Shocked by the heart-stirring melody line! Interview with Rie Murakawa on the occasion of the release of "Hajimari no place", the ending theme of the anime "Piano no Mori" sung by Rie Murakawa!

Voice actress Rie Murakawa's new single "Hajimari no Place" is now on sale to rave reviews.

This is the ending theme song for the anime "Piano no Mori" (2nd series), which is currently airing, and is a one-of-a-kind song with beautiful sounds and pop melodies, as is typical for a theme song for an anime based on classical music.

This new single breaks new ground for "RiEMUSiC" as proposed by Mr. Murakawa. He also shared his enthusiasm for his first orchestral concert, "Pear Season," which will be held on April 20.

Hajimari no place" shocked us.

--Hajimari no place" is a very pleasant song with a piano melody, just like the title of the anime. What was your impression when you first heard the song?

Murakawa: Since this is a tie-up song, I was told by the director that the song would have a classical feel to it. So I was thinking, "I'm looking forward to it. Until I actually heard the song, I imagined it would be more of a quiet ballad, but when I listened to it, I thought it was more pop than I had expected. But actually, there was an intention behind it. "Piano no Mori" is in its second season, and the story is going to be developed in a very exciting way, so I wanted to make the ending theme more exciting, and that's why the song was written in such a tempo. So, the ending theme was also meant to liven up the work even more, and that's how the song was chosen. When I heard that, I was convinced that this was the case. When I listened to the song with that in mind, I thought, "Indeed! I think the song is a perfect fit for the song. In the first place, I was just imagining a ballad on my own (laughs).

(laughs) -- So the song was exactly in line with the anime.

Murakawa: That's right. The song was supervised by the production team, and I think it is a song that would not disgrace the ending theme of "Piano Forest".

--Tsuyoshi Sakabe, who composed and arranged the music, also wrote rock songs with a unique world view on his second album "RiESiNFONiA," such as "Glass Door" and "Tsuki no lx," and this time I was surprised that he could write a song with such an atmosphere as this. I was surprised to hear that you also write songs with this kind of atmosphere.

Murakawa: That's right. I had a strong impression of "Glass Door," so when I heard "Hajimari no Kojo" I thought, "What a swing! I was surprised.

--Did you communicate with each other in any way during the songwriting process?

Murakawa: Not particularly. This time, I left it all up to you, so I don't know how "Hajimari no place" was composed, but thinking back on it, you also composed "Dokidoki no Kaze" for the 2nd single! That's how I remembered it! That's how I remember it!

Doki-Doki no Kaze" is also a magnificent, beautiful, refreshing, but very moving melody line, and it is a really wonderful song. It was a really beautiful song. I think I was convinced by some parts of it.

--In a way, it reminds you of the early days of your music career, doesn't it?

Murakawa: It's a bit different in nuance, so I didn't really feel that way, but it had the same impact on me as "Glass Door" did. I thought, "Wow, this is different from 'Doki-Doki no Kaze'" in "Glass Door. And also "Hajimari no Kojo" was different from "Glass Door"...! (laughs).

(laugh) -- Mr. Sakabe's works always give you a shock, don't they?

Murakawa: Yes, they do. I think it may be due to the timing or the fact that the music happens to have a different approach, but my cycle, or the timing of the music, is like that.

--What do you feel when you listen to a new song each time you hear it?

Murakawa: With excitement. Thankfully, I have had many tie-up songs and singles, so I often receive advance information. For "Hajimari no Tokoro" this time, I had some advance information such as "It will have a classical atmosphere," so I had an idea of what the song would be like, but basically, I listen to it with excitement. It is similar to the excitement of opening a Christmas present or a birthday present.

I just hit back the inspiration I get from the music.

--Can you tell us your favorite part of this song or your favorite part of singing it?

Murakawa: It's difficult to say, but "Kagikakko no naka ni nakatta keshi ni omitted 'arigatou' (thank you)" is a distinctive lyric, and it's the part in the chorus where the song reaches its climax, so I think that part will stay in everyone's ears.

This is a bit off topic, but we shot the music video with a piano accompanist. Perhaps it was because of the live sound, but the power of the interlude was amazing.

