LAUREN: Let's just get this out in the open- What is the craziest thing that has happened to you in your music career?
MAZZI TAK: I became a winner! I became a winner of the Akademia Music Awards 2023 in the Pop category by my song ‘I Wanna Be The One’. Becoming a winner was my dream for a long time. So I’m very happy!!

LAUREN: Your song 'I Wanna Be The One' is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
MAZZI TAK: I couldn’t believe that my song is on the radio. There are so many stories behind this song though, I’m very happy! At the same time, I want to know what kind of listener listens to my song, and I thank all the listeners who responded to the radio. When I drove to Staten Island, I think the timing was perfect and I finally had a opportunity to listen to my song on the radio. And I was so excited to listen to it.

LAUREN: What was the inspiration behind your radio single?
MAZZI TAK: I was on vacation in Punta Cana, Dominica Republic. I was swimming at the beach all day and then later at night, I found a night beach club! People were dancing, and I got inspired. I started writing a melody line first. Then I went to a restaurant, a trio guitar band came to my table and began singing for me. And one of the guitarist kept saying “muy caliente, muy caliente”. When I looked at him he was playing guitar and sweating like a cow. Anyway, I didn’t know the meaning of “muy caliente”, but it sounds catchy, so I named this song ‘Muy Caliente’ in the beginning. When I wrote the lyrics, it wasn’t the fit I imagined. So I kept remembering my past love, and I got an inspiration and I changed the song title to ‘I Wanna Be The One’.

LAUREN: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
MAZZI TAK: I grew up in Japan. And I was trying to breakthrough in Japan a long time ago. And I actually became a winner of the vocal competition and then working as a singer and songwriter with my producer. But my producer always asked me about my love relationships and sexuality. So one day I thought I had enough of this question and I came out to my producer. And since after that I no longer had an opportunity to work with them. I lost everything. And I started thinking I should do everything by myself. Because I love music and at the same time, I wanted to quit but I just can’t. Because I truly know that creating music is in my blood.

LAUREN: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician?
MAZZI TAK: Like one of my projects. I wanna do this style with this character. And I use high tone areas vocal range with the music I create. I care about the character that everyone can tell whose song or who is singing.