Singer-songwriter Abe Mao will release her 11th original album, “NOW,” on August 7. This time, ahead of the album’s release, an official interview for “NOW” has arrived.
From the interview, you can feel Mao Abe’s confidence and fulfillment in her new album as she celebrates her 15th anniversary. The full interview, which talks about each song on the album, is available on Mao Abe’s 15th anniversary special website, so please take the time to read it and look forward to the album and tour.
In addition, the album track “Somebody Else Now” will be aired for the first time on the radio on August 5th on FM802’s “THE NAKAJIMA HIROTO SHOW 802 RADIO MASTERS” (every Monday-Thursday 14:00-17:51).
The song is the lead track of the album “NOW” and was produced for the first time with knoak, who has worked on works by yama, Furui Riho, and Kai Kubota, as the arranger. The album also includes an acoustic version of the song, which is likely to be an important song in the album. Don’t miss the moment it airs on the radio for the first time.
Official Interview
Mao Abe has released her new album “NOW” to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her debut.
This is the 11th album overall and the first original full album from IRORI Records/KAGAYAKI RECORDS, and contains 10 songs including “I’ve Got the Power”, “Keep Your Fire Burning” (the ending theme of the anime “Hopeless Immortal Adventurer”), and “To Advance” (the image song of the manga “I Want to Forget You in Love”). It is a fulfilling work that “I was able to firmly shape what I wanted to do” (Mao Abe).
“A lot of times on anniversaries, people release a greatest hits album or look back, right? I did that for my 5th and 10th anniversaries, but this time (my 15th anniversary) I wanted to really showcase who I am now. The songs on the album are mostly ones I made after going independent, and I thought ‘NOW’ was a good choice in the sense that they’re songs I want people to listen to ‘now’.”
Mao Abe explained why she decided on the album title “NOW” as follows. She proudly stated, “This might be the album that I’ve been able to put into shape what I wanted to do the most until now.”
“I guess you could say I’ve become able to write songs in a selfish way, in a good way. It’s important to be conscious of things like ‘making it understandable’ or ‘making it popular,’ but I think being able to write without thinking about those things is very healthy as a creative. I think I’ve also gained confidence that even if I write selfish songs, they will connect with people.”
Her creativity is also fully displayed in the sound-making. In addition to akkin and Kenichiro Wada, who have supported Abe Mao’s music up until now, arrangers such as Mori Zentaro, Rayons, and knoak have participated. A highly flexible sound has been achieved that can appeal to both J-POP fans and Western music listeners.
“Last year (2023), I released an acoustic self-cover album (Acoustic -Self Cover Album-), and during production I learned to “pay close attention to the details”. What I learned then is also utilized in “NOW”. I changed the BPM in increments of 0.5 to choose the one that felt the most natural, and I paid more attention than ever to the sound of the lyrics. When recording with the band — everyone is really good at it — if there was something that bothered me, I would say, “I want to change this part.” After becoming independent, I had more to shoulder, and I became even more aware that “this is my own project.” That may also be the reason why the way I approach things changed.”
What’s even more noteworthy is her vocalization, which allows for a richer vocal expression with a reduced number of sounds and a more refined sound for each individual note.
“It’s not that I’m making technical changes. The tension and mindset of the moment really come out in the voice. But I still think that I have to ‘do it without any mistakes’. I don’t just go for the cream of the crop, and I don’t just push through with passion, but I judge whether ‘this sound is okay’ or ‘this really exudes passion’. Sometimes I think it’s like make-up. If you put on blush from the stage of applying the base, the finish will go well too (laughs).”
Her latest album, NOW, was created after she left her agency and established her own label. With this album, which marks a new phase for the singer-songwriter, she will embark on her 15th anniversary solo tour, “15th Anniversary Abe Mao Solo Live Tour 2024,” which starts this month, her 15th anniversary Zepp tour, “15th Anniversary Abe Mao Zepp Live Tour 2024,” which will be held in October, and her Tokyo Garden Theater performance, “Abe Mao Live 2025 -15th ANNIVERSARY- at Tokyo Garden Theater,” on Sunday, January 26, 2025. We hope you will feel the “now” of Abe Mao through this album and live performance.
“I want to show ‘the real me’ and ‘the perfect me’ at the live concert. I have no doubt that it will be a fun, moving live concert. I want as many people as possible to see it. That includes people who listened to the album ‘NOW’ and thought ‘this sounds interesting,’ but I also want people who haven’t been to an Abe Mao live concert in a while to come!”
Text & interview by Tomoyuki Mori
『NOW』Official Interview:https://15thanniversary.abemao.com/now_interview
“Somebody Else Now” first radio broadcast information
Broadcast on Monday, August 5, 2024 from 14:00 to 17:51
Inside FM802 “THE NAKAJIMA HIROTO SHOW 802 RADIO MASTERS”
Mao Abe’s new album “NOW”
Released Wednesday, August 7, 2024
CD+Blu-ray
PCCA-06305 ¥5,500 (tax included)
CD only
PCCA-06306 ¥3,300 (tax included)
CD contents
M1. Hands and Dance
M2. Somebody Else Now
M3. Keep Your Fire Burning
M4. Everyday (Pre-release starts on July 31st) https://abemao.lnk.to/NOW )
M5.Maybe
M6. Go Away From You
M7. To move forward
M8. I’ve Got the Power
M9. If we meet again somewhere
M10. Somebody Else Now -Acoustic ver.-
Blu-ray contents
Making of the album “NOW”
“Acoustic Live Tour “I’ve Got the Power”” 2023.10.27 Tokyo Spotify O-EAST Live Video
1. Then why?
2. I want to be your lover
3. What would you do?
4. Believe in yourself
5. Boyfriend
6. 15 Words
7. Not yet
8. Words
9. Liar
10. Always
11. Don’t leave me
12. Sailing
13. I’ve Got the Power
14. Umbrella
15. I Never Knew
16. I wanna see you
17. Lonely
CD+Blu-ray bonus: Streaming QR code (NeSTREAM LIVE)
*On NeSTREAM LIVE, you can easily watch the Blu-ray movie in the highest quality on your smartphone or TV via streaming playback.
