Despite COVID-19’s ongoing threat to society, the world we live in today is considered by most to be the “post-pandemic” era. Remember when we were locked indoors, hand-washing bags of chips and discovering a little known app called Zoom? It’s refreshing to be out and about, to say the least. But how did we cope back in 2020 when it all started?

Music can heal your soul, they say, and a new documentary explores the power of performance amid the recent, seemingly uncertain times. Japanese rock star Yoshiki has become a household name in the global music scene, and his powerful concert film Under the Sky sheds light on how music helped both himself and his countless fans during the days of lockdown. The film gathers a vast array of international artists for a showcase of insightful interviews and great performances from across the world. We recently caught up with Yoshiki himself to learn more about the creative process behind Under the Sky and what he’s working on next.

Finding Beauty During Lockdown

No, Yoshiki didn’t just wake up one day and say, “I want to make a movie!” It all spawned from his lifelong passion for music, in terms of getting Under the Sky off the ground (no pun intended). “I was not trying to be a director or anything,” he told MovieWeb. “I just wanted to have this project come to life… I didn’t even realize I was directing this, so then it ended up just being my first directorial work.”

And it’s interesting to note that the pandemic itself isn’t the sole reason Under the Sky came to life in recent years. “I was thinking about some collaborations even before COVID struck. Then COVID hit, of course, and like that, everybody, including myself, was facing the fear of an unknown future,” he said. “My fans been always inspiration and innovation, helping me throughout my career… Then I decided to do this project, basically trying to support my fans.”

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Since travel during the toughest of COVID times was restricted, the performances that comprise Under the Sky were captured all over the world: Germany, Beijing, Tokyo, and California. The rooftop where Yoshiki frequently performs during the film looks like something off a New York skyscraper — but it’s not. “Actually, that’s downtown in Los Angeles,” he revealed to us. “So you see a lot taller buildings, like in New York or something, but it’s in Los Angeles. So because of the roof, we created something bigger than life… Also, I care about people’s safety [during COVID], so I wanted to do something outside.”

The artists featured are:

Sarah Brightman (U.K.) Nicole Scherzinger (U.S.) St. Vincent (U.S.) Scorpions (Germany) The Chainsmokers (U.S.) HYDE (Japan) SUGIZO (Japan) SixTONES (Japan) Jane Zhang (China) Lindsey Stirling (U.S.) “I’d already known some of the artists. Then also, an amazing team made us a list of who could collaborate,” said Yoshiki in detailing his behind-the-scenes process. “Then, having an amazing production team — they’re also involved in my tour — I asked them if it can be bigger […] Don’t get me wrong, there were so many amazing artists doing living rooms, or in colleges [during lockdown].”

And on that note, we had to ask where the title Under the Sky came from. “We have to breathe in this world. We are not up in the sky yet,” said Yoshiki.

I’ve lost so many people, so they’re also [part of] the process of making this film… So I end up making this film, and I was like, ‘What should the title be?’ We’re still under the sky. We’re still living in this world. So try to live as much as we can while we’re here.

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The Chainsmokers and Exploring Narrative
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Out of all the big names featured in Under the Sky, we were curious if one performance in particular was Yoshiki’s favorite. Of course, he says they’re all special in his heart, but he detailed one in particular, hailing from the U.S. with their megahit song “Closer.” Says Yoshiki:

“The Chainsmokers, that’s originally their kind of EDM song. So then, my approach was trying to make it a more classical vibe… I’m very grateful. That’s also one of the most famous songs in the world. I’m a drummer too, and they also have an amazing drummer, Matt [McGuire]. So to combine two drummers, myself, then also orchestra, the strings and then piano… I love the result of how it turned out.”

Yoshiki has kept busy with other projects outside Under the Sky, which has allowed him to explore additional genres and collaborate with even more high-profile guests. “I just did a classical world tour. I played with Tokyo, London, New York, Los Angeles,” he said. “The London show, two artists actually came to support me. I feel very grateful. Ellie Goulding also came to my show as one of my amazing guests. And yes, of course I do rock music and classical music, but I do anything between the two.”

And given the critical acclaim behind Under the Sky, one has to wonder if Yoshiki will continue to work behind the camera, be it documentary or even narrative cinema. “Because of this film, people are asking me about directing more projects, not only documentary. But most likely, I’m gonna be doing another documentary, then also narrative as well… I’ve already started creating a treatment and script, so very strange in a good way… I’m kind of known for spending too much time making singles and everything. But I would love to do it as quickly as possible. I can’t wait. If I can concentrate, I can make that happen within a few years, I think.”

Until then, Yoshiki: Under the Sky is now playing in select theaters from Abramorama.