Max Matsuura held a songwriting camp in March to make Ayu songs (March 2020)

[truehappiness]

I wasn't sure about this but apparently it was pretty much out there but not talked about much!

そしていよいよ今週半ばからはいつか浜崎の曲作りで皆とハワイへ合宿に行ったように制作に専念するため海外 へ行ってきます。本格的に社長業から卒業し昔のようにクリエイターに戻リます。やっと念願が叶う時が来まし た。年齢なんて関係なくていかに心が若くいられるかが重要、そう思っています。

それにしても今は世界中どこにいても仕事ができるようになったので、ハワイへ移ったあの頃とは比べ物になら ないほど便利になりました。昔は日本でのヒット曲を作ること、しいては浜崎あゆみを売ることが目標でしたが 今回は世界、特にアジアでのヒットを目指します！
-tweets from March 2nd

Pictures from the camp on March 11th

Spoiler:

https://twitter.com/maxmatsuuratwit/...83054041022464
https://twitter.com/maxmatsuuratwit/...84390358847488
https://twitter.com/maxmatsuuratwit/...29591739580416

Basically, in mid-March he sort of held a songwriting camp in Hawaii to write songs for Ayu as part of his return to being a creator/producer. Ohia no Ki must have been part of these sessions as well since Kazuhito Kikuchi is seen in the photos! He also mentioned that because it's so easy to work now from anywhere basically, instead of just trying to make songs (for Ayu) that are just big in Japan, he's aiming for worldwide appeal and specifically a hit in Asia. Yuta Nakano I believe is also pictured in the glasses sitting down and Yasuhiko Hoshino (main composer for ASFXX, MOON, etc.) seems to be standing behind them in glasses too!

I suspect more songs were made here and of varying genres... you can see Dave Rodgers in the picture as well, he's one of the famous SUPER EUROBEAT producers from back then. I wonder if Ayu is going to have a Eurobeat track soon? Dave's son Kaioh (Federico Pasquini) is also present here with a family friend perhaps? (Johnnie Purvis)

https://twitter.com/maxmatsuuratwit/...84955068968963

Max also has video here of a bunch of demos from songwriting sessions. I wonder if it's basically all for Ayu here.

Johnnie Purvis also posted about the 'camp' on Instagram with a photo of his dog on March 9th.

hanging out at the bosses house, creating music with an epic team of influencers-

#speedwelust #brand #journey #live #life #liveauthentic #lifestyle #hawaii #pitbull #mansbestfriend #epic #goodboy #avex #music #creativity

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9h34R0H5J2/

From some of the other links, I was able to identify other people that attended this!

https://www.instagram.com/daisuke_tonton/ - Daisuke Suzuki, he also has an IG highlight reel of about 100 pictures or so from the camp, also was lead composer for day after tomorrow and GIRL NEXT DOOR

https://www.instagram.com/azi_pry/ - Eiji [?]

https://www.instagram.com/naoto.takahashi.7878/ - Naoto Takahashi

https://www.instagram.com/kamitoku_ramen/ - Ayu's former manager, Junichi "nonchan" Kamitoku, after around A COMPLETE he moved to Hawaii and opened a very famous ramen restaurant "Kamitoku Ramen"

In the IG highlight reel you see all of the composers just making music and going around Hawaii to Guitar Center and other places, lol.

Originally Posted by truehappiness

MEGA in case it's taken down.

"ANOTHER SKY II" covered Max while they held this camp and you can hear some of the stuff that they had been making at the time too! Seems it was about an 18 day long music-making event.

Shintaro Yamaguchi / 山口 慎太郎 was also in attendance. https://www.instagram.com/shintaro0830/