In 2001, Mika Nakashima made her official debut with the Japanese drama "Shinjuku Incident" and the single "STARS." In her dual career as a singer and actress, she is seen by many as the short-haired, stylish character in "NANA," as well as a powerhouse ballad singer capable of delivering masterpieces like "Snowflake". In her music career, Mika's works span multiple genres, with a substantial number of releases, and in recent years, she has also tried her hand at songwriting and production. It has been six years since her last concert in Taiwan, and this time, the Japanese diva Mika Nakashima has accepted the invitation to the "Spring Wave Music Festival," making her debut at a music festival in Taiwan.

At the event, Mika Nakashima wholeheartedly brought several classic hits such as "Snowflake," "There Was A Time I Thought About Giving Up", and "GLAMOROUS SKY", creating a climax for the occasion and evoking fond memories among her fans. On November 15, Mika Nakashima also announced on her official website that starting March 1, 2025, she will hold a rare Asian tour, with the first stop set in Taipei, stirring excitement among many music fans.

With Mika's visit to Taiwan, we finally have the opportunity to chat with her about the stories behind the familiar hits.
—— There are so many cover versions, "Snowflake" doesn’t feel like my song; rather, it feels more like everyone's song.

dato: After a six-year hiatus, you're back in Taiwan for a performance, this time at a music festival instead of a solo concert. How do you feel? Are you nervous?

Mika Nakashima: I am very happy! This is my first time participating in a music festival outside Japan. I have previously participated in performances that resembled television music festivals (note: Taiwan's 2017 "Red and White Awards"), but for an actual music festival, this should be my first. However, I am quite nervous about the performance; I am someone who gets nervous easily. Whether it's a live performance or any kind of work, I tend to be easily nervous.

dato: Before coming to Taiwan this time, you recorded a video greeting Taiwanese fans, during which you revealed you would be singing "Snowflake" and "There Was A Time I Thought About Giving Up" at the festival. I'd like to specifically discuss "Snowflake." According to the information I've found, there are 30 cover versions in Japan and 15 versions in various languages abroad. How do you feel about hearing others cover your work?

Mika Nakashima: Once "Snowflake" was released, there were many cover versions with various interpretations. For me, listening to these covers has taught me different ways to express the song. Because many people bring excellent interpretations, sometimes I don't particularly feel that "Snowflake" is my song; it feels more like everyone's song.

dato: With so many people covering a song while you are the original artist, do you feel particularly nervous when performing it?

Mika Nakashima: I do feel the pressure.

dato: Is it because you don't want to be outdone by the cover versions?

Mika Nakashima: Because everyone knows this song, I need to put in more effort and be more serious compared to other songs. However, how should I put it? I don't think the original artist necessarily has to sing it best. Rather, because there are so many cover versions of "Snowflake," I hope that when I sing it, everyone will see it as "this is Mika Nakashima's version."

—— When choosing to cover someone else’s song, the first thing I consider is the lyrics.

dato: In addition to having many covers of your own songs, you've also covered many others' songs, in both English and Japanese. I really enjoy how you bring your own flavor to these songs. When selecting songs to cover, what is your reasoning?

Mika Nakashima: I carefully read through the lyrics before deciding, "I want to sing this song." When I was still an amateur, there were many songs I liked, but not every song was one I wanted to sing. When considering whether or not to sing a song, I believe the "lyrics" are an important factor.

dato: You've covered a lot of songs in the past. Regarding "covering," do you prefer to "sing in the original style" or "sing differently from the original"?

Mika Nakashima: If I love the original track, I will respect the original artist's style, which easily leads me to lean towards imitating the original. But I also believe that since it’s my cover, I should bring my own flavor into it. I prefer to cover in that way.

dato: Among all the songs you've covered, is there one particular song that you found especially difficult to interpret?

Mika Nakashima: All the songs I've sung in the past are not easy. If I have to mention one, it would be the song from Keyakizaka46, "Not So Harmonious" (note: the interview takes place a day before performing this song at Spring Wave). You should know this song, right? It’s very famous, and I really like it.

dato: I like it a lot too; I was surprised when I found out you were covering this song.

Mika Nakashima: I think everyone feels that way. The lyrics of this song are quite heavy, so no one thought I would cover it. However, if I sing it, there will be a style that I want to express.

dato: Why did you want to choose "Not So Harmonious" to cover? The fans below must be surprised as well.

Mika Nakashima: When I saw Keyakizaka46 perform this song on TV, I thought it was super cool, so I started listening. Then I thought the lyrics were really cool too, which is why I decided to cover it. I was really worried that Keyakizaka46's fans might feel uncomfortable hearing my interpretation. However, I truly respect them, and I plan to express this song in a different way, so please look forward to it; I will do my best.

—— Collaborating with famous artists, I don't meet them in advance or discuss; I want them to objectively write songs for me.

dato: Looking back at your past songs, I feel that you can create different sparks with various creators and artists. Through collaborations with the likes of Hyde, Miyuki Nakajima, Koji Tamaki, and Ryota Fujimaki, you bring new scenery. Do you do any special preparations before recording pieces offered by creators who are also singers?

