Press Conference with Eir Aoi in Mexico

A day after arriving in Mexico, the popular anisong singer Eir Aoi met with several media to talk about her career and give us her impressions of the country just one day before her performance at the Lunario del Auditorio Nacional. The singer was welcomed with a round of applause before she introduced herself in Spanish with a brief “Hello, I’m Eir Aoi. Nice to meet you”, and then the first questions were asked.

Welcome! What does Mexico mean to you?

Eir Aoi: I received many comments from Mexican fans on my Facebook page, so my interest in coming to Mexico already existed, having materialized last year. So I’m very happy it has come true.

As you just mentioned, you already had the idea of coming to Mexico last year. When LoveJapan offered for you to come, what made you say “Yes, I’m going to Mexico, a country I don’t know”?

Eir Aoi: The comments I received in my social networks made me realize that, in Mexico, people love Japanese culture a lot. How could I say no to that?

Do you know any artist who sings in Spanish? It doesn't matter if the artist isn’t Mexican.

Eir Aoi: No (laughs). However, I was on a TV show yesterday and while I was on my break I had the opportunity to see some singers who had nice voices, so I was interested in them. I would like to investigate a little more about them.

We know that you have participated in several anime. Which has been the one you liked most and why?

Eir Aoi: Every job I get is precious to me, so it’s hard to pick just one.

Regarding anime openings, is there any anime in which you haven’t participated and that you would have liked to sing a song?

Eir Aoi: I like “Shingeki no Kyojin” and “Durarara!!” I would have liked to have participated in those.

You mentioned that you had the opportunity to see how some people sang in Spanish. Would you like to sing a song in this language? Do you think it would be a good experiment for your career?

Eir Aoi: So far I just started learning greetings in Spanish and it’s difficult, but I think it would be a nice experiment. It would be nice to know enough to try.

Obviously, Mexican and Japanese culture is completely different. What has been the biggest cultural shock you’ve had since you arrived to this country?

Eir Aoi: This morning I was at Templo Mayor₁ seeing the ruins and learning the history of Mexico. I consider that this opportunity to know the history of this country represents something worthwhile for the concert that I will have tomorrow.

_{1. Important archaeological site in Mexico City.}

How do you prepare yourself for your shows? Do you have any special routines or rituals?

Eir Aoi: This concert will be DJ style, and based on that I practiced in Japan to introduce a new type of show. On the other hand, as a ritual I say “Ei ei ru” with my staff at every concert and I will do that tomorrow as well.

It was recently revealed you will work on the theme of “Digimon World: Next 0rder.” What other experience do you have in the field of videogames? How much would you like to collaborate in this area?

Eir Aoi: I would like to participate in “Monster Hunter”, “Call of Duty”, “Left 4 Dead”, “Biohazard”, “Dynasty Warriors Online”, “Final Fantasy”, “Dragon’s Dogma”… many. (laughs) I want to participate in so many that I run out of fingers to count them.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Eir Aoi: The person I appreciate and respect most in life is my father. I even don’t eat the food that my father hates. My father told me that to be a good singer I had to go to the sea and sing with all my heart to strengthen my vocal cords, so I did.

What is the song you most enjoy singing live?

Eir Aoi: In general, the song I like most is the one that causes more smiles among the fans, and that song changes in every country. I really want to see which song causes more smiles in the audience tomorrow at the concert.

As an artist, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Eir Aoi: I want to continue singing, but if it’s possible I also want to get involved in creating songs and delivering them to other people.

What do you expect of the Mexican audience at the concert?

Eir Aoi: I hope they have fun, but I also hope the concert becomes a good memory, something that allows them to forget bad experiences they may be living through at the moment.

Did you want to become an anisong singer when starting out?

Eir Aoi: Rather than thinking since the beginning that I wanted to sing anime songs, first I wanted to be a singer. As I grew up I began to like the world of anisong, so it eventually became a joint dream. These two things joined and now I’m happy of what I’ve accomplished.

If you hadn’t been a singer, what else would you have liked to pour your feelings into?

Eir Aoi: There was a period when I considered that perhaps I wouldn’t become a singer, and during that time I had the dream of becoming a nurse. What interests me is making other people happy by helping them. So during that period in which I couldn’t continue with my dream of being a singer, I studied a bit of nursing.

Could you share with us some of your professional training?

Eir Aoi: I haven’t had professional training, but rather I joined the choir at school and learned to play the guitar a bit. There is also the fact I mentioned earlier of going to the sea to sing, singing to nobody in particular but with all my strength. All I can really say is my vocal training was singing daily so much that people gave me the nickname ‘walking speaker.’

With which artist, international or national, would you like to collaborate in the future?

Eir Aoi: When I was at school I was very interested in Do As Infinity, and although it’s metal, I also really like Evanescence.

What was your favorite anime as a kid?

Eir Aoi: My favorite anime was “Sailor Moon”, so much so that I still buy things related to it.

How important is fashion in your concerts?

Eir Aoi: It doesn’t change much from what I wear daily. I tend to use more masculine and black clothes. When I’m at concerts I wear small shorts; it’s like my signature. By the way, before going to Templo Mayor, I was able to buy a pair of tennis shoes downtown and I intend to return to Japan and show them off to everyone (laughs).

(laughs) What kind of tennis shoes?

Eir Aoi: They are black with metal, and they are very cute. I fell in love with them at first sight.

How was it was working with Hisashi from GLAY? Did you like working with him?

