She is the singing voice behind some of the biggest modern anime hits such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaba, My Hero Academia, Sword Art Online and Fate/Zero.
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She’s the vocalist behind some of modern anime’s biggest hits, such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaba, My Hero Academia, Sword Art Online, and Fate/Zero. She’s also the lead musical group behind the Japanese release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. And now she’s in America, with a recent appearance at Comic-Con International: San Diego, an upcoming appearance this weekend at Anime NYC, and the upcoming premiere of her concert film LiVE is SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER- in theaters across the United States and Canada.
Her name is LiSA.
LiSA is a global J-pop sensation whose music has reached fans all over the world. Now that her concert film – which includes her theme song “Homura” from Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train – is coming to theaters here, we talked to her about her career, creativity, and ambitions.
Popverse: What was your experience like performing on the LiVE SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER tour?
Lisa: It was the first tour in a long time where the audience could sing freely and express themselves without restrictions. Before the pandemic, my fans often sang along. To celebrate the return of this freedom, we put together a setlist full of songs that encourage singing along and create many moments of close connection with the audience. It made me so happy to feel that connection again.
Your final performance on the LiVE SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER tour is now a film that is coming soon to North American theaters. What are you most excited for your fans to see?
The feeling of unity and cohesion in the venue and the emotions expressed during performances, especially with a live band.
Your sound and your concerts are so full of energy. How do you prepare for performances? Do you have any special routines?
To prepare for the concert, I visualized the performance while singing on an exercise bike. I also did some kickboxing five minutes before the show to get my heart rate up.
Speaking of theme songs, your song “REALiZE” served as the theme song for the Japanese dub of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Can you talk about your approach to writing a song for a major Hollywood film?
When I think back to previous Spider-Man movies, I always saw Spider-Man as a hero weighed down by the weight of his fate. For this song, I imagined Spider-Man soaring through the air and battling his enemies, which inspired me to create an energetic track.
How did you approach the text and the message you wanted to convey?
When I write a song, I incorporate the passion of everyone involved in the production. I read the original works beforehand and connect deeply with the emotions of the main character and the story. Then, based on that, I fill the lyrics with my honest, raw emotions and make sure I can sing it with sincerity.
If there is one anime you would recommend to others, which would it be?
One of my favorite anime is “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”.
You recently performed at San Diego Comic-Con, one of the largest conventions in North America. What was it like performing in front of those fans?
Since it was not just a Japanese anime convention, but a global comic convention, I was curious if anyone would come to hear me sing or even know who I was. But everyone made it an unforgettable experience. It was incredibly moving to see the crowd singing along to familiar songs and getting excited about pieces they were hearing for the first time.
Is there a particular song that you are particularly happy about when fans sing along to you?
“Gurenge.” I am continually moved by the powerful impact it has on listeners around the world.
You put so much passion and love into your music. Is there a song that is particularly close to your heart?
“Crossing Field.” The first time I performed this song live was in the US, and it was incredible to hear everyone singing along in Japanese. It showed me how music can bring people together across borders.
Is there an album you are particularly proud of?
“LEO-NiNE” – This album helped me a lot to break out of a world exhausted by the pandemic.
Speaking of love and passion: You said that producing a CD requires a lot of heart and time. Can you explain how you go about writing your music?
The music arrangements and lyrics? For me, it starts with an internal interview where I ask myself what I am feeling in that moment and what I want to shout out loud to the world. From there, I work with the creators to translate those emotions into sound and then add lyrics. Throughout the process, I envision when and how I want to play the song during a concert and that vision guides the creation process.
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