Interview With ASCA
Location: Anime Boston 2022
Interview Date: 5/28/2022
Anime Herald: You’ve recorded songs with Takanori Nishikawa (T.M.Revolution), Fox Capture Plan, and Kanon Wakeshima. Are there any artists, in particular, you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
ASCA: I’ve had a chance to collaborate with a lot of artists. I’m very honored. If I were to name one at the moment, I’d say Ayaka, a singer-songwriter I’ve looked up to since I was little. I would like to collaborate with her if possible.
Boston Bastard Brigade: Latching on to the question regarding Ayaka, being someone who greatly influenced you to become a musician, what other artists influenced you to want to become a singer and helped you become the ASCA of today?
ASCA: There are a lot of artists I drew inspiration from. When I was in elementary school, I listened to a lot of solo female singer-songwriters. Especially artists that sang a lot of opening or ending songs for Japanese dramas. Hikaru Utada, Dreams Come True, or MISIA. Those were three very famous names that really influenced me.
As I grew older I got to know more artists, there was Mao Abe who also inspired me, and also, I had a chance to collaborate with her. I also drew inspiration from Takanori Nishikawa.
Anime Herald: Do you currently have the time to read manga or watch anime? If so, what are some of your current favorites?
I do have time to read manga and watch anime. If I were to give one that I like this season, “SPY x FAMILY”. I’d read the manga previously. When I saw it was becoming an anime I thought “Wow, that’s great!”
Another one from the previous season is “Ousama Ranking” (“Ranking of Kings”). I watched the first two episodes of the anime, teared up, cried a river. I decided to buy all of the volumes of the manga and now I’m a big fan.
Boston Bastard Brigade: There is a lot of emotion in the songs you sing and perform. What influences your music, be it songwriting or performing?
ASCA: My mom and my teacher told me I was very good at singing. I liked their compliments and how they enjoyed listening to me sing. Initially, I wanted to make the people around me happy. That’s what drove me to sing more and become a singer.
Now that I’ve performed as ASCA, I’ve been able to reach out to a wider audience through Anime songs. Now, my driving force is to make my fans happy and proud to be a fan of ASCA.
Anime Herald: Now that you’ve been to Hawaii for Kawaii Kon and Boston for Anime Boston, what are some of the things you’ve enjoyed that are unique to America?
ASCA: Arriving in the US, the people here are very diverse. I really like that I can be who I am, and proud of who I am as a person. That really shows in all the performances. When I show up to my concerts and see everyone be who they are, that gives me the strength and confidence to perform as who I am.
In regards to performing in Hawaii, I was supposed to perform there two years ago. It was delayed due to Covid. Currently, in Japan, you aren’t allowed to cheer aloud. When I performed in Hawaii, and when I performed here, I felt like “This is it, this is what it’s like to have a live performance.” It energized me.
When I was in Hawaii I was able to go sightseeing and climb The Diamond Head. In Boston, I was able to go to the library and hang out with my staff members.
Before, when I went out for live performances abroad , it was all about the performance. I just carried all my nerves. Even if I had free time I would just stay in my room and build up my nerves and focus only on the performance. Now that I’ve come to Hawaii and Boston I guess I’ve learned the importance of enjoying my time here, as well as delivering my best performance at the live concert. By coming to the land of the free I was able to learn the importance of balancing having fun in my free time and getting ready for my performance in front of a live audience.
Boston Bastard Brigade: Was doing Anisongs something you always wanted to do, or is that something you fell into naturally?
ASCA: When I was growing up Anime was everywhere. When I first decided to become a singer, there wasn’t a specific style I was considering. I just wanted to be a singer.
As I grew up I was able to understand how important anime culture could be. I really feel that being able to sing the openings or theme songs for these anime, anime is like an artwork essentially, being able to be a part of this gives me a sense of responsibility to be able to deliver a musical performance that is part of this piece. I am very honored and proud I am able to do this.
Anime Herald: You’re one of the headliners of SACRA MUSIC FES. 2022 -5th Anniversary-.
Is there anything special you would like to do to take advantage of the fact that you’ll be performing at an event with many other of SACRA MUSIC’s artists?
ASCA: As I joined SACRA MUSIC when it was being established, I too am celebrating my 5th anniversary with them. I’d like to bring forth what I’ve built up over the past five years alongside SACRA MUSIC. At the first SACRA MUSIC festival, I did a co-op performance with ReoNa, a fellow SACRA MUSIC label artist. Since that was a success, I’d like to do another co-op performance with another SACRA MUSIC label artist and deliver that performance to my fans.
Boston Bastard Brigade: When you are writing or performing songs for Japanese Anime, how do their stories influence the song you are trying to bring to life?
ASCA: Whenever I get offers to do work on a series, I try to watch the anime or read the manga or play the game. I try to understand the story before I begin working on a piece. While I work on it, I try to look for places that I relate to, in the story, or how the characters might feel. From there I try to develop a piece that fits the atmosphere, the feelings behind the characters, while overlapping my own experiences. That’s something I put some emphasis onto.
Anime Herald: You’ll be making your European premiere in Germany at AnimagiC 2022. Was touring internationally one of your dreams when you first envisioned becoming a professional singer? Is there anything unique to Germany that you’re looking forward to experiencing at the convention?
ASCA: Originally, I didn’t envision myself singing in front of a foreign audience. As I developed as ASCA, as an artist, and [as] an Anisong artist…
Anime songs are more than me, it’s because there’s an anime that these songs exist. It’s important for me to help deliver these songs to a worldwide audience as much as possible. I want to help these works be represented well.
I never envisioned myself performing overseas, but now that I’ve performed here, and performed in Hawaii, as I have more offers to perform overseas I’d like to continue to do so.
In regards to Germany, one of my favorite foods is potatoes. I heard that in Germany you can eat potatoes every day. This is what I’ve heard from other people. Apparently, in Germany, there’s a way to eat potatoes with just a simple seasoning that’s almost like eating just the potato itself and that’s what I love. I’m very much looking forward to enjoying some potato dishes in Germany.
Boston Bastard Brigade: Are there any kinds of genres of music that you haven’t yet performed that you’d like to try in your career?
ASCA: There are a couple of genres I’d like to try. In particular, healing music. I sometimes listen to it when I’m going to sleep. I listened to it quite often during the pandemic. I feel that if I can add healing music it might expand ASCA’s music overall.
Boston Bastard Brigade: I think that would be great.
ASCA: Thank you.
Boston Bastard Brigade: I have one question I like to ask all artists I interview: Three album island. If you were stuck on an island, what three albums would you like to have with you to keep you sane while you waited for your imminent rescue?
ASCA: The first one is Ayaka’s first album “First Message.” I can sing every single song on that album.
When I was young I used to listen to a lot of Tohoshinki. “Best Selection 2010” would be my second album. I should have at least one men’s album if I’m trying to keep sane.
This is a hard question.
Boston Bastard Brigade: This is the question that stumps a lot of the bands I interview.
ASCA: The third album would be “Queendom” by Awich. She’s a female rapper. Her songs are very powerful. There’s a lot of powerful messages in it, as a rapper, and as a mother as well. I feel like if I listen to her songs I’ll feel powerful as well and be able to survive.
