03 Fashion and music with an honest heart.
PROFILE
A mix of Japan and France, he began writing lyrics and music on his own at the age of 14. He pursues the next generation of alternative pop, fusing dream pop and electronic music. He is active both in Japan and abroad, performing at festivals and touring overseas.
@maika_loubte
PROFILE
A mix of Japan and France, he began writing lyrics and music on his own at the age of 14. He pursues the next generation of alternative pop, fusing dream pop and electronic music. He is active both in Japan and abroad, performing at festivals and touring overseas.
@maika_loubte
We understand that you started writing lyrics and music at the age of 14. How did you learn?
I had been taking piano lessons since I was a child, so I used to play by ear J-Pop songs that I liked at the time. I found myself learning about song structures and chord progressions, and became able to write songs on my own.
What made you gravitate toward alternative music such as electronic and techno?
When I was 20 years old, I met a synthesizer at a local recycle store. I had always listened to various genres of music and had a wide range of musical interests, but it wasn't until I started working on my own songs with the synthesizer that I fell completely in love with it.
What is it about synthesizers that makes them so interesting to collect?
Composing with a synthesizer has the feel of a collage. With piano, the tones are fixed, so you express them by the way you play, but with synths, you can create the tones themselves, and then proceed with the composition according to the tones that emerge. It is exciting to start from the creation of tones and combine them like a collage. I felt like I had more freedom in my music. In addition, I feel that my ear is getting better and better these days (laughs). The resolution of the sound image has become higher, and I can see the music I want to create more clearly.
What do you value in songwriting now?
How do you feel when you listen to the music you have created? This has always been a criterion for judging whether a song is good or not. If I feel that a song is long, it is probably uninteresting, and if I feel that it is short, it is a song that I enjoy. My musical style has gradually changed as I always choose what I want to do at that moment, but I still value being honest with myself.
Let's talk about fashion. Mayka, your everyday outfits are colorful and happy, yet basic. Is there anything in your attitude of "being true to yourself" that is similar to this?
That's right. I don't like to be dressed up or look too formal, even in my outfits (laughs). I like vivid colors, but it is also important to be natural. I want to feel "comfortable" at live shows and in my personal life, so I like items that let me be myself. I liked "American Apparel" and so on.
What kind of bag do you use for work?
I always carry a backpack because I carry a PC. However, the black backpack I used to use tended to look heavy when paired with natural clothes. So I chose a warm olive-gray backpack from "Sarzen" that goes well with any outfit.
How did you like it when you actually used it?
First of all, the front pocket is very helpful. It is just the right size to hold a wallet, earphones, or other valuables that are often lost. It is useful in daily life because you can quickly retrieve them. It is also zipped, so it can be used as an anti-pickpocket measure when abroad (laughs). (Laughs) I perform not only in Asia, but also in Europe and other countries around the world, so a zip is indispensable for my backpack.
You also make good use of the accessory case from "Sarzen!
This is very useful for live performances. I can see at a glance what's in it, such as tape for the place millimeter or a spare microphone, so it's very helpful. It also holds cosmetics for travel, so it will come in handy when flying.
FREELICT" can be used for both a short trip and work. It can be carried on the back as a backpack, of course, but it can also be used as a handbag with the handles on the top. The main water-repellent zipper is designed to be long, and has magnets at the ends so that it can be attached to the body. The square, rounded shape is attractive. The "liquid pouch" allows the contents to be seen through, making it easy to take them out.
