It is truly a "wind and dust dance. Aoi Eir's new song, "Tsubasa," combines beauty, grandeur, and wild charm.

After completing her biggest tour "Eir Aoi EXTRA LIVE 2016 "D'AZUR-EST", Eir Aoi is going to live in Los Angeles and Shanghai in July, and is active in every direction. Along with that, her 13th single "Tsubasa" will be released. This song is the opening theme for the TV anime "Arslan Senki: Fujin Ranbu. The song is about Prince Arslan's strong will, and the theme of the song has something to do with his own live activities. In addition, the coupling song is a cover of Do As Infinity, whom he admires. There is much to listen to in this single.

I sang about my desire to move forward with my precious friends.

─ ─ The new song "Tsubasa" is the opening theme for "Arslan Senki: Fuujin Ranbu. What kind of song was it for you?

Aoi: It became a song in which I found a newer form of Aoi Eir after "Lapis Lazuli". From the moment I first heard the melody, I knew I wanted to sing it, and I was looking forward to recording it.

─ ─ In contrast to "Lapis Lazuli," which was the ending theme of the previous series of "Arslan Senki" and evoked a feeling of travel, this time the song has a strong image of battle and is very brave.

Aoi: I thought the theme of this song was Prince Arslan's will. The lyrics about moving forward strongly overlap with my own feelings in many ways. I could really relate to the idea of gaining important friends and carving out one's own future with them, as it is the same in my musical activities.

─ Isn't this feeling especially strong when you are touring?

Aoi Yes, on June 23rd, I welcomed the FINALE of "Eir Aoi EXTRA LIVE 2016 "D'AZUR-EST" at NHK Hall, and I felt a strong bond with the band members and staff who had toured with me all the way across Japan. I was renewed in my mind that it is because of those people that I am able to move forward toward my dreams and goals. That is the very theme of "Tsubasa," so I was able to sing the song with all my heart.

─ So you have many reassuring friends like Arslan.

Aoi: I am surrounded by wonderful people, both those I meet through my musical activities and my everyday friends. But it is not only me, but I think many people have experienced that they are able to move forward because they have the support of their loved ones. I think that everyone can relate to "Wings".

─ Through the previous series, Arslan has grown much stronger, and the vocals in "Wings" are also more powerful than in "Lapis Lazuli".

Aoi: The two songs share the same nostalgic melody, but while "Lapis Lazuli" is a beautifully sung song about a scene, "Tsubasa" is a song about walking forward with a strong will, so the vocals have changed as well. Tsubasa" is a difficult song because the lyrics are packed and there is no place to catch one's breath. I was conscious of singing with all my might until the very end.

─ The simple title "Tsubasa" suggests a strong will.

Aoi: When we discussed various title ideas, many of them were "Tsubasa no~". I chose "Tsubasa" without embellishment. It is a key word in the lyrics, and this song has a grandeur of flight, so I think it became a perfect title.

─ ─ In the music video and jacket, you dared to make your face dirty, which made a big impact.

Aoi: It was my first experience to shoot with my face dirty. I think it gave the image of a battlefield. The music video was fully computer-generated, and it created a grand image of descending into a battlefield. When I saw all the fighting soldiers standing still and only I was moving and singing among them, I felt as if I was a wizard (laughs). A short version of the song is available on YouTube, but the full version is even more dramatic, so please check it out on the DVD included in the limited first pressing.