#news article interview

[yugonoashiato]

The Unwavering Passion of SixTONES for Radio - An Interview with Jun Nagahama

The Unwavering Passion of SixTONES for Radio - An Interview with Jun Nagahama, Who Graduated as a Program Producer, on the Charms of Being a Radio Personality with the Group of Six

Source: https://realsound.jp/2023/09/post-1416645_2.html

SixTONES no All Night Nippon Saturday Special" (commonly referred to as "SixTONES ANN"), hosted by SixTONES members, stands out as a particularly unique radio program. Airing on the iconic "All Night Nippon" network, this show has garnered a dedicated following among both SixTONES fans and general radio listeners alike.

Broadcasted nationwide from Nippon Broadcasting every Saturday night, it has become a cherished presence in the lives of its six hosts and their fans. As of July 2023, Jun Nagahama, the producer at Nippon Broadcasting who had been in charge of the show since its special pre-debut era, is graduating from his role. In light of this transition, we spoke with Mr. Nagahama to understand why this radio show has become such a beloved entity and to explore the charm of SixTONES as radio personalities

"We always said, 'We want to do radio.'"

— First, please tell us how you and SixTONES first crossed paths.

Jun Nagahama (hereinafter referred to as Nagahama): It all began with a special program called "SixTONES no All Night Nippon," which aired in August 2019. I had the privilege of working on that, followed by the New Year's special program called "Sutōnzu no Oshaberi," which aired in January 2020. Subsequently, I became involved as the program producer for "SixTONES ANN," which became a regular show in the spring of 2020. However, this July, I was assigned to the Content Planning Department in the Programming Section, which is typically involved in scheduling, and as a result, I will be graduating from the program.

— So, what exactly does the job of a radio program producer entail?

Nagahama: To put it succinctly, it's like being a director on set. I oversee the program while taking care of various aspects such as quality control of content, budget management, and public relations and promotion.

— You've been involved with SixTONES since the special program in 2019, for approximately four years. What were your initial impressions of SixTONES?

Nagahama: I thought they were fresh and passionate young individuals. Even outside of the broadcasts, they spoke fervently about their love for radio and consistently said, "We want to do radio." Personally, I believe that the enthusiasm of both the speakers and creators is essential, so I think people who genuinely love radio should be radio personalities. Therefore, it was heartwarming for me that they conveyed their love for radio so passionately.

— Indeed, it seems that "SixTONES ANN" is beloved not only by SixTONES fans but also by listeners of "All Night Nippon." Could it be that their genuine love for radio is a contributing factor to this?

Nagahama: When they took on the "All Night Nippon" slot, they expressed a sentiment of "We're here as guests." They said, "We're not just here for our fans to listen; we're guests in a program with a long history like 'All Night Nippon,' and we want to create a show that can be enjoyed by a wide range of radio listeners." They genuinely had this attitude of "We love radio, and we want to entertain," and I believe that attitude gradually communicated itself to the listeners.

The Charms of the Six Radio Personalities

— When "SixTONES ANN" became a regular show, the format included having Juri Tanaka as the main MC with different members appearing on a weekly basis. Regarding Mr. Tanaka, what do you find appealing about him as a radio personality?

Nagahama: I think he excels in assessing the situation. He not only keeps in mind the rotating members in front of him but also imagines each and every listener tuning in on the other side of the microphone. He communicates with the staff, maintains eye contact, and steers the program in that context. He's an excellent MC. He doesn't just focus on his own stories; he has a knack for drawing out the charms of others while taking a step back. So, I had a great deal of trust in him in that regard.

— Did you initially sense Mr. Tanaka had the talent to be a radio personality?

Nagahama: I believe he had the potential, but certain aspects of his talent were brought out as he accumulated more broadcast experience. "SixTONES ANN" began its regular broadcasts with all six members, and from the second episode, we had to switch to remote broadcasting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was an emergency response, it was a challenging situation because the team hadn't yet fully bonded. He endured quite a bit of stress during this time. However, I think it was precisely because of this situation that Mr. Tanaka came to appreciate the importance of communication with the staff.

