Even though the lyrics may sound different and we all speak different languages, the attitude of trying to learn what we don’t know cultivates new pathways for us. This is what I realized throughout my journey singing in many different countries, so I’m always hoping for more of those experiences.
When I’m singing live, that’s the most fun time in my life. That’s why I’ve been able to come this far. These days, we make our own songs. When I create my own song, I put a lot of energy into it and get really motivated, so when I sing a song I created on my own, it’s really fun. When I was a kid, when I saw a rock band from the US or England, I thought, “Oh, I really want to be like them!” And now that I’m older and I’m on the stage performing, I get more excited than ever.
Link:
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-132061-interview-with-hironobu-kageyama-at-anime-nyc.html
Before I made my debut, it was just me experimenting with myself and not knowing whether I had a future in music or not. It was just me chasing after my dream. But after I made my debut, it’s been me trying to just connect with people around the world, which is what I had wanted to do with music all along. It’s been dream come true after dream come true.
Link:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2019-02-06/interview-nano/.143068
“I am so filled with joy and happiness to have been able to perform the role of Rin in LOST SONG. It was much more difficult than I expected, especially because, she [Rin] is really blunt with her emotions; there aren’t any curve balls. She does everything without any shame or shyness and she’s really frank, so I thought it was really important to be just as honest in my performance.”
Link:
https://manga.tokyo/interview/interview-with-konomi-suzuki-anyc18/
I’ve been fortunate enough to perform in many countries, and I’ve come to realize the impact of anisong. When I do concerts and perform anisong, a lot of people sing along with me and I realize that music crosses all national borders. When I see that, it makes me very happy as an artist, and that’s the moment when I feel proud of what I’m doing.
Link:
https://manga.tokyo/interview/interview-with-anisong-artist-luna-haruna-anyc18/
The most important thing on my mind is thinking about how I can communicate the world of the anime. I’m not trying to be like an instruction manual for the anime or anything, but when you’re able to hear a song and view the moving images at the same time, the power is not one plus one equals two, it’s one plus one equals something exponentially bigger.
Link:
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-132056-interview-with-hiroshi-kitadani-at-anime-nyc.html
Kaede Kaga: I think the reason that people from all around the world have loved this group for twenty years is because of the effort of all the performers who came before us. I feel so grateful to the previous members from the bottom of my heart, so I’d like to keep moving forward to create something that the rest of the world will love, too.
Link:
https://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com/2019/01/28/interview-morning-musume-18/
I’ve been holding a microphone for more than 15 years, and the one thing I’ve never given up on is singing. But to tell the truth, I didn’t start off in such a great situation – I had to find my own musicians, my own rehearsal space, and I feel like it’s a miracle that I was able to achieve the career I have now.
Now I’m able to express my feelings more freely and show my true self without holding back. I’ve always had fun performing live, but the ability to fully be myself on stage has allowed me to enjoy my live shows even more.
Link:
http://aramajapan.com/news/interview/arama-japan-interviews-anisong-singer-konomi-suzuki/95054/
Shoko Nakagawa: I was actually still writing the “blue moon” lyrics on the airplane on the way to Los Angeles, and it had been 10 years since I had performed in L.A. I was really scared about being back on stage in America all by myself, but because I’d been going forward for so long without giving up, I was able to find the courage to do it. I had such mixed feelings – fear, joy, excitement – but when I came on stage, the reaction from the fans was so powerful.
Link:
http://nekopop.com/2019/01/shoko-nakagawa-interview-2019
When I first made my debut, I was more focused on looking into the American aspect of myself. Because I was living in Japan, I wanted to re-connect to that faraway English-speaking side of me. But lately, as I go overseas more and more to perform and connect with my overseas fans, I’m sort of feeling a stronger connection with the Japanese side of myself. So it’s kind of working in an opposite direction.
Link:
https://www.jrocknews.com/2019/01/interview-nano-inspires-people-with-the-power-of-rock.html
The character that influenced me the most is Road Kamelot from D.Gray Man. Because of her style, I started wearing Lolita fashion – she’s the one who got me started. She plays the role of an enemy, but she’s also very vivacious. That naughty face of her is what I’m really drawn to.
Link:
https://www.animeherald.com/interview/luna-haruna-talks-with-anime-herald/
Miki Nonaka: I get the impression that fans can become really good friends at our concerts. Japanese people have an impression of keeping to ourselves, but since everyone has a shared hobby, they can become friends easily. So I’d like for foreign fans to come to our concerts in Japan and befriend our Japanese fans so they can all have fun together!
Link:
https://selective-hearing.com/interview-with-morning-musume%E3%80%82-18-at-animenyc/
It’s the power of the song itself, that’s what really fuels my passion. And then when the audience is added on top of that, it turns into “stage magic”. The energy comes straight at me from the people in the audience, and then I want to give it back even more.
Link:
http://nekopop.com/2018/12/hiroshi-kitadani-interview-2018/
— Special one-time-only musical collaborations included songs from Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Gundam SEED, One Punch Man, and more
— New York’s biggest J-Pop concert series debuts at Anime NYC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2018
(Photo Credit: Mayumi Nashida)
Anisong World Matsuri made its New York City debut at Anime NYC on November 16 and 17, 2018, featuring eight of the most popular anisong and J-Pop artists assembled at the Hammerstein Ballroom for a two-day audience of 4000 fans.
