LiSA has reunited with the Demon Slayer franchise for a powerful, new contribution: “Zankoku na yoru ni kagayake” (English title: “Shine in the Cruel Night”), one of two theme songs featured in the blockbuster animated film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle — Part 1: Akaza Returns. The track sits alongside Aimer’s “A World Where the Sun Never Rises,” continuing the franchise’s legacy of memorable music.

Composer Yuki Kajiura — who collaborated with Go Shiina on the film’s score — wrote the song. Kajiura has been central to many of LiSA’s most resonant Kimetsu-related recordings, including celebrated pieces such as “from the edge,” “Homura,” “Akeboshi,” and “Shirogane.” This latest pairing marks another milestone in LiSA’s rich catalogue of theme-song successes.

Shortly before this conversation with Daisuke Koyanagi, LiSA saw her vocals paired directly with footage from the film for the first time. She described the experience with palpable excitement and reflected on the creative journey that brought her back into the Kimetsu universe.

“The movie was stunning,” LiSA said after viewing Infinity Castle. She praised ufotable’s artistry, noting how light and shadow — particularly the way torchlight plays across the characters’ eyes — elevate the film into something like a moving piece of visual art.

When asked whether the film felt like the story’s climactic conflict at last unfolding, she agreed, observing that the narrative gives each character a distinct role and that everyone is essential to the final confrontation.

This is LiSA’s first Kimetsu theme since the Mugen Train arc. She explained that Kajiura and the production team wanted a song that would sit naturally within the film’s emotional landscape — a chorus that allows space for reflection while tugging at the listener’s heart.

LiSA described a collaborative process that was more intimate than previous collaborations. Although she initially planned to entrust Kajiura completely with the composition, their discussions became more interactive: sharing impressions, proposing ideas, and shaping the song together so it could stand as both a film theme and a lasting entry in LiSA’s repertoire.

The singer said that working closely with Kajiura felt like “fighting alongside” a comrade — a sentiment that reinforced her commitment to interpreting the song with conviction and nuance. That sense of partnership informed the emotional shading she brought to the performance.

LiSA recalled the demo feeling darker at first; through their exchanges, the arrangement evolved to balance sorrow and hope. She wanted the chorus to offer a glimmer of optimism amid the struggle, and Kajiura refined the piece until that duality came through.

The recording approach emphasized variety: LiSA experimented with different vocal personas across the verses, then allowed her familiar, bright timbre to open fully in the chorus. Kajiura encouraged LiSA to embrace that brightness rather than suppress it, which freed LiSA to explore multiple expressive colors within a single performance.

LiSA said the sessions were joyful and liberating. She likened the experience to previous standout moments in her career: with the confidence that “LiSA will appear” when needed, she can afford to take creative risks and enjoy the emotional work of singing.

Discussing the final vocal mix, LiSA noted how raw and immediate the last chorus felt — so authentic that it seemed the team simply captured it and left it as it was. Kajiura’s instant reaction on hearing the take — “That’s great!” — signaled a shared recognition that they had captured something special.

LiSA described the sensation of being “in the zone” during those takes: a blend of physical instinct and sensory connection that transcends deliberate thought. She compared the experience to past recordings like “Homura,” affirming her deep trust in Kajiura’s musical judgment.

Reflecting on the collaboration’s significance, she observed that the work between Demon Slayer, Yuki Kajiura, and herself has created a cohesive universe of sound and storytelling, built from mutual dedication and shared artistic standards.

LiSA closed by saying that watching the film and revisiting the manga’s themes resonated strongly with where she is in life now — reinforcing how art, craft, and personal growth continue to intertwine in her music.

Interview by Daisuke Koyanagi; originally published on Billboard Japan.