Welcome, newcomers! No.3 "Lily's Blow" singing "Hana no Kage", the theme song of "Nobunaga no Shinobi: Ise/Kanegasaki Arc".

With more and more anime songs being released every day, newcomers who sing anime songs are also appearing on the scene one after another. Akiba Research Institute is pleased to present a series of in-depth interviews with these "newcomers"!　That is "Newcomers, welcome! The series is called "Welcome Newcomers!

In this third installment, "Lily's Blow," who sings the theme song "Hana no Kage" for the CD "Nobunaga no Shinobi: Ise/Kanegasaki Arc," which will be released on September 20, 2017 (Wednesday), appears!

Lily's Blow" is a solo project of female vocalist NANA, whose hot yet fresh rock sound is very attractive. For this interview, we asked her about "Hana no Shadow," which is a gorgeous fusion of her unique style and the new innovative "Japanese sound.

───Please begin by introducing yourself.

NANA Nice to meet you, I am NANA of "Lily's Blow. Lily's Blow" is my solo project, and I usually play rock band sounds mainly at live houses in Tokyo.

─ ─ You were originally in a band, but at what age did you first get into rock music?

NANA It was around the time I was a freshman in high school. I got into rock music at the same time I started to rebel against the world (laughs). (laughs) I had always liked singing, but it was when I saw the foreign TV drama "Glee" that I thought for the first time, "I want to sing properly," and that was the decisive trigger for me to form a band.

─ What kind of style do you use to create your songs?

NANA I tell the producer Hisashi Kondo what I have in mind, such as "this kind of atmosphere," "this kind of image," and "this kind of lyrics," and he creates a custom-made song for me. Then we discuss how to arrange the chorus and the arrangement, etc., to complete the song.

─ So you are involved in the songwriting process from the very beginning?

NANA That's right. I discuss with the producer from the very beginning.

You were chosen to sing the theme song for "Nobunaga's Ninja," of which you had been a fan for a long time!

─ ─ "Hana no Kage" is a Japanese-style rock song, which is different from your previous songs, since it is the theme song of "Nobunaga no Ninja: Ise/Kanegasaki Arc", isn't it?

NANA That's right. I had always liked and watched the "Nobunaga's Ninja" anime, so I was really happy when I heard about it. It was the first time for me to write a theme song, but I had an image of the world at an early stage, so I told the producer that I wanted to use Japanese instruments such as the koto and the vertical flute in the song, and I told him exactly how much of my usual rock taste I wanted to use in it. I also told them exactly how much of my usual rock taste I would include in the music, and we worked on the music.

─ Did you have any previous experience with Japanese-style instruments and melodies?

NANA I had never been exposed to them before, so I was worried about how Japanese instruments and Lily's Blow's rock music would blend together, but I wanted to express the world of the anime, so I knew I could not miss the Japanese elements. I was also conscious of the extent to which I would be able to face the work and enjoy it.

─ What was the most impressive part of the music?

NANA The lyrics in the chorus, in which Nobunaga Oda is compared to a "flower" and the main character, Chidori-chan, is compared to the "shadow of a flower. Here, we have to win not only with gentleness but also to end the turbulent world. I like this song because I feel that it emphasizes the strong will to unify the country and end the turbulent world.

─ ─ As the lyrics suggest, the song seems to match the seemingly cute but surprisingly hard-edged worldview of the work.

NANA That's right. And Chidori-chan is very strong. I sang the song with the strength of a woman who is as strong as a man.

───What did you think when your song was first played in the anime?

NANA I couldn't believe it. Even now, every time my song is played, I think it must be a dream. The opening scene has a lot of moving characters, so I watch it with a grin on my face every time (laughs).

───How is the reaction of the people around you?

NANA This is the first time for me to use Japanese-style sound, so it seems that the fans have listened to the song with a fresh feeling. I've received comments that it's cool, and it seems that people watch the anime after listening to the song. This makes me happy because it is my favorite anime and I want many people to watch it. On the other hand, there are also people who got to know "Lily's Blow" through the anime, and I was very happy to hear that some of them actually came to our live concert after hearing the song in "Nobunaga's Ninja".

─ This single is a double A-side, and includes the other title track, "Doronuma Break Down". This one is a rock song that is very "Lily's Blow" like.

NANA I think it turned out to be an interesting song. It is the kind of song that tells the enemies of women in the world to give them a good beating. I have never been played by anyone, but there are people who play around with the opposite sex, regardless of gender. Since I am a woman, I wanted to say something to those guys who play around with the opposite sex (laughs). (Laughs.) But I also wanted to show that I was on the verge of falling in love with him, and I also wanted to show that I had the strength to say, "I don't want to be with you! I hope I can show the strong side of "I don't want to be you!

─ ─ Do you yourself have such a bullish side?

NANA I think I am very bullheaded. So, I think the main character in this song is just my true self (laughs). I have already performed this song at a live concert, and it was well received by the audience.

Inori Minase's voice on the anime DVD makes you grin!

──This single is one that will satisfy both those who got to know Lily's Blow through "Nobunaga's Ninja" and traditional fans. By the way, the DVD of the anime version includes the anime version MV of "Hana no Kage" as well as the radio voice with Minase Inori who plays Chidori. How was the recording?

NANA: First of all, we had to put on headphones for the radio recording. Then I heard Minase Inori's voice in my ear. That voice was Chidori-chan's voice. I love Chidori-chan, so I was very happy and couldn't stop grinning. You can hear me getting all excited and the two of us having a funny competition, so I hope you enjoy it.

─ What are your hopes and ambitions for the future?

NANA "Lily's Blow" is my solo project, but I would like to take the band members who support me almost constantly and the audience who come to every concert to a bigger stage. I want to take the band members who support me and the audience who come to every show and bring them to a bigger stage. I want to go forward like that.

─ ─ I am looking forward to it!　Lastly, do you have a message for the readers of Akiba Research Institute?

NANA This album is filled with my love for Chidori-chan, so I would be very happy if you could pick it up and listen to it.

Thank you very much!