Interview] Ai Nakashima releases new single "Aquarium / Tenshi of Hair Ornaments". This gorgeous single includes the theme songs of two autumn anime!

Ai Nakashima's new single is a double tie-in single, "Water Tank," the opening theme for the TV anime "Hoshiai no Sora -The Sky of Hoshi Ai no Sora-" and "Hair Ornaments no Tenshi," the ending theme for the TV anime "Honyaku no Shimokoukoujou -I Can't Choose My Means to Be a Librarian. Both were quality pop songs by unique creators. Moreover, two copies were released at the same time, the "Hoshiai disc" and the "Honkaku disc," with the order of recording switched. We talked to "Mamegu" about her latest work, which has been released in a series of CD releases, including a cover mini-album, a best album, and a single, and has run through 2019.

The more you learn about the story of "Hoshiai no Sora," the more the lyrics of "Water Tank" stick in your mind.

─ ─ This single includes theme songs from two anime works. Please tell us about the production of "Water Tank" first.

Nakajima: The tie-up was decided around December last year. At that stage, the picture was not ready, but I had a chance to read the scenario. The story is about a junior high school soft tennis club, but it is not a cheerful coming-of-age story; in fact, it is the exact opposite. I also had a strong impression of it, so I thought it would be better if I could make a song that would go along with the darker side of the scenario rather than a song that would be typical of the opening.

───The music was composed by Kana Yabuki and the lyrics by Seiichi Shindo of Porno Graffiti.

Nakajima: I chose Yabuki's melody from among several candidates. In terms of brightness, it was the least bright of the candidates, but I really wanted to sing this song. I thought, "This song fits well with the work and with me, so who could sing it? I opened the door and found it was Yabuki's. I'll never forget it. I felt that Mr. Yabuki's songs are characterized by the fact that they are not straightforward, and "Water Tank" really stuck with me. I suggested to director Akane, "I think this song would be better suited for the ending theme," and he gave the OK. I asked the arranger, Toomiyo, to keep the shades of Yabuki's melody in the sound. The song has a floating, empty, underwater feel to it. And from there, I asked Seiichi to write the lyrics. The lyrics were really great, and I thought the unique weight of the lyrics was a new world for me.

───The first episode was used as the ending theme, and it really matched the work.

Nakajima: In terms of the tune, it's the image of the ending, and the lyrics of both No. 1 and No. 2 are very close to the world of the work, so I think the impression will change as the episodes go on. It's an original work, so in a good way, it's hard to predict what's going to happen next.

─ ─ What is your impression of the lyrics?

Nakajima The lyrics are not only heavy, but also have a light at the end. I sang the lyrics hoping that a ray of light would shine on the main characters, no matter how dark and deep they were. However, I was surprised at first because the title "aquarium" and the word "whale" are related to water. The word "hoshiai" refers to the Star Festival, and I thought it must be Seiichi's sensibility that inspired the image of water. I think the more you know about the work "Hoshiai no Sora," the more the lyrics will fit.

─ ─ The title "water tank" had a strong impact on me.

Nakajima That's surprising, isn't it? But the main characters are in a situation where they cannot get out of a square water tank of their own volition. Moreover, they are "like tropical fish released into a tank of fresh water. It is a cruel passage, depending on how you interpret it, and it stuck in my mind as well. The square aquarium also overlaps with the classroom, and I think it symbolizes the "star-crossed skies. I believe that the work will resonate with a wide range of people, from young people in their adolescence to adults who once went through adolescence.

─ ─ The ending theme is "Kagome no Naka no Bokachi wa," and I guess "Hoshiai no Sora" gives the image of being confined in a small space.

Nakajima: It's a close motif, isn't it? For them, school and home are a tank and a cage. But I didn't want the song to be only about pain, so I tried to mix the painful parts with the hopeful parts in the way the song is sung. I hope this song will help the characters and the story. The story is not all heavy, and there are many scenes where everyone is playing soft tennis together in a lively way. Actually, I used to play soft tennis as a club member when I was a student.

─ ─ Oh, really?

Nakajima: Only for half a year (laughs). (laughs). This is a work that also has a club activity aspect to it, so I hope you will enjoy it along with "Tanks". As the story progresses, the more I get emotionally involved with the characters, the more I care about the ending of the story. The more I get emotionally involved with the characters, the more I find myself wondering about the ending. I watch it, wanting to tell them that something good will happen.

Nakajima──As an adult, I feel like cheering them on.

Nakajima Yes, that's right. However, I thought it would be different to sing the vocals for "Tank" from an adult's point of view, so I was careful not to make the vocals sound like I was trying to envelop them. It was more like going back to a time when I was in the same position as them....my teenage years are still not that far away for me (laughs), and I still have real feelings about them, so I sang the song while looking back on them.