For over a decade, Eir Aoi has been one of the defining voices of anime music, captivating fans with her powerful vocals and unforgettable theme songs for some of the medium's most beloved series. Her music has resonated with audiences around the world, earning her a dedicated international following. In this interview, Eir Aoi reflects on how anime stories shape her performances, the evolution of her music after returning from hiatus, and why she's now more determined than ever to challenge expectations and explore new creative directions.
Eir Aoi Honey-Chan Interview with Eir Aoi [gray-hex-decoration] Welcome, and thank you so much for this interview. First, we'd like to know about your creative process. When you are writing or performing a song for a specific anime series, how does understanding the story, characters, and overall message of that anime influence you, both lyrically and musically? Whenever I have the opportunity to perform a song for an anime series, I read the scripts or the original source material and try to understand the world, themes, and emotions of the work. I then incorporate those elements into my performance, so the series always has a significant influence on me. Since your return from hiatus, your musical style seems to have evolved. Can you describe how your experiences during your break might have influenced your recent musical direction, and what new themes or sounds you are most excited about exploring now? Up until now, I often found myself thinking, “Is this what people want from me?” or “Is this the kind of music they're expecting from me?” I was more focused on living up to the image people had of me than on defining myself as an artist. Going forward, I’d like to explore a wider range of musical styles. For example, I’d like to try genres I’ve never performed before, as well as music that people might not typically associate with me. I’m excited to see what shape that will ultimately take, and I hope everyone will look forward to it as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8CkpcpahSE You recently worked on two OP themes: “MONSTER,” the OP theme of Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester, and “Unrealistic,” the OP theme of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4. Given the distinct worlds of these two popular anime, what were your individual creative approaches to writing and performing each of these songs to capture the essence of their respective series? First of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to perform the theme songs for these series. It’s a real honor to be able to express each work’s world through the songs, whether that’s through the lyrics, the recording process, or the music videos. Having been given this opportunity, I hope to bring that same passion to my live performances going forward. Your music is gaining traction among the global anime community. How do you feel about your songs reaching such a wide international audience? When you are creating new music, do you consider your international listeners? I’m truly happy that my music is reaching people around the world through anime. Before I started performing overseas, I never imagined that fans would be singing my songs along with me, so it means a great deal to see audiences joining in. It also makes me very happy to see people connect my music with the anime and immerse themselves in those worlds. When recording new songs, I always try to sing in a way that will resonate with everyone who experiences the work, whether they're in Japan or overseas. Looking ahead, what is the next musical challenge you are eager to take on? This could involve a collaboration with an artist, experimenting with an entirely new genre, or performing at a venue you have always aspired to. Lately, I've been wanting to break free from the image people have of me. Instead of making the kind of songs that people naturally associate with Eir Aoi, I'd like to challenge myself with music that goes against those expectations. That really sounds so cool and exciting! Now I'm really curious about what kind of music Eir Aoi could surprise us with next! If you're curious too, follow her on social media and be the first to enjoy all of her new songs and projects! Connect with Eir Aoi Official Site: aoieir.jp Official X: x.com/eir_ruru2 Instagram：instagram.com/aoieir TikTok：tiktok.com/@eir_ruru2 YouTube：youtube.com/@eir_ajito Spotify：open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/18moNotPmBWa2YZtRnIoZ3 “MONSTER / unrealistic” streaming and download: lnk.to/LACM-24832s