— As mentioned earlier, the regular broadcasts feature Mr. Tanaka as the main MC, with different members appearing on a weekly basis. What do you think are the attractive qualities of each member as a radio personality?

Nagahama: Regarding Yugo Kochi, he brings a sense of security. I think that Juri Tanaka tends to want to share his own stories when Yugo Kochi is there. Mr. Tanaka, who always tries to draw out the other person, feels comfortable entrusting his own stories to Yugo Kochi when he wants someone to listen. Yugo Kochi is also someone who is considerate and attentive, making him someone that listeners of various generations can comfortably and trustingly tune into. That's why I think we entrusted him with the morning time slot, which many adult listeners tune into, during the "Radio Charity Musicthon," a charity campaign to support visually impaired individuals. (SixTONES served as main hosts for three consecutive years.)

Taiga Kyomoto, on the other hand, is like a toy box. He has the most excitement and curiosity about what kind of "toys" will come out next. He hosted the solo "All Night Nippon" segment within the "Radio Charity Musicthon," and he has a clear taste in music. He can shine both as a musician and as an actor. I find him to be a very fascinating individual.

— How about Hokuto Matsumura? What do you think of his qualities as a radio personality?

Nagahama: I feel that Hokuto Matsumura is like a scholar. He's always a person with a lot on his mind. He seems to want to show a different side of himself here, distinct from his roles as an artist and an actor. He's particularly someone who has been listening to "All Night Nippon" for a long time, so I believe he approaches it with the intention of being a certain way on "All Night Nippon." Also, he tends to have long conversations (laughs). However, I think that's because he has a lot he wants to convey. If he can harness that and organize it, I believe he'll become an even more wonderful presence.

— Nevertheless, many listeners seem to feel a sense of loss when Hokuto Matsumura's free talk segments are shorter.

Nagahama: Since he thinks about many things, he often delves deeper and deeper into a topic until we don't quite reach a conclusion (laughs). But that might be part of his charm.

— What about Jesse and Shintaro Morimoto, the youngest members of the group?

Nagahama: Jesse is often referred to as the "Sun of SixTONES," and for a good reason. When you hear his voice, it can truly brighten your day and make you forget about various troubles. His laugh is probably the most distinctive aspect. When we combine his laughter with the ideas from our side and Juri Tanaka, it goes from "Ahaha!" to "Ihihi!" and eventually becomes "Uhuhu!" It becomes quite an amusing broadcast. As long as his laughter resonates, it feels like the sun in our hearts won't set.

Morimoto, at first, was the type to come up with a lot of material for free talk during our discussions. He used to share many short anecdotes. However, I think one significant turning point was when he portrayed Ryota Yamasato from the comedy duo "Nankai Candies" in the drama "But, There Is Passion" on Nippon TV. As an individual who loves radio and portraying the life of Yamasato, he started embodying Yamasato in a unique way, which notably improved his storytelling abilities. I've seen significant growth in him, where he can now dig deeper into topics and roll them out humorously.

— When we hear your insights, it's clear that each member has a distinct personality. Having such diverse types of members appear on a weekly basis must be interesting, but it also likely presented challenges in creating the program. Could you tell us about any difficulties you encountered?

Nagahama: At first, we had concerns about whether listeners who tuned in one week would return the following week, among other anxieties. To bring out the members' autonomy and to add an element of unpredictability, we introduced a segment called the "Jingle On-Air Battle," where the possibility of members other than the designated ones for the week also making appearances was included. In today's context, playing back last week's jingles on-air is one of the innovative ideas from those times.

Members other than Mr. Tanaka would only appear on the show once in a while. Finding a way for fans of the members who were on air last week to continue listening this week has always been a challenge. However, I feel that it has gradually changed because individual fans and program listeners, beyond just fans of the group, have grown. I've also noticed an increase in people from other professional fields telling us, "It's interesting," when we meet them elsewhere.

Experimentation and the Establishment of Radio Culture among Fans

— You've been hosting the program for a long time, from the first episode. Are there any episodes that left a particularly strong impression on you?