* Viewing period: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 to Thursday, August 5, 2027
To book please go to:https://abemao.lnk.to/NOW_CD
Original benefits for each shop
Amazon.co.jp: Mega Jacket
Rakuten Books: Acrylic key chain
Seven Net Shopping: Tote bag
Tower Records and TOWER mini stores, Tower Records Online: A4 clear file (TOWER ver.)
Nationwide HMV/HMV&BOOKS online: A4 clear file (HMV ver.)
If you pre-order and purchase Abe Mao’s “NOW” at the participating stores listed above, you will receive an original bonus item from each store on a first-come, first-served basis.
*The design of the bonus will be released at a later date.
*Purchase benefits will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that the offer will end once all stock has been exhausted.
*Some stores may not offer the bonuses, so please check when making your reservation or purchase.
*If you make a reservation through the online shop, please make sure to order from the cart with bonus items if you would like to purchase products with bonus items. Please note that some online shops do not allow you to cancel reserved items.
Digital single “Hands and Dance”
https://abemao.lnk.to/Hands_and_Dance
Digital single “To Advance”
https://abemao.lnk.to/susumutameni
Jacket illustration/Yuuki Yu
Mao Abe – To Go Forward (Official Music Video) (MC “I Want to Fall in Love and Forget You” Image Song)
Special collaboration PV MC “I want to fall in love and forget you” x Mao Abe “To move forward”
YouTube Bessatsu Margaret Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@user-tx6bs4qs2j
Abe Mao 15th Anniversary Special Site
https://15thanniversary.abemao.com
15th Anniversary Solo Tour Information
15th Anniversary Abe Mao Solo Live Tour 2024
Sunday, August 25, 2024 Pontocho Kaburenjo, Kyoto *SOLD OUT
Open 16:30 / Start 17:00
Q: GREENS 06-6882-1224 (Weekdays 12:00-18:00)
Friday, August 30, 2024, Aima Show, Tokyo *SOLD OUT
Open 18:30 / Start 19:00
Inquiries: Creativeman 03-3499-6669 (12:00-16:00)
Friday, September 13, 2024 Aichi Chikusa Bunka Small Theater *SOLD OUT
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Inquiries: Sunday Folk Promotion 052-320-9100 (12:00-18:00)
Sunday, September 15, 2024 Fukuoka, Ohori Park Noh Theater *SOLD OUT
Open 16:00 / Start 17:00
Question: BEA 092-712-4221 (Weekdays 12:00-16:00)https://www.bea-net.com/
15th Anniversary Zepp Tour Information
15th Anniversary Abe Mao Zepp Live Tour 2024
Friday, October 4, 2024 Zepp DiverCity Tokyo, Tokyo
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Inquiries: Creativeman 03-3499-6669 (12:00-16:00)
Thursday, October 10, 2024 Zepp Sapporo, Hokkaido
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Enquiries: Mount Alive 050-3504-8700 (weekdays 11:00-18:00)
Thursday, October 17, 2024 Zepp Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Question: BEA 092-712-4221 (Weekdays 12:00-16:00)https://www.bea-net.com/
Thursday, October 24, 2024 Zepp Nagoya, Aichi
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Inquiries: Sunday Folk Promotion 052-320-9100 (12:00-18:00)
Friday, October 25, 2024 Osaka/Zepp Namba
Open 18:00 / Start 19:00
Q: GREENS 06-6882-1224 (Weekdays 12:00-18:00)
(ticket fee)
1F all-access 6,800 yen (tax included)
2nd floor reserved seating: 6,800 yen (tax included)
1 drink fee not included
Ticket General
https://abemao.lnk.to/liveticket
15th Anniversary Tour Final Information
Mao Abe Live 2025 -15th ANNIVERSARY- at Tokyo Garden Theater
January 26, 2025 (Sun) Tokyo Garden Theater
Open 16:00 / Start 17:00
Inquiries: Creativeman 03-3499-6669 (12:00-16:00)
Official Lottery Advance Tickets
Reception period: 7/31 (Wed) 12:00 ~ 8/12 (Mon, holiday) 23:59
15th Anniversary Tour Special Site:https://abemao.com/feature/15th_livetour2024
Regular radio program information
FM FUJI “Abe Mao’s Brighten Your Sunday” (Every Sunday 10:00-10:30)
Program account:https://twitter.com/abemao_fmfuji
#Brasan
Artist Information
Official YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@abemaofficial
Formula X:https://x.com/abemao_official
Official Staff X:https://x.com/abemao_staff
Official Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abemao_official/
Official Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/abemaoofficial
Official TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@abemaofficial
Audio distribution:https://lnk.to/abemaoID
Official site:http://abemao.com/
