Interview: Tsuyoshi Domoto, Part 2 of 2

Did you miss Part One of the interview? Click here.
インタビューのパート1を見逃しましたか？ ここをクリック。

堂本剛とのファンカトピアインタビューのパート2へようこそ。 また、このインタビューを米国に持ち込むために堂本剛と協力しているファンカトピアについての以下のビデオをお楽しみください。 インタビューも日本語に翻訳されています。

Welcome to Part 2 of the Funkatopia interview with Tsuyoshi Domoto. Also, enjoy the video below about Funkatopia working with Tsuyoshi Domoto to bring this interview to the United States. The interview is also translated into Japanese.

下にスクロールして、日本語版のインタビューをご覧ください。

• Many are already aware of this, but you have significant hearing loss. Jeff Paige, our co-host on Funkatopia, was born completely deaf in one ear. Music is a very difficult industry to be in with hearing challenges. This is a two-part question. A) Can you describe what exactly the official diagnosis was on your hearing? B) And what are some of the processes that you have to go through when you’re recording or performing to accommodate for those challenges?

What happened was I had severe damage in my left ear. To describe the damage, it’s a constant ringing in my left ear, and it’s in the key of A flat. So, it’s hard to play A chords because of that constant A flat ringing in my ears.  Whenever I hear loud noises it’s kind of like the equivalent of feedback from a mic, so it’s a lot of distorted howling in my ear whenever I hear extremely loud noises, because of the damage in my left ear. So, I rely on my right ear mainly when I’m performing or recording. At one point used ear monitors, at the moment I use headphones because it puts less pressure on my ears, and it kind of protects me from any sudden loud noises. Also, I work with the stage sound engineers in the studio, and they adjust the sound to make it easier for me to listen to the music and to work for extended periods of time, so they are really helpful. They adjust the sound balance, in accordance to how my ears are doing that day.

Basically, the way I kind of get through it emotionally is through the help of my family and my friends and my fans, all the kindness, and support that they give me, gives me the strength and energy that I need to push through and continue performing. I’m able to forget about my illness while I’m playing Funk music, even if it’s only temporarily, it does soothe me. I am very appreciative of my family and friends, and all the fans that give me love and support me. The most difficult thing about it is that it’s an illness that you can’t really see, but thanks to the people around me that surround me with love and kindness, and my love for music, that’s basically what pushes me through.

• When do you, Tsuyoshi Domoto, find time to relax and what is your favorite thing to do during those rare moments?

I am not really an outdoorsy person, I’m kind of a homebody. Being that my birthplace is Nara, I like to surround myself with things that remind me of home, so, that’s anything from pottery to plate ware, luncheon mats, things that were made in Nara or evoke the image of Nara, even the rice that I make at home is from Nara. I like to surround myself with things that remind me of Nara, and that’s what relaxes me. So, it’s not a specific activity, but the act of being surrounded by things that remind me of home, things that remind me of Nara. I find that surrounding myself in every room of my home with little things that remind me of Nara relaxes me.

• Is there something specific that you feel you really need to accomplish in your life?

The first thing is to have my music enjoyed by people all around the world. At some point, I would like that to happen before I leave this earth. The second thing is if I suddenly must leave this earth, I want to know that I was true to myself and to my music. I want also to know that I remained true to myself and true to my intentions and my ideas and my heart that I express through music.

• People are stressed. Many people are fighting depression more than at any other time in our history. So many fans in Japan and around the world look up to you and they love IT when you speak. What would you say to a fan that needs words of encouragement when they feel like their lives feel hopeless?

The meaning of ENDRECHERI is living life by being true to yourself, and true to your heart, and not by the design/desires of others. People are constantly comparing themselves to what other people are doing, or what other people are saying, or what other people are thinking, and it can be very frustrating, it can be really depressing because you don’t really feel like you can move forward. Especially right now, with the past two years of difficulty, focus on yourself, and your heart, how you feel about yourself, and how you can kind of change that focus of comparing yourself to others into love for yourself. I’m not really fond of or not really interested in that way of thinking, it’s very tiring for me. In my opinion, if you have time to compare yourself to others, you can use that time to think about how you can change yourself into a more thoughtful person or a kinder person, and that kind of energy will reflect itself onto the world and not end up as wasted energy essentially. In short, to try and get through, the most important thing to remember is to try to love yourself and not compare yourself to the people around you,  and live your life.

• Are there personal struggles emotionally that you battle? What is it and how do you conquer that negativity?

