Second day.New Raft practiced their songs for many hours.It was the first met with the new singer Vahn.
They were so moved by her voice that they were lost for words.
“We will get eaten up by her voice.”Fujita said.Her voice made them feel like they would be a dried kelp used for a soup stock.
The voice came out from the little lady was amazing that much.Fujita was giving them a pep talk and also cheering them up.
The first practice was end in an unusual atmosphere.

In that night ,they were looking back on their devastated emotions.
Koura says “She may bring out the best in us.It thought us what I really need in my
mental aspect and playing.Others had a same feelings.
They looked happier rather than upset.
Actually they might have been waiting for it to improve themselves.

Second day.Vahn surprised them again.
She had already rememberd all the constitution of their songs.
And she knew how to show herself.
With her,their songs sounded completely different even though those are the same songs they have played many times.
Every members thought “We feel a 100 percent opposite now”.

The show on 3th and 4th,they had to do a complete 180.
If they could have done it,they would brush themselves up.
“We could find another reason to made RAFT”Fujioka says.
They were at the crossroard in their musicians life.
On the day they had stayed and checked the expression and constitution of the songs just before the show was started.
With so much pressure and happiness.

After the show, everyone could know what a great time audiences and “Kumejima no Kaze”themselves had.
First,”Hiroshi Kamesaki”as a percussionist says “It was the great show this year as well”
Actually his action carried the show out.
First time Kamesaki met Higa,he was interested in the introverted character and beautiful voice of Higa.
And he connected Osaka and Kumejima by their bond.
At the rehearsal he always listened all the member’s opinions and led the band more accretive.
Of course He is the one loves “Kumejima no kaze” and also loved by locals….

Another percussionist “Ryota Yamaguchi”.
The first word he said after the show was”it was dope”.
Because of the dancing audiences he felt more excited.
He said ” I’m so happy and I feel really blessed to be a musician now”.
Speaking of his episode,when he first came to Kumejima as a part time worker,
he decided to live as a percussionist.
And he was easy to get along well with Higa and other members.
He has joined from the first show of “Kumejima no Kaze” and is already thinking of next show coming up next year.

And there’s a one we can’t forget.
One of the happiest audience Mr Morishima from the reggae bar “spiral “.
And he gave a opportunity to Yamaguchi to become a percussionist.
And also Nakanishi and Kamesaki,Higa and members of “Shima gururu”,he connected all the people subconciously.
He gave us some words when we had a secret interview.
“Echan,Naoki,Kamechan,Ryota,members of “Shima gururu”……
It’s like a miracle they encountered .
I really love their music.
I really want more people have opportunities to listen to their musics,and want to cheer Kumejima people up.
They must say “We don’t think in that way,we just enjoy the music.”
But I’m sure your music have a power to make Kumejima’s future great.
What kind of “spiral” does the show in westernmost discribe?
It has just started.

Speaking of the first “Raft” track.
First of all, they started the band practice for a debut live and the first singles recording with Nat as a singer.

The recording was performed on May 5th.
Members met up at the studio in Nara.
They started recording of the guitar and the bass and drums ‪at 10:00am.
Each members were pretty busy for ther own music activities.
Fujioka, Fujita and Koura practiced hard and worked well.
They’ve finished recording of two songs for their maxi single.

Koura says ” We could find more possibilities of the new sounds we’ve never played”
His words just realized us how deep and exciting those times were.

Then recording of Nat singing voice.
To sing many hours in the small room is harder than you can imagine.
But she never stopped singing even she was exhausted.
The engineer and Raft members also kept encouraging her in many words.
When the engineer said the word “OK well done!” it was so dark outside.
And Fujioka just said “it’s insane!!” for her perfect work.

Next day, they started the practice for their show.
No one could know how it goes at the beggining.
As time goes by, they grasped each characteristics and discussed and made the sound perfect.
Particularly, Fujita’s way to lead was pretty impressive.
He gave sound advices to each part and brought out the best in members.
His advices worked well.
Each one met his expectations and aimed higher and higher.
The practice lasted more than 5 hours with many kinds of languages such as Thai, Japanese and English.
After leaving the studio, they looked nervous but more confident.
Their faces told us “We just did our best. We are ready now.”

18 days later, May 24th, at PLAY YARD in Bangkok, Raft members couldn’t hide their excitement when they appeared on the stage.
It’s time for the new voyage.

30th March 2015, Fujioka who arrived in Thailand of Don Mueang airport, was quick pace toward the studio. The purpose is first meeting with nut. And, it’s recording of the song to be used in the promotion. How does he think the first time he hear her voice? How about sense of rhythm? It’s not just technology. How about confronting attitude to music? Does she join fortunes with us as a musician? While killing push a number of anxiety that crosses his mind, he arrived at the studio.

Had appeared in front of Fujioka you open the door, the pink hair and elephant tattoo impressive one woman in the back. It’s Nut herself. But, there is no time to soak in the encounter of joy. Immediately he got to the main point. She is singing a song with all her strength and all her heat. It is picked up the melody from sound source of demo by setting her nerves on edge. Good voice quality. Inserting of fake also good. “We may be on to something.” Fujioka to issue a number of instructions in order to bring out the latent potential. She even while depending on it, she gets the idea. Thai, English, and Japanese… Flurry of the three languages, the song began to evolve in minute increments. Of course, but all the songs making is not easy enough to complete in the first meeting, “put a firm voice to the melody, to clarify the image of the song” he has set in advance the goal was lightly clear.

