May 2015, Raft was formed between Thai and Japanese. Here is who they are.

Raft – intends to paddle ourselves throughout the world without external power and influences. They were able to perform the 1st live in Bangkok on our own. Although Thailand is our 1st destination, they are planning to move into other countries as well.

They have free music concept named “LIBERAL MUSIC” where the music is not limited by boarder, language and style. A music that attracts anyone, anywhere with combination of rock, pop and all other sorts of music. Their 1st live music consisted of Thai, English as well as blending Loogthuang (traditional Thai music) created a new kind of music. The local audience loved their Liberal Music, remarkably, at all the venues we performed. Anyone is attracted and enthused by Liberal Music.

Lastly, Raft members are ever changing and the concept again comes from Liberal Music. Raft started with Vocal:Nat, Base: Fujioka, Guitar: Fujita and Drums: Koura. However, Nat decided to leave Raft after the 1st performance to continue with her filming career and so they are looking for a new Vocal.
This won’t be the last change in Raft. Liberal Music continues to evolve and grow and this is just a part of the process. “We look forward to forming a new Raft”Fujioka smiles.

Everything is free. Even the members can’t imagine where Raft is gonna take them to. “That’s why is so exciting and worth performing to the limit and beyond” The way they spoke reminded me of those times when they just decided to dedicate their lives to music.

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.

As a condition of vocalist, there were thing that are not negotiable to Fujioka. It’s that it is a Thai. Also he look ahead their band will active in Thailand. Rather, A world which is not seen yet, is going to be seen when sharing a common destiny with musician who is region, culture, the word different from us. Expectation of the unknown drove him.

However, his connection is not in Thailand. Genuinely, it was starting from scratch. He collects information on the Internet, following a network contacts such as Facebook every day. He doesn’t know when outcomes will come out to him. He doesn’t have a much of choice. He was continuing to fight the anxiety and impatience, one day, a turning point came. The thing when He visited the Thai music festival, which was held in Osaka city. He wants to take a contact directly with the musicians on stage. He persuade the security and sneaked into the dressing room with no appointment.
Then handed out business cards that were prepared for this day to musicians and authorized people, so he conveyed the feelings. But the reality is severely, people who show interest were few. It lost more choices. Fujioka left pressed, He randomly asked to people entering the field of view. Then, Thai students who participated as management volunteers said “to try to hit the acquaintance!” From there was born a new network of contacts from him and a Thai woman was reached. She is Nut. “This would probably be impossible. “ When he was about to give up at the end of summer, suddenly, unexpected hope of light came.

However, it cannot be assured that until listen to the voice. In some cases,Fujioka was thinking that the ruthless decision also. But, the anxiety was proved unfounded. The demo tape with singing voice of Nut were sent from Thailand that was more than expected. Fortunately She was thinking that want to more power to the activity as a musician. Now this is what we call WIN-WIN. The Journey to fined members began in May 2014, it came to end in November 2014.

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A fateful 30th March

However, It is not everything resolved in just formed a band, Fujioka is well aware of that. He taking active part as a professional musician, He has experienced the harshness and difficulty of creating music which move hearts of people. Then communication with nut only through the skype. He needs to fly to Thailand immediately. And listen to live singing voice, also necessary to deepen their ties. At the same time, they have to booking live house. And to do that it must be made a demo tape to appeal. Of course, as potential and color of the band can be seen. New task has been piling up in a moment.

First, let’s choosing the dates to fly to Thailand. Fujioka, Koura and Fujita have an own activities in Japan. It’s impossible to go at all to fit the schedules. So they should make a demo tape of source and try to recording in Thailand. Fujioka decided to go to Thailand in alone. The date is 30th March 2015. Before flight to Thailand, they are not afford to waste even one minute one second. They will check their own schedule, if they find the time to meet even a little, they gathered in studio. Composer Fujita is. Other two members put the idea. Three sound entanglement through repeated sessions. Evolving little by little. Fujioka say “When imagining when singing voice of Nut is fused it. I was irresistibly excited and I was consumed great anxiety at the same time.” It’s his unique feelings to know the benefit and risk of the creating songs. Then life-or-death of this song will become clear all in Thailand.30th March, Fujioka stood Japan with fate of his band. Also packed demo tape, live house list he wants to book, and the contacts of person who know the music scene in Thailand into a bag.

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 Project No.1, Fujioka,Koura and Tomita realized a session with the musicians who is active in Thailand. They felt the further possibilities of themselves, and set a new goal, began to go each way. Fujioka and Koura formed 3piece band. They set to the target that jump in live House of Thailand then solidifying the foundation of overseas debut. Tomita was decided to get across to Thailand again in single, and pursue new activities style as a professional musician. Expectations and anxiety in the chest, they began getting ready to fly to Thailand again. Of course, there is no such guarantee of success. However, we can say definitely, when they have to accommodate the outcome of desire, they visit the turning point as a musician, is that.