Of the many things modern Japanese pop is famous for, its lyrics aren’t generally one, and when they are, it’s seldom for what could be called the “right” reasons. Catchy hooks like those in BABYMETAL’s Gimme chocolate!!! and HKT48’s Melon Juice may be addictively fun at first, but for many, that enjoyment can turn to irritation within weeks.
Enter Haruka, a singer-songwriter once signed to PONY CANYON who took an extended sabbatical from the music business before reviving her career in 2013. In contrast to most of her fellow pop-rockers, there’s always something of Haruka in just about every song she writes. Whereas her 2014 album Anthems dealt mostly with autobiographical themes, for her third single, the woman has turned her hand to a subject relevant to an ever larger percentage of the world’s population.
From the off, the spirit of ‘90s pop-rockers SIAM SHADE can be keenly felt in Haruka’s guitar work, and the uncomplicated but chirpy riffs never threaten to distract from the vocals. In the past, Haruka has spoken of the upsides to smartphones, but here, she focuses on the negative impact the devices can have on users’ mental wellbeing, as well as the strain they can place on real-world relationships. Decrying how the constant drive to compare oneself to others on social media is making us depressive, Haruka urges listeners to stop putting so much value on comments and Likes and re-engage with the world around them.
The Song of Smartphones is no great work of poetry, and musically, it doesn’t compete with most of the songs from Anthems. That said, there’s still a strange sort of poignancy to the song. After all, how many of us can say we’ve never felt annoyed by someone being constantly distracted by their smartphone? Frankly, this could be one of the most relatable Japanese pop songs of recent times.
Interview
What inspired you to write a song about smartphones?
Haruka: Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone and it’s becoming a huge part of our lives, but not many artists write a song about that phenomenon. So I decided to write one by myself. The message I wanted to convey through this song is to live in reality. For example, at cafés, I often see people tapping on their smartphones without talking to their friends sitting in front of them.
I think it’s a little sad that we often don’t enjoy what’s in front of us now and just keep looking at the screen. However, I didn’t want to make the song sound too serious. The melody is quite pop and uplifting. I think it’s a fun song to listen to.
What’s your creative process like when you compose music for your songs? Do you start with music or lyrics?
Haruka: In most of the cases, I start with music and then decide what to write about for the lyrics. For example, in my new song, I decided to write about smartphones. I write lyrics to the melody and then I make a rough demo to send out to people I would like to work with. That’s how I put songs together and that has been my style for many years.
Your popularity looks to be on the rise across East Asia. Do you hope to tour Asia in the future?
Haruka: Yes, I would really like to! So far in East Asia, I have only done shows in Japan. It has been my dream to tour all over East Asia.
What’s next for Haruka?
Haruka: I will be playing a show in Surubaya, Indonesia this November. It will be my first show in the region!
Do you have a message for JaME’s readers?
Haruka: I hope you will like my new song, The Song of Smartphones. On YouTube, there is a video with English subtitles, so please check it out. I hope there’s something you can relate to. I really hope to see you in your country sometime!
The music video for The Song of Smartphones, complete with English and Japanese subtitles, can be viewed below:
