2022-03-24

AKARA、第二弾シングル作「Chronicle/DEAD OR ALIVE」を、MIKIKOの生誕祭で発売。

 1月に行った箏奏者Tommyの生誕公演より,AKARAは2年間封印し続けてきた音源の中から、「BERSERKER/GUILTY」を第一弾作品として会場/通販盤としてシングル発売した。このたび、ヴォーカルMIKIKOの生誕祭も兼ね、第二弾作となる「Chronicle/DEAD OR ALIVE」をリリース。その記念公演として、AKARAは3月21日に下北沢ReGを舞台にAKARA MIKIKO生誕祭「My faith...~AKARAZAWA in TOKYO~」を開催。ディアブルボア/妄想レプリカント/ニルフィニティ/FullMooN/HADESがイベントを盛り上げるために参加。愛沢絢夏は、共同イベント「AKARAZAWA」の主催者の一人として出演。チケットはSold Outを記録。ここに、AKARAのライブの模様をお伝えしたい。


 闇に包まれた場内に流れだした、和心を抱いたオリエンタルで民族的な「Overture」の音色。寄り添いだした音たちは、次第に和心抱いたスケールあふれる楽曲へと進化。大きく膨らみだした音楽が明瞭な一つの形を成そうとした瞬間、この空間は、ほんのひとときの静寂に包まれた。
 一瞬のブレイクを挟み、AKARAのライブは高らかに「孤高」から幕を開けた。MIKIKOの華やかな歌声や気持ちを騒がせる演奏に刺激を受け、フロア中から数多くの拳が突き上がれば、大きく身体を折り曲げる人たちが次々と現れた。「孤高」は、たおやかさと激しい衝動を重ねあわせた楽曲だ。伸びのある美しいMIKIKOの歌声が、会場にいる人たち一人一人の心を優しく包み込む。その歌声は、強い意志を持って観客たちの心を包み、その中へどんどん熱を注入してゆく。その熱に刺激を受け、さらに気持ちも高ぶりだす。エモーショナルなMIKIKOの歌声と、爆発したい意識を持って音を突きつける楽器陣とが激しく絡み合い、この空間にいる人たちを現世から解き放ち、熱狂の宴広がる浮世へと連れ出していく。

 騒ぎたい気持ちをさらに煽るように、AKARAが奏でたのが「迅雷風烈」だ。TAKAの篠笛の音色も印象的。祭り囃子を思い起こす演奏に魂奮い立った観客たちが、熱い手拍子を打ち鳴らす。この曲でも、MIKIKOは美しくも高揚した歌声で,観客たちの心を踊らせていた。それ以上に、楽器陣の囃し立てる演奏が身体を大きく揺らしていく。「迅雷風烈」は、触れた人たちの感情を天へと舞いあがらせる。演奏が進むごと、気持ちが熱を持って天空へと吸い込まれていくようだ。いや、空へ向かってどんどん羽ばたいてゆくと言ったほうが正解か。メロディアスな歌や高揚した声に酔いながら、艶やかで雅な演奏に気持ちが華やぎ、どんどん心と身体が開放される。メンバーらは、一緒に高みへいこうと誘いかける。熱い誘いを受け、フロア中から次々と拳が突き上がる。MIKIKOの煽りへ導かれるように、いつしかフロア中から数多くの拳が突き上がっていた。


「今日は、世界中から集まってくれています」の言葉通り、国内各地はもちろん、中にはL.A.から足を運んだ人たちも。その事実に触れ、改めてAKARAの支持が世界中に広がっていることを感じた。英語・中国語・韓国語も話せるマルチリンガルなMIKIKOは、この日のMCでは、日本語と英語を駆使して言葉を届けていた。
さらにここでは、2020年2月にメビャーデビューを発表したにも関わらず、2年間音源を出せなかった理由について語っていた。要約するなら、メジャーよりアルバムを出し、その作品を手に国内どころか、海外にまでツアーで足を運ぶスケジュールが決まっていた。が、デビュー発表直後に世界中を襲ったコロナ禍により、バンドを取り巻く活動がすべて停止に。国内も、海外も、この先のライブの予定を立てられないことから中止になれば、アルバムのリリースに合わせて行うはずだったインストアなどの日程も全部中止に。すべての予定が一度白紙になれば、一時期はライブ活動を行うことさえ困難な中、それでもAKARAは歩みを止めることなく進み続けてきた。その中で、イベント「AKARAZAWA」を共に仕掛けている愛沢絢夏を筆頭に、コロナ禍の中でも負けずに進み続ける仲間たちと出会い、当初と形を変えながらも、2年の歳月を経て、ライブや音源を届ける環境を改めて作りあげたことを伝えてきた。苦難を乗り越えた中、ようやく形に、みんなの前で披露できる喜びを伝えるように、ここからは、この日より会場販売/通販がスタートした第二弾シングル作に収録した2曲を演奏。

