Back in 2019, a photo of a 21-year-old woman sitting next to a man covered in blood went viral. The woman believed that the man – who was in a relationship with her – would quit being a host but when she found out that she was one of his many customers, she stabbed him.
With “Sell Me Your Love,” MIREI captures the frightening reality of Japan’s nightlife scene while also showcasing a new stylistic trajectory in her sound.
Since releasing her English-language debut record Take Me Away back in January 2020, MIREI has garnered support from the media including Teen Vogue, Popular TV, EARMILK, Atwood, Ladygunn, and more. For her, music has served as a conduit to address issues of mental health, sexual harassment, cultural conformity, and more that exist in modern-day Japan – which we can also empathise universally
The new single finds MIREI leaning towards a smoother R&B-pop direction while also shedding light on the red-light district culture in Japan that is often overlooked
Tell us about the genesis of your new song. How did you get to where you are now?
Since the release of “1998,” I’ve been taking my time seeking who I really am. I debuted in Japan at the age of 15 and since then, I haven’t had the chance to step back and look back at my growth. I’m thankful for the pandemic for giving me some time to stop and reflect instead of constantly looking into the future as I did previously. When I heard about the stabbing incident, it really struck a chord since I was in a phase of re-evaluating my own values, perception, and sense of self. I used to see things in black and white, but now I’m able to see things in gray and accept that things can’t always be labeled as right and wrong. The lines blur depending on the perspective and circumstances and these are the type of topics I wanted to sing about.
How is your sound and artistry evolving?
Since I started doing my weekly livestream MIREI TV, I’ve used some of my livestream sessions to learn the history of my favorite music with my fans. Also, just being online in front of my fans for an hour has helped me discover another part of myself. As a result, I’ve been experimenting with a smooth R&B sound, which you can tell from “Sell Me Your Love.” Trying new things and finding new sounds in the process has helped me embrace myself as an artist, even my imperfections. Before the pandemic, I was a perfectionist at everything, but now I’ve learned to embrace the uncertainty that comes with the process of discovering and learning new things. This lesson has made me grow so much and be excited rather than anxious when tackling something new. I think my listeners can tell my growth as an artist and individual from “Sell Me Your Love” where I tap into imperfect relationships. I definitely want to tackle more complex topics where there is not a perfect line between right and wrong.
What made you want to experiment with R&B?
As I said, I’ve gotten the chance to explore the history and roots of my favorite music during my livestream. R&B is a genre that I’ve always listened to when I was young and has always been part of my musical influence. And during this pandemic, I’ve had the chance to dive deep into its history and was inspired to experiment with it. I worked with Selan on “Sell Me Your Love,” which I enjoyed a lot since we did a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” together years ago.
What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?
I binge watch anime episodes. I love anime from Jump comics and the messages that every anime from the magazine conveys is very basic. There were many lessons we learned when we were in kindergarten and gave up doing or forgetting as we started growing up and facing challenges. Anime always makes me remember those basics and freshen my mind.
What are your 2022 projects and goals?
I already have many unreleased songs, but I still want to write more. I spent the last two years in my home, getting to know more about myself and now I want to express that new side of me. In Japan, there’s not a system in place for vaccinated people yet, like we all have to stay home as unvaccinated people do. It’s the same for stages, events, and other opportunities that would allow me to see my fans face-to-face.
So my 2022 project is to write my own songs, which are super personal in both English and Japanese and connect with my listeners online by releasing and livestreaming them. Until 2023, I want to be in an environment where all of my fans know me well and can connect with each other online.
Current favorite movie or TV show?
Last month, I started watching all the Marvel series from the beginning. To be honest, I didn’t know anything about Marvel until now and I randomly watched the latest Spiderman. It was awesome and
I learned that they’re all connected to each other, so I made the big decision to follow all the Marvel series. I don’t wanna think about how long it’s gonna take, but I’m enjoying it at the moment.
For TV shows, I love watching Modern Family as part of my English training. The story is funny and the dialogue is easy to follow. It also reminds me of my parents a lot, so I often call my mom after I watch the heartwarming episodes.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about?
I first got the inspiration of the song when I learned about the infamous stabbing incident of Kabukicho, which is known for being the red light district in Tokyo. The place is mainly known for bars where men and women work as hosts or hostesses that get paid for providing company, time, and affection to their customers. This is why the place is called “the city where you can buy love for money.” In 2019, a woman stabbed her then boyfriend, who was working as one of the hosts in the bar after finding an intimate photo of him with one of the customers. When this news broke, everyone was shocked and started labeling her as crazy. However, I couldn’t simply think that way. That’s why I decided to explore these complicated feelings through a song and address the ways people try to measure and buy love.
These days, we are surrounded by numbers that really affect our own perception of self-worth. You see likes and followers on social media, views on YouTube, and more. And the funny thing is that most of them can be bought with money, right? Even if you don’t want to get caught in these measurements, it seems inevitable. For instance, I have a special relationship with my fans and social media is a great way to connect with them. Yet, the way I see how much they enjoy interacting is shown through those numbers. This has made me reflect on how there isn’t just one definition of love and I have a long way to go in understanding it. Through the song, I wanted to follow the emotions that led her to stabbing him so I could depict all the different ways love can manifest.
What message do you hope your fans to take from the “Sell Me Your Love”?
You can’t rely on the numbers when it comes to the things which you can’t see or feel. Even if you thought you would get satisfied by getting a piece of it, you’re gonna want more and it will eventually suffocate you. Love can be imperfect and that’s alright. Even though it hurts to feel it, if you believe it’s real, it must be real.
Can you outline your creative process?
In my daily life, I constantly take notes of my random thoughts. When I find things that can be connected together, I arrange the ideas and sit down in front of my white piano where I start playing around until I’ve found certain favorite chord progression. Afterward, I start making the melodies and lyrics for it. My demos are always me singing with piano, which is super simple.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the proudest of and why?
I still remember when I gave my first solo concert as a headliner in Tokyo. There’s a famous concert hall in Tokyo where I have performed since I made my professional debut and I also made my very first live appearance there as well. For my first appearance, I only had a few fans and I could see the spaces on the floor. But when I did my first headline concert there, it was full of fans which made me cry. I’ve performed in bigger venues since then, but I still remember my first headline show when I felt that I’ve achieved a milestone with my fans.
What do you think an artist should sing about nowadays?
I don’t have anything specific to say, but I think artists should sing whatever they feel like since it’s art. If the music is based on what is trendy, then it feels inauthentic to me. Personally, I wanna sing about how our advanced technology and AI has made us more narrow-minded by feeding us information that comforts us rather than the tough reality. It’s gonna be a cyber-dystopian song and I really wanna do it.
Do you have any regrets?
If there’s any regrets I have at the moment, it’s for my lack of knowledge on fairytales and famous movies. I know it’s a part of modern culture, but I’m not really familiar with most of the Disney’s princesses, Marvel series, Star Wars, One-Piece (Japanese famous Manga), and others. I wish I started watching them earlier so I would have some context on their origins and enjoy them even more in the movies. But since they are so many, it’s so hard to learn about them right before watching it!
What is some piece of advice you would give to yourself right now?
Wake up in the morning and see sunlight. It’ll make you feel awake and fresh. Have a creative day Mirei.
