SPARTA

The term “warrior trive” is often thought to be the exclusive domain of the Saiyans from Dragon Ball, but in history, there was a people (more precisely, a city-state) truly deserving of that title. This is none other than Sparta, known also from the phrase “Spartan education.” The Spartans, famous for their battle at Thermopylae where 300 soldiers fought against a Persian army of 200,000, lived in a society where every citizen was a soldier (with slaves handling all necessary labor). Their intense training allowed them to execute maneuvers in a phalanx formation, such as turning right or left while maintaining formation, which was considered impossible. The historical records of Sparta are even more “Spartan” than the modern connotations of the word, justifying their reputation as a warrior trive.

And so, this song, “SPARTA,” came to be. Originally, it started as a demo created by Dennis, characterized by a melodious bassline, a lead guitar with a strong melody, and what he described as a “jazzy” drum pattern that was like a hyperactive 3/4 time drum and bass. There was already an idea to create a song titled “SPARTA,” where everyone would give 120%, and the melancholic melody of this track, paired with the relentless forward-driving drums, fit perfectly.

Typically, once the direction and concept of a song become clear, production moves smoothly as everyone aligns with the vision. However, because this song is “SPARTA,” it didn’t go that easily. It was extremely challenging. Not only is 3/4 time inherently difficult, but the tempo was fast, and we couldn’t find any similar songs to draw inspiration from. After much trial and error, creating and discarding ideas, we finally found that a 5/4 time phrase fit perfectly, and the song was complete. It was a difficult birth, fittingly Spartan in nature.

During the recording process, aiming for 120% as the theme dictated, numerous challenges and memorable moments arose. One standout was Dennis, the composer. After a couple of warm-up takes, I told him, “For the first chorus, go all out at 100%, show your technique in the second, and push beyond 100% to 120% for the finale.” Normally, such a request might be met with laughter, but Dennis, in his usual low and calm tone, simply replied, “Got it,” and began the take.

I still vividly remember that moment. Despite my own instructions, I was taken aback when he started playing full throttle from the outset. I was like a background character in a racing manga, worriedly thinking, “Can he keep up that speed?” Apparently, what I thought was 120% was his 100%. But Dennis, our ace, was unfazed. Having played together for quite some time, I thought I knew his limits, but I was wrong. He kept pushing in the red zone, finishing with a powerful finale reminiscent of a mythical warrior. The take ended quickly, and he simply said, “That’s all I can give,” wrapping up the recording in one take. As he walked out of the studio, he seemed to emanate an aura, like a certain legendary warrior with inverted blonde hair.