Before traveling Fujioka felt that ” Whether live or the song dies, it is up to vocal ” When they left the studio after finishing the recording of up to 3 hours, the conclusion that came out in his will be interesting game if we pick nut up. Let’s live as soon as possible. Mixed band, it was the moment of newborn. The name “Raft (raft)”. 24th and 26th May 2015, Raft will come into maiden voyage in Bangkok.

April 2014. After returning from Thailand, musicians had been telling that “I felt the potential and possibility in myself”. At the same time, Team were feeling that it is only waste of time and money also ignoring the possibility of them. Let’s have a next project as soon as possible. To discuss serval subjects, and we reached a conclusion that they forming a new band and competing on stage in Thailand.” Base, drums, vocals, guitar.” This is forming in group.
Base is Fujioka, drums is Oura. Then it was turns out the seeker of guitarist and vocalist were Fujioka. For guitarist, he discover the need for somebody like a classmate at professional school. Yoshio Fujita who active as professional guitarist in Tokyo.

The reason for choosing Fujita were several. Previously, Fujioka and Fujita have been forming their band, and playing together, Also they have been doing before which supporting Japanese singer. So they are old ally. The two of them are very conscious of high as professional. The key was he has outstanding technician to guitar. Once you hear it, everyone known “This is his music”. His melody and rhythm is not only unique, it is flexibility to absorb any music.
Fujioka told to him about details of project with his passion face to face after all these year. Fujita just said “Yes!” Because he was interested in musical composer too. He thought this project be good chance to do it .He also decided to join over the life as a musician.
However, only vocalist remained for their new band. But, in contrast with Fujioka’s enthusiasm, It’s had been waiting a lot of difficulties to him.

In 19th Jul 2014, at the cafe “chef d’oeuvre” in Osaka city. For a glimpse of three musicians Yoshiyuki Fujioka, Tetsuro Koura, Junpei Tomita were scaled up through Thailand travel. People who know them from the usual, for the first time and knew people in the web magazine got together. The audience was curious about every word of their Thailand’s experiences report that according to the moderator interview. Then, we shifted to the main event. It had entered the mini live by organized bands in this day limit.

The first came out, Fujioka × Koura × Fujita Yoshio trio. Fujita is a classmate of Fujioka, is a professional musician working in Tokyo. He was playing the “Bat Eat Bananas.” It is traditional songs of Thailand, song selection Fujioka. He had said, “We can be confident that there is no border in music”. “And now, I want to challenge how much people and to be connected to Thailand by myself” in an interview. The sound that such feelings were created, it was thanks and hope to the future, had been condensed to the country of smile showed us a new world.

And, next is Tomita ×Koura × Shinji Hikari trio. Hikari is vocal and guitarist of “Romanchips”. Tomita and Hikari are old acquaintance. They were showing off “Sukiyaki” song. Tomita chose Kyu Sakamoto’s masterpieces. Actually, he was struggling hard to break his shell. But now, he is trying anything come after returning his home. He challenge to solo vocal that do not do a live of “chaqq” (his band). It is also housed in movie. “All personality will appear in their music”. To those put out in myself some more, still should enjoy the music”, he seemed to embody the words.

Mini live showed off the song which was far away from himself. Koura said “I was too nervous about today’s live. Even compare with usual live.” But, he showed his smile when playing in fact. It seemed to have a fun irresistibly its tension, feels truly the joy of living with music.

Exit reception in terms of Fujioka “Please expected musician who are here from now.” On the day of the sound source was contained in the following link (*sound source only).
As many people can know after their evolution, never so happy.

Today, exhibition was launched at Chefd’oeuvre in Osaka.
Tetsuro Koura, Junpei Tomita,Yoshiyuki Fijioka, Three musicians experienced in Oversea,
We release the record of their challenging by the movie.

* * * * *
【Photo Exhibition】
OPEN : From 18th July to 24th July
CLOSE : Sunday and public holidays

Chefd’oeuvre
12-9-1 Awaza,Nishi-Ku,Osaka-Shi,Osaka 5500011

※ Opening Reception / Start 19th July 2014 16:00～

* * * * *

Opening reception / Start 19th July 2014 (Sat) 16:00～

【Photo Exhibition】
OPEN : From 18th July to 24th July
CLOSE : Sunday and public holidays

Chefd’oeuvre
12-9-1 Awaza,Nishi-Ku,Osaka-Shi,Osaka 5500011

“Connect the world by our music”. In order to discover new possibilities as a musician, three men who flew to Thailand with instruments. It we hold the exhibition to introduce their trajectories in photography and movie.
What are the determinations on back ground of this travel? What’s the happening values 180-degree turned in the opposite direction in Thailand.

On the day, of course, the leading role of the musicians also appeared. Not only hear the real intention that is not revealed in the web magazine, also will hold special mini live to showcase the song was newly written for this day. With witness their prime performances firsthand. Please feel in the skin a number of miracles that occurred in over sea.

Management staff