With the powerful new song "starry," Mashiro Ayano starts 2018!

Mashiro Ayano is releasing "starry," the opening theme song for the TV anime "Grancrest Senki" as her sixth single. As the theme song of an authentic fantasy, the song is powerful and dramatic. In addition, a solo live performance at EX THEATER ROPPONGI is scheduled for April 22, 2018. Following a year of energetic live performances in 2017, Mashiroon is sure to keep everyone on their toes this year!

The sixth single has a more mature feel to it (laughs).

─ ─ Your new single "starry" is the opening theme for the TV anime "Grancrest Senki," so it has a brave feel to it, doesn't it?

Ayano: It is a different type of song from the ones I have sung in the past. It is cool and glamorous, and since it is the theme song for an authentic fantasy, the sound is reminiscent of Europe. The main character travels through a medieval-style world, makes a contract with a magician, and fights.

─ ─ "starry" means "stardust," right?

Ayano: Rather than the image of a star shining in the night sky itself, the title was inspired by the dreams and hopes that shine like stars in the hearts of people. The theme of the song is to confront one's destiny with dreams and hopes in one's heart, and the lyrics use the words "starry tale," or the story of the stars.

─ ─ The bond between Theo, a knight, and Shilka, a magician, and their battle to change the world is the fundamental story of "The Battle of Grangecrest," and I thought the lyrics of "starry" were very much in line with that.

Ayano: First of all, the lyrics are about the pure feelings of the main character Theo, but since the story is an ensemble piece with many characters, each fighting for their own ambitions, I felt the lyrics were also interspersed with the feelings of various characters. I sang the song, feeling inspired by the kindness and strength of the people I cared about, and feeling that they are improving each other.

─ I felt the strength in the vocals.

Ayano: The previous song "new look" was a tricky song with different phrases before the chorus, but "starry" has a simple, easy-to-understand structure, and I was able to sing it honestly. The B-melody has an English chorus, so I would be happy if you could remember that part and sing it.

─ ─ After all, it is great that the song starts with the last phrase of the chorus. And since the lyrics say, "The story begins to move," it makes me feel like "It has begun! It makes me feel like "It's started!

Ayano: It's very typical of an opening theme. I thought it was a very picturesque song. Also, in terms of key, "starry" is easy to sing with all my heart. I think the tension will be different in a live performance, but I was able to sing it in a mature atmosphere during the recording session, and I think it has become more mature for the sixth single.

─ ─ The music video was cool too. The scene where Mr. Mashiro and the starry sky of the galaxy come together was impressive.

Ayano: Thank you very much, I wanted to show a lot of stars in the music video as well, so I had my back turned into a screen and the starry sky reflected on it. I have never shown my back before, but this time I took the plunge and showed it (laughs). (Laughs) I feel that a person's true feelings are reflected in their backside, so in that sense, I think having the backside shot fits the theme of "starry.


─ ─ It could also be interpreted as having a vast galaxy in one's mind, couldn't it?

Ayano: It is very fantasy-like, isn't it? Since "starry" is a powerful song, I kept a cool expression and didn't smile from the beginning to the end. I performed the song with a strong eye contact and with an awareness of conveying the lyrics. I really like the texture of the black-and-white images in the scene where they are singing, and while there are twinkling stars, I think the music video as a whole is crisp and serious. Also, since the theme of the song is "story", the image of ticking time was inserted into the music video as well.