先に披露したのが、「Chronicle」。戦慄にも似た、何かが起きそうな予感を覚える荘厳でシンフォニックな音色が流れだす。「Chronicle=年代記」という言葉に相応しい、壮大なドラマを描きだすスリリングな楽曲だ。永遠の命を手にしたヴァンパイアの命途絶えないからこそ嘆く感情など、悲劇とも言える物語を、MIKIKOは語り部となって歌い唱えてゆく。ゴシックでシンフォニックな音の上で、TAKAの篠笛が泣き叫ぶように狂気した音色を響かせる。Tommyの奏でる箏の音は、ときに乱れ狂う感情へ攻撃的に寄り添えば、ときに嘆く心を凛とした音で包み込んでいった。物語の展開に合わせ、楽曲も、MIKIKOの歌声も様々な表情を見せてゆく。この「Chronicle」、壮大な序章から幕開けたとたん、一気に物語を走らせ、長大なクライマックスシーンへと繋がるような、激情したドラマを描きだす楽曲だ。AKARAのメンバーたちは、哀しいヴァンパイアの恋物語を歌い奏でながらも、その中へ、ここへ至るまでの様々な苦難と逆境を乗り越えた不屈の闘志を重ね合わせていた。MIKIKOも、Tommyも、TAKAも、現状を壊し、ここから新たな物語を描き出そうという強い意思を、この曲に思いきりぶつけていた。

「死ぬか生きるか」、スリリングな日々の中でこの2年間突き進んできたからこそAKARAは、突き刺すようにソリッドな演奏も印象的な「DEAD OR ALIVE」を奏で、満員の観客たちに覚悟を背負って生きる意味や意思を、雄々しい歌声と熱を含んだ重厚な演奏を通して伝えてきた。高ぶる気持ちを抑えられない。フロア中から、高陽した気持ちを抑えきれずに無数の拳が突き上がる。TAKAの絶叫にも似た叫び声が魂を奮わせる。その声の上で、朗々と歌いあげるMIKIKO。「DEAD OR ALIVE」、感情を熱く奮わせる楽曲だ。洋楽器陣の繰り出す攻撃的な音と、Tommyの美しくもたおやかな箏の音色が絡みながら大きく膨らんでゆく演奏の様に、スペクタクルな映画のクライマックスに描かれたバトルシーンを見ているような感覚を覚えていた。

 ようやく、日の目を見ることの出来た「Chronicle」と「DEAD OR ALIVE」。MIKIKOは、届けたかった歌を目の前で聴いてもらえたことの喜びを伝えていた。
  
 最後にAKARAがぶつけたのが、ライブで観客たちと一緒に「GET DOWN GO AWAY AWAY」と叫び上げる「BERSERKER」だ。1月に披露して以降、AKARAのライブで熱狂一体感を描く楽曲として急成長。ライブで演奏するたびに、フロア中の人たちが頭上高く掲げた両手を大きく左右に振り、心の中で「GET DOWN GO AWAY AWAY」と歌いながら大騒ぎする光景が、どこの地でも生まれている。もちろん、この日もだ。MIKIKOの「飛べ!!」の言葉を合図に、TAKAの動きに合わせ、フロア中の人たちが大きく手を振り上げ、その場で大きく跳ねていた。サビ歌の「GET DOWN GO AWAY AWAY」のパートでは、MIKIKOの高ぶる歌声や踊り手となったTAKAの導きに合わせ、フロア中の人たちが両手を大きく左右に振り心の中でシンガロングし、その場で跳ねながら、この場を熱情した空間に染め上げていった。誰もが無垢な踊り子となり祭り上がる、まさに最高の祭りロックだ。AKARAは、この曲を持って世界中の人たちと繋がろうとしている。その日は、けっして遠くはない。その様を、この小さな空間の中へ大きな熱狂という景色にして見せつけてくれた。

 MIKIKOは、「音楽は人に夢や元気を与えるもの」と語っていた。その言葉通りの音楽やライブを示すからこそ、AKARAのライブに、ふたたび人が集まりだしている。


PHOTO:三浦真琴(maco)
TEXT:長澤智典

◇出演メンバー
MIKIKO,TAKA,Tommy
support:渡辺“kagome”佑輔(Ba.),須藤優輝(Gt.),山口タイト(Dr.)


セットリスト
「Overture」
「孤高」
「迅雷風烈」
「Chronicle」
「DEAD OR ALIVE」
「BERSERKER」



ライブスケジュール
・4/1 (金) 新宿 ClubSCIENCE
・4/16 (土) 渋谷 GUILTY
・4/23 (土) 郡山 PEAK ACTION
・4/24 (日) 仙台 space Zero
・5/4 (水祝) 名古屋
・5/5 (木祝) 名古屋
・6/11 (土) 巣鴨
・6/16 (木) 渋谷


SNS
https://akara.tokyo
https://twitter.com/akaraofficial
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJqhwrIBg_sTsqYQrXAk3Q
https://www.instagram.com/akara_official/
https://www.facebook.com/akararock

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