Chain Chronicle（チェインクロニクル）theme songs’ singer Nano（ナノ）visited C3 in Hong Kong to perform six songs yesterday (12th February). The Japanese singer later attended an interview done in English. In the interview, she even gave overseas fans hope by hinting at a possibility of an English album.
Q: You have sung many anime songs. Which anime do you like the most?
A: It’s hard to pick. I can’t pick, but the newest animation I am singing for, Chain Chronicle, it’s really a special world for me. I have to say that I would love everyone to watch Chain Chronicle.
Q: The first song you sang on stage, Saviour of Song, is a collaboration with My First Story. Are you gonna collaborate with others anytime soon?
A: I think collaborations are very difficult because it involves a different type of artist, but it also inspires me a lot. So I would love to do more collaborations in the future. I can’t say right now what I have in store , but I’m definitely looking forward to doing a lot more with a lot of different musicians. I look forward to it.
Q: We feel that your voice is very strong and very low with a warm feeling. How do you usually protect your voice? How do you train your voice to stay like that?
A: To be honest, I don’t do a lot of training or do anything particular. I just make sure that I don’t catch cold and I don’t eat a lot of too harsh food, but otherwise I just think that emotion is more important than just maintenance. So I usually don’t practise too much.
Q: Since you have many fans overseas. Are you gonna release an English-only album?
A: This is a good question. I would love to try that someday. Right now at the moment I am still working on my upcoming fifth year album, but that one is not necessarily in that theme yet. Eventually maybe I will be able to do an English album. That would be really cool. That’s a great idea.
Q: What is the meaning and definition of songs and music to you?
A: I used to ask myself this question a lot. As I do music, that answer becomes more and more clear to me. Right now, to me, music is a connection with people around the world. No matter who they are, where they live, what country or race. So i just think music is the power that connects everyone and gives people power and courage.
Q: In the music video of My Liberation, when you are singing, there are two actors in the background fighting. Is there anything interesting you can tell us about the shooting?
A: The video itself took an entire day to shoot, and the people who were battling, they were battling for 12 hours straight. It’s amazing how much power they had. And I was standing right in the middle of that, with swords coming to my face. I was trying to look very natural as they fought around me. So it’s very exciting for me as well.
▼ My Liberation music video
Q: On Niconico, doing a cover of others’ songs is a trending culture. How do you feel about this?
A: I think it’s a great way for people to be able express themselves, because you only need internet and a reporting equipment to be able to sing and reach out to people with your songs. So it’s a good way to brush up your singing skills and performing skills. I think it’s great, and I hope a lot of people around the world are able to experiment more with their own amazing talent and send it out to the world.
Q: How do you feel about people changing the lyrics of others’ songs?
A: It doesn’t insult the original creator…I think the good thing about Niconico is that it’s a free place for people to express themselves. As long as they respect what they are saying, and the people who created the music, and the people who are watching, I think they are free to express themselves.
Q: You were born in America, but why did you choose Japanese songs to start your career?
A: I was very inspired by Japanese music in the beginning. I watched some anime and I heard the opening songs. I was very inspired and amazed by how cool it was. I wanted to be able to sing something like that and just express myself in a way with the animation. I just like Japanese music a lot.
Q: You just mentioned anime to be an inspiration. Which anime do you like?
A: The first one that comes to mind and the one that really inspired me to listen to J-Pop was Meitantei Konan（名探偵コナン）. Also, another one I like is Fullmetal Alchemist, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi（鋼の錬金術師）. It’s very popular so I am sure you guys know.
▼ Detective Conan
▼ Fullmetal Alchemist
Q: Do you think you have already caught your dream?
A: No, not yet. Not at all. I have so many dreams. I don’t know if I will ever actually catch my dream when I am always gonna be aiming for it.
Q: In the two anime you mentioned, which character do you like the most and why?
A: In Meitantei Konan, my favourite character is…that’s a tough one…One is Conan, of course. And the other is Haibara. In Fullmetal Alchemist, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, my favourite character is Edward, the main character. I love his power and his courage. It’s just inspiring to watch.