On September 10th, entertainment news site Natalie released an email interview with Saito Soma (Feather) and Hatano Wataru (Randall) to promote their upcoming character song Soleil, which goes on sale October 28th.
Saito Soma
Natalie: Who do you think Feather is? And please tell us your perspective on what the best part about him is.
Saito: In the beginning, he was a firm believer in letting fists do the talking. Since then, he’s been through a lot and the scale has gotten a lot bigger, but he hasn’t changed at heart. His passion and intensity are his main appeal.
Natalie: What do you focus on while playing Feather?
Saito: Every recording I do for Feather has me shouting from start to finish, so by the end I’m always a sweaty mess (laughs). But if I let up even a little bit, I can’t reach his levels of intensity. So I go into every session with the mindset that I’m stepping into the ring.
Natalie: From your perspective, how does Feather think about Randall? How does he feel about him, and what do you think about their relationship?
Saito: They constantly bring each other to greater heights. Randall often has his differences with Feather, but in the end he’s always right there with him, so Feather trusts him wholeheartedly.
Natalie: Do you have any stories about Hatano-san’s portrayal of Randall?
Saito: One time, before a recording session, my manager told me “Hatano-san read the script and worried about your voice, this one might tear up your throat” (laughs). Hatano-san had already recorded before me, and he left me a great performance to work with, so I was really able to get hyped for it.
Natalie: On October 28th, the Feather and Randall duet Soleil comes out. How did you react when they first started planning the song?
Saito: I never expected that I would ever sing as Feather, and it really surprised me when they contacted me with the idea. Once I listened to the finished track, I realized that the song was perfect for the pair. It’s passionate and honest, just like them. I remember thinking that it gave me a very clear mental image.
Natalie: Were there any parts you focused on while recording the song?
Saito: I focused more on expressing the fire in the song than on technical singing quality. I tried many approaches to the rap portion, and in the end the most passionate and powerful take was the one we used.
Natalie: Both of you recorded the song separately, but what did you think when you heard the harmony between your voices?
Saito: The song expresses their energy and their intensity very well. If you listen to the song in the morning, I think it’ll give you the positivity to get through the day. I hope everyone enjoys it in all sorts of ways!
Hatano Wataru
Natalie: Who do you think Randall is? And please tell us your perspective on what the best part about him is.
Hatano: He has a singleminded devotion to being strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with his rival Feather. There’s both an earnestness and a crudeness to this. He seems like he’s more cool and collected than Feather is, but deep down he’s just as passionate and fierce.
Natalie: What do you focus on while playing Randall?
Hatano: While he’s always yelling at Feather for being an fool, deep down he understands and has accepted all of Feather’s strengths and weaknesses. He’s never just shouting him down, and I bring that warmth into the yelling.
Natalie: From your perspective, how does Randall think about Feather? How does he feel about him, and what do you think about their relationship?
Hatano: He’s a worthy rival, the kind of person he can work with to keep improving and growing. Fighting comes naturally to Feather, while Randall has to work constantly to keep up with his talent. He’s used his inferiority complex to fuel his efforts, and the two rivals can see that each of them possesses characteristics that they themselves lack.
Natalie: Do you have any stories of Saito-san’s portrayal of Feather?
Hatano: For my very first recording session as Randall, the director said “The first thing you should do is listen to how Feather speaks.” I wondered why he would tell me that, and then I jumped when this wall of intense screaming came at me. “Your character is going to be his rival.” I remember being really nervous for the rest of that session.
Natalie: On October 28th, the Feather and Randall duet Soleil comes out. How did you react when they first started planning the song?
Hatano: I think this is the perfect song for Feather and Randall. It’s the kind of song that rivals would sing in the middle of a fight, as part of how they communicate. It’s a passionate exchange, a conversation turned into song.
Natalie: Were there any parts you focused on while recording the song?
Hatano: I wanted to make sure I brought the heat in my solo. It was more important to treat the song as an extension of my acting as Randall than to hit every note on the score cleanly. My hope is that you can hear how the two of them have their own unique fighting style and singing style, but you can also hear how good they sound together when they harmonize.
Natalie: Both of you recorded the song separately, but what did you think when you heard the harmony between your voices?
Hatano: I recorded first, and when I heard the final track I was surprised by how awesome it sounded. It really shows off their energy and their intensity, and I want everyone to hear it soon. It would be a great track to play when you’re feeling the rush from driving.