Billboard Japan Women in Music Interview – Billboard

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J-Pop singer-songwriters Miliyah Kato and Leo Ieiri spoke with Billboard Japan for the “Women in Music” interview series featuring female players in the Japanese entertainment industry. The WIM Initiative in Japan was launched in 2022 to honor artists, producers, and executives who have made significant contributions to music and inspired other women through their work. The first 30 conversations in this series were published in Japan last year as a collection of “Billboard Japan Presents” by writer Rio Hirai, who moderates the conversations between the two popular artists.

Ieiri and Kato will appear on “Women In Music Vol.2” sponsored by Billboard Japan. The second concert on February 8th will feature the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Billboard Classics Orchestra, led by conductor Yukari Saito. Although the two singers’ styles are very different, they have one thing in common: digging deep within themselves and translating what’s there into music. During this conversation, Ieiri and Kato talked about their thoughts on songwriting and their respective careers, and were able to get to know each other better ahead of the upcoming WIM concert.

Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear on Billboard Japan’s “Women in Music Vol.2”. Two concerts and what’s in store for the show.

Miliyah Kato: The purpose of this concert, the empowerment of women, is something that I have cherished throughout my career as if it were my mission. I was so happy that I was chosen to perform, and I could immediately imagine how I felt when I stood on that stage. It’s my first time to perform with an orchestra at Tokyo Dome City Hall, and it’s also special to perform with Mr. Ieiri, so I think it will add even more breadth to the show.

Leo Ieiri: Actually, this is the first time we’ve met, but when I heard that my co-star was Miliyah, I was surprised and at the same time very happy. I went to an all-girls school, and all my classmates at the time loved your songs. I never thought I would have the opportunity to work with you, and I am very honored.

Miliyah: Is she a little younger than me? I recognized him as an artist with a fresh and wonderful voice, and I think we have something in common in that we both delve into each other’s personal parts when creating songs. I feel a sense of kinship with people who can share those dark parts of themselves.

Leo: Thank you. After all, it’s almost a given that the experience of liking someone or having feelings for someone can end up hurting you, right? I can’t stand it, and a song is born from that. As I’ve gotten older and gained more experience, I’ve come to understand that loving someone includes being hurt. I would like to convey such changes in women’s hearts and growth through songs.

I listened to the song “I Want to Meet You” when I was a student, but when I listened to it again as an adult, it felt very fresh, and I realized that the lyrics depict a different state of mind than the current lyrics. The female artists who have built their own history in this way are truly great.

Miliyah: Thank you. I made my debut in my teens and spent my 20s and 30s as a singer, and I feel that my songs reflect my way of life and how I spend my days. I don’t think I’m great because I’ve been doing it for so long, but I think it’s great that I’ve been able to do it for so long because there are people who listen to my music. Thank you. That’s why I want to express my gratitude by creating places where people can enjoy themselves, such as concerts.

Ms. Kato said that empowering women has been something of a mission throughout her career. Did she always feel that way?

Miliyah: I became a singer by singing about things I was worried about. The third single “Dear Lonely Girl” was released when I was 16 years old. At the time, I was in high school and hated adults. [Laughs] I really hated being judged, but I also felt a little lonely because I didn’t understand it myself. When I sang about how I felt about having bleached blonde hair, I found that many girls around me could relate. I felt like my presence was noticed, and I realized that this is what I should be singing, and I felt that it was my mission to encourage women through singing. I’ve been doing that ever since.

Leo: That’s amazing. I’ve never really paid much attention to women’s empowerment. I have always believed that there are infinite identities other than women and men, and that there is no difference in how people feel between men and women. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I became aware of my identity as a woman. I think it was the so-called “quarter-life crisis” period, and I was thinking about how I was going to live from now on. As more and more of my friends got married or had children, I naturally started to become more aware of it. However, I think that the melodies that are born from such changes in emotions and casual everyday life touch people’s hearts the most, so I want to continue singing songs like that.

Miliyah: Now that I’m in my 30s, I can’t believe how much my way of thinking has changed. Women in particular experience ups and downs due to changes in hormones and life stages. But if you stop and look back at your life, you’ll see that you did your best in each decade. He takes himself seriously every moment, and the results are reflected in his music.

