“Our first album was a cover album, so I put a lot more thought into my singing style when we recorded our new songs. Like when I harmonize with Okamari (Okada Marina), I thought it was better to try not to assert my own individuality too much. Harmonizing with Okamari really is a difficult task. My voice is quite high-pitched and Okamari’s is rather low. The way we sing is different, too. When we first formed LoVendoЯ I told her to fall in sync with me, but then I started to think that’s not how it should be. In my Morning Musume days, it was so easy to harmonize with Takahashi Ai because our singing styles were the same, but Okamari’s is completely different. When two people with different vocal qualities are balanced well enough, though, it adds great depth to the vocal,” Says Tanaka Reina, comparing her current situation with her days in Morning Musume.

“Trying to find the best way to harmonize with Tanaka-san has been a challenge from the beginning. We’ve now reached a stage where our discussions about the songs go rather smoothly, though. In recordings, I sing after Tanaka-san, but there’s so much to learn, it’s all study, study. We begin our new concert in April, so how I harmonize with Tanaka-san is something you can look forward to.” (Okada Marina)

On the new album there’s also a song by guitarist, Uozumi Yuki.
“Putting out a CD that has one of my own songs on it was a goal of mine. It has taken a year to achieve but it has really given me a sense of accomplishment. It’s a band I literally just met with me introducing myself, “hajimemashite” (nice to meet you). In the beginning there was a bit of distance between the members, but as we got a few more live performances under our belt, we started to make eye contact a lot more on stage and we grew closer from there. The thrill of live performances is that they’re all different and it’s even more enjoyable if we can enjoy them together.” (Uozumi Yuki)

Their tour kicks off in Tokyo on April 15th and they will hold 17 performances between then and their final show in Yokohama on July 19th.

“So much has happened in our first year, it’s hard to believe only one year has passed. We’ve definitely stepped it up a notch since our last tour, so be sure to come and see us.” (Miyazawa Marin)

Tanaka Reina spent 10 years at the forefront of Japan’s idol scene, and even though it’s the same music industry she’s involved in, joining Morning Musume and starting a band from scratch are two completely different things. The level of sound emitted from the live band on stage, the difference in dressing rooms at halls and live houses…these are some of the points of confusion she met in the transition from idol to band.

“I no longer panic amongst all the explosions of sounds, and my ears have grown accustomed to the noise level at concerts. In saying that though, I’m still the only one who gets a fright when the boom of the drum starts up without a count in (lol).” (Tanaka)

Tanaka Reina spent 10 years as an idol, performing countless shows in massive halls and arenas, while the other three members have just begun their careers in a professional band after joining LoVendoЯ. It’s unchartered territory for all of them but through a series of trials and errors they’re moving forward one step at a time. It’s a sight that reminds me that this is what it means to be a musician.
Whether you know Tanaka Reina from her Morning Musume days or not, the new tour is a perfect opportunity to see her perform.

“Even though LoVendoЯ will be blasting away, I still want to maintain a bit of kawaii factor. The way I perform has changed, but I’m still the same Reina that I was in Morning Musume.” (Tanaka)

Since our meeting in summer 2010, Tanaka Reina has remained a dear colleague of mine, and the members of LoVendoЯ too are now close colleagues and friends. It’s another big goal and dream of mine to work with these girls overseas, spreading Japanese culture together throughout the world.

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