Eir Aoi: I am very happy to have collaborated with him, first because I enjoyed GLAY’s music with my family. I had their CDs since my childhood, and they're a band I respect a lot. It meant a lot to be produced by and collaborate with someone very important to me.

What do you think have been your best and worst experiences during your career?

Eir Aoi: At my first concert at Nippon Budokan I had to finish a song with a very well executed twist, but I ended up doing a lap and falling to the ground making a fool of myself. Regarding the best I’ve experienced, I am not saying it to flatter everyone, but I’m very happy to have received the invitation to come to Mexico and do a one-man show not in collaboration with someone else, and to show my music and art to an audience I don’t know.

What was the hardest song to record in the studio?

Eir Aoi: Ignite. It’s a very hot song that requires a lot of energy. Although it was recorded during the cold season, I took off my shirt in the studio to sing it, pouring with sweat.

What do you miss the most about your country when going abroad?

Eir Aoi: Eating natto with umeboshi. Have you ever tried it?

(Some of the media nodded in response.)

Eir Aoi: (surprised) No way! Amazing!

You mentioned that you practiced Spanish yesterday. What are the words you managed to learn?

(The singer asked for a moment as she tried to remember the words in Spanish before the interpreter helped her remember the beginning of the sentence).

Eir Aoi: “Estoy muy feliz de estar en México.” [I am very happy to be in Mexico].

Many people know anisong, but there are fans who don’t know you. What message do you have for the public who don’t know Eir Aoi?

Eir Aoi: For those who don’t know my career, I would recommend you start with the openings of “Kill la Kill” or “Sword Art Online”: “Sword Art Online”’s Innocence and “Kill la Kill”’s Sirius.

Seeing that you have so many fans in Mexico, do you feel pressure to face a public that you don’t know?

Eir Aoi: I can’t answer honestly before tomorrow because I haven’t had the opportunity to know the Mexican public. But if you ask me if I’m nervous, not really. I’m happier and excited about this possibility.

Your single Aurora has been used for the “Gundam Age” series. Based on the historical, political and cultural effect the series has had in general, how did it impact you that your song was used for this franchise that is a pillar of the otaku generation?

Eir Aoi: I’m very happy and honored to have been allowed to participate in something that is so much a part of Japanese culture. Another thing I want to mention and that isn’t that related is that last night I dreamed of fighting in a Gundam myself (laughs).

What do you think of Mexico City so far? What places have you been? How has your experience been with Mexican food?

Eir Aoi: I visited downtown this morning and I went to Templo Mayor, but I also had the opportunity to go shopping. I haven’t yet had the chance to eat Mexican food, but today I plan to eat nopales and tacos.

What would you say is the difference between being in the world of anisong and being a pop singer?

Eir Aoi: The biggest difference between the two is that when you sing for an anime, some material (manga, scripts, or anything that might be related to the anime) is delivered to you, whereas when doing J-pop, it generally has more to do with what you’re going through or feeling in that moment.

If you could voice any anime character, who would you choose?

Eir Aoi: Since my natural voice is very low, I don’t know what role I could play, but I would probably be a boy (laughs).

What has been the most difficult decision you’ve had to make during your career?

Eir Aoi: Rather than one difficult experience, the difficult thing for me is when I have to create something but I can’t find the way to express it. Although what makes me happy is the moment when I manage to overcome that obstacle.

Could you define your music career in one word?

Eir Aoi: (Thinking) “Yume” [dream]. The reason why I’d reduce my career to this word is because having reached the point where I can sing professionally is not the end of my dream. Being across the globe singing for people from different countries is almost as if I was dreaming every day.

“Digimon World: Next 0rder” is a series that is celebrating its 15th year since last year. Is it a series that represents something special for you or you are just dabbling in it?

Eir Aoi: I have very strong impressions regarding “Digimon.” It was a game I liked a lot. “Digimon Adventure” was released recently and while I haven’t had the opportunity to see it, I know that I have very deep emotions regarding this series because after seeing the trailer, some tears came down my face.

We know that you close your tour in Mexico, and we also know what comes with “Digimon”, but what else comes to Eir Aoi in the future?

Eir Aoi: The concert tomorrow will be with a DJ, but I would like to make another tour with a band next year. By the way, because of my visit to Mexico I painted my nails the color of the cactus (laughs).

What are the top five songs you have on your player?

Eir Aoi: My top five? In 5th place I have Hiro Hatamoto, in 4th place Acid Black Cherry, in 3rd place I have the soundtrack of “Tokyo Ghoul”, in 2nd place L’Arc~en~Ciel, and 1st place… (thinking) Recently? UVERworld.

What are your hobbies?

Eir Aoi: I like reading, shopping, and when I don’t really feel like doing that, I like to play all day long without leaving my home.

If a Mexican person visits Japan, what places would you recommend they visit?

Eir Aoi: I was expecting this question! (laughs) I was born in Hokkaido, in northern Japan. In Mexico it doesn’t snow but in Hokkaido it does, so I recommend you go to Hokkaido and make many snowmen. The week before last, 40cm of snow fell.

Has love influenced your music?

Eir Aoi: Unfortunately or not, I haven’t had my heart as broken as I describe it, but I imagine what it must feel like when I sing about it. Ignite is based on what the loss must feel like.

Thank you very much!

JaME would like to thank to Eir Aoi, LoveJapan Entertainment, and their interpreter for making this press conference possible.