WagakkiBand Releases New Digital Single Featuring Amy Lee

WagakkiBand revealed a new track called Sakura Rising created in collaboration with Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee today. The song has been released as a digital single, and an animated lyric video for it has been uploaded to YouTube.

The two parties first met when WagakkiBand vocalist Yuko Suzuhana and guitarist Machiya went to see Evanescence perform in Los Angeles, and they have stayed in touch through social media. Lee was so impressed with WagakkiBand after seeing a video of their live performance, she joined the band on stage this February at their Premium Symphonic Night Vol. 2 show at Osaka-Jo Hall.

Sakura Rising with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE started from Machiya and Lee going into the studio together the day before their joint performance in Osaka and beginning to work on the basic track and songwriting. The day after the Osaka show, Suzuhana joined them in exchanging ideas on the melodies, track, and lyrics. After Lee had gone back to the US, and even during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, they continued working on the track via e-mail and social media. Even the recording was done online through file exchanges.

The video is also a collaboration between two Japanese and American illustrators. It captures how the coronavirus pandemic has changed people’s everyday lives in Tokyo and in New York, and shows sakura as a symbol of how people can still be connected around the world even if they are physically apart.

Watch the animated lyric video for Sakura Rising with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE:


Comments from the artists are available below:

Amy Lee:
Working with WagakkiBand was a completely unique and very special experience for me. They invited me to Osaka to perform with them in a symphonic concert, and while I was there, we thought it would be fun to try and write something together. I really didn’t know what to expect. Even though we speak different languages, and only had a couple of days together, the creativity just flowed and we ended up with a really cool piece of music. After I flew home, Yuko and I began writing each other lyrics back and forth, interpreting and reflecting on each other’s meanings. As the pandemic hit, we wrote about the same experience from two perspectives, and in two languages. The heart of the song is about unity. We are all the same kind - humankind. We have to fight together instead of fighting each other. And though we have been pulled apart, we are still together on a deeper level, in spirit.

Yuko Suzuhana:
In collaboration with Evanescence’s Amy Lee, our new song is finally finished. About two years ago, Amy watched our concert video and asked us to meet her, so Machiya and I flew to Los Angeles to see her concert in person. At the time, we promised to collaborate someday. About a year and a half later after her concert, we invited Amy as a special guest to our concert held in Osaka-jo Hall. During Amy's visit, we were able to go into the studio and finally create the framework of the new song together. After Amy went back to the US, we exchanged emails and data back and forth; and Amy and I had many enthusiastic talks about the lyrics. Affected by the new coronavirus, we prayed for each other's safety and always exchanged information about the situation in each country. Then, overcoming the language barrier and time differences between us, this song was finally born. Because of the equal situation in the world today, we could relate to each other more than ever; and it’s become a song that we could only make now. It's a sound that WagakkiBand never had before. Crossing the oceans and wishing for peace together, this song is filled with our desire to be united as one to usher in a new era together.

Machiya:
Having the opportunity to collaborate with Amy has finally been realized! Thinking back, it's been about two years since we first met, so I would say the feeling is closer to, "we finally made it!" Performing together in February at Osaka-Jo Hall, where we had the chance to create together face-to-face was amazing!

Amy was overflowing with so many different ideas that approached the concept from a different perspective, it was a very meaningful experience to be able to share ideas and spend time together! When we went into the recording studio to work on our concepts, I was overwhelmed by hearing Amy's vocals in person! Even just her humming, I was like "wow, how awesome!" you know. (laughs)

I was super excited and inspired, and I made sure to give all my energy to this piece of work. I devoted my heart and soul to respond to Amy's amazing talent and presence. With ideas from Yuko and myself, we put every effort into creating harmony!

I have loved Evanescence ever since modern alternative rock music first came to Japan. It has been a great honor for me to be able to work with Amy on this album, and I am very grateful for this encounter and opportunity!