Mika Nakashima: I am very lucky to work with these talented individuals. Usually, they provide demos that contain their own voices; I really enjoy it, and I listen to their demos repeatedly after receiving them.

dato: Before these creators write songs for you, do you have any interaction opportunities with them?

Mika Nakashima: We hardly ever meet. I think I shouldn't interfere too much or get too friendly with them. I prefer to let them understand me from their perspectives and write songs for me; I believe this is better.

dato: So that means when you receive the song, it’s already a complete piece, and you would directly perform that piece without further discussions later?

Mika Nakashima: Exactly, that’s the idea.

—— I was redeemed through "There Was A Time I Thought About Giving Up," so I also want to give that back to others.

dato: Regarding the hugely popular song "There Was A Time I Thought About Giving Up," can you recall your feelings when you received the demo of this song?

Mika Nakashima: I was so moved when I heard the demo that I cried.

dato: When you heard the demo of this song, did you ever think it would be this popular? Considering it leans towards darker lyrical themes.

Mika Nakashima: At that time, I wasn’t thinking, “This song will be popular, so I’ll sing it,” but rather the thought purely came up, “I really want to sing this song,” which is why I sang it.

dato: Nowadays, when people in Taiwan mention your works, the first song they think of is often "There Was A Time I Thought About Giving Up" rather than "Snowflake." Did you ever think this song would be covered in different languages and loved by so many, like "Snowflake"?

Mika Nakashima: I never thought about it at all. When I first heard this song, I felt like I was redeemed. Perhaps because I was redeemed, I wanted to pass on this feeling of redemption to others, hoping that many people could also feel emotional redemption when they hear this song. That might be why it can move so many people and be so beloved.

—— When I produce an album, if I have even a slight hesitation, I won't include it.

dato: When you released your album "I" in 2022, you attempted to write all the lyrics and compose the entire album yourself, even participating in the production, something you had never done in your many years as an artist. After being a singer for so many years, did you have a clear idea of what kind of work you wanted to create as your own producer?

Mika Nakashima: The album "I" doesn’t particularly emphasize any specific theme, but there is a clear concept: "I want to create what I love." If I feel it's cool and I like it, I'll include it. Conversely, if there's even a slight hesitation, I won’t include it.

dato: It sounds like you're a very strong producer?

Mika Nakashima: Exactly! (laughs) Because it's my own album, if it were someone else's album, it might be different; I wouldn't be so assertive.

dato: So what is the first thing you wanted to create? Is it what you refer to as "cool stuff"?

Mika Nakashima: There are many types of coolness. For me, it’s about something that "moves me."

dato: What kind of cool can touch you?

Mika Nakashima: For example, the "rock" type of coolness, as well as the coolness of ballads. Like the atmosphere conveyed in the lyrics, “I will protect you,” the coolness I perceive isn’t fixed; it can take various forms.

dato: During the production process, are there moments when you know exactly what you want but find it hard to achieve? How do you cope with such moments?

Mika Nakashima: When composing, if I have even a slight uncertainty, I set it aside and work on something else. I have a concept: I don’t want to create something I’m not sure about. If something is uncertain, I won’t work on it. If I suddenly get inspired later on, I’ll go back and work on it then.

dato: In the process of producing your album, which part do you enjoy the most?

Mika Nakashima: People often think of me as the singer of ballads, and as the image in NANA, so in the album, I wanted to respond to everyone’s perception of me. During the production process, I also encountered many other aspects of myself, so it’s more like I digested everyone’s expectations of me and presented it back to them.

dato: Creating your own lyrics and music is quite a vast project. Do you write songs quickly?

Mika Nakashima: During the songwriting period, if I encounter uncertainty, I’ll discard it. Being able to do that means I won't spend too much time fretting over a single song. This could be considered fast.

dato: Besides producing your own work, do you also want to write songs or produce for others?

Mika Nakashima: Yes, I want to write songs or produce for other singers too.

dato: Is it similar to what we previously discussed, when you see Keyakizaka46 performing on TV, do you suddenly feel, "Ah! I want to help write songs for you all!"?

Mika Nakashima: I don't think I can only work with a specific type of artist. However, you mentioned Keyakizaka46; even though I haven't had experience with girl idol groups, I'm interested in trying to produce or write songs for them and hope for an opportunity like that one day. In the future, I would like to continue producing my own works, whether it's my creations or others'; I’m currently accumulating some good pieces.

dato: Recently, Netflix has made available the idol drama "Meteor Garden" that aired in 2008. As everyone reminisces about the show, they also reflect on your "Orion", do you have something to say to the Taiwanese fans who have continuously supported you from the past until now?

Mika Nakashima: In fact, I rarely have the chance to perform live for everyone, especially for my Taiwanese fans. Given the limited opportunities for interaction, I am incredibly grateful that everyone can still support me for so long.

dato: Due to the rerelease of "Meteor Garden," I just rewatched it, and I think your performance is truly fascinating, even after all these years, I still really like it.

Mika Nakashima: That was a really odd role. (laugh)

Written by: dato
Editor: Chui
Date: November 21, 2024
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