Powerful and gentle, Yukikane Nishizawa's new single "Brand-new World/Piacere" offers a taste of two different charms.

Yukikane Nishizawa is releasing two A-side singles, "Brand-new World," the opening theme song for the TV anime "Gakusen Toshi Asterisk" and "Piacere," the theme song for the theatrical anime "ARIA The AVVENIRE. This is the second single for her, who just debuted in February this year. She says that the recording session was even more fulfilling than her debut single "Fukiyo".

Debuted in February, performed at "Anisama" in August

─ It was in February of this year that Yukinobu Nishizawa made her debut with "Fubuki", the ending theme song for "Fleet Konnichiwa". How have you been spending the next six months?

Nishizawa: I have had many opportunities to sing in front of audiences, and I think I have been able to think more carefully about my own singing. My debut song "Blizzard" was the ED for a major work called "Kan KOREKO," so I felt like I was jumping off a high cliff at once. I felt like I jumped off a high cliff, struggled in the river, and now I'm back on land (laughs).

(laughs) ─ That must have been a valuable experience for you (laughs).

Nishizawa Yes. I was allowed to stand on the stage at the Pacifico Yokohama for the second "KANKEI KOREKI" ship-viewing ceremony. But the most exciting time for me was when I made a surprise appearance at "Animelo Summer Live 2015. I couldn't imagine that Saitama Super Arena would hold about five times as many people as Pacifico Yokohama, which was huge. I was most nervous just before going on stage, but when I heard AKINO's voice singing ahead of me, I realized "I am going to sing there from now on.

─ How did you feel when you finished singing?

Nishizawa: I just sang as hard as I could on stage, but the view of "Anisama" that I saw from the stage for the first time was beautiful. After I got off the stage, a lot of emotions flowed into my heart all at once, and I cried a lot.

─ ─ Standing in that place must have been very special.

Nishizawa: It was the first time I could admit to myself. I was filled with gratitude for the audience and staff, and I knew that I had to work even harder with this as my motivation. It was a big day for me.

───At the same time that you were feeling your growth at the live performance, you were also working on the production of this single, weren't you?

Nishizawa Yes, that's right. At the time of "Blizzard," I was only absorbed in singing, but this time, through the experiences I had after my debut, I think the recording became more grounded.

Brand-new World" is for people who are chasing their dreams

─ This time, both songs are tie-up songs for an anime, as they are both A-side singles. The first song, "Brand-new World," is the opening theme for the TV anime "Gakusen Toshi Asterisk," which started in October.

Nishizawa: This is my first opening theme for a TV anime, so this song has a special place in my heart. Asterisk" is the face of the program, and I wanted to express the world view of the work well.

─ What was your first impression of the song?

Nishizawa: The digital sound is impressive and fits the image of "Asterisk" perfectly. It has a sense of speed and seems to suit the battle scenes.

─ You wrote the lyrics yourself, didn't you?

Nishizawa: Yes. I read all the books of the original story and wrote the lyrics based on the image of the main character, Ayato Amagiri, and the heroine, Yuris. I wanted to express the story of Ayato meeting Yuris and finding his dream in the lyrics.

─ ─ What kind of boy does Ayato seem to you?

Nishizawa: He is a kind boy. However, he has a lot of passion hidden inside him, and as Claudia, the student council president, said, "You're not so easy to eat either. I wrote the part of the lyrics, "Unleash it," with the image of Ayato's strength in mind.

─ ─ In the second lyric, the word "bloom" appears, which is a spell that Ulysse often uses, isn't it?

Nishizawa: Yes. When I read the original work, I knew I wanted to include this word for sure (laughs). (Laughs) I wanted to make a song that would cheer people up even when they are away from the work, based on the theme of pursuing one's dreams and unleashing one's hidden power toward them with all one's might.

─ The vocals were also very powerful.

Nishizawa: I sang with all my might. The chorus was in a high key and difficult to sing, so I think you can feel that I put all my energy into it. I tried to give the audience a sense that I was on the edge (laughs).

─ ─ On the other hand, there is a part in the full-size version where the vocals and performance suddenly become quiet, isn't there?

Nishizawa: The part where the vocals and performance go quiet is also the part I paid the most attention to, so I would be happy if you could listen to it carefully on the CD. There are villains in the work, but I wanted to convey the idea that there was a time when every character had a "transparent heart dyed with dreams.

─ ─ What did you have in mind when you came up with the title "Brand-new World"?

Nishizawa: I wanted everyone who is chasing after their dreams to create a "new world. It is not only the theme song of "Asterisk," but also a song for everyone who pursues their dreams.