At that time, we did not have the completed sound recording, so it may have been because we were listening to a sound recording that was in the process of being completed, and I think it was partly because of the superb performance technique. It was just amazing, so powerful! I wish everyone could have heard it live. ......

I wish everyone could have heard it live at . --Speaking of that, I am looking forward to the orchestra concert in April.

Murakawa: That's right! It won't necessarily be the same as the music video, but I think the closest environment to the music video will be the "Season of Pears" concert in April, so I hope everyone will come. That's not quite what the question was about, though (laughs).

--When I interviewed you before, you said that you sing without thinking too deeply when you sing.

Murakawa: Just as usual, I guess. I felt that I should go into the performance without being nervous and without being overconcerned. I had read the original story, but I sang the song with a neutral feeling. I sang with a neutral feeling. I was inspired by the music, and I just sang back to it.

--Is there any other episodes from the shoot that left a lasting impression on you?

Murakawa: It was a bit cold because of the season. But fortunately, we were shooting indoors, and the staff was very considerate. They even turned up the heat. It was a large hall like a concert hall, so it took some time for the heat to spread, but as a result, we were able to shoot in a warm place, and I was grateful for that care.

--The song is the theme song for a work about the piano called "Piano Forest." Do you have any memories of the piano yourself?

Murakawa: It may not have much to do with the piano, but I think the inventor of any musical instrument is a genius. Pianos are amazing, aren't they? It's big and has many parts, and when you press the "beep" button, it goes "ping" (......). I am amazed that he invented it and that it can be used for music. I am also amazed that they came up with the concept of the "Do Re Mi". I wonder who could have predicted that a violin would have such a beautiful sound.

--The material is wood, right?

Murakawa That's right. That's why I think it's amazing. If it were a violin, you would use an item called pine sap, and when you apply the sap, friction is created and sound is produced. ...... That's amazing, isn't it? I think. It's really strange when you think about it. Thanks to the invention of such instruments by people in the past, music was born and Rie Murakawa's songs were also born, for which I am truly grateful.

An orchestra concert is a world of unknowns

--I would like to ask you about the coupling song "NoSTALGiA" as well. What kind of music is this one?

Murakawa: There is no particular theme, but it is a song with a 180-degree different approach from "Hajimari no Kojo". Compared to "Hajimari no Kojo," it is a bit darker. If anything, it is a more melancholy or emotional song. It is neither too intense nor too quiet. I guess it would be good if people roughly think, "This is RiEMUSiC, too.

--What is the content of the "Weekly RiEMUSiC" included in the accompanying DVD this time?

Murakawa: Basically, it is almost the same as usual, but this time we are also including a concert section, so we are talking about the orchestra concert. I am giving an honest report on the current situation, saying that due to the timing of the recording, there is nothing that I can tell everyone (laughs). However, I did tell them that this will be the first orchestra concert and that they should look forward to it because it is sure to be a wonderful space.

Well, I don't have any new information in particular, haha (laughs).

--I'm sure there is nothing new to tell, haha (laughs).

Murakawa: Yes,......I'm going to tell you now because it's almost a done deal, but there will be ...... weapons. I hope you will arm yourself with it and join us at the concert.

--What made you decide to hold an orchestral concert in the first place?

Murakawa: The organizer of the orchestra concert had seen my first and second live performances and had been asking me since then, "Mr. Murakawa, how about an orchestra live performance? The staff members decided that the tie-up with "Piano Forest" and its classical theme would be perfect timing for the concert, so we decided to make it happen.

--What do you think about singing with an orchestra in the background?

Murakawa: I can't imagine anything. I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to work with an orchestra, so I can't imagine what it would be like.

--I can't imagine that I will ever have the opportunity to sing with an orchestra. Singing with an orchestra.

Murakawa: That's right. I really don't know the scale of the event yet, but I feel that I have been given a very precious opportunity, and I don't think that many people will have the chance to hear my music performed with an orchestra. However, I am sure that it will be a wonderful opportunity, occasion, and space, so I hope you will look forward to it.

--I am looking forward to it. Finally, what kind of year do you want 2019 to be?

Murakawa: Well - ....... Health first, (laughs). I hope it will be a year in which the people around me are also healthy and can live in safety and security.