SixTONES’ Yugo Kochi and Juri Tanaka Reveal the Story Behind Epic Single ‘CREAK’

Earlier this month, Japanese idol group SixTONES debuted their striking 11th single, "CREAK," and with its infectious, pulse-pounding sound, we haven't yet taken it off repeat.

The track also serves as one of the theme songs of Knockin' on Locked Door, a Japanese drama starring SixTONES' own Matsumura Hokuto and Naniwa Danshi's Nishihata Daigo. We find that its powerful pop sound evokes all of the series' drama and suspense to a T. Once we heard it, we simply had to learn more, and the groups' Yugo Kochi and Juri Tanaka were kind enough to answer all of our most burning questions about the single in the interview below.

Sweety High: What is the story behind "CREAK"? What inspired its creation and are there any fun stories from the recording or music video shoot?

Juri Tanaka: The music video shoot went much longer than planned. Between the struggles with figuring out how the CG was going to look and the dance practice sections being divided into four different parts with only about a minute and 40 seconds to learn each one, we ended up going about an hour or two over time. This is unheard of for us, as we always finish on time or even a little early, more often than not. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't difficult; we were very tired and I was so ready when the director finally said we were done. We'd never done this type of video before, but in the end, I think it was all worth it.

Yugo Kochi: This was one of the more intense music videos we've done. We had to move to three different sites in one day, including one specifically for the CD jacket artwork shoot. But during the in-between travel time we got to hang out, relax and eat sushi together, so while some parts of the day were tough, we still had a good time.

 

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SH: What does the song mean to you, and what do you hope it will mean to your listeners?

Tanaka: "CREAK" stands on its own as a song, but it's still the theme song to a drama, so we thought about how to connect the two. Even though our group member Hokuto Matsumura is in the drama and it's going to be associated with him when viewers tune in each week, at the end of the day, the song itself is ours and needs to reflect its place appropriately. It must have its own shape while still giving the listeners a taste of what the drama is about; something I was very conscious of while recording and filming the MV.

(Photo credit: Johnny & Associates)

 

SH: What kind of energy do you hope to bring with "CREAK"?

Kochi: I like the lower register and the overall rhythm of the song. It's very energetic and the flow is quite unique, which I think is a lot of fun. I hope that the fans enjoy the sense of mystery infused in the lyrics in addition to the energy, and more than anything I hope it will entice new fans to check out our other songs on YouTube as well.

 

SH: Is there anything you're especially excited about moving toward the end of the year?

Tanaka: I'm looking forward to all the end-of-the-year TV music shows and upcoming stage productions that we have, not just as a group, but individually, too. They're a great way for our fans and even those who don't know us all that well to see us and other Johnny's groups in action. Plus, when we do those big TV music shows I honestly love standing off to the side watching all the other artists perform. It's a fun experience as a fan of music and inspires me to put more into the music we do.

 

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SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add for your fans in the United States?

Kochi: We do a lot with social media, and I'm always glad to see comments in various languages under our YouTube and TikTok videos and Instagram posts. It means a lot that our fans take the time to comment and offer feedback, and even if it's not a language we speak natively we can definitely feel the love!

Tanaka: I love that we were born in an era that enables us to stay connected to the rest of the world from right here. It is incredible to see people all around the world cheering for us, and we want to do more on those channels for people who might not be able to come to all our shows. Please keep sharing the love, and maybe someday we'll be able to come visit where you are!

Kochi: Yes, please share our music videos with all your friends!

 

For more on the J-pop music we love, click HERE to read our interview with Travis Japan on the song "Moving Pieces."