Kalafina's high level of expressiveness has realized a new single with two different world views.

Kalafina is releasing two A-side singles, "into the world", the ending theme for NHK's "Rekishi Hiwa Historia" and "Märchen", the ending theme for the OVA "Kubiki Recycle Blue Savant to Gigaku-user". The two songs have very different worldviews, but thanks to the high level of expression of the three members, both songs have become numbers that are uniquely Kalafina. Next year will finally mark the 10th anniversary of their formation. We spoke with the girls as they continue to gain momentum.

into the world" is a song about setting sail into a new world.

─ This is a double A-side single, isn't it?

The second single after Keiko Hikaru joined the band was "sprinter/ARIA," a double A-side single featuring the two ending songs of "Kara no Kyoukai" (The Garden of the Sinners), so it's been a while since we last released a double A-side single. This is the first time for us to have two songs for different works.

─ ─ "into the world" is the ending theme for NHK General TV's historical information program "Rekishi Hiwa Historia".

Wakana This song has been used in the program since April 2016.

Keiko We recorded it a long time ago.

─ What was your first impression of this song?

WakanaI have sung three songs for the ending theme of "Rekishi Hiwa Historia," and each of them made me realize something that I had not seen before. I thought "into the world" would be another song that would show me the wider world from the title. The lyrics of the song conjured up images of the three of us rowing out into the ocean together, and also of descending into the world inside our own hearts. I felt that it is a grand song, but at the same time, it is a song that appeals to the heart of each individual and gives encouragement to those who are trying their best.

─ Indeed, it is a song that cheers up those who are departing.

Wakana A staff member of the program told Mr. Kajiura (Yuki Kajiura, producer of Kalafina), "I thought this song was about us. I think the staff members are people who take pride in producing a one-of-a-kind program and realize that it takes courage to venture out into a new world.

Keiko: "Rekishi Hiwa Historia" moved to a different time slot and changed its content drastically when "into the world" was used in the program. It was the courage of the staff that made the change. When Mr. Kajiura was recording the song, he said, "Kalafina is like that, too. Like this song, we are now people who have traveled to some extent, not just at the start of the journey. I was very happy...I have been active up to this point, visited many places, and met many people, and I wanted to deliver "into to the world" that we are singing now to many people.

─ ─ Do you think the song became a song that you can sing because of your past activities?

Keiko: Yes, that's right. The ending themes of "symphonia," "Yume no Daichi," and "far on the water" were songs that made me feel the earth, the sky, and the wind, and that made me feel at peace. It has a beautiful melody line that makes my heart beat faster, and from the first time I heard it, I knew I wanted to put my voice to the melody.

Hikaru When I first read the lyrics, I thought back to how I felt when I started from scratch and joined Kalafina. I was anxious about it. I was anxious, but I had a strong feeling that I had no choice but to do it. The melody of "into the world" is gentle and enveloping, but I wanted to express the strength of will in the vocals. I was entrusted with the solo at the beginning of the song, so I wanted to express that especially in that part.

─ How was the recording process?

Hikaru On the day of the recording, Mr. Kajiura told me in the studio, "I want you to sing as you are now, the real Hikaru," and I sang with that in mind. I sang the song with that in mind. I wanted to make sure that the vocals were not just strong, but that the song was infused with a sense of conflict and anxiety.

Wakana: Mr. Kajiura told me to sing it comfortably on a hilltop while looking up at the big sky. When I sang while imagining that scene, even the sad lyrics made me smile. I was able to sing the song in a cheerful and relaxed manner. The melody is magnificent, and I remember that I was getting more and more excited when I sang it, and I had a hard time calming myself down.

Keiko During the recording session, I sang the lower part of the melody in time with the finished melody line, and Mr. Kasoura said, "This is it, this is the groove I've been waiting for! Mr. Kasoura said, "This is the groove I've been waiting for!

Keiko: So you finally added someone to support the low notes.

Keiko: Kalafina is made up of all three of us and the overtones of harmony, so when one of us is missing, we feel that we are missing something. When Mr. Kasoura says so, we are more aware of our roles, and we hope that many people will be excited to hear our songs, saying things like, "The overtones here feel good," or "The long tones in the harmony are here! I want to write songs that make people excited. We were very excited about the recording.

─ ─ Keiko, you had a solo in the second verse, and that part was really exciting.

Keiko: I had fun singing it, too. I wanted the anxiety of venturing out into a new world to be transformed into positive energy during the "Every morning your journey begins" part, so I sang it with the image of letting my voice resonate throughout my body.