Nagahama: There are many memorable episodes, but if I were to choose three, the first one would be the episode when we returned to the studio after the remote broadcasts (May 30, 2020). It felt like reuniting with comrades after a battle. The period of remote broadcasting lasted about two months, and it felt much longer than that. So, the sense of excitement and emotion when we returned was remarkable.

The second one would be the "48th Radio Charity Musicthon" episode where we live-streamed "SixTONES ANN" with video for the first time (December 24, 2022). The members had been expressing their desire to do video streaming for a long time, and this time, we were able to make it happen while still being a radio show. Initially, we thought the listeners would focus on the video element, but on social media, we saw comments like, "I want to watch the video, but I still want to enjoy the regular 'All Night Nippon' because that's the way I usually enjoy it." It showed that each listener had their own way of enjoying the show, by listening on the radio, participating on social media, and sharing the atmosphere, all of which are part of the usual enjoyment of the program. Realizing that this regular way of enjoying the show had caught on was truly satisfying. I also won't forget that they sang "Always" as a Christmas present on that day.

The third one would be the episode that aired as part of the "All Night Nippon 55-Hour Special" to celebrate the 55th anniversary of All Night Nippon (February 18, 2023). It was a part of the extensive special program spanning 55 hours with a common theme for discussions: "What you want to tell your past self." In line with this theme, we looked back on the path we had walked so far. It was striking how they talked brightly about the days of struggles and doubts they had faced. Particularly, when Juri Tanaka said to their selves from a few years ago, "I want to tell you about the future, where we have a regular radio show," and Taiga Kyomoto added, "They'll be thrilled," with a smile. It was a wonderful moment. When you spend time together, you sometimes encounter moments that feel like " reconciling with the efforts they had made over the years." It's a precious moment where you can start walking forward again.

— The story about the "Musicthon" episode is indeed amazing. Many people appreciate their visuals, but the fact that they choose audio over video suggests that the culture of "radio" has truly taken root among fans.

Nagahama: It was really heartwarming to know that fans who like SixTONES also appreciate SixTONES' radio, "All Night Nippon," and radio culture in general.

— "SixTONES ANN" being a live broadcast also seems to add to its charm.

Nagahama: I think this applies not only to SixTONES but to all live broadcasts. Sharing at the same time creates a special connection, and listeners can feel that they're spending that moment together.

— SixTONES often do live broadcasts remotely even when they are on concert tours, even if they are far away.

Nagahama: "All Night Nippon" has a culture of being primarily live, and they have a stance of being part of the "All Night Nippon" culture, so they do live broadcasts. I think it can be physically demanding, but I believe they approach the broadcasts with the intention of delivering their current voices. I'm grateful for that.

— Up to this point, we've been talking about the members' discussions. On the other hand, "All Night Nippon" also has a culture that values music. In "SixTONES ANN," how do you think SixTONES' music plays a role?

Nagahama: Since their primary performance stays consistent and their identity as artists is firmly established, I think they can go all out on the radio. I believe music is one of the things that gives them confidence. Sony Music also cooperates with us, and sometimes they choose radio as the place to debut their new songs, like the 11th single "CREAK" released this week. I grew up being told by senior directors that "radio is a treasure chest," and I want to cherish the excitement of listeners opening that treasure chest. Therefore, when we create the contents of this treasure chest together, it's important to be excited, and SixTONES' music becomes an essential element of that.

— As you mentioned earlier, you graduated from the program in July. What kind of role do you hope the listeners, or "Little Stones" (the general term for "SixTONES ANN" listeners), will play in supporting SixTONES as radio personalities in the future?

Nagahama: I believe the existence of "Little Stones" will surely be a support for them. Just as listeners have been a source of strength for me, they may already serve the same purpose for SixTONES. I hope "Little Stones" can be like a stabilizer that allows them to enjoy any challenge they take on, and I would be delighted if the program continues to grow with their support. I also hope that it has a positive impact on their main profession. I'm truly grateful to the six members who love "radio," love "All Night Nippon," and have joined us here. They have passion and strong bonds, so I hope they can run forward with confidence.

