"On the Way Down" by Japanese Heart Software
I enjoy asking people questions about their songs and album artwork. I suppose that most of the time I assume a vivid memory will be shared or an intention will be re-counted. I haven't run into too much b.s. yet, or so I think, but sometimes you run into memory's weird and complicated cousin, time. Nat Chippy, the woman behind the dreampop of Japanese Heart Software, said it simply when I asked her if there was a story behind her song "On the Way Down".
"I'm not sure if I'd have too much to say," she laughed. " I wrote that one so long ago."
Ha! I guess that’s an interesting question for artists - how do you remember everything at some point? Or what do you remember about your creative process vs what do you tend to forget.
Haha, yeah, totally, I guess for me when writing music I don't "think" that much, it's usually more of an emotional response. I think it's like with life in general we remember the intense parts and the good parts and forget about all the little steps we took to get there. So, with writing I remember having the original idea that snowballs straight into the exciting feeling of having something ready to share, but all those bits in between, who knows... haha!"
On the Way Down" was written in the 2020 lockdown and was originally for a compilation put together by the artist Teen Idle. I haven't really gone back and analysed that one too much, but I'll just say it was a dark time. When I had the rest of my album ready to send off for mastering I felt like it had a place on there, so I included it on Soft.
I only have the digital version, but I see on Bandcamp that you mention a "lyric zine"?
The lyric zine came about because I like to include an art element with my releases, so with my cassette I did a limited edition print and I wanted the album to feel more special. I'm always a bit hesitant to share lyrics, but also I've realised generally people find their own meanings in songs rather than staring directly into the depths of my original expression, which is always interesting to hear.
And what about the album artwork for Soft... who made, and ate, the cake?!
The cake happened because I was losing my mind trying to come up with an album art idea that matched the songs. One day I was scrolling online and a still from Picnic at Hanging Rock popped up, the one with the girls hand holding a knife piercing through this perfect heart-shaped cake and I was like "thats it!". Thematically in my mind it felt like the cake represented softness and sensitivity and the the destruction of it almost felt like power and a celebration of owning those traits.
Anyway, yeah, so I ordered that cake, it was expensive and sadly didn't even get eaten! I'm vegan and I tried to find a vegan bakery who would make it, but they all said no, so sadly it went in the bin, haha!
Oh no! You didn't even get to eat the cake?!
Yeah, it was hard to throw away, I'm sure it would have been delicious, ha!
There looks to be an 'after' shot of the Soft cake on Japanese Heart Software's Bandcamp :) Hopefully Nat can get a vegan version of the cake re-created for an anniversary of the album in the future. Fingers crossed for new Japanese Heart Software songs soon!