Leo: That’s true. I’m 29 years old now, but I’m really looking forward to turning 30, and hearing those words just made that feeling even stronger. I try to incorporate parts of myself that I’m embarrassed about or that I’m not good at when I write songs, but as I grow older, I sometimes look back at the things I’ve made in the past and wonder why I thought the way I did back then. But they prove that I have opened my heart and taken music seriously. I sometimes sing songs written by other people, which is really fun, but I also want to continue writing my own lyrics.

We women accumulate personas. Whether we should get married or not, whether we should have children or not…there are many paths and roles that we must take on. What matters is how we maintain our identity within it. When I look at your Instagram, I am impressed that you are a very energetic person. Even though I exercise stoically, I also enjoy things like shaved ice as a reward for myself. You’ll find that people who keep moving forward have a dual nature, taking time to be harder on themselves or easier on themselves as needed.

Miliyah: Wow, did you check out my account? [Laughs] Yes, I think it’s definitely more interesting to take on challenges in life. Some people want to pursue beauty, others want to live simply without extravagance, and it doesn’t matter what they try.

I say that I want to empower people, but that desire may lead me to unconsciously use strong words, which may make the recipient think, “I have to accomplish something big.” yeah. But that’s not what I really want to say. I think that living is also about how much you can love yourself as you go through life. We all have our own struggles and it’s impossible to force yourself to keep working hard all the time. However, everyone has an equal ability to challenge. If you keep trying, no matter how small, I think you’ll love yourself even more than you do now.

As you say, women’s environments and sensibilities change depending on the stage of their lives. Is there anything that the two of you place importance on in order to continue your singing career in a long and healthy manner?

Miliyah: Well, I think what’s important to me is the feeling of trying to be strong, even if I can’t always be strong. As a solo artist, I am the only one bearing the brunt, but behind the scenes I am supported by the staff and fans. That’s why I want to be strong, bright, and energetic so that I can become the kind of person that everyone chases after me. Because you don’t forget that, you can stay strong even when you’re worried.

Leo: I think all humans are actually weak. Men and women are equal in spirit, but their bodies are necessarily different. As such, the tendencies resulting from these differences forced women into a vulnerable position within the household at certain points in history. When you find yourself in such a position, it’s up to you to choose whether to live your life with self-pity or thrive because you don’t want people to pity you. I think Kato is a really strong person who believed in herself and walked with a sense of mission, no matter what position she was in.

There was a time when I thought I wasn’t cut out for a career in music and wanted to quit. At that time, I was helping out at a nursery school because I loved picture books. However, by spending time in other areas, I was able to see my situation objectively. I came back after realizing that I really like singing. I don’t know if it’s for me or not, but I couldn’t pretend that I didn’t like it.

I’m surprised to hear that you felt such conflict even though you were so successful. What advice would the two of you give yourself when you were just starting your career? Especially Mr. Kato, you made your debut at the age of 16. What were you worried about at that time?

Miliyah: In the first year of my career, I was about 100 times more daring than I am now. [Laughs] With no experience or ability, I acted boldly out of ignorance. But if I could tell myself back then, I would have said, “You don’t have to worry so much.” Unlike today, social media wasn’t as popular as it is now, so in that sense it may have been easy-going, but even though I was bold, I was worried about people’s reactions and I thought I might get into trouble. There was a place. That’s why I would like to tell young people like me to do my best.

Leo: Well, I was desperate to find a way to protect my worldview. I was even scared of what people said to me out of kindness. Because I felt like they were denying me as a person. Stimulation from outside expands my world, so right now I want people to listen to my honest opinions.

However, because I spent time protecting myself in this way, I enjoy meeting people later in life. There’s no need to try to be that big of an adult, and if you’re scared, just protect yourself and you’ll be fine. I would like to say to myself at that time, “If something bad happens, figure out what you don’t like and let out your feelings.”

—This interview by Rio Hirai (SOW SWEET PUBLISHING) was first published on Billboard Japan