I think we should all realize that, at the end of the day, there is still a bottom line involved. She's not an indie artist, for Christ's sake. Avex certainly gives her a lot of creative freedom for a pop artist, but I don't think they'd be okay with Ayu making an album full of acid rock, bluegrass, or bossa nova tracks. She's still pulling in substantial revenue for Avex.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE when Ayu takes risks and gets really gritty — but I admire the current attitude she has regarding making music. She wants to try new things but she also knows what works best for her. There's something really beautiful about trying to maintain this balance in life. I think she is wise beyond her years.
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