Duets is a concept album by Japanese voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto, released on March 17, 2021, by FlyingDog. The album is Sakamoto's fourth concept album and second 25th anniversary album, and consists entirely of duet songs, featuring collaborations with seven different artists.
The concept for Duets originated from a suggestion by Shiro Sasaki, the president of FlyingDog, Sakamoto's record label. During a casual conversation at Sasaki's 60th birthday celebration, he expressed regret over not having pursued a duet album for Sakamoto earlier in her career. Sasaki, who served as Sakamoto's director during her debut twenty five years prior, planted the idea that sparked the project. Initially, Sakamoto dismissed the suggestion lightly, but the concept lingered, prompting her to consider potential duet partners and the possibilities of duet songs. The creative process began with the question, "Who to sing with?,â and the result was a lineup of seven individuals deeply connected to SakamotoâÂÂs life and career, from artists whoâÂÂve supported her musical journey to actors sheâÂÂs shared the stage with and singers sheâÂÂs long admired. She commented: "[Sasaki] was my director 25 years ago when I debuted, and IâÂÂd never heard this idea back then, so I initially brushed it off [...] But the thought stuck with me. I started wondering who IâÂÂd enjoy singing with and what kind of duet songs are out there. Gradually, I realized it could be something really interesting, so about two years ago, we decided to make it happen as part of my 25th anniversary celebration."
The creative process began with the question, "Who to sing with?,â and the result was a lineup of seven individuals deeply connected to SakamotoâÂÂs life and career, from artists whoâÂÂve supported her musical journey to actors sheâÂÂs shared the stage with and singers sheâÂÂs long admired. The recording process was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited in-person interactions and inspired themes of connection and shared experiences. The album emphasizes the collaborative nature of duets, allowing Sakamoto to explore new creative dimensions through vocal harmonies and shared storytelling. She described the process as akin to writing a play, with each song creating a narrative driven by the interplay of two voices. Each track of the album highlights the unique interactions between Sakamoto and her duet partners. The album blends various genres, including pop, Motown-inspired sounds, electro, rock, and classical influences, reflecting the distinct styles of the contributing artists.
The first artist Sakamoto approached to do a duet with was Hiroki Wada, whom she has a connection with since the time of her debut in 1996, when they both performed the theme songs for the anime The Vision of Escaflowne. Despite having a prolific career creating music for other artists as H-Wonder, Wada had not sung publicly in 22 years, and was persuaded by Sakamoto's earnest request. This led to they co-writing the song "Duet!," which became the leading track and the thematic heart of the album, and whose lyrics delve into the essence of singing together and the unique discoveries it brings. Sakamoto connected this song to her debut, making their collaboration a nostalgic reunion after twenty five years.
âÂÂAnata Janakereba,â performed with Kohei Dojima, is a Motown-inspired pop song. Sakamoto requested to Dojima a mature love song with a lived-in perspective, avoiding overly sentimental tones. Dojima crafted a narrative with two distinct characters, culminating in a lyrical twist on the phrase âÂÂIf ItâÂÂs Not You.â The songâÂÂs vibrant brass and pop sensibility were shaped through close collaboration, building on their connection from the 2014 Yano Music Festival. âÂÂHitokuchi Ikaga?â with Asako Toki, featuring TokiâÂÂs lyrics and TendreâÂÂs electro composition, portrays a conversational scene of two women sharing drinks. Developed through an online meeting due to pandemic restrictions, the songâÂÂs nostalgic tone reflects the longing for ordinary social moments, with its conversational structure sparked by TokiâÂÂs suggestion of the title phrase. âÂÂDemo,â with Masakazu Hara of The Band Apart, blends HaraâÂÂs mixture-style music and Yuho IwasatoâÂÂs lyrics, exploring the contrast between youthful ideals of changing the world and the realities of adulthood. Sakamoto, drawn to HaraâÂÂs distinctive live backing vocals, convinced him to sing despite his initial nonchalance. The reflective tone resonated with her own maturity after 25 years, with production emphasizing HaraâÂÂs unique sound.
âÂÂSync,â a fast-paced rock tune with Tomomi Uchimura of La La Larks, features lyrics co-written by both artists and music by Ryo Eguchi. Created via Line exchanges while Sakamoto was performing in a musical, the song is an anthem for resilience, inspired by the shared solitude of performing. UchimuraâÂÂs quick demo recordings helped shape its bold, uplifting tone, reflecting their close friendship and mutual experiences. âÂÂHoshi to Hoshi no Aida,â with Yoshio Inoue, was written and composed by Sakamoto with arrangements by Ryuji Yamamoto, balancing classical and pop elements. Drawing from their long collaboration in musicals like Daddy Long Legs, Sakamoto crafted a personal song about connecting across distances, avoiding overly dramatic tones. The challenging composition process, her first for a duet, highlighted InoueâÂÂs down-to-earth charm. Finally, âÂÂHitotsu Yane no Shita,â with Kyoko Koizumi, features SakamotoâÂÂs lyrics, Shà Âko SuzukiâÂÂs music, and YamamotoâÂÂs arrangements, with Suzuki adding backing vocals. Inspired by their shared experiences of pet loss, the song explores the profound bond between a person and their pet. Sakamoto, a longtime fan of KoizumiâÂÂs essays, approached her nervously but was met with enthusiasm, resulting in an emotional recording where KoizumiâÂÂs warm, expressive vocals brought the petâÂÂs perspective to life.
Single Collection+ Achikochi debuted at number 14 on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart, selling 6,844 copies on its first week.