[colinmorgan-beautifulsmile]

COLIN MORGAN INTERVIEWED ABOUT HIS DEBUT NOVEL

"i couldn't be more honoured to have my debut novel in the caring hands of clare gordon and all at hq/harpercollins. the crafting of this novel had already been a heartfelt and impassioned one for me, and now to be joined by a team whose passion and care for this story is immense has been one of the most overwhelming and exciting moments of my career." - colin morgan

"colin is an incredibly natural writer and I couldn't be prouder to be working with him to bring his phenomenal novel to the world." - editor claire gordon

[kensatou]

what if we were teammates of 19 years who said things like "i remember watching you play in latvia, thinking how lucky i was that i was going to be your teammate" and "sid saved me" and "only for pittsburgh, always with sid" and "i just always liked him from the start. always have. always will"... and we were both boys

(and what if sports reporters wrote alpha/alpha romance about us. what then.)

[heartless-aro]

People when a character is aromantic or aromantic coded: Wowie! They’re aroACE! Because they aren’t interested in romance! Look at how aroace they are!

People when a character is aroace or aroace coded: Isn’t it cool that this character is asexual? Asexual icon! They’re such great asexual representation :)

[three-headed-monster]

luke hughes wants to dine with julius caesar

[world-of-wales]

THE 'DUCHY DAY' WITH THE 25TH DUKE OF CORNWALL! [1/2]

On a sunny field on the outskirts of Bath, there is a loud pop of a sparkling-wine cork. “I thought you’d never ask,” says the Prince of Wales, grinning and accepting a glass of fizz from the vineyard stretching out in front of him, on Duchy of Cornwall farmland.

He asks local producers questions about soil type, the weather and the history of the land before taking a sip and proclaiming it “lovely” and “very discreet”, at the start of a day that will go on as pleasantly as it began.

For Prince William, this is not just an outing in the peace and quiet of the countryside. He is here in his role as Duke of Cornwall, head of the estate he inherited the moment his grandmother died in 2022.

Vast, complex, and spanning 128,494 acres of land across 20 counties, the Duchy takes in both rural and urban life, and the priorities under its 25th Duke – William – range from ending homelessness to restoring rivers. He wants to use it as another “branch of his philanthropy”, he tells me: existing for “social impact” rather than as an old-style financial resource to be drawn from.

The Prince tries to visit part of the Duchy once every four to six weeks, working his way through its farms and offices to meet families and staff, shake hands and quiz them on what he can do to help. His visits are usually private, rarely making the Court Circular and kept quiet by loyal locals who are used to royal comings and goings.

In the middle of May, Kensington Palace granted a rare exception, giving permission for The Telegraph to join the Prince on a “Duchy day” for the first time since he took it over.

It has been six years since theuly first spent on the farm with Prince William. Then, he was in the apprentice role, shadowing his father, and modestly telling farmers, “I’ll try my best.” Now, he is fully in the driving seat, lit up with ideas on how to make his mark and, in his words, change the lives of those who live in his Duchy for the better.

He is, unmistakably, a man on a mission: to reform his Duchy so it is fit for 2025 and beyond; a “positive force for good” that will actively “make people’s lives better”. “We’re not the traditional landowner,” he tells me. “We want to be more than that.”

“There is so much good we can do,” he says.

He ends the day with a longer to-do list than when he started, and takes home a bottle of home-grown Duchy apple juice. He will have to drink it, he jokes, before his children can get their hands on it.

WHAT IS THE DUCHY?

For an estate that dates back to 1337, established by Edward III to generate private income for his then seven-year-old heir, the Duchy of Cornwall is geographically huge. Officially it exists to fund the life and work of the Duke of Cornwall and his family, which also goes towards running the Kensington Palace operation and paying staff – and passes to the next generation intact: the Duke’s role is as steward of the land.

As with other landowners, tenants pay rent to the Duchy, and there are commercial leases and market-rate deals with public bodies for properties on estate land. The Prince pays voluntary income tax with annual accounts reported to Parliament and oversight from the Treasury.

