Redecorate Myself

Redecorate Myself (リデコレイト・マイセルフ) is a compilation album by Japanese singer-songwriter Kotoko. It was released on September 13, 2023, through NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan.^[1]

It is a double-disc album to commemorate her 20th anniversary since Kotoko's major debut in 2004, and it features re-arranged versions of her iconic songs and self-covers of tracks she originally wrote for other artists. It serves as a retrospective of her career while showcasing new arrangements tailored to both long-time fans and newer audiences. The title, meaning "redecorate" or "remake oneself," reflects Kotoko's intent to revisit and reimagine her musical legacy.^[2]

Kotoko, who debuted on in 2004 with the album Hane under Geneon Entertainment (now NBC Universal), began planning Redecorate Myself around her 15th anniversary in 2019. The concept emerged from discussions with her team, including producer Jun Nishimura, to mark her 20th anniversary.^[2] Initially, Kotoko envisioned an album of self-covers of songs she had written for others. However, the project evolved to include re-arranged versions of her own popular tracks, combining two key elements: her signature songs and covers of her compositions originally performed by other artists.^[2]

The album aimed to bridge Kotoko's extensive catalog with modern music consumption trends, such as streaming platforms, to reach both dedicated fans and newer listeners. The tracklist was curated using fan surveys and streaming platform viral charts to balance nostalgia with contemporary appeal. The album is structured as a two-disc set: the first disc focuses on her anime-related songs, while the second disc highlights her denpa songs.^[2]

Redecorate Myself features re-arrangements by various producers, deliberately chosen to differ from the original arrangers to offer fresh perspectives. Kotoko personally selected collaborators based on their musical styles, aiming to contrast or complement the original arrangements.^[2] Notable contributors included Tomoyuki Nakazawa, who re-arranged iconic tracks like "Re-sublimity" and "being.". Kotoko expressed trust in Nakazawa's ability to deliver exceptional results despite the pressure of reworking these beloved songs; Kazuya Takase, who handled "radiance" and "Light My Fire," overcoming initial hesitation to create arrangements that met Kotoko's expectations; Shinya Saito was tasked with re-arranging "Shooting Star" and "Went Away," and he blended the songs' original charm with modern, grandiose elements, reflecting his long-standing collaboration with Kotoko; IOSYS, a Hokkaido-based group, contributed to the denpa songs on Disc 2, with team members enthusiastically competing to work on specific tracks; Solfa's Toru Hashisaki, who re-arranged "Pure Heart ~Sekai de Ichiban Anata ga Suki~," transformed its original chiptune-style into a stylish, modern rendition.^[2] The re-arrangements were a collaborative effort, with Kotoko and her team meticulously recreating parts of songs, often relying on ear-copying due to the absence of sheet music. This process uncovered forgotten elements, such as vocal parts in "421-a will-," which were reinstated during recording to preserve the emotional depth of the originals.^[2]

Highlights on the album include "Shooting Star", Kotoko's breakout 2002 hit, which was re-recorded to showcase her improved vocal technique while maintaining its original essence. "Re-sublimity" and "Being" were re-arranged by Tomoyuki Nakazawa; these songs carry significant emotional weight for Kotoko and were approached with care to honor their legacy; "Pure Heart ~Sekai de Ichiban Anata ga Suki~" was a song originally written by Kotoko for Aki (former I've Sound vocalist) as her first professional work as a lyricist. Kotoko's second major single "421-a will-" was also re-arranged with a grand, warm tone to symbolize her journey toward her 20th anniversary.^[2] Lastly, as a bonus track, the album also includes the song "Internet Yamero", Kotoko's second collaboration with Aiobahn and a follow-up to "Internet Overdose," which gained significant popularity on platforms like TikTok, introducing Kotoko to a younger audience unfamiliar with her gaming and anime roots.^[2]

Redecorate Myself peaked at number 36 on the Oricon Weekly Album charts, selling 1,161 copies on its first week.^[3]