When producer Ayase and singer-songwriter ikura (Lilas Ikuta) came together as YOASOBI in 2019, the talented duo found success almost immediately thanks to their structurally complex yet immensely catchy amalgamation of pop, rock and electronic music. Releases such as The Book, E-Side and Hajimete no were critical and commercial hits, helping to popularise their brand of “story music” (songs based on short stories and literature) within the J-pop sphere.
But as big as they were, nothing could have prepared them for the phenomenon that was ‘Idol’ - their most popular song by a country mile - boosted by its position as the opening theme for the debut season of 2023’s zeitgeist-defining anime Oshi No Ko. Since then, the band has broken out beyond Asia to become mainstream global sensations - propelling the pair to sold-out world tours and headlining slots at massive festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Now the pair are in the midst of celebrating their milestone fifth anniversary as a band (capped by their epic Chō-genjitsu Dome Live shows) and their second Asian arena tour. We caught up with YOASOBI right after their exhilarating back-to-back concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium to learn more about the band’s growth and evolution over the past five years, and their plans for the future.
Hi YOASOBI! You're just coming off two massive concerts here in one weekend. How does this time around compare to your first vist to Singapore last year?
ikura: The crowds are so much bigger now. But more than that, they're also more passionate! The vibe is so amazing, the energy we felt from Singapore feels special to us.
The last time Bandwagon interviewed YOASOBI, ‘Idol’ hadn’t been released yet. Obviously, a lot has happened since then. How important was that song, and Oshi No Ko, to your lives and career?
Ayase: I think 'Idol' really helped us gain more overseas listeners, which makes us very happy. It's success was important in growing our international fanbase. That song is the main reason we're able to do world tours now! We couldn't have dreamed that we'd be able to play all these different countries, so 'Idol' has truly changed our lives.
YOASOBI is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary. Considering you both had solo projects before the band, did either of you expect YOASOBI to be such a major part of your lives?
ikura: Not at all! We definitely didn't imagine that YOASOBI would be as big it is.
How has the creative and personal relationship between you two evolved since 2019?
Ayase: On the creative side, we are so much more aware that there are many more people listening to us now, so our songwriting keeps that in mind. Perhaps that's why our newer material feels larger or more dynamic.
ikura: In terms of our relationship, we didn't know each other well in the beginning. But we've spent five years touring together, working together, and making music together. There were a lot of triumphs and challenges that we faced as a team during that time. So our bond has become very strong, I think.
In terms of the band, has the mindset and goals of YOASOBI changed now that you’ve hit this five year milestone? What are your plans going forward?
Ayase: To be honest, we had no specific goals in mind when we started. We just wanted to make music, and we wanted people to listen our songs. It was very simple. But as time passed, we did gain more ambitions. There are things we want to achieve. For example, we were very glad that we got to do an arena show in Singapore with such a big capacity. But next time, we hope to aim for something even bigger!
You guys are set to perform in London at Wembley Arena in June, alongside festival appearances like Primavera Sound in Barcelona. What are your feelings and expectations ahead of your debut in Europe?
Ayase: Since it's our first step into Europe, we definitely want to bring our best. Our best performance, our best set, our best stage production - as much as possible. We know we have many fans in Europe who have been waiting for us, and we don't want to disappoint them. We want to be at our best when we get there.
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You both have been touring quite extensively over the past couple of years. What toll does travelling take on you?
ikura: Well, we try to sleep as much as we can during travel. We try to rest when we can. But also, we love meeting new fans, seeing new places and eating yummy local foods. It's tiring for sure, but we can't complain.
Where do you find time to write music when you're travelling so much?
Ayase: It's hard but we are able to squeeze in time between shows. Sometimes we get one or two weeks between concerts, and we use that time to write and create. We don't have time to create full songs during tours, but we're able to create seeds of ideas during our off-time. We'll pack those seeds with us when have to go, and then we'll grow those seeds as we get more free time and inspiration later on.
Your most recent single ‘New me’ is based on Mado Arute's short story. Could you tell us more about what the short story is about?
Ayase: It's a story about this main character who has trouble at her workplace because of pressure from her her male boss. She hates him, and later decides to, um, explode him. (Laughs)
ikura: The main theme of it is mystery. It's a really great mystery with elements of action, violence and a little bit of slice-of-life. It's a very unpredictable story.
So how did you go about interpreting that story into music?
Ayase: I tried to translate the emotion of the protagonist, the intense hatred she feels for her boss. She hates him but has to pretend to be nice to him. She hates that she's being forced to fake her interactions with him. That is the main element I put into the song - the dislike of being me, and the need to find a 'New me', the desire for change or rebirth.
Do you have any new releases planned in the coming months?
Ayase: Yes, we have a few things coming up. We can't announce anything specific yet, but we do have an anime tie-up song that will be out this Spring. We also have a song that we created for Playstation's 30th anniversary!
Thank you to Sony Music Singapore and SOZO for the interview.
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