Press Conference with NANO at Anime Friends 2023

Hours before her first show in Brazil, NANO met the press to talk about her experiences in Brazil, her career with anisongs, and her expectations for the night's performance.

This is your first time in Brazil, and you mentioned earlier that you were very excited to meet your fans. Have you already met them?

NANO: Since this is my first time in Brazil, I was very excited to come. I always knew that I had many Brazilian fans, so I'm really looking forward to finally meeting them at the show.

What genre of music inspires your work? Have you listened to any Brazilian music?

NANO: Many different genres of music have inspired me. I grew up listening to various types of music, from classical to rock, from folk to pop. Everything inspired me. Unfortunately, I haven't listened to much Brazilian music, but I would love it if someone could introduce me to something.


Your 2015 album, Rock On, seems to be a declaration of your rockstar identity. Although you work with music in a very open way, rock seems to predominate. Was there a specific band or song that sparked your passion for rock?

NANO: Rock On is a very special album for me because, as you said, it shows the soul of rock within me. To be honest, the inspiration doesn't come from outside, but from inside, so it’s just me shouting "Rock On" to the world.

Given the success you've had around the world, how does it feel to see music connecting different cultures?

NANO: I feel very blessed. It's very special for me to be able to go to different countries and see many different people. I think my biggest goal is to connect the world through music. So, right now, I'm on this journey to connect more people. Brazil is a huge milestone because I really wanted to come here, so thank you!

What is the process like when composing an anime theme song? What's the main difference between composing an 'anisong' and an original song?

NANO: There are many differences between creating an anisong and an original song. When I create an anisong, first I need to study the anime and then think about the lyrics that fit with it, with the atmosphere of the anime; only then do I record. With an original song, I am free to create whatever I want, so the process is faster. Therefore, with anime music, there are many more steps in the creation, but I love writing them.

You have collaborated with several artists, such as the band MY FIRST STORY. Which other artists would you choose for a collaboration and why?

NANO: There are so many incredible artists in the world, not only in Japan but all over the world. I would love to collaborate with people from different genres, not just rock. At the moment, I'd love to collaborate with anyone. Some people I met at conventions like this, for example, I recently met BURNOUT SYNDROMES, and I'd love to do something with them. They are very inspiring. So, I'd love to collaborate with any artist who is interested.


In your latest album, NOIXE, there's a song called We Are The Vanguard, featuring the rapper DEMONDICE. How was this collaboration, and how was it mixing rock with rap?

NANO: I was very excited about collaborating with someone from a different genre because when we do that, we create a new genre. I met DEMONDICE in Hawaii, at an anime convention, so it was like a dream coming true for this collaboration to come out of that encounter. It was very special. We had a lot of fun recording and creating the song. I would love to do it again.


Also regarding NOIXE, you composed the song Catastrophe for the anime "Human Bug Daigaku". When composing the song, were you thinking about the problems surrounding the protagonist or something beyond that?

NANO: Yes and no. Yes, because the lyrics are about the protagonist's story, but I also felt that many people could relate to him. You know, I can relate to him and to people who are in an internal struggle.

From your first work to the latest, do you feel that there has been an evolution in your music and style?

NANO: Yes, I feel that when I listen to my first album, I am very different now, in a good way. But also, many things haven't changed, and my passion for music has only grown. That's evolution. I am more rock 'n' roll and more passionate about music. I love listening to my first album because it reminds me how much I love music.

Are you planning to try new music styles and continue posting your covers in English?

NANO: Yes, I would love to venture more into music and evolve my style more. So, I'd love to try new genres. I love doing covers because it helps me experience different types of music. So, I'd love to continue posting more songs on YouTube.

As someone born and raised in the USA, Japanese society must be very different from what you were used to. Did you find it challenging to adapt to this change, or did living in a Japanese family prepare you for it?

NANO: That's a very deep and complicated question because I always had an identity crisis, whether living in the USA or in Japan. I didn't know who I was because in the USA, I wasn't fully American, and in Japan, I wasn't completely Japanese. So, I didn't fully understand who I was. Music was my savior; it helped me overcome these difficulties and love who I am. I still feel like a stranger, no matter where I go, but I'm happy with that because I have music.

Your musical style has a melodic element typical of anisong, but your original work also incorporates many melodic elements characteristic of J-rock and even a bit of visual kei. What do you like about the Japanese rock scene?

NANO: I think J-rock is very special because, despite being rock 'n' roll, it's very melodic and easy to understand, easy to sing along to. For example, people in the USA are tougher, while the Japanese have a gentleness, and that's what I love about J-rock. Anisongs are also like that, with kindness and love. I think it's essential to tell the world about the beauty of Japanese music. So that's why I'm doing what I do now.


Do you watch the covers fans make of your songs? Have any of them particularly touched you?

NANO: I love listening to covers of my songs. If I can find them, I always want to see them, whether it's a cover of singing, guitar, or any kind. I love it. I wish more people would make covers of my songs online, and if they do, I would love to listen to it.

Yesterday was your birthday, and you had the chance to go out a bit here in Brazil. You even received a cake as a gift. From your first experiences here, what impacted you the most?

NANO: I knew that people in Brazil were very passionate and full of love, but everyone is so amazing, kind, and smiling. All of this made me so happy. Everything is so much more beautiful and better than I imagined.

What Brazilian food did you try, and what did you like the most?

NANO: When I went to the restaurant yesterday, everything was so good! No, really, I ate so much! A little bit of everything. (laughs) But the desserts were really good. I heard that the lemon pie was famous. There were many types of sweets, but I loved the lemon pie.

As someone who moved to Japan as a teen, you must have had more contact with foreign people who liked Japanese culture. What are your impressions of seeing people from outside Japan enjoying anime and manga in Akihabara's streets?

NANO: I love that people travel to Japan to enjoy Japanese culture. I think it's amazing. It's not easy to go to a different country, especially Brazil, which is on the other side of the world, far from Japan, but when people come from here, it's very special. Now that the pandemic is over, people can go more and more to Japan, and I can go to more countries too. Anyway, I love the otakus. (laughs)

JaME would like to thank NANO, Maru Division, and interpreter Isabela Arantes for making this article possible.

Links to download and stream NANO's latest album NOIXE on various music platforms are available here.

On Thursday and Friday, NANO performed two concerts at Anime Friends for an eager audience who sang along with all her hits. The satisfaction on her face was evident as she saw the affection Brazilians dedicated to her. After her first show, the singer commented how happy and surprised she was to see the energy of the audience and expressed a little regret for taking 11 years to come to Brazil.

Check out the set lists from NANO's two concerts and some photos from the performances below.

Set list (Thursday, July 13)

01.Bull’s Eye
02. No pain, No game
-MC-
03.Utsushiyo no yume
04. DREAMCATCHER
-MC-
05.Fukai Mori (Do As Infinity cover)
06. God Knows…
-MC-
07. FIGHT SONG
08. SAVIOR OF SONG
-MC-
09. Freedom Is Yours

Set list (Friday, July 14)

01. Nevereverland
02. Evolution
-MC-
03. No pain, No game
04. DREAMCATCHER
-MC-
05. Hysteria
06. magenta
-MC-
07. FIGHT SONG
08. SAVIOR OF SONG
-MC-
09. Now or Never
10. Freedom Is Yours