Interview with Hyadain

Any Japanese pop music enthusiast has likely heard at least one, if not several, songs by Kenichi Maeyamada, a music creator also known as Hyadain. JaME had a few questions for him, not only to highlight his work and the inspiration behind it but also to understand the creative process behind these countless tracks.

Could you please introduce yourself, in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with your work?

Hyadain: I am Hyadain, a Japanese music creator. I have provided music for many Japanese artists and I used to sing anime songs myself.

When you look back on your career, what are you most proud of?

Hyadain: In 2008, I uploaded a remix of a classic game to Nico Nico Douga (a Japanese video-sharing service) and YouTube. It was supported by gamers all over the world. Thanks to this, I gained confidence and courage and was able to develop my career after that.

Is there something about your current work or artistic process that would surprise your past self?

Hyadain: I think I would be surprised about having worked with famous artists like Yuzu and Ringo Sheena.

Where does your nickname “Hyadain” come from?

Hyadain: It comes from the spell "Hyadain" that appears in the Japanese games "Dragon Quest 3" and "Dragon Quest 4" only. Since it doesn't appear in "Dragon Quest 5", I wanted to use it.

Do you have a specific method you use when creating a new track? If so, does your process change depending on whether you are making music for a video game, an Idol group or an animated series?

Hyadain: When making Idol group songs, I have to consider the time needed for the audience's cheers and support. The cheering culture of Japanese Idols is unique and a call-and-response system is often used. As such, I always think about those moments when I'm writing a song. For video games and anime, I often use my imagination to think about what the characters from the game would say, or how they would sing.

You have worked with many different artists on various projects; how do these collaborations usually come about? Are you the one to initiate the collaboration, or is it usually the other way around?

Hyadain: I am always the one who is invited to collaborate. All the suggestions are very stimulating and I get excited every time.

Since we are on this topic: is there a collaboration you would like to realize someday?

Hyadain: I want to collaborate with artists from all over the world. The less I expect a collaboration, the more I look forward to it.

Are there any subjects or themes that are particularly inspiring for you when creating songs?

Hyadain: I am especially thrilled when I write a song which showcases the personalities of all the members of an Idol group. Being able to express them well is inspiring.

It seems like you are very interested in helping people feel better with your creations. Is there a specific topic that you haven’t covered yet but would like to?

Hyadain: Well, that's a secret! Stay tuned to know more!

Your fans know that you like “Pokémon” and, surprisingly enough, saunas; what is your current obsession, if any?

Hyadain: My current obsession is travelling. I used to go abroad every year (to Paris, of course!) However, I couldn't go there recently because of the coronavirus so I explored the rest of Japan and rediscovered its charm.

Japanese music manages to be popular abroad despite the language barrier. Do you have any theories on why that is?

Hyadain: I think it's because Japanese music has a lot of weird music that you would never hear on the Billboard Chart, for example. It is Japan that makes this kind of strange music and supports it enthusiastically.

Do you have one last message for our readers?

Hyadain: Hello, everyone. Thank you very much for your interest in Japan. Sushi is cheaper and tastier in Japan than in France (France wins for salmon though!) In both food and music culture, Japan has something that no other country has. Please enjoy Japanese culture such as anime, games, and idols. And if you have any chance, please come to Japan to eat sushi. I'll be happy to show you around!

JaME would like to thank Hyadain and his management for making time for this interview.

The music video for Hyadain's 2011 major debut single Hyadain's Kakakata Kataomoi-C can be viewed below, and a playlist compiling songs he wrote and/or produced for other artists in 2020 is available here.