Interview] NARIKO AZUKI debuts with the opening song of the TV anime "Yattekimini naru".

Singer-songwriter Riko Azuna made her debut with "Kimi ni tekimete", the opening theme song for the TV anime "Yattekimini naru". Her voice, which is gentle yet has a strong core, is full of charm that makes you want to listen to it over and over again. In her live performances, she plays acoustic guitar and tells stories with her voice. Another new artist is born whom we cannot help but pay attention to!

At the "Autumn Blitz Festival," I was able to sing with a fresh feeling.

─ ─ I heard that you have been performing in musicals and TV shows as an actor since you were a child.

Yasutsukina: I was a child who liked to do interesting moves in front of people, so my mother thought I should try something theater-related. My mother was a piano teacher and I was taking piano lessons, but one day she asked me, "Which do you want to do, piano or musicals? One day she asked me if I wanted to play the piano or be in a musical, and I chose the musical.

───And then, as an adult, you came back to singing, didn't you?

Azukiina: Musicals involve singing, acting, and dancing, and I loved all of them, but singing was what I loved the most. As I grew up, my desire to convey songs in my own words grew, and I chose to become a singer-songwriter.

───Did you continue to play the piano throughout that time?

Azukina: My mother was very strict with me, and for a while I hated the piano (laughs). (Laughs.) I wish I had played more, but I like the guitar more now.

───How long have you been playing the guitar?

Azukina: Since I entered university. I started learning music theory at the same time, and I also attended a music school along with a four-year university.

───At that time, were there any artists who influenced you?

Azukiina: In J-pop music, I like female singers who play acoustic guitar and narrate their songs, such as YUI and miwa. The artist who has influenced me the most is KT Tunstall, an overseas artist. Whenever he comes to Japan, I visit his live performances. She plays the guitar while looping pedals on instruments such as tambourines and pianos, and she plays all the sounds by herself. I admired her at first sight.

─ So you admired female singer-songwriters who played the guitar.

Azukiina: Yes. I bought myself a nice vintage guitar and practiced hard on it (laughs).


───What kind of musical activities did you do as an amateur?

Azukiina: I was active in live music clubs. Mostly in Tokyo, but I also sang in the countryside. When I made my debut, the audience and the atmosphere on stage were completely different from before, so I am singing with a fresh feeling.

─ You already sang "Kimi ni o tekite" at the "Autumn Dengeki Matsuri" on October 7, didn't you?

Yasutsukina: Yes. I was very nervous at the Dengeki Matsuri because it was the first time I performed "Kimi ni Ote" live, but when I got on stage, I felt the strong love of the fans of "Yattekimoni ni Naru". Even though the CD had not yet been released, some people smiled at me just by hearing the intro, and it made me happy to know that so many people knew my song.

───What triggered your debut in the first place?

Yasutsukina: I was asked to audition for the song "Kimi ni tekimete" because they were looking for a singer for the song. I was chosen for the audition and ended up making my debut.

─ How did you feel about singing the theme song for a TV anime?

Yasutsukina: I honestly wanted to take on the challenge. I had experience on stage and loved acting, so I felt that singing along with an anime work would be similar to acting, and I was excited that I could expand my own music.

─ Do you like anime?

Azukiina: I have loved watching "Sailor Moon," "Ojamajo Doremi," and other anime with girls as the main characters since I was a child. To be honest, I didn't think I was familiar with anime, but when I look back, there are so many works that I know, and I thought, "I grew up with anime. So I was very happy to be able to sing an anime song.