BARBEE BOYS TO SOLO
Kyoko celebrated her 30th anniversary as a solo artist.
On August 1992, 8, she released her first single as a solo singer, "DISTANCIA ~Kono Mune no Yakusoku~" (composed by Koji Tamaki).In January of the same year, BARBEE BOYS, now a legend of Japanese rock music, came to an end after eight years of major activities.The solo start in just half a year made me feel that she had no hesitation at the time, but it seems that there were various conflicts behind it.
“At first, I wanted to go back to being an office worker, which I had been doing before. I was able to become a professional because I met BARBEE in the first place. (Yoshinobu) Our supreme adviser asked us to do it together.I was very hesitant, but what pushed me back then was the words, ``If you put out a CD, you can do a live.'' After all. I like live performances, and if I can do it, I want to do it--well, if I can't do it, I just feel like I should marry her (laughs)."
What Kyoko chose as a turning point in her life after 30 was neither stability nor home, but the “feeling of being alive”.
"That hasn't changed even now. I was able to keep going because of the live performances, and I wanted to keep going. When I throw music and the audience responds, there's an energy convection beyond imagination. The more I performed at BARBEE, the more I felt the charm of such a magical live performance, and I became addicted to it.
At the center of Kyoko is a live performance and a stage.Considering this, it may be said that the magical brilliance of the spotlight gave birth to Kyoko as an artist.


female rock singer
as a pioneer
Kyoko has a strong image of being the originator of female rock singers in Japan, including during her BARBEE days.However, she was not originally a rock girl, but a music fan who loves pop music in general.It is during her 30 years of exploration that she specializes in rock.
"In the first place, when I made my solo debut, I didn't know what to do because the parent body called BARBEE was gone. It started from the question of who to partner with and how to do it. The debut album ``Naked Eyes'' ('92) has a lot of rock colors. It was strong, but for the third album "Dear Me" ('3), I tried to give it a positive feeling, like <Let's go find the pieces of the stars> etc. But at first I was embarrassed by the positive lyrics. , I didn't know how to sing inside myself.At that time, I thought, "What is my origin?", and I thought, "It's a school festival!"I felt the joy of a live performance for the first time. I realized that that moment was the starting point of my music, and started a series called “Monthly is a school festival.”In that, I was able to digest <Hoshikake~>, and I came to think that it was an important song that I wanted to sing. Then I got the feeling that ``I want to do hard rock next!'', so I made ``TOKYO DEEP LONDON HIGH'' ('95) in London with Masami Tsuchiya, and in Tokyo with Takumi Mamiya. But I feel like I finally saw the musicality that I wanted to do.”
Kyoko looks like a born rock queen, but in fact, she has been repeating trial and error.But now, she can proudly say that rock is at her core.
“Nowadays, I think I really like rock. However, the meaning of the word rock is different from 30 years ago or when I was in BARBEE. Sometimes I get my heart pounding when I go to a sport, I get my heart pounding with a club sound like Alan Walker, so in my mind, anything that gets my heart rate up is rock, my heart beats rock rock It's a feeling (laughs)."
Live obediently to what your body reacts to - that is the answer to the rock that Kyoko put out today.


The eldest daughter of Office Augusta
As Fukumimi's apricot
While she is a pioneer of female rock singers, it is essential to talk about Kyoko's activities related to her office, Office Augusta.Augusta was founded to manage Kyoko's solo activities, and is celebrating her 30th anniversary this year.After Kyoko, he has produced big names such as Masayoshi Yamazaki, Chitose Moto, Sukima Switch, Motohiro Hata, and Takehara Pistol.Every year, the office holds an event called Augusta Camp where affiliated artists gather together and develops a collective unit called Fukumimi, but it is "Augusta's eldest daughter" Kyoko who supports the activities without shadow or shadow.
"I think it's absolutely possible that we've been able to continue so far because of Augusta. Also, Yama (Masayoshi Yamazaki) launched the outdoor event = Augusta Camp in 1999. Once upon a time, the members of the department always got together.It's the same with relatives, but by seeing each other once a year, the bonds become stronger.That's why I'm grateful to Yama, and I'm grateful to continue doing this. I am keenly aware of its importance."
What Kyoko shows in Augusta is a different side from solo.At Fukumi, she sings songs that are more pop music, and at O-Can, she plays a role in livening up the stage every year, such as dressing up in yukata with all female artists.
“At O-Can in 2019, I had Yama and Takuya (Ohashi) come out in yukata at <Bakumatsu wasshoi> and we danced together (laughs).The musicians who come to Augusta are all talented. That's what I'm proud of, and it's also what I admire.
Sometimes he brings together people who are all unique, and sometimes he produces how to charm them.For Kyoko, for 30 years, she had a "home" where she could feel safe, which is probably why she was able to swing solo and rock.


The future entrusted to the latest work "30minutes"
On August 8th (actually Kyoko's birthday), Kyoko released her 10th anniversary single.The title is "30 minutes". The synchronicity of 30 years and 30 minutes makes you think "Huh?" for a moment, but this song is exactly what you sang 30 years ago.
“We had a Zoom meeting to decide what kind of lyrics to use. I came up with the idea of ​​a love song, but when I thought about my 30 years, that moment 30 years ago when I decided to go solo―― It was really a decision that took about 30 minutes, and it was the first big decision I made on my own—I wanted to sing about that."
Returning to the origins of the 30th year. The song, which incorporates the powerful declarations of <I will run> and <I will fly>, seems to recall the determination at the time and charge with new energy to move on to the next.
Then, beyond the 30th anniversary, where will Kyoko go from now on?
“From now on, there will be live performances at a monthly pace. There will be O-Can in September, and I’m currently in a band called KT_merph with Yuko Araki (Dr) and Shinichiro Fukuda (G). This is a band that follows in the footsteps of the songs from last year's album ``VIOLET''.
The collaboration with Koichi Tabo, which started with "VIOLET", is inherited in the latest work "30minutes".Kyoko, who has acquired a new interpretation of rock sounds such as typing and electro, intends to go as far as she can go.
“Last time ago, when I appeared on “NAON no YAON 2022” (April 4th @ Hibiya Noon. SHOW-YA, Maki Ohguro, Ayumi Nakamura, Nanase Aikawa, CHAI, Gacharic Spin, etc. appeared), I thought about it, but I realized I'm the oldest and I'm like a rock girl (laughs).But I want to be someone who can cut through the wind and sing.I want to always be careful of my condition and keep singing cool. "
To the beat of the heart, to the beat of the hands of the audience. Even after 30 years, Kyoko's curly hair is swaying gracefully in the wind.

Writer: Koji Shimizu