In 2008,
ChouCho began posting videos of herself singing on Nico Nico Douga, a popular video sharing website in Japan, which led to her major debut single
Kawaru mirai for the 2011 anime "Heaven’s Memo Pad".
This year, she will be performing live in America at the
Lantis Festival in Las Vegas on January 16th and 17th at The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. In her first interview with JaME, the singer shares about her music and thoughts about her upcoming gigs at the festival.
What does your name "ChouCho" mean? How did you decide on that name?
ChouCho: It was originally my nickname in the band I was in during college. I used it as my online name when I started promoting myself on the internet, then I decided to go with it when my major debut was decided.
What made you decide to be a musician?
ChouCho: I grew up listening to my dad play the guitar and sing at home. Since I was little, it’s been natural for me to love singing and want to become a singer.
Where do you get inspiration for your music?
ChouCho: I’m very grateful that I have opportunities to write lyrics and songs these days. Most of my ideas come when I’m doing something simple like taking a walk or a bath and thinking about variety of things.
How similar is the ChouCho portrayed through your music to the ChouCho behind the scenes?
ChouCho: Probably about 70%! (laughs) I think my real self shows up in the way I sing and in my lyrics!
You have sung the theme songs for various anime. What are some of the best memories you had while working on those songs?
ChouCho: The most memorable one would be when OVA "Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet ~Meguru Kouro, Haruka~" was screened at theaters. I was so touched when I heard the song I sung played in an actual movie theater. It was one of my dreams come true!
Your latest single, whitepetals
, was released on November 26th. What are the themes or messages you wish to convey to listeners through the songs on the single?
ChouCho: There are three songs included and each of them has a different type of atmosphere. However, all of them have the same message in the lyrics, which is to stay positive and face the future.
If you had to describe your feelings about your upcoming performance at the Lantis Festival with a colour, which colour would it be? Why?
ChouCho: Probably white? I purely want to enjoy this opportunity and want to deliver my honest feeling to the audience, so it hasn’t been stained with any colors yet.
What can we expect from you at the Lantis Festival
?
ChouCho: I’m very much looking forward to being a part of this amazing group of artists and working with them. I really want to make this show great and enjoyable and I hope the audience can share my feelings.
What is the next step in your career?
ChouCho: I’d like to challenge myself more with songwriting and hope the new songs I write will get a tie-up with anime!
Please leave a message for our readers.
ChouCho: I will continue singing many types of songs wholeheartedly, so please come join us at the
Lantis Festival and let’s have fun together!
JaME would like to thank RESONANCE Media and ChouCho for making this interview possible.
Information
https://www.facebook.com/ANISONGWorldTourLantisFestivalinLasVegas
VIP and General Admission tickets at AXS.com
http://www.axs.com/artists/1100442/anisong-world-tour-tickets