As of now, it has a new strap-line: “Positive impact for people, places and planet.” The “people” part is seen as mission-critical, including a heavy focus on solving homelessness, supporting the mental health of farmers, and arranging get-togethers to combat rural loneliness.

More than 150 people work across its eight offices, under the leadership of new secretary Will Bax and, ultimately, Prince William. Its largest landholdings are in Devon. The estate spans land from Herefordshire and Wales to Kent, inner-city London, the Isles of Scilly, sections of rivers in Dartmoor, Cornish beaches up to the high-tide line, and Plymouth Harbour.

Tintagel Castle, Cornwall :

It remains most famous for the Duchy Originals organic food line established by the then Prince Charles in 1990. Though it is now owned by Waitrose (and called Duchy Organic), the estate’s annual report warns it could still be muddled in the public imagination.

Since Prince William stepped into the role of Duke of Cornwall, he has embarked on a careful but wholesale stocktake of what is working and what is not. He wants to “dig deeply” to get a “true feel for what the Duchy is doing”, he tells me now, “trying to just go through with a fine-tooth comb”.

“The Duchy has been a positive force for good, but we can do so much more. I think the key thing is, it’s about not losing the important community and historical links of the Duchy. But it’s also about making sure we’re building on and enhancing, modernising the Duchy. We’re going to modernise it without losing its key spirit of community.”

"it’s going to take a bit of time” – likening updating the 700-year-old Duchy to “turning a tanker” – but he is determined to shift the focus away from the revenue-raising of old to put “social impact” at the centre. He chairs a quarterly meeting of The Prince’s Council, attending numerous other committees. He sends questions to staff and chases answers via WhatsApp on any given day.

THE VISIT :

On that mid-May day, the Prince arrives at Corston Fields Farm full of apologies. He is slightly late, after a train journey to Bath so delayed that the words “rail replacement service” were mentioned.

The farm, run by self-described “farmer and farmer’s husband” Emily and Eddie Addicott-Sauvao, is an exemplar of Duchy life: Emily’s parents have been tenants since 1982 (“the same year I was born”, William notes), and their two daughters now lend a hand with pruning. They have diversified into growing quinoa and a line in high-end events at the vineyard including food, wine and music pairing. Their award-winning Minerva sparkling wine, which the Prince tries, is priced at £120.

“We’ve chosen the right day for it,” he says, as the sun blazes and swallows fly in blue skies over- head. “Beautiful.”

The Prince notices everything.

“What’s this here?” he wonders, spotting wool from a scratching sheep at the bottom of a couple of the vines, and hears how the Romans used to grow similar grapes 2,000 years ago in the fields nearby. Like all farmers, he is preoccupied by the weather: it has been dry and he wants to know how it will affect their harvest.

He quizzes Rosa, 13, and Charlotte, 10, on what they like about living in the countryside (“you’ve got to get muddy haven’t you, that’s critical”), and tells them about his daughter of the same name.

He is particularly interested in the “community days” the couple host at the farm, where locals come, get their hands dirty helping out and meeting their neighbours, before being rewarded with lunch.

Asked what the Duchy can do to help their day-to-day lives as tenants, patriarch Gerald Addicott teases the Prince that he could make it “rent-free”.

“You’re not the first person to say that,” laughs William, adding – apparently semi-seriously – that he questioned whether he could do just that when he took over, and “got a lot of sweaty faces” responsible for balancing the books looking back at him.

Having spent the past few years speaking to farmers, he has concerns about how best to convince the public of the quality and benefits of locally grown, sustainably produced food.

“There is a huge problem here and I haven’t got an answer,” he says of how to recognise the work of British farmers amid cheap supermarket food and the “generalised” approach of the “mass retailers”. “We keep asking more and more of our farmers but you don’t necessarily get any benefits back on top of everything you have to do.”

Figuring out whether the Duchy can help to promote its small producers is on his to-do list. Staff, are used to receiving a follow-up call or message after each of these visits.

