-- The 1st track of Heaven side of the album is "Balcony Scene" in the narrative style tone which begins with a music box. Was the "talk tape" the prototype of this track?
Yes. It went into the demo tape made at the very beginning.
"Balcony Scene is the music made by chance. My elder sister had a music box when I was looking around the house for the musical instruments I could use, and I borrowed it. If I hadn't found that music box, the cut would never have been the same. I talked Juliet's words according to the music box just with playing mind. Falling in love with love. A world that can be understood absolutely sensually and physically by girls. A very beautiful (grotesque in a certain way) and narcissistic world. When such things are seen or heard, people may feel like peeping. It seems to be divided into two types; those who feel uncomfortable and those who dive into the world completely when they hear "La Debutante". People say that it is the kind of music you either love or you hate.
-- The 3rd track "Souvenir de la Mer" in Heaven side is my favorite among the SONOKO original tracks. You collaborated with a boy called MARTO. Who is MARTO? And how did you collaborate with him?
MARTO is a boy guitarist from Osaka who was 17 years old at that time. He was selling indie cassette tapes of guitar tracks like Lawrence of Felt and Durutti Column in the import record stores. His artist name was taken from the name of the girl who appeared on Radiguet's "Le diable au corps". When I was looking for the composer for the original music of Gardenia Angles made, I liked what he did and asked him to make several music tracks.
"Souvenir de la Mer" and "Wedding With God" for Nijinsky are originally from guitar tracks which he had previously made rather than the ones I asked him for, and I sang lyrics with melodies. "Souvenir de la Mer" was arranged by Vinent Kinis and Aligue in the band called Family Fodder. It's got a pop touch and Marc was pleased to say it's like early Gainsbourg. As for "Wedding With God", Vincent Kenis played the guitar. I liked it very much. The original was a guitar track with an intimate touch which had an introverted (in a good way) and closed atmosphere peculiar to indies sound.
-- The single "La poupee qui fait non" (1988) which covered Michelle Pornaleff's song that was released after the album seems more like an idol product compared to the album, in both arrangement and cover art. Was that your intention?
Although Crammed is an indie label, it is a label that has learned the good lessons to be learned from the majors. Their intention was to put me into the market as a new singer. However, I was not used to the whole idea of being a star, and it was a bit uncomfortable.