Voice actors deliver their lines, and there’s a director who guides them, but singers should not be told too much how to sing — they can produce more interesting music if you let them be free. I change the feel of the lyrics depending on who I am writing for. It’s actually more difficult to write songs for myself because I don’t really understand myself.
Link:
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-131945-interview-with-true.html
The anime that influenced me the most in terms of music was the Gundam Seed series. This series made me believe that I might be able to help someone with singing. I thought, “With music, I might be able to get closer to someone that is hurting.” That show made me want to be an anisong singer…
Link:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2018-11-09/interview-luna-haruna/.139281
Every song I create is like one of my children, so I feel very happy to see them grow and live out in the world being experienced by others. But I’ll never forget the feeling when I heard my first anisong played on TV! I was sitting in front of the TV, and the tears just started flowing. That moment will stay with me forever.
Link:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2018-11-06/interview-true/.139154
Haruna Iikubo: “…Concerts are my most fun activity. Not just in Japan, but all over the world. During the concerts, I always feel grateful that I was able to come here.”
Link:
http://aramajapan.com/aramaexclusive/arama-interview/5-question-qa-with-morning-musume-18/92757/
It’s like a dream come true to perform in New York City. I’ve been aiming for this opportunity since my debut, and to be able to reach that goal proves to me that I’ve been heading in the right direction these past six years.
Link:
https://manga.tokyo/interview/interview-with-anisong-singer-nano/
I was blessed enough to able to visit so many different countries. It was a surreal feeling to see that people know your song in a place you’ve never been. During the concert, I saw people singing along. Music crosses the language barrier and also brings people together – that’s what I felt in every country.
How is Morning Musume。’18 similar to or different from the Morning Musume。of previous years in terms of vibe and energy?
Mizuki Fukumura: Mostly, our dancing became more intricate and there’s so much more! When I meet past members, they praise us by saying “We didn’t move like that before! It’s amazing!”. It’s true that we move more fiercely, but I want to keep trying my best to be like the past members!
The other day, I came up with a really great melody so easily, but I realized that is was really similar to a song I released a while ago and I was shocked. When you write songs for a long time, things like that tend to happen more often. I don’t necessarily feel pressured, but I do think it’s important to constantly pursue new styles.
Link:
http://nekopop.com/2018/11/hironobu-kageyama-interview-2018/
For me, singing is where I’m most secure, so I’d rather be singing than playing an instrument. But ever since I started playing the guitar at my shows, I genuinely enjoy it, so I’ve been practicing every day. I would like to continue playing, so I was happy that I was able to showcase that in the new music video.
Performing around the world has opened my eyes both as a musician and as a person. I love connecting with people of different cultures. It teaches me so many things I couldn’t have learned alone. Diversity is a beautiful thing. I enjoy how each crowd is different, wherever I go. That’s why shows never get dull.
Link:
https://www.animeherald.com/interview/visiting-nevereverland-nano-talks-to-anime-herald/
I love to sing and my favorite place is the stage, but the stage is where you put all your emotions for the people you meet there but who you’ll never meet again. I believe that is where the seed of words and emotions are born.
Link:
http://aramajapan.com/aramaexclusive/arama-interview/q-a-interview-with-shoko-nakagawa/92557/
Tickets for New York’s largest Japanese pop concert start sales August 27.
Two-night concert series features performers from Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, and more.
New video message from Morning Musume 。’18.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2018
ANIME NYC 2018 REVEALS FINAL ARTIST LINEUP AND TICKET DATES FOR ANISONG WORLD MATSURI CONCERT SERIES NOVEMBER 16 & 17
Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll has announced the final artist to join the lineup of the inaugural Anisong World Matsuri concert event in New York City, to be held November 16 and 17 at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom.
nano (Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Btooom!) will join previously announced J-Pop artists Luna Haruna, Shoko Nakagawa, Morning Musume。’18 and more for the two-day Anisong World Matsuri at Anime NYC. Tickets and VIP packages will go on sale beginning Monday, August 27 for Anime NYC Mega Ticket holders, with general pre-sales starting later in the week.
May’n: This is my tenth year performing professionally as May’n, and I’ve been performing mostly high-pitched songs in connection with various anime. Those are all precious to me, but when I began singing I used my lower pitch more, and I wanted to get back in touch with that. I wanted to challenge myself to perform in that style again, and when I became involved with Lord of Vermilion, since it centers on a heavenly battle and it’s kind of an aggressive theme, I felt like this was the perfect chance. So this is a very rare song for me. Another reason I felt strongly about going in this direction is that this anime is about each character finding their roots, finding their destiny. This being my tenth year, I’m also searching to re-energize and re-define myself and my relationship to my fans, so I felt even more strongly about connecting to this theme.
Nanase: I really want more songs like “47 no Suteki na Machi e!” Our fans go all out with the calls, and seem to shout it as if their lives depend on it – it looks like they’re having so much fun. The energy turns into something so powerful that we’re able to enjoy performing that with the fans. Hopefully we’re able to show our foreign fans this and I want to be able to have our foreign fans get that energy and feel from our performances.
Link:
http://selective-hearing.com/anime-expo-2018-interview-akb48-team-8
Sayuri: I’ve never felt confident and always struggled to find a place among other people. But I also thought it was sad that those emotions are considered useless. I knew that wasn’t right. I wanted to make something out of the parts that were missing inside of me. The people who carry that same kind of frustration and longing, they’re the ones I’m creating music for.
Link:
https://www.jrocknews.com/2018/08/interview-sanketsu-girl-sayuri.html