We have been longtime fans of composer Mitsuto Suzuki. His solo electronic albums are some of our favorites. It was therefore exciting to see Suzuki-san launch mojera, an electronic duo featuring himself and vocalist non. Their debut album, overkill, was released in 2020, and the duo recently followed this up with arika EP. In the interim, the duo has contributed to several Scarlet Moon Christmas albums, including this year’s volume, always with unconventional picks for holiday arrangements. We are thrilled to get in a word with Suzuki-san and non about their albums, contributions to Scarlet Moon Christmas, and how mojera differs from the work they do for their day jobs.
Read the interview below:
On arika EP Inspirations and Timeline
Mitsuto Suzuki (MS): Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, all the live performances we had planned following the release of overkill were canceled. Even in those circumstances, we continued creating music. The foundation for the lead tracks of arika EP, “Arika” and “The Loop of Memories,” was completed back in 2021, with only the dubbing of non’s vocals and guitar remaining. There was no need to rush, so we only resumed recording this year when we felt like, “Shall we work on it now?” Once we started, the process was very quick despite prioritizing our mood over deadlines.
The concept for this work is “radical silence.” We valued what naturally emerged from within us, whether it be through guitars, synthesizers, or any other sounds that came from the two of us, and expressed it as music. It’s not flashy, but I’m very happy we could create music that feels natural and isn’t influenced by trends or the current scene.
On the Heavy and Ominous Atmosphere of arika EP
MS: I find the interpretation of “ominous” intriguing. That’s exactly the concept of “radical silence.” When you’ve been creating music for many years, crafting beautiful melodies isn’t particularly difficult.
What we aim to achieve with mojera is music that incorporates elements of “poison” even if it’s beautiful, as we believe that’s what characterizes our sound. That said, we’re fundamentally a versatile unit, so we want to treasure the sounds we find interesting at any given moment.
non (N): The lyrics and vocal lines are also much simpler compared to our previous work. In keeping with the overall simplicity of the songs, I even trimmed down some of the lyrics I had originally planned.
As a result, the atmosphere might feel more ambiguous.
I really like this open-ended style of songwriting, as it leaves room for listeners’ imaginations.
On the “Daisy Bell” Arrangement on Scarlet Moon Christmas Volume VII and on arika EP
MS: “Daisy Bell” is famously known as the first song ever sung by a computer, and it has a very pastoral melody. Although it has no direct connection to Christmas, when I suggested it to non for the Christmas album, she immediately started practicing the guitar, saying, “This feels a bit eerie!” The version we submitted for Scarlet Moon Christmas Vol.7 paired non’s processed, synthesized vocals with contrastingly simple, natural singing and guitar.
By the way, Jayson-san, did you notice that the arrangement spans different generations? It combines PSG and FM synthesis, live performances, and modern synth arrangements. As someone who loves game music, I had a blast incorporating those elements.
On the “vocal-less” Versions of Songs on arika EP
MS: The decision to include vocal-less versions was inspired by 80s analog records (12-inch singles). Of course, non’s vocals are indispensable, but since this EP was also released on cassette tape, the format worked well for dividing the tracks into Side A and Side B. Naturally, the instrumental versions are also incredibly cool, so I hope listeners enjoy them depending on their mood.
On the Atmospheric Nature of the Final Track, “Limestone”
N: The sound you’re referring to is actually a recording I made at Zanpa Misaki, a cliff in Okinawa. While walking around the area, my foot accidentally hit a rock, and the high-pitched, distinctive sound it made was so beautiful that I immediately recorded it. The song I originally created using this sound was reworked for arika EP, keeping that natural recording intact. I think it’s fascinating that it reminded you of a bottle being kicked.
On This Year’s Christmas Contribution, “Neon Lights”
N: Each time we get invited to create music for the Christmas season, I’m amazed at how quickly a year goes by (laughs). At the same time, I’m genuinely happy to create music for such an exciting time of year. mojera’s approach to selecting songs for the season often leans toward non-traditional choices, which I think is a unique aspect of our work.
This year’s “Neon Lights” feels perfect for the season with its warm sound and lyrics, and I believe listeners will enjoy this arrangement.
MS: Kraftwerk originally released this song in 1978, and I’ve always felt a sense of winter and “hope for the future” whenever I hear it. It’s a masterpiece.
On “DJ non Machine Language” from overkill and the return of DJ non
N: Well (laughs), I remember having a lot of fun as DJ during production, so it would be great to have another chance to do it.
MS: If we perform it live, I’d like to keep it old-school with just a drum machine, acid synth, and rap!
On How mojera Differs from Their Day Jobs
N: I think mojera’s activities let us experience the pure joy of creating sounds and reflecting them in our music. There were times when we got so absorbed in creating sounds and playing together that hours passed without us noticing. Then, reconstructing all that within the DAW and completing it as a piece of work is a process I truly enjoy.
MS: Exactly. And the biggest part is that the two of us make the final judgment on everything.
On Their Future Plans and Words for Their Fans
MS: Setting a concept is certainly a shortcut to completing something, but for mojera, the most important thing is doing what we want. If we can create something while enjoying the process—whether that’s making sounds, performing, or singing—it’s ideal.
N: We’re already excited about what we’ll do and create for our next project. I hope everyone looks forward to it!
MS: Just recently, the two of us performed live for the first time.
Thinking about how to present live versions of our music was a refreshing experience, different from production. Both production and live performances are places for experimentation and expression. And next time, we’ll definitely release something without another four-year gap—probably!
Learn More (socials, bio, discography): https://linktr.ee/mojera
SM Christmas series: https://www.scarletmoon.com/christmas/