05 Inside Fishbowl
(i think if she use one of the Fishbowls she use the more popular and better one!)

06 Hey baby! (Bonus Track)
(i hope it's on the album instead of the single, cause it would make the album even more better! xD )

what we can expect:

07 Intro
(she has an intro most of the time)

08 Phrased Differently Song
(At The Weekend, Speak Out, Barriers Bigger Than You, Wavin' The White Flag, Boom Ticking Time Bomb) [i think one of the first 3]

09 Say Her Name (Ina Wroldsen)
(let's see if she choose it for the album)

10 ??? (from Lollipop Producers)
(we know they produced songs for her next album, BUT we don't know if Kuu take one of them)

NEVER COMPROMISE

In the past I also bought CDs and books from my favourite artists with money I earned at part-time jobs. That’s why I don’t want to cut corners on my products: people will spend their money on them. The things I make should encourage people and give them courage, so I don’t allow myself to release something that isn’t filled with love. In other words, I place myself in the shoes of a buyer and decide whether or not I would buy it. I think it would be rude to buyers if I just created a self-complacent piece. I can’t compromise on my works.

Take this photo book for example, of course I want people to learn about Brazil, but I also hope girls will look at my clothes, make-up, hairstyles and nails, and use them for reference. I hope girls will use this book as a way to beautify themselves. But you have to buy clothes and make-up in order to do so, and that takes money. That’s why I wanted to create a book of which buyers will be glad that they spent their money on it.

Even so, there are times where I have to give up because of certain circumstances. At times like that, I move forward again after making sure I am satisfied with the results. It’s impossible for me to just say ‘oh well, whatever’ when I am not satisfied with something I’ll release. There are people who look forward to the things I release as ‘Koda Kumi’, so I think I should take responsibility for everything.

Also, another reason why I focus so much on my works and on how they’re created, is because behind Koda Kumi there are dozens of staff helping me. Everyone is working their hardest in order to fulfil my wishes. They also did so with this photo book. I just smile and get photographed, but my staff has to prepare everything; that must be much harder. No matter what work I release, there’s no way I can create it by myself. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the quality of my works depend on how much my staff perseveres and works. All the people around me are working really hard, so there’s no way I - who stands in the spotlights – can complain or compromise. My staff’s faith is also part of my motivation and I am truly thankful to them for that.

Because of this, I also cherish discussions and communication with my staff in order to create a good product. I am with my manager every day so we always reflect back on the day when we drive back in the car. We evaluate everything and that’s really meaningful to me. Because I’m the type of person who will forget if she postpones things (laughter). Reflecting on everything is better for me, and I think it’s better for your peace of mind to immediately fix things so you won’t have to carry them with you the next day.

Besides, I think it’s important to listen to other people’s opinions if you want to create a good product. If I only use my own knowledge then that’s only 28 years of things I’ve experienced and read about. I would be severely limited. But if I combine everyone’s point of views, the world expands greatly. If it’s just me then there’ll be limits. But if everyone’s strength is combined, I think I can create works that are out of this world. Moreover, as I said in the beginning, it will turn into a work that isn’t self-complacent. That’s why I want to continue to combine powers with the people who support me and create works that no one but Koda Kumi could make.

HARDSHIPS

~more to come

HARDSHIPS

To be honest, I have a lot of hardships. But I persevere for Koda Kumi’s sake even at times when it’s tough. I can sacrifice my ‘private self’. For example, even when I want to go somewhere, I can give up on it if a job pops up. I always put my work before anything else. Because of this there are of course times where my private self gets hurt. At first, concerning my sexy outfits, my father would ask me: ‘You’re a singer, why do you have to dress like that?’. And even if I have a lover, we can’t walk hand in hand and go to the supermarket like other people do. Because there are loads of events like this that pain me, I think my private self has a hard time (laughter). But on the other hand, Koda Kumi is happy. Because wherever I may go, people greet her with a smile. Compared to this my private self is pitiable, but this is the path I have chosen. I have to bear it as long as I am Koda Kumi.

