound that is noisy but clear at the same time. And since I was aware of all this, I aimed for a sound that could be clearly heard while using distorted sounds of bass and synthesiser.
Regarding the three other songs, basically, I didn´t revise the original sound of the band at all. I changed and brushed up the step-recorded beats or synthesiser that were used in the songs originally. Then in places I thought a certain sort of sound would be good I added the synthesiser. Generally speaking, you get an impression of me doing a support for the step recording parts, right? I quite like the dark sound and I was told that the members feel the same, so the production went smoothly. We weren´t worried about the approach or the tone quality even once. Amongst all the songs, I guess especially INFUSE INTO is the song that leaves an impression. Because it has a feeling that couldn´t be found in the GazettE´s songs before, it will probably surprise everyone who listens to it, and I think everyone will get more excited after hearing it at the live.
I: From this, it can be said that Ruki accepted the new taste of the Gazette.
TD: “That´s right. Ruki is not a person who would say: …because this is not the GazettE (he wouldn´t stop doing something because it doesn´t sound like Gazette). He is flexible in the sense that when he thinks something´s good, he can frankly admit it. Including this (that kind of attitude), I think the GazettE is a really great band. Especially, the quality of the sound is overwhelming. Every part is very real and there is a good feel to the material. I think I can say that the GazettE´s sound is of world quality (international). I wasn´t present at the recordings, so there are many details I don´t know, but they choose their material very carefully, and the recording is done very properly. When mixing, the members´ instructions were clear and precise too. The GazettE´s artwork and visual sense is very good as well as the lives are cool. Every element that forms the band is fine and gives out a firm world view. In this collaboration at least I felt that the GazettE is a band that attracts the listener and carries strong power that cannot be gotten rid off.
source: illusion-flight.livejournal.com
