──It seems that the seven-year gap since the previous film was unexpected for Shimoda himself.
After the previous project ended, I was planning to start working on a new one right away, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everything came to a halt. After that, I suffered a serious illness and underwent surgery. I resumed production in 2023, once I was feeling better both physically and mentally.
Maybe it was because I wanted to move forward but was forced to stop at one point, but I just kept writing songs, and before I knew it, I had over a dozen songs completed. Up until then, it was hard enough to write 10 songs for an album (laughs). I was surprised, even by myself.
──When did you come up with the title "HOPE," which is also the concept of the album?
Shimoda
Wars such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's attack on Gaza have had a major impact. When we see a hopeless situation, I think we all sometimes feel like covering our eyes or giving up.
Even in Japan, there is a strong feeling that it is useless for individuals to resist an unjust society or authority. However, I thought it would be really dangerous if I pretended to be indifferent and gave up. In that sense, I thought that what I can do is not to give up hope, and that's why I chose this as the title.
──Eleven of the 14 songs feature guest musicians. Are these people who agreed with the purpose of "HOPE"?
Shimoda
That's right. Some people want peace, while others are angry about the current situation. I first contacted many of the guests myself via direct messages on social media to have them participate. Apart from Rankin Anne, Ursula Rucker, and Kazufumi Kodama, who I've performed with before, I've never met any of them before.
──The opening songs on the album, "Chariot I Plead feat. Tim Smith" and "Hope feat. Denise Sherwood," are featured in the game "DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH." How did you meet director Hideo Kojima?
Shimoda
The office I own has a catering department, and about seven years ago we received a request from Director Kojima's company to host a party.
At the time, they happened to be short on manpower, so I went over to help out. I gave them the CD of my previous work, "dawn." I think the director was taken aback by the suddenness of it all (laughs). He liked "Asylums for the feeling feat. Lelia Adu" and contacted me to say he wanted to use it as an insert song for "DEATH STRANDING."
I was also asked to write the ending song. That was "Almost Nothing feat. Okay Kaya." During the production of the sequel in 2023, I was asked to write another song, and since I was also preparing to produce "HOPE," I listened to the demo songs and chose two songs.
I'm not an expert on games, but I feel that the works that Director Kojima works on tend to have a somewhat peaceful theme, even though they have battle scenes. Even if it was a popular work, I think I would have turned it down if it had been violent. I'm grateful for this lucky encounter.
Artists who teamed up for "HOPE"
Dennis Sherwood
The gentle voice behind the title track "Hope" is a UK singer and artist. "She's the daughter of Adrian Sherwood, an engineer at ON-U. I'd like her father to do a dub mix for this song," says Shimoda.
Lady Blackbird
An American jazz singer who will be participating in "Something Kind." "I'm just a fan (laughs). I saw her in the front row when she came to Japan in 2023. Her management suggested we perform together, and that's how it came to be." (Shimoda)
Rankin Anne
He reunited with the UK reggae legend on "Money for War." "In 1994, I recorded 'Shalom' with her at ARIWA Studios, with Mad Professor as the engineer. It's a shame we weren't able to meet this time," said Shimoda.
Kazufumi Kodama
Shimoda, of course, but the trumpeter, who is respected both in Japan and overseas, also participated in "Struggle." "He is the only guest on this album who I recorded with in the studio. He is currently battling illness, but I sincerely pray for his speedy recovery," said Shimoda.
