Machico's new single "TOMORROW" is a bright and bouncy rock tune!

The opening theme for the TV anime "Bless This Wonderful World! 2016 was a year in which Machico expanded the scope of her activities as a solo artist. What kind of work did "TOMORROW" become as the first single of 2017?

I love energetic rock music like "TOMORROW.

─ ─ The new song "TOMORROW" is a bright rock tune, isn't it?

Machico It's a refreshing rock tune with a sense of speed, and it gets me excited right from the intro. Bless this wonderful world! Fantastic dreamer," which was the opening theme for the first season, was a pop song with a playful feel that kept changing its tune. The jacket also has a much rockier look to match the music.

─ Compared to "fantastic dreamer," the song is more straightforward, isn't it?

Machico Compared to "fantastic dreamer," which was a forward-looking song about wanting to go on an adventure, this song has a more adventurous spirit and a sense of strength, like taking on a battle. I myself love rock music, so I was very happy to hear the tone of "tomorrow".

─ I felt the power in the vocals and the performance.

Machico The performers are all very gorgeous. For my part, I sang the song with the feeling of pulling the backing instruments along with my singing, rather than being driven by the performance. However, "Kono-suba" is a work that can be enjoyed with a relaxed mind, so I was conscious of not only being vocal, but also of being fun and cheerful.

─ ─ "Konosuba" is a cheerful and enjoyable otherworldly fantasy, isn't it?

Machico That's right. I have already performed it at the event to commemorate the production of the second season of "Kono Sub" and at my one-man live concert in December, and I am very happy that everyone said it was a song that was typical of "Kono Sub". I felt like I was able to get closer to the cast as a member of "Konosuba.

───Between "fantastic dreamer" and "TOMORROW", we performed the TV animation "12 years old. ～Between "fantastic dreamer" and "TOMORROW," there was the release of "Yuuki no Tsubasa," the ending theme for the TV anime "12 years old.

Machico Yes, the year 2016 started with "fantastic dreamer" and a year later with "TOMORROW", so I think I was able to make the vocals more mature based on what I experienced in 2016. For example, I could sing the same melody line in the first, second, and third choruses, but try to make it sound different, and that kind of planning was only possible now. In any case, I put everything I had into the recording.

─ ─ What were you careful about when recording the vocals?

Machico: I recorded the vocals with most of the music playing, so I sang while feeling a sense of oneness with the instruments. I have a high natural voice, so it was difficult for me to produce the low notes in the B melody at first. I practiced over and over again until we got to the actual recording so that I could put a convincing vocal on the B-melody. I sang every part with all my might, and I am confident that it turned out to be a good song.

───There are quite a lot of extended notes, aren't there?

Machico That's right. There is a note at the end of the chorus, so I tried to make that part stand out. It was also difficult to match the rhythm without going too fast.

───Can you tell us your impression of the lyrics?

Machico I thought the lyrics were very positive. I was able to sing the lyrics while imagining a natural blue sky to convey the feeling of taking everyone along on an adventure. The word "fantastic" was also a key word in "fantastic dreamer," and it is used a lot in this song as well. I enjoyed singing this song because I could link it to the work.

─ ─ The title is also straightforward, isn't it?

Machico Yes, it is. The title of the previous album "fantastic dreamer" was all in lower case, but this time "tomorrow" is all in upper case, so I think it has been scaled up (laughs). (Laughs.) "Konosuba" is a straightforward work, so it made sense that the title of the song would be straightforward as well.

─ ─ The first episode will air in Tokyo tomorrow (January 11, the day after this interview).

Machico I can't wait to see it!　I was in charge of the OP theme for a TV anime for the first time with "fantastic dreamer," and I still remember how impressed I was when I saw the characters moving to the sound of my song on the air. I am really looking forward to seeing how the video will turn out this time as well. Also, people who don't know me yet will be able to listen to my songs through the anime, so I can't wait to hear their reactions.