In the universe of Japanese idol groups, there is one particular group that caught my eye: an independent musical powerhouse, OHL. Comprising seven members: SHURU, Junya, Gen, KANNA, KTA, Ryusei, and Nao, the group leaves no stone unturned in their pursuit of delivering J-pop to those unfamiliar with the genre itself. And with each member bringing their individual charm to the table, one can hope that, as an independent group, they will manage to thrive not only in Japan but also overseas. 

View of the Arts had the privilege of sitting down with OHL members over Zoom and talking about their beginnings, and the inspiration behind their recent releases, which dive into the difficulties of love as well as the pursuit of self-expression. We also discussed how their independence has shaped their artistic direction, their collaborative spirit, and their vision for the future.

View of the Arts: OHL has gained considerable attention as an independent idol group. Can you tell me how your decision to establish yourselves independently has influenced your creative process and artistic direction?

Junya: I am the one who first had the idea of starting OHL. [At that time] I was working on some things under a music label. There, I had lessons alongside SHURU and Ryusei. The three of us connected, and we talked about starting a group, OHL, which was suggested to me by a person who was helping me out at that time. I also knew [Gen] and KTA [before we created the group]. At first, we were a group of five, but I really wanted to have more people, exactly seven, as it would allow us to do more [when it comes to music]. Therefore, I invited two more people who were KTA’s connections, Nao and KANNA. After adding the two extra guys, we became OHL.

VOA: You are involved in songwriting and composition. What is your creative process, and who is responsible for what in the group?

GEN: Obviously, there are so many J-pop groups over here in Japan, and we wanted to aim to become not only genuine artists but also artists who create good quality music. Having concepts and ideas come from the members, their feelings, and their mindset [is wonderful]; music must come from the actual artist. [Our music] comes from using our emotions, which are later conveyed into lyrics. Although I often take the lead when making the songs, the whole purpose of making music is to express our thoughts and feelings. Our minds are free; there are no restrictions on what we want to create, and that’s the idea behind our creativity and compositions.

VOA: Periodt., which was released on August 22nd, explores the themes of addictive love and inner conflict. How do you plan to translate these emotions into both your music and performances? And what was the creative process behind this release? GEN, you wrote the lyrics, what was on your mind when writing them? 

GEN: The theme of Periodt. continues the story from our previous single: Addictive Love. With Addictive Love, I wanted to express the shape and form of love towards OHL’s fans and other people who are addicted to love. The demo was made by me, and when I showed it to the rest of the guys, they all listened to my vocals and tried to find their own spot vocally within the song. For this song, I chose the vocal parts of each member by listening to the sound and quality of their voices. Some members are fit for rap, some for higher pitches. For example, SHURU sang the chorus because he has a very good, higher-toned voice.

VOA: SENSUAL, your fifth single, was released on August 29th, and it’s described as a slow R&B song delving into bittersweet emotions. Could you shed some light on how you crafted this track, especially KANNA, who wrote the lyrics? Also, how did you decide on the vocal distribution for this song?

KANNA: The meaning of the song [is different from our previous releases]. This time, our song takes you to a place at night; you have two lovers enjoying the moonlight. The couple loves each other a lot, but their feelings are overwhelming. The song says, “I would like to call you, and I would like to talk to you, and I would like to see you. I miss you so much, and I might go mad because of this feeling”. Sometimes, that special feeling of love that one shares with another person can be too much, and it can go wrong. Also, with that in mind, there is always that one person in the relationship that carries the light that can, like the moonlight, lighten up the other person’s life.

VOA: Change Ma Life (which was released on Sept 3rd) is described as a powerful anthem about breaking free from conventional notions. How does this song represent OHL’s determination to create the music that you want? SHURU, you wrote the lyrics, so could you tell me what inspired you to write the song?

SHURU:  The theme of this song continues the story again from Addictive Love and Periodt. and the level of love that one can possess. In addition, there is a clear difference between the chorus and the rap parts, from the musical arrangements to the vocal arrangements. The chorus’ part describes love as quite straightforward, but in the rap part, it’s more about making ourselves a little bit cooler while rapping. Also, while writing the song, I already knew who would rap in what part and who would sing the other parts of the song. It was a well-planned process.

VOA: Just to make this conversation a bit more chilled, let’s talk about what you like to do in your spare time.

Ryusei: I really like coffee, so I go to cafes to relax. I also love cats, so I just like watching cat videos.

Nao: I love fishing a lot; sometimes it takes me six or seven hours. My room looks like a fishing store with all the equipment and tools.

KTA: I like going to Izakaya Japanese pubs. I often go to Ueno, in Tokyo; it is a popular place to have a nice drink. I go there with my friends, and if you are ever in Tokyo, I highly recommend you go there.

Junya: I love dogs, not cats, but dogs [laughs]. Whenever I can, I like to spend time with my two dogs that are in my hometown. In general, I like being busy, so I don’t have much free time to myself. But when I do, I like to do things related to dogs.

KENNA: I love to sleep, and I like to do shopping.

GEN: I am a member of the group as well as the CEO of a company, so in my spare time, I work as the CEO, really. The rest of my time is spent with the group. So, I am always working, working, and working [laughs].

SHURU: I like Netflix. I love watching an anime series called Baki.

VOA: Collaborating with producer RYUJA has been pivotal to your artistic growth. Can you provide examples of how this collaboration has helped the group evolve its sound and creativity?

GEN: RYUJA’s involvement helped us a lot because of his high level of professionalism; he is one of the best engineers out there. He makes your songs sound great. RYUJA previously worked with BTS, and that’s how we knew that he is great at what he does. We appreciate and admire his work. Especially as we write and make our own music, having RYUJA on board was a great experience.

VOA: You also released your mini album called PEACE ONE and held a live concert. Could you tell us more about it?

SHURU: So, the three songs we talked about are on the aforementioned EP, plus the instrumental version. When it came to our first show, I was responsible for its production. During our concert, we also showed what we are made of and what we want to do in the future. The theme of the show was Creativity Towards the Future.

VOA: Each member of OHL brings their individual charm to the group. How do these qualities contribute to the group’s overall dynamic, and how do you work as a group? You must have different personalities and music tastes.

Junya: Each member has different advantages. For example, KTA is very good when it comes to R&B, and I might not have experience in a European style of singing, but I know how to sing in Japanese. Nao and Ryusei are both very good at dancing. We also cover each other in such a way that if someone is not good at something, the other member may be covered by another member. Also, giving thought to what works best for the group is always discussed between us, we [do take everyone’s opinions into account]. We try to avoid having conflicts and fights [laughs].

GEN: To add to what Junya already said, I would like to add that each member has their own role to play in the group. So over time, we have become a good team.

VOA: What can we expect from you in the last months of 2023?

GEN: Our third-year anniversary will be on the 29th of January 2024, so we will probably celebrate it with live shows, but nothing is concrete just yet, though we would like to do something special to celebrate our anniversary. 

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Translator / Interpreter: Yuko Harris

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}