Ys IV Interview 1993

This is taken from an interview about the development process of Ys IV: featured are Mieko Ishikawa, Naoki Kaneda, Atsushi Shirakawa, and Takahiro Tsunashima. Credit to shmuplations for the translations:

Composing Ys IV

with the Falcom Sound Team J.D.K
(Mieko Ishikawa, Atsushi Shirakawa,
Takahiro Tsunashima, Naoki Kaneda)

—I still haven’t played Xanadu or Ys IV yet, but I have been able to listen to the music for Ys IV. My first thought: unmistakably Falcom. (laughs) It was like, this could only be the music for the next Ys game.

Ishikawa: Thank you. Can I take that as a compliment?

—Of course!

Ishikawa: The big premise for Ys IV was that it was a direct sequel to Ys, so naturally the music had to have all the classic hooks from those songs… you could call it destiny. (laughs) Living up to that was a ton of pressure on us, the sound staff, so to hear those words from you makes me so happy, and is a huge relief.

—So it was very stressful, composing the Ys IV music?

Ishikawa: As a composer, having the color and tone of the music decided beforehand makes things easier in one sense, but if you aren’t able to break away from that, then you worry that listeners will feel like everything sounds the same.

“First Step Towards Wars”, an example
of the “zundara” galloping rhythm.

—I see. By the way, what do you all of you feel the “Ys sound” is?

Tsunashima: The zundara beat! ²

—Eh? zu, zundara beat?

Shirakawa: Yeah, it’s the galloping basslines. zu!-ta-ka, zu!-ta-ka…

—Ah, ahhhh. I get it now. Yeah, Ys music really does have a lot of that rhythm pattern, now that you mention it.

Kaneda: A classical melody on top of a zundara rhythm… that’s pretty much Ys right there. To me at least.

—Right, right. You know, Michio Fujiwara, who is a friend of the Falcom label, often says the music of Ys has a lot in common with classical music. I would say it’s not just Ys, but all of Falcom’s melodies have a unique quality. Sometimes the melancholy is so sweet and pointed, I’ve even shed tears… Tomohiko Kishimotowas saying that his roots were heavy metal, and I can feel that in the mood of Falcom’s music.

Kaneda: That’s because we base our music on heavy metal and classical.

—Ahh, does that mean you’re a metalhead?

Kaneda: Hah, maybe I am. Right now I’m obsessed with Deep Purple. Uh oh–looks like I’ve just outed myself! I’ve been into other stuff lately too though, like African music.

—That explains your short hair then. And for the rest of you, what music have you been into recently?

Tsunashima: I really love karaoke. I’m always listening to ZARD, B’z, WANDS… and I’m an excellent singer! My dream is to have my voice in a game. It’s what I really, ♬ re~a~la~la~lyyy wa-a-nttt! ♬

—Is he into being-kei? ³

Ishikawa: Yeah (chuckles). And Shirakawa is a Vangelis otaku.

Shirakawa: Vangelis is like a teacher to me: for music, for life, for everything. Lately I’ve been into progressive rock, and irregular time signatures…

Ys IV OST.

—What progressive groups do you like?

Shirakawa: I love Yes.

Ishikawa: That’s it! Now I get it!

—Huh? Wh, what do you get now Ishikawa?

Ishikawa: I knew it wasn’t my imagination! You’ve been off-time a lot lately, just behind the beat! You bastard, you’ve become one of those offtime proglovers! We’ll just have to “beat” that out of you.. a strict march should do it!

Shirakawa: He–hey, wha–OW!

Ishikawa: Take that! Hut-two-three-four, hut-two-three-four!

Shirakawa: Ugh… ah! ah.. mm, aa… that feels good…

—Um…

Tsunashima: ♬ hey every~body~, let’s stop the vi~o~lenceee, sing with me now! ~oo that scent of your, faded jeanssss~ ♬

—Calm down, please everyone, calm down!

Ishikawa: The duple meter is the basis of all human life! Tempo 120! Yes sir! hut-two, hut-two, hut-two….

—Uh, n-no thank you, I’m good!

Kaneda: HAHAHAHAH.

End.