Interview】Asakika releases her first mini-album "19BOX", filled with her "now" at the age of 19!

Asakika made her major label debut in October 2016 as a sophomore in high school, and took a big leap forward with the release of "SHINY DAYS," the opening theme song for the TV anime "Yuru Can△," in January 2018. She has sung many anime and game tie-in songs, and now she is finally releasing her first mini-album, named "19BOX" after her age of 19 years old and the jukebox-like collection of various types of songs. The lead track, "Kill Me One More Time?" is a mature jazz number. The lead song, "Kill Me One More Time?" is a mature jazz number that shows a new side of the singer, whose husky voice is very appealing!

I wanted to make a CD that would be the culmination of my teenage years.

─ ─ It's been a year and a half since we had the opportunity to interview you since your second single "Edelweiss. A year and a half has passed since then, and things have changed a lot, haven't they?

Asakika: I graduated from high school and moved to Tokyo. The environment has changed, and I feel renewed. It was hard to get used to it at first, but the release of "Shiny Days" in January and the timing of my first one-man live show in Tokyo kept me busy and distracted me. Now I am completely at home in Tokyo.

─ ─ "Shiny Days" was the song that triggered your breakthrough, wasn't it?

Asakika: Yes, it was. Happily, it became a hit with the TV anime "Yuru Can△" and many people listened to it.

─ ─ Since your debut, you have released five singles steadily, and this time you are releasing a mini-album with seven songs. This time, it is a mini-album with 7 songs, and we can listen to all of your songs at once.

Asakika: I feel like this is a release that I have waited for a long time. Many of the songs have not yet been released on CD and have only been performed live, and many people have been asking to hear them on CD as soon as possible. I also wanted to make something tangible as the culmination of my teenage years before I turned 20, which led to this mini-album.

The first three songs are new songs for the album, and the latter four are tie-up songs for video games and other activities.

Asakika: We gathered seven different types of songs. I think this mini-album will give you a chance to get to know different types of Asakka.

The title of the album is "19box," which is a combination of the words "19" and "jukebox.

Asakana: It's a jukebox that contains a variety of songs, and you can choose and listen to them as you like. The release date is January 9, 2019, which is "1919," and I was particular about the number.

I just realized that January 9 is a Wednesday.

Asakika: I was looking at the calendar and saw that January 9 was a Wednesday, so I thought this was the only day! (laughs) From the title to the release date, I wanted to convey the message that I wanted people to see me as a 19-year-old.

───Did you record the song at different times?

Asakika: Some of the songs were recorded when I was in high school. It was only a year ago, but when I listen to it now, I think, "I'm so young" (laughs).

─ ─ That is a sign of growth, isn't it?

Asakika Thank you (laughs). I hope so. When I listen to my debut song "Open your eyes" again, I think to myself that I feel fresh. I still didn't know what was right and what was left (laughs).

─ ─ Which of the songs on "19box" was recorded when you were the youngest?

Asakika: The fourth song, "valkyrie PARTY," and the existing songs after the fourth song are listed in the order in which they were recorded, so you may be able to feel the process of growth.

─ ─ And with the first three new songs, you can enjoy the latest Asakika.

Asakika: Yes. The new songs are exactly who I am now.