[LuverOfLuv]

Translation of Amazon interview:

Koda Kumi's 7th Album 'TRICK'

Koda Kumi's new album, TRICK. The fourteen songs included in this album have a “Tricky” or “Hocus-Pocus” theme to them, and just like magic, are constantly changing。Hip-Pop, Electro, Rock, R&B, Ballads, Pop..... [The album] contains wide range of colorful sounds and lyrics each with an individual story. An album in which each song is sung to show a different scenario or interpretation of the world. “A whole new Koda Kumi”!!　(<-- Totally not sure about the 'A whole new Kumi thing... It says Henka and I know that means like 'switch up' but there's no grammar so I don't understand.)

「'TRICK' was is an album made with the theme 'A search for great entertainment.' A key ideal in the creation of this album was the element of "Surprise"。With this new album, we really wanted to gather various types of music, and forge a persona in order to make a “Music Trick”; we wanted to create a "fresh surprise." With this album again we thought strongly about the creation of a tour. We thought not only about "How she would sing," but also "How she would show. [the album]." Actually it was really the first time that I had thought so much about the live performance of an album.」

This album is like a show in a dazzling, mystical world. Being able to create such variety and be so daring was because of a "Confidence" that was found, says Koda Kumi.

「Having TABOO become a hit, and collaborating with Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas……From such experiences, I have created an album where the core songs are not of a catchy 'sing-at-Karaoke' variety, but rather daring; and I had the confidence that people would want to listen to it. So I really got to take a step into a more spacious genre.

And these thoughts:

「In my last album, Kingdom, I made Pop-colored, strong, catchy songs with a soft center. And as I looked over them, I thought "This is really a Kuu-chan-esque album." Therefore, I decided I wanted to do something unexpected this time around.」

With that, this time, rather than a "cute" feeling, the album would more appropriately be called "cool." From the hard Hip-Hop opening, you blast off into "The Koda Kumi" world.

「Actually, after December 2009 it's going to be my ten year anniversary!!　Looking forward to that, I would really like to jump-start, or revamp Koda Kumi. I feel like this album will be the dawn of a new me. It's an album that I made with confidence and feel gets my point across」

It's been almost nine years since her debut. Koda Kumi, who has worked hard and established herself, will continue to evolve.

「I think from now on it's good that I evolve and reinvent myself. Therein, listen to this album, and think 'Ahh, she has this side to her,' but at the same time 'But won't she show us a new side with her next venture?' If I could get people to expect that, it would be a really big success.

Credit for English Translation: Highway-Chance @ JPM

She's working on more to translate...