[EXCLUSIVE] Like a Bloody Storm – Interview with Kazusou Oda (Coda)

I will definitely count this year’s Magnificon Winter Expo among my “Great Days.” After all, for the whole weekend Krakow turned into “Crazy Noisy Bizarre Town,” which attracted many artists from all over the world. One of them was Kazusou Oda, better known as Coda, who gave two concerts during the festival and took the stage by (bloody) storm. And I know that the next thing you’ll say is: “okay, so what?” Well, let’s just say we had the opportunity to meet Coda and ask him a few questions, which you can read about in this interview. 

Oda is a Japanese singer-songwriter, composer and sound producer. He was originally the vocalist of the Japanese rock band No Regret Life before going under a pseudonym to perform “BLOODY STREAM”, the second opening for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

He is a prominent contributor to the theme songs for the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime, providing vocals for several key tracks and projects:

• Main Series Theme: Coda performed the opening theme song “Fighting Gold” for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind.
• Anthology Compilation: Coda performed on the compilation song “JoJo: The Memories of That Blood ~end of THE WORLD~” as part of the group JO☆STARS. This song was featured in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.
• OVA Theme: Coda also sang the theme song “FINDING THE TRUTH” for the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan OVAs (Original Video Animations).
• Jazz Project: In addition to these main series and OVA themes, Coda is the vocalist and pianist for the Coda Piano Trio, which has released several jazz covers of other theme songs from the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series.

In this interview, we asked CODA about his experience working on music for JoJo, his impressions of concerts in Poland, and the behind-the-scenes story of how he composes his songs. 

Polish – Japanese translation: Jakub Wójcik. 

How do you feel after performing two concerts within just two days? 

It was an incredible experience for me, especially because I was welcomed by such passionate and dedicated fans. I was truly impressed by the atmosphere at both the Saturday and Sunday concerts. 

Even though many songs were repeated at both shows, the setlists weren’t identical. What was your idea for these performances? 

There are a lot of songs in my repertoire, especially those from JoJo. If I could, I would sing all of them, especially since they give fans so much positive energy. But because I had limited time here, I performed about 90% of the JoJo songs, and I also included one track that I really wanted to perform. It was the ending theme for Naruto, titled “Nakushita Kotoba,” which I wrote back when I was still in the band. 

You mean the band No Regret Life? 

Yes, we formed No Regret Life in 2001, and the band was active until 2013. I was the vocalist and guitarist. 

Why is that particular song so important to you? 

The reason is that when we released our second album – which included this song – it was immediately chosen as an ending theme for Naruto. That was the first time one of my songs reached a wider audience beyond rock music fans. It was also my debut in anime, so it was essentially the very first step toward building a career in that direction. 

We can’t go further without talking about JoJo. How did your bizarre adventure begin? 

It all started when a very close friend of mine, who also happens to be a sound engineer, asked whether I’d like to submit an entry for the JoJo opening competition. So, I took his advice and performed “Bloody Stream,” which was immediately well received. That moment changed a lot in my life, but my main focus back then was to stay true to the original source material and reflect its character as faithfully as possible. That’s why at first I performed without showing my face at all, so listeners would focus on the music, not the artist. 

And what does JoJo mean to you personally? 

There’s a saying that people live by influencing one another, and that’s exactly how I see JoJo. It’s a series that ultimately tells very human stories. Sure, there are supernatural elements, but at its core, it’s about people and their experiences.

Which JoJo song do you feel the most when performing live?

It won’t be a surprise when I say “Bloody Stream” and “Fighting Gold,” since those are the songs I’m most connected with. But recently, “Crazy Noisy Bizarre Town” has been taking my concerts by storm, it’s a song everyone has fun with and knows the lyrics to, so they sing along with me.

Changing the subject a bit: you’re a vocalist, but also a guitarist, composer, and lyricist. How do you combine all these roles in your work? 

I think that just like eating, breathing, or getting out of bed is natural for everyone, music is that natural thing for me. It has always been part of my life, so creating songs is like breathing to me. 

And how do you usually start the creative process? 

I begin by humming melodies that come to mind, and then I write down the most interesting ideas. Once I have a general concept, I move on and work out the details. 

Do you have any sources of inspiration outside the original material? 

My main source of inspiration is human relationships: loved ones, friends, and also opportunities to meet new people. Even the fact that we’re having this interview today – and that people who read it might someday want to meet me at a concert. Such encounters influence my life the most, and I try to express that through my music. 

On the other hand: if you experience writer’s block, how do you usually deal with it? 

In those moments, I follow the rule that even if I have to cry, I’ll keep moving forward. If I can’t make one full step, I’ll make 0.1 of a step. The most important thing is not to focus on achieving perfection – it’s to keep going without stopping. Standing still is worse than being imperfect. 

Your two concerts in Poland are proof that you keep moving forward. How would you rate your first visit to this country? 

People here are very friendly, cheerful, and open. So, if I ever get the chance to return to Poland, I already have many friends I can reach out to. And the welcome from the Polish audience was truly wonderful and joyful, and that image of Poland will stay with me. 

On your blog, you mentioned being a bit nervous before coming here. How did you handle that? 

For me, stress is a synonym for focus. I generally put that stress on myself because I feel that if I’m not invested emotionally, I’ll do things half-heartedly – and that’s something I want to avoid. That pressure helps me perform at my best. As for the concerts themselves, the fans in Poland were so warm from the very beginning that I wasn’t stressed at all about meeting their expectations. As I said, that stress is more about not slacking off and giving 100% every time. 

Next up for you are more events – for example, you’ll be at Parma Comics & Games in Italy at the beginning of December. So, can you tell us about your favorite games and comics? 

When I was younger, I played series like Super Mario, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest. Nowadays, I don’t really have much time for that, but I cherish the memories, they’re tied to music as well. As for comics and manga, since I started singing JoJo openings, I decided to read all the parts from the beginning. 

Which part are you currently on?

Right now, I’m in the middle of Part 7. 

Finally, would you like to share something with our readers? 

I was welcomed in Poland so warmly, and it truly filled my heart with joy. I’d love to return as soon as possible, though I know organizing such an event and fitting it into a busy schedule isn’t easy. That’s why I want to help my colleagues in the industry, so other vocalists can come here and experience the Polish audience. And of course, the moment I get a message from Magnificon – I’ll come back immediately.