Daoko Yuma Totsuka
J-pop singer Daoko was touched to sing the style for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie, a two-part computer animated function as a result of strike Japanese movie theaters June 9 (Part 1) and also June 30 (Part 2).
The movie shows the last tale of the Sailor Guardians, referred to as the Shadow Galactica arc. Daoko created the signature tune “Tsuki no Hana” (“Moon Flower”) for this motion picture, readied to be consisted of in the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie Theme Song Collection, set up for launch on the day Part 2 decrease in movie theaters.
Daoko took a seat with Billboard Japan to talk concerning the brand-new tune and also her ideas on the Sailor Moon franchise business, which existed prior to she was birthed, the songwriting procedure for the motion picture style, and also where she anticipates to go following in her music trip.
When did you initially discover the Sailor Moon anime collection?
I wasn’t birthed when the initial collection initially broadcast, yet reruns were being relayed on cable television when I remained in preschool which was the very first time I viewed it. The change scenes were charming, and also from a kindergartener’s viewpoint, the personalities were older girls which likewise stands apart in my memory. I see since the things on the program like the poles are wonderfully made, yet when I was little I simply assumed they were charming. We likewise acted to be the Sailor Guardians in preschool.
What do you assume is the charm of the Sailor Moon franchise business?
When I was little bit, I suched as the visuals, change scenes, and also worldview all at once due to the fact that I simply assumed every little thing was so charming. But since I’ve matured, and also after seeing the whole collection over once more, I assumed it was trendy exactly how the ideas might be seen in the information of the layout, like the earths being made use of as concepts. When I mosted likely to the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Museum (a significant exhibit kept in 2022), I took a very long time considering the change equipment from each age.
You’ve pointed out that you “read the original manga and watched the anime series over and over again to take in the worldview more deeply” when developing the songs for the motion picture.
Yes. I go over all the manga, viewed the anime, and also purchased publications having design sheets and also publications tailored in the direction of followers to gaing brand-new point of view on the job.
What component of “Tsuki no Hana” mirrors what you absorbed via that procedure?
Since I understood that the tune ought to exist along with and also sustain the globe of Sailor Moon, I looked for an usual language in between my very own worldview which of the collection. I have a tendency to be as well precise concerning being loyal to the source product and also the initial job, yet Seiichi Nagai — that co-wrote the tune with me — assisted to loosen up that up a little bit, to make sure that individuals that don’t understand that “Tsuki no Hana” is from Sailor Moon will certainly assume it’s great when they hear it on the road. We intended to please Sailor Moon followers while likewise changing the phrasing and also the expression to make certain it likewise reverberates with a broader target market. One of the motifs was the nobility of the Sailor Guardians conquering challenges.
Did the manufacturers of the motion picture request for the type of songs they desired?
Since it was for the end of the last phase of the collection, I originally had a ballad in mind, yet as we reviewed it additionally, it came to be clear they desired the tune to stand for the toughness of females and also the ideas of the Sailor Guardians as they challenge their turnarounds. Not smooth, yet marvelous. So the setup has effective and also wonderful components to it.
Seiichi Nagai is the guitar player of TESTSET as well as likewise a sustaining participant of your support band.
He’s been sustaining me as a band participant for my solo undertakings for a very long time. We made a decision to create a brand-new band called QUBIT with those very same participants, implying he and also I are currently actually bandmates. So we’re close like that, and also I’ve likewise dealt with him on a number of tracks prior to. When he’s backing me in my solo jobs, he peppers his efficiencies with steel guitar tastes and also I like his extreme, trendy having fun design. His guitar having fun likewise has a type of stellar glimmer to it that just he can develop. I assumed that would certainly match the globe of Sailor Moon which’s why I welcomed him to work together.
The setup is attributed to kensuke ushio, that likewise creates songs under the name agraph. He’s serviced great deals of anime-related songs prior to.
Mr. Nagai presented us, and also it was the very first time I dealt with Mr. ushio on a track’s setup. I assumed he was so efficient. He made the tune noise trendy, and also he spread great deals of audios that would certainly reverberate well in a theater. The intermission is impressive, similar to celestial spaces, and also all of us had a great deal of enjoyable thinking of the tune’s influence in movie theaters while dealing with it. I supervised of vocal singing and also verses this time around, so I didn’t reach see the whole exchange in between the author and also arranger. It did type of seem like something remarkable was done prior to I understood it, and also the demonstration concerned me practically finished.
Have you obtained any kind of reaction from your followers beyond Japan concerning launching a Sailor Moon style?
Sailor Moon is likewise incredibly popular worldwide, so I did obtain lots of remarks from individuals residing in various other nations when it was revealed that I would certainly be doing the signature tune. My fanbase increased worldwide after dealing with anime songs so I presently have many followers in various nations. It appears they’re happy concerning my most current cooperation and also eagerly anticipating the motion picture’s launch. I wish it’ll be a possibility for individuals that such as Sailor Moon to learn more about Daoko. I’m sure individuals from several nations will certainly see the motion picture, and also I ask yourself exactly how “Tsuki no Hana” will certainly seem to them.
When you do beyond Japan, do you locate the responses of the target market various from those back residence?
It depends upon the nation, and also I do assume there are private distinctions, yet individuals have a tendency to be a lot more meaningful in a physical method. I think it depends upon the sort of songs, yet in Japan, individuals are usually reluctant and also appear to appreciate themselves inside, yet in other places, individuals dance like insane which was likewise enjoyable. I’d never ever seen anything like that prior to, so it left a large impact on me. Now I desire the Japanese target market to dance, as well, so I’ve been attempting to develop my programs to make it take place.
Are there any kind of styles you’d like to attempt progressing? Also, are you dealing with any kind of brand-new tracks?
I assume bands have their very own trendy methods of providing themselves, yet I made a decision to stop my previous administration to seek what I like as Daoko the solo musician. I intend to compose charming anime songs that drops under the “denpa song” category (deliberately odd and also memorable popular song). I intend to compose songs that everybody can dance to at clubs, like “four-on-the-floor” things and also residence. I likewise intend to increase the globe in my demonstrations, and also because I’ve been exercising guitar lately, I’d like to compose tracks I can do real-time “unplugged.” I such as great deals of songs despite category and also intend to maintain doing songs that I such as. Right currently, I have a solid need to increase overseas, so I’ll most likely make songs with an abroad target market in mind, which most likely suggests things individuals can dance to. I’d enjoy to work together with musicians from various nations, and also am discovering numerous opportunities currently.
—This meeting by Akihiro Watanabe initially showed up on Billboard Japan
