Interview] Suzuki Minori's second single is a double A-side with a gorgeous double tie-up!

The opening theme "Crosswalk" for the TV anime "Aman-chu! ～Crosswalk", the opening theme for the TV anime "Amanchu! Two songs by Minori Suzuki a.k.a. "Milingo" are used as theme songs in the TV anime currently on air. The second single containing these two songs will be released after GW. We interviewed Minolingo, who is growing as a solo artist!

I decided to convey the songs that I received from the two people I admire so much.

───This single is a powerful double tie-up with the TV anime. Which anime did you decide to sing first?

Suzuki: "Amanchu! ～Adobansu" in the summer of last year (2017). I was told that I was going to sing it in the summer of last year (2017). The recording of the anime had started early, so I observed everyone's performance before recording.

─ ─ You also appeared in the first episode, didn't you, Mr. Suzuki?

Suzuki: It was quite a while ago when we recorded the episode, so it was a bit embarrassing to watch it on air.

─ ─ Of course, the opening theme "Crosswalk" was also played from the first episode.

Suzuki: It was a very beautiful opening image, which made me happy. Eri Suzuki, who plays the role of Pikari, said, "The timing of the title credits is exquisite! I think it really gave the sense that the story was about to begin. I was also glad to see that the song was linked with the depiction of Teko and Pikari's casual daily life.

─ ─ "Crosswalk" was written by Maaya Sakamoto, composed and arranged by Katsutoshi Kitagawa, and the strings were arranged by Shin Kono. What was your first impression of this song?

Suzuki: At first, I listened only to the melody that Mr. Kitagawa wrote. It was warm, yet somehow sad, and I couldn't help but shed a tear. Then Maaya's lyrics came up, and this time, I cried out (laughs).

(laughs) ─ With an overflow of feelings? (laugh).

Suzuki: I felt that the lyrics depicted the feelings that Teko and Pikari had for each other. And since the theme of the song was about new challenges, I was able to compare it to my own experience of leaving my parents' house in Aichi and coming to Tokyo by myself. It made me cry.

───This song is a perfect match between Ms. Sakamoto's impressive lyrics and Ms. Kitagawa's gentle melody, isn't it?

Suzuki: Both Maaya and Kitagawa have been my favorite artists since before I debuted, and working with them was one of my dreams. My dream of working with both of them came true with Valkyrie, and I was happy that I could do it as a solo artist as well. But one day, Mr. Kitagawa said to me, "I understand how happy you are, but what is important is what you do from there. I should not just be happy, but I have a responsibility to deliver the songs that you both gave me to the fans of "Aman-chu! fans.

─ Did you have any communication with Mr. Sakamoto?

Suzuki: I visited the live concert on March 31, and we had a short talk after the show. Since there were many people involved, I felt I couldn't talk to her for a long time, so I wrote a letter to her. Maaya is such a big part of my life that I don't think I would be here if it weren't for her, and her songs have always been by my side in both happy and difficult times. Since I received the lyrics from someone like that, I wanted to convey how I feel about singing her songs. I want to sing "Crosswalk" so that what I wrote in the letter will not be a lie.

─ I think you are a wonderful lyricist as well.

Suzuki: I like Maaya's lyrics because she doesn't wrap her words in ostentation, but rather lets them resonate directly to the heart. When I see the lyrics of any of her songs, I can relate to them, and I cry or feel happy.

─ ─ How did you interpret the lyrics of "Crosswalk"?

Suzuki: Through the director, I heard that Maaya wrote the lyrics with the conversation between Teko and Pikari in mind. I was particularly impressed by the second melody, "You have so many things I don't have, and sometimes I envy you", which I thought was Teko's feeling. I sometimes feel that way about people close to me, so I could really relate to this part. Also, in the D melody, "I love this town with the sea", I thought it was a feeling of both of us, Teko and Pikari.

─ ─ The D melody is very impressive, and the lyrics, which until then had been describing the inner lives of the two, suddenly take a bird's-eye view and the scenery of the town comes into view.

Suzuki: I love this part, too, and I thought the lyrics were really beautiful.

─ How was the recording?

Suzuki: Mr. Kitagawa came and gave us instructions together with the director. I was conscious of "conversation" in the recording. Mr. Kitagawa also directed me to sing naturally, as if we were talking more. I also sang the chorus in particular, wanting to bring out a bit of sadness in the midst of happiness.

─ ─ The music video of the two choruses of "Crosswalk" is available on YouTube. The video is very refreshing, isn't it?

Suzuki: We were able to make a good music video with the cooperation of Ito City and Izu Kyuko. The theme of the video is the daily life in Ito City. Instead of visiting tourist attractions, we visited ordinary residential areas and filmed there. When we were filming on location, residents would tell us, "This place is nice, but there are even better places over there," and everyone was really warm. The director was Mr. Hiroki Tokai, the same director as in the previous film "FEELING AROUND," and we had a lot of fun talking with him while walking around the streets of Ito.


─ You captured various scenes of Ito City, didn't you?

Suzuki: We spent from morning to night and took a lot of pictures. I really wanted to stay overnight at a hot spring, but unfortunately it was a day trip (laughs).