When Emily raises her own concerns about the lack of rural skills being taught in schools, the Prince nods. “We keep talking about the importance of being outside in nature but we don’t always give the jobs,” he says. “These jobs where you have that time in nature and think, ‘I enjoy it, I’m loving this.’ The opportunities need to be there in schools.”

By now, Matthew Morris, the rural director of the Duchy of Cornwall, who is tasked with keeping the Prince vaguely to schedule today, is trying to catch William’s attention with an eye on the ticking clock.

He has worked for the Duchy for six years, with both the now King Charles and Prince William. He notes cheerfully that staff no longer feel the need to put on a tie when the Duke of Cornwall is in town.

THE BOSS

It is a cliché to say that the Prince is in his element, but he is. After a period he has described as “probably the hardest year of my life”, he is as relaxed as I have seen him in a long time.

Without the usual press pack travelling with him, he is freer to speak and laughs easily, standing with hands in his pockets and visibly thrilled when he gets the chance to tease one of his team. He is delighted to hear that the office dog barks at Bax (“perhaps it’s the beard”).

His passion for all he can do at the Duchy is infectious. “He’s easy to follow because he’s got great conviction and personality, and he really wears his heart on his sleeve in terms of social interest and his desire to have a positive impact in the world,” says Bax.

The Prince is “pretty demanding”, he concedes – quickly clarifying “that’s great” – with a “pretty ambitious” outlook. Part of the job is amplifying others: “seeing the spark and getting the bellows out”.

Ben Murphy, estate director, describes the relationship between Duke and Duchy as its leader “laying down the challenge and it’s for us to figure out how to address it”. Prince William has a “healthy impatience, as his father did”, which “puts the wind in our sails; he really cares”, Murphy adds.

Henry Meacock, the chief executive of homelessness charity St Petrocs, is partnering with the estate on its first housing project with wraparound care to break the cycle of homelessness, with the initial phase due to be complete by the end of this year, and a policy of “blind tenure” meaning that private renters in Cornwall will live alongside social and supported housing. Prince William “is personally driving the timetable”, he says. “He would like to deliver more and quicker.”

In other words, he is putting his money where his mouth is. “He’s personally invested in the project and personally investing as well.”

The work, which is largely invisible to the public, is done alongside the day job of public engagements undertaken as Prince of Wales, passion projects such as The Earthshot Prize and Homewards, and responsibilities including investitures and overseas travel representing his father and the Government.

THE VISION

Since taking over, Prince William has incorporated much of the work he has been doing elsewhere in his royal life.

Nansledan, a new community being built as an extension to Newquay, will be the site of the aforementioned 24 homes dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness. The build will use low-carbon materials developed by one of his Earthshot Prize finalists.

On family holidays to the Isles of Scilly, where he, the Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis stay on Tresco, William got into the habit of quizzing residents about what would improve their lives. As a result, a new health and social care facility includes a modern maternity suite, there will be designated key-worker housing to encourage teachers and doctors to stay, and a strategy to make tourism more sustainable.

Elsewhere, there are hopes of reviving Cornish high streets and transforming Kennington communities.

On the rural side, the Duchy will create 50 hectares (or 70 football pitches’ worth) of new woodland per year, restore damaged peatland as part of a major “Dartmoor vision” project, and take tenants on the “journey” to net zero by 2032.

It has already returned water voles to the rivers in Cornwall.

“I see the Duchy as an extension of the work we do with the Royal Foundation,” says William.

While the Foundation, the main charitable vehicle of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has worked traditionally in urban areas, on topics including homelessness, mental health and child development, the Duchy can extend it to the countryside.

“I see it as a branch of my philanthropy. There’s so much good we can do in the rural world. I see it [the Duchy] as another arm to the work that I want to do, which is being a positive force for good. I think the Duchy have got way more levels and gears they can go through to be able to be a bigger force in the community.” He said.

The Prince and his staff tend to use the same language when asked about his personal ambitions: impact, vision, scale. “He’s a man on a mission,” confirms Will Bax. “He’s asking us to change and evolve in a way to deliver positive impact at scale and at pace.”