You only live once. (YOLO)

I do think of negative things from time to time but trying to switch that negativity into positivity has helped me through the pandemic. And the most important thing that I always remind myself of is the fact that you only live once. I really feel strongly about that statement, to try and listen to the voice in my heart, and express the feelings in my heart through my music, and through my project ENDRECHERI. I try to make choices that are true to myself, and true to the feelings that I want to express, and that brings me happiness. So, the most important thing to remember is the fact that you only have one life to live on this earth, and that you have an importance on this earth. You should try to always remember that in your heart and continue to be true to yourself, and remember that because you only have one life on this earth, to try and make the best of it as you can, even though the negative thoughts might feel overwhelming at times. 

• What is one final thing that you would like to share with us and your fans?

I love you and I hope to meet you all someday and give you a big hug!

A huge thank you to all of the Tsuyoshi Domoto and ENDRECHERI fans for this fantastic interview.

5.突発性難聴について、どのような感じでしょうか？

症状は、左の耳を壊しています。今も後遺症と共存しながら生活を音楽をしています。左の耳は耳鳴りがAフラットの音で鳴っている。大きい音はマイクがハウリングするみたいになる。その症状には綿を鼓膜の近くに丸めて入れて軽減してる。Aフラットの耳鳴りは諦めるしかない。例えばコードがAの楽曲やっている時に右でAを聴き取りながらも左はAフラットが鳴っているので、AフラットをAと錯覚したり、幻聴が凄くあるから基本は右耳だけを使っていて、左はほとんど使えていない。今はイヤーモニターでを使えるまで前進したけれど、昔は症状も酷く、鼓膜から音を遠くするためにヘッドフォンを使っていました。あとはエンジニアと何度もミーティングしてステージに立ったりレコーディングしたりしているという状況。で、この孤独を乗り越える方法というと、家族だったり、仲間だったりあとファンの皆さんの存在、これがすべてです。その人たちの存在を感じることで強くもなれるし、優しくもなれるから。コロナの時代になって、マスクをみんながしているから、言葉が聞き取り辛く大変な場面も多いけれど、いろんな葛藤と毎日を過ごしているけれど頑張れる。ファンクミュージックをやっていればそんなことも忘れられるっていう気持ちにもなれるし。そういう気持ちにさせてくれるのもファンクだし、そういう気持ちにさせてくれるのが、家族や仲間やファンの人たちの存在です。目に見えない孤独は凄くしんどいけれど、乗り越えて来れたし、これからも乗り越えて行こうと思う。

6.普段どのようにリラックスしてますか？

アウトドアな人間ではないので部屋でいかにリラックスするかを考えて生きて来ました。自分が生まれた奈良の名産物だったり名産品を、食べたりそれぞれの部屋に飾ったりして、自分の故郷を感じながら毎日を過ごしています。

7.人生の中で最後までにしたい目標は？

自分の作った音楽に世界の人たちが熱狂してくれる未来に辿り着きたいという夢がある。それを人生で叶えたい。そして、最後の日まで、自分の素直な心を大切にしたい。この２つがずっと共存してくれるなら、それが一番の理想だし幸せだな。

8.コロナで大変な世の中ですが、応援の言葉をお願いできませんか？

どんな時代もそうだけど、自分を人と比べるから苦しくもなるし悲しくもなるんだと思うんです。人と比べることをやめてしまえば、自分の希望とか喜びとかポジティブなマインドが自然と始まる。心を再起動する感じ。これをみんながチョイスすれば世の中は平和になり、助け合う事を自然と選択出来ると思うんです。人と比べることは僕のマインドにはないので、社会の中では本当に疲れます。こんな時代だからこそ、争う為にではなくて、我儘に生きようと言ってるのではなくて、自分のネガティブな部分も、ポジティブな部分も受け入れて、素直に生る事を始めるのはどうでしょうか。僕だって人生の不幸もいっぱいあるし幸せもいっぱいある。誰もがそうだから、人と自分を比べる時間を、自分の心の声を聞いてあげる時間へと切り替えて欲しい。明るい未来は目に映る景色ではなくて、心に映る景色にこそ在ると思います。共に明るい未来へと歩いて行きましょう。

9.ネガティブなことがある時に、どのように元気になりますか？

コロナの時代になったことによって、物事をポジティブに考えるようになった気がします。コロナの時代に入る前よりもポジティブな気持ちで生きている日が多いかも。昔から大切にして来た想いなんだけれども、「人生は一度きり」という想い。この想いをコロナの時代になってとても強く抱いています。積極的に自分の心の声を聞くようにしているしその声を人に伝えるようにしている。このインタビューもいままさにそうなっていますよね、。それが元気でいられる一つの方法な気がします。自分はこう生きているんだけれどあなたは？と対話すること。「自ら一人になる事」に対して疲れることかな(笑)

10.全世界のファンへ、最後の一言は？

I love you！いつの日か直接会ってハグしよう！いまは心でBig hug！

この素晴らしいインタビューをしてくれた堂本剛とENDRECHERIのファンの皆さんに心から感謝します。