Hello, this is Fujishima from Be-Myself LLC.
Following last week's "Minnano Live", I had the opportunity to perform on stage for the second consecutive week! On June 7th, the former Kitano Elementary School auditorium in Kobe became the venue for "Minna no Gakuen-sai" (Everyone's School Festival).
Heartfelt Support and an Expanding World of Music
This time again, I had the support of Mr. Masanobu Takano on keyboard and Ms. Bako on chorus, and together we performed three songs: "Persona," "Chu Chu," and "Minamoto." Their presence is truly reassuring, and I strongly feel it contributes to a stable performance. Thank you always!
As the name "Minna no Gakuen-sai" (Everyone's School Festival) suggests, a truly diverse range of performances unfolded. From sister bands including fresh junior high students and high school light music club students, to national picking contest winners, Kansai tournament champions, and even professional bands and a cappella groups, I thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of genres and levels of music as a listener.
The Impact of "Refined Skill" Infused with Emotion
Particularly impressive was the stage performance by soprano singer ~OTO~NON, who comes from a background in vocal music.
Growing up with classical music-loving parents, I too adore classical music. However, to be honest, what truly resonates deeply with my heart is groove-oriented music such as jazz, bossa nova, funk, and R&B. While I admire classical music and think "it's skillful," for me, it sometimes feels a bit too polite, making it difficult to reach the depths of my heart.
However, NON's singing seamlessly entered my being. Her refined technique was imbued with deep emotion, and I got goosebumps as I listened. Her voice possessed a kind of "destructive power" (though I'm not sure if that's the right word) in a good sense, and it deeply stirred my soul.
Throughout my journey in music, I've always wavered between the desire to hone my technique – thinking "skill alone doesn't resonate" but "technique is still necessary" – and a certain resistance to it. However, witnessing NON's stage, I realized anew the profound depth of music, how "refined skill" combined with "emotion" can possess such power to move the heart.
Indeed, there is such a wide variety of music in the world, and each carries a wealth of individual experiences. I feel that the scope of expression can still be expanded much further. It's truly a lifelong learning journey.
The Joy of "Chu Chu" Resonating with Teens, and What's Next
Regarding my own songs, I was so delighted that "Chu Chu" was surprisingly well-received by junior and senior high school students! Everyone even did the choreography along with me. It's truly encouraging as a singer-songwriter to see my music enjoyed across generations.
Ms. Bako, thank you so much for inviting me to perform at this event! I also exhibited Terashima's paintings and helped with their setup and removal. While I felt the difficulty of displaying art where music is being performed, I am grateful for such an opportunity.
My next stage performance is in July. Somehow, I've been singing somewhere almost every month. I plan to incorporate more music time into my daily life.