'While the Duchy has rural communities and environmental stewardship in its DNA, the new era will see some subtle differences including a focus on people, creating a really strong safety net for the vulnerable in society, and doubling down on the environmental agenda”.

To stewardship – “that idea of leaving something better than you found it” – they hope to add leader-ship: “Not being a benign presence but being a presence that is willing to lead on issues that we care about.” The Duchy will also shout more about its achievements.

“The Duchy has perhaps been a slightly discreet organisation that hasn’t really put its head above the parapet very much, that hasn’t spoken very publicly about what’s important to us and what we’re here to achieve, And we’re seeking to remove any ambiguity and ensure people understand that our objective is to deliver positive impact for people, for places and the planet.” he says

While Prince William cannot enter the political arena, with Bax confirming there is a “fine line between politics and policy”, the Duchy is nevertheless “seeking to find our voice where we think we can represent sensible, balanced views on issues that affect our communities”.

“The Duchy in the past I think has been cautious in that space,” Bax continues. “We’ll continue to be cautious but we won’t continue to be voiceless.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/05/30/prince-william-exclusive-duchy-cornwall-bring-real-change/

[muzaktomyears]

“When you start with the Beatles, your résumé looks pretty good,” Chris O’Dell says. A new documentary charts the extent of that CV, as a music manager with bands including Fleetwood Mac, Genesis and Santana, but it all began with a chance encounter in Los Angeles in 1968.

Derek Taylor was heading publicity at the Beatles’ company, Apple Corps, and O’Dell was a low-level assistant in radio promotion. When Taylor suggested she come work at the Apple office in London, she dropped everything and moved halfway across the world. “Paul [McCartney] was there every day organising everything,” she says, on the phone from her home in Arizona. “One day he came into my office and said, ‘Chris, should we use paper towels or cloth towels in the bathroom?’ That’s how detailed he was.”

(source)

1968 Paul I am obsessed with you

[felassan]

Article: 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard took "so long" as BioWare "wanted to make sure we got this one right" - that, and "it takes a long time to record 700 characters" and 140,000 lines'

The Veilguard is "the best version" of itself that it could be

Excerpt:

"BioWare reveals why Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been in the works for a long, long time - and it sounds like the upcoming RPG is downright massive, from dialogue to voice acting. The 10-year wait for a new Dragon Age is coming to a close as the fall season approaches, meaning that excitement for the game is at an all-time high. Why did The Veilguard take "so long" to come to fruition, though? Speaking in an interview with GamesRadar+, creative director John Epler and creative performance director Ashley Barlow explain why work on the beloved RPG series' soon-to-come entry was seemingly slower. "We had other projects going on at BioWare as well," Epler says. "We wanted to make sure we got this one right." The developer continues, calling The Veilguard "the best version" that the new Dragon Age "could possibly be." Barlow then chimes in, describing how she's been working on the game for five years now alongside its cast of actors: "We started casting five years ago. The team, the talent has been on for five years." And, according to Barlow, five years isn't that long considering the amount of work the cast had to do: "It takes a long time to record 700 characters, you know - 80,000 lines or 140,000 lines with all the Rooks. It just takes time to make good."

[source]

[vimflam]

[cultofpoppy-tm]

Poppy for NME, November 2024

[a-night-like--this]

[yugonoashiato]

Yugo Kochi – It's important to be enthusiastic about what you want to be – Birdman TV Show

Yugo Kochi (29) from the six-member group SixTONES appeared as a studio guest on NTV's special programme 'Bird Man Contest 2023' (Aug 30, 7pm). He watched the romantic flight over Lake Biwa live. The sight of the birdmen fulfilling their dream of soaring in the sky made him realise that "as in our idol work, it's important to have the 'enthusiasm to be a birdman'", and that it overlapped with his own career path. We also asked him about their flight as a group and his thoughts on his last year in his twenties.

