Cool, dark and emotional! ASCA's stunning debut single "KOE".

ASCA made her CD debut with "KOE," the 2nd cool ending theme of the TV anime "Fate/Apocrypha. Her high singing ability and dramatic songs have already attracted the attention of anime fans. Her debut single includes three songs, led by "KOE. Each song clearly defined ASCA's artist image.
She used to be a singer under her real name, Asuka Okura. How does she feel about her new existence as ASCA?　She talks a lot about the path that led her to KOE.

The Long Road to Debut as ASCA

───ASCA previously debuted under the name of Asuka Okura, singing the ending theme song "Prime number ~Kimi-no-Meet you~" for the TV anime "Sakura-so no Pet na Kanojo", didn't she?

ASCA Yes. The reason for my debut was the 5th "All Japan Animation Song Grand Prix. After making it to the finals, I was asked to sing the ending theme for "Sakura-so.

──What was it that led you to participate in the Animation Song Grand Prix?

ASCA My teacher at the music school I had attended since I was in junior high school told me that if I won the Animation Song Grand Prix, I could make my debut. I wanted to become a singer, so I decided to audition for various auditions, and the first one I applied for was the Animation Song Grand Prix.

─ So, your first audition led to your debut?

ASCA Yes.

───The CD release of "Prime number ~Kimi-no-Meets Kimi to Darete Hibi~" was in February 2013, so it was the winter of my first year of high school. Since your debut, how have you managed to balance school and your music activities?

ASCA While studying at a local high school in Aichi, I also attended music classes since junior high school and went out to Tokyo on weekends to sing demo recordings. I formed a girl band with my high school friends and performed at local gigs, and also sang at music school gigs.

─ So you spent your days immersed in music while attending high school. I heard that you have experience performing on the street.

ASCA I started performing on the road after graduating from high school. I was anxious about it, but I decided to give it a try because I wanted to motivate myself to sing.

─ How did you feel when you tried singing on the street?

ASCA Before I started, I thought it would be hard to watch people pass by as I sang. But when I sang the song, I was able to take a positive view of the fact that even one person would stop to watch me. There is no such thing as a singing voice that can reach everyone's heart and make them fall in love with you. Just the fact that there are people out there who listen to my singing is an amazing thing.

─ So you have kept your passion for singing and have been working steadily. In December of last year (2016), you released a distribution-only mini-album "Days".

ASCA Yes, at that time I was still under the name Asuka Okura. I was still living in my hometown, so I stayed in Tokyo for a few days to record the album. After graduating from high school, I went to Tokyo to sing more and more.

───And now the ASCA project is finally underway.

ASCA In February of this year, when nothing had been decided yet, I decided to take the plunge and move to Tokyo. Right after that, I received an offer for the ASCA project, so I thought the timing was very good.

───Did it take a lot of courage to make the decision to move to Tokyo at a time when you had no idea what the future held?

ASCA I was wondering if I could stay in my hometown. I didn't feel like I was acting on my own if I was just recording in Tokyo at the invitation of my office, so when my coming-of-age ceremony was over, I decided, "Now! I made up my mind to do it now. The people around me were all very supportive, so I was able to move to Tokyo with a positive attitude.

─ And then the ASCA project started at just the right time.

ASCA I was really happy when I heard about it. I felt that I was now in a place where I could put all my energy into.