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LANA recently connected with Billboard Japan as part of the ongoing “Women in Music” interview series. Since its inception in 2022, this initiative has sought to spotlight the visionary artists, producers, and executives shaping the modern entertainment landscape, drawing inspiration from the global success of Billboard’s annual Women in Music accolades.
On June 9, a unique showcase featuring a collaboration between Billboard Japan Women in Music and Spotify EQUAL is slated for SGC Hall Ariake in Tokyo. Ahead of this event, the 22-year-old rapper sat down with journalist Shiho Watanabe to discuss her evolving perspective on navigating the Japanese music scene and the profound influence female artists can wield within the industry.
The Power of Self-Discovery
Your aesthetic and personal style have cultivated a massive, devoted fanbase of young women. Have you noticed recurring challenges that your fans—or even your inner circle—seem to face?
At the core of it, I think there is a profound lack of guidance on how to manage the human experience. Everyone feels incredibly lonely, yet there’s no blueprint for how to sit with that isolation or nurture one’s inner world. I wish our educational systems prioritized emotional intelligence, financial literacy, and the normalization of therapy. Without a safe space to explore identity, people can lose their way. My songwriting is essentially an attempt to provide the guidance I wish I had received—to put that growth into words.
Do you personally utilize therapy to navigate these waters?
I do. It’s an ongoing process of finding the right support while teaching myself how to find strength in solitude. I view life as a series of rhythmic waves—the highs and the lows constantly cycling. When I’m flourishing, I try to savor it; when I’m struggling, I lean into the support of those around me. I’ve come to accept that no emotional state is permanent. Embracing that transient nature of life is where true resilience is born. My growth has been defined by my willingness to confront my own loneliness head-on.
Evolution and Artistic Purpose
With sold-out shows at the Nippon Budokan and various arenas within a single year, your trajectory has been remarkable. Has your sense of purpose sharpened?
Absolutely. At the end of the day, my primary responsibility is the music. This year has felt like a return to that foundation. Regardless of the spectacle or the production value, the ultimate test is the quality of my craft and the authenticity of my soul. Once I realized that, I began to approach my career with a newfound intensity. I can stand behind every decision I’ve made, knowing I’m living and evolving with integrity.
Your vlog often highlights a grueling, non-stop schedule. How do you describe that intensity?
I call it my “tonkotsu” state—always full, high-calorie, and completely immersed. I live with such velocity that there’s barely space to hold onto memories. I worry that if I detached myself from that intensity, the essence of who I am would dissipate. Perhaps that raw, unfiltered energy is what truly connects with my audience.
Standing Together
Your collaboration with Elle Teresa at the POP YOURS festival was a major cultural moment. Was that intentional?
Elle is someone I’ve admired since my teens, so that collaboration was deeply personal. Despite the noise or the industry skepticism, we chose to stand together, and that felt like a beautiful, defiant statement. It was our way of saying, “Look at what we can build.” We treated the performance like a runway show because we wanted to project confidence. It was, in my view, the most powerful message we could have delivered.
As a woman in hip-hop, have you faced gender-based pushback?
It’s an everyday reality. You hear the outdated comments about what a woman can or cannot handle. Instead of letting that sting, I treat it as fuel. If someone says, “You can’t,” I’ll double my efforts. I choose to channel that friction into progress. When I encounter other female creators who share this vision—like Awich or Elle—we don’t just work together; we empower each other to carve out space that didn’t exist before. When we stand together, we give everyone else the courage to follow.
— Originally published by Billboard Japan