But being Koda Kumi allows me to do things that I normally wouldn’t be able to do. When I remember that, I feel that this split character also has its upsides. I can easily switch between those two personalities now. During concerts I am insanely nervous when I’m backstage, but when I step onto the stage I turn into Koda Kumi in a second. My heartbeat also returns to normal (laughter). When I look at the footage afterwards, I always feel proud of myself. Beforehand I feel so nervous that I think I might die. I have no idea where those nerves disappear to when I enter the stage (laughter). But I don’t think there are a lot of people who live a life that’s so full of change like mine. That’s why I think I have a enriching life.

But once you acquire success, you want to get the same or even better results the next time, don’t you? In the past I was happy if I could sing even if I didn’t sell much. But nowadays that’s not enough. So I feel like I am about to be crushed by pressure. That doesn’t mean I am just doing it for the profit; I know that sales aren’t everything. But if a product we have confidence in doesn’t sell like I imagined it would, I wonder ‘why?’. I put effort into making that product and I want as many people as possible to listen to it, so of course there are times where I feel disappointed. But in this world you won’t get good results just because you worked hard. I understand this well, so I take it as it is and use it as motivation to create an even better product the next time.

But these are things I can only say now. In the past I only had a negative image towards such hardships. But one day a person who’s dear to me said, “Being able to feel uneasy is a good thing, isn’t it?”. This changed my way of thinking. “People who walk around as if they own the place, might lose several things without even noticing it, but people who carry insecurities can remove those insecurities beforehand by paying attention to things. Tomorrow’s live performance and products will be better because you carry insecurities and uneasiness with you. Being able to feel uneasy is a wonderful thing.” Those words made me feel so much lighter. It’s not just me, there are a lot of people who feel uneasy or troubled. At those times you should confide in your friends without shame. If you do so, you will get advice that is more beautiful than you could have ever imagined.

THE FUTURE

~coming soon

THE FUTURE

I have celebrated my 10th anniversary as Koda Kumi. But the speed at which time passed wasn’t the same each year. The fun times went by really fast, but during the bad times every single day, let alone a year, felt long. If I add it all up, I feel that I’ve had more tough times than good times. When I finally felt that I had grasped success, I had to suspend my activities as an artist for a while. If I look back on it now, I think the gods said ‘Hey you, pay attention!’ and taught me a lesson. That break was really difficult. My bad remark hurt a lot of people and caused a lot of trouble. I was filled with regret. But at that time I was able to realize who really supported me and who rooted for me from the bottom of their hearts. Those people have become my driving force now. I also had to re-evaluate myself at that time. So that experience definitely wasn’t a waste of time. I am the way I am now because I surpassed that time.

I have experienced various things these 10 years and I have changed a lot. If your surroundings change, your way of thinking changes as well. Your values change as you grow older. We can’t reach perfection, but I think it’s human to always keep changing and to keep growing. In the past I once said to my partner, “The things you don’t know after 2 years, you won’t know after 10 years either. So if you think this isn’t me then I want you to break up with me immediately.” But I was wrong (laughter). Because people change completely in 10 years. But I don’t want to take it easy just because I’ve been around for 10 years. I hate routine. I don’t want to do the same thing every year. I want to keep discovering new parts of me and I want to keep showing everyone a fresh and new Koda Kumi. Also, if I do so, I might be able to encourage my fans. I want to be someone of who people think, “Kuu-chan is doing her best, isn’t she? Well, then I also have to do my best.”

Actually, I have also made new discoveries in Brazil. The time I spent in an hotel in Ila Grande amidst the grand nature was beautiful. I noticed that I really liked that house. So I want to have a house outside of the city someday if possible. And if that’s impossible, I want to create the time to stay in a hotel outside the city for a day in order to unwind. Ever since I returned from Brazil, I feel that in this way I learned a way to rest my mind and body. If I allow myself some room, I can take in information more easily. In order to create a good product, I should be like a big container that can always take in new information.

In the future, as an artist, I want to draw even more out of Koda Kumi than I have done before. One of my wishes is the chance to send out my songs in a big venue. Also, I feel that right from the first page of this photo book a new Koda Kumi who enters her 11th year can be seen. So I’ll be happy if you enjoy this book. But this is definitely not the end. Koda Kumi still has lots of possibilities. I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of Koda Kumi will appear in the future.