This year marked the 45th anniversary of this major summer event and we cheered from a special studio by the lake. It was, of course, the first time he had seen the event live. Watching his friends pray from the platform, he said: "It's a very human documentary. I realised that a four-metre headwind is tough. It was a luxury to be able to enjoy it again on air".

He even visited the platform from which the plane took off. Although his name '髙地' means 'highland', he said: "When I see how high it is, I wouldn't dare to run down 10 metres in a glider by myself. I prefer low ground," he said with a wry smile.

Watching the flight of the 28 teams in the Human Powered Propeller Aircraft category, he was impressed by the division of labour in designing, directing and supporting the pilots in their training. The team's performance was also supported by the lighting crew, the choreographer and others, without whom we could not create a single piece of work. That's why we cry when we succeed and feel frustrated when we fail.

When asked if he would form a SixTONES flying team, he replied: "I would be the leader of the cheering squad. I am the leader of the cheering squad! I don't want to be involved in the design (laughs). The pilot could be Tanaka, who is surprisingly agile. He's also light and has guts when he puts his mind to it," he fantasised.

The group took off on six wings in 2015. It also experienced headwinds. "We were said to be in a fierce junior battleground with Snow Man and Travis Japan, who are now doing well in their generation, and there were whispers that we might not be able to make our debut. But I didn't give up and that was a big part of it. I've got a tailwind too: I'm being challenged by a company with the latest technology." [E/N: I think he meant Sony 😭🙏🏻].

His debut came in the middle of the Corona disaster. "I couldn't do the location work properly and my TV time was short... When you jump before you fly, you have to bend your knees. If you look at it like it was time to bend your knees, it wasn't bad." He also sees the flow as a positive: 'I didn't get tired from being busy, I had a good slow start and was able to keep going without strain."　

Of course, the status quo cannot be maintained. "I have to carry more weapons on my back. It's important to sharpen the weapons in my backpack. I certainly don't want people to think I haven't changed since my debut." His appearance on the current show was also well received for his comments. It must have been stimulating.

He is the oldest member of the group and will be 30 next March. "I joke about it on the radio, but I'm thinking of keeping my age a secret when I turn 30 (laughs). I don't want to be limited by my age. If I don't force myself to look young and do my best to do my own thing, I think I will look young naturally. I don't say things like 'I'm already an old man' when I turn 30 (laughs). I want to greet my juniors cheerfully.” As his surname suggests, he is aiming high.

From Yahoo Article:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/996487d58a141fb0761ee49c45eae3cc04c4ee8f

[goddesspharo]

You can be an actor for hire, and that is a worthy profession. You don't have to be at the keyboard. But I do think you have to be a fan of good writing — and to understand why you engage with good writing — to stay in the game. Otherwise, once you get on set, it'd just be luck. [x]

[pineapplefulfillseveryneed]

AP: Have you guys ever thought about retiring? RUSSELL: Retiring? What’s that? If your whole thing in life kind of is creating stuff, there’s no, you know, there is no such thing as doing something else, so, you know, it hasn’t crossed our minds. Maybe we’re blind or something to that, but no, we’re really happy.

[superbat-lmao]

Jason becomes GothamPoet on twitter and writes little haikus about the city.

Gargoyles above

Grey fog rolls off the river

Bats fly in the dark

A gunshot below

my window. The paint chips like

flakes of red black blood.

Sirens and barking

Paw prints in muddy grass blades

Glinting silver cuffs

Footsteps on rooftops

Capes slide on my fire escape

White eyes in black smoke

Thorns crushed on sidewalks

Powder dusting over boots

White wilted petals

The parking garage

By the hospital is cold

In the August heat

He gains a small underground following. It’s mostly about life in the city, sometimes vigilantes or rogues. There is little nature in Gotham except for Ivy’s vines. On the day the Joker dies he posts:

The death of laughter

pulled from bloody teeth. A smile

of rigor mortis.

[menendezsource]

Hi guys! Just wanted to come on here and share this article with you all. This article features Lyle and he talks about spending his first Christmas with Erik in Prison after not seeing each other in 22 years! I decided to share this with you all since I thought that it was fitting since it’s Christmas time!