[Honey’s Anime Interview] Exploring TRUE’s Latest Album, “Ensemble,” and What Lies on the Horizon

We’ve had the pleasure not only of interviewing you in the past but also of attending your ‘Acoustic Live 2022 TRUE NOTE page.1’ concert last year. Thank you for chatting with us once again. Looking back to when you were preparing your latest album, how do you remember the experience of creating ‘Ensemble,’ and how do you feel about it now?

It was just a lot of fun. A completely new album after 4 years and the first time in a long time to work on a song with euphonium! It was always an exciting feeling.

As an experienced singer who has been around for nearly a decade, what has allowed you to keep enjoying making music even after all this time has passed?

Because this is all I can do, and I have no other choice but to keep making it, right? Ten years ago, and even now, I am making music with the same fresh feeling. I think I really love music!

After having created multiple hits, what is one song you still feel shows TRUE in the best light?

All the songs that I have produced! They are all pieces of me, so I think they are a good representation of who I am. From the point of view of being known by many people, the song that has become like a business card for me is “Sincerely.”

If you could go back in time to give your younger self some early advice, what would that be and why?

I’d say “You can go straight ahead!” The dreams I had as a child have led me here. To cherish encounters with people. Be true to yourself. And the most important thing is to never give up. I would like to tell my younger self that the courage to never give up is strength, and that I want her to believe that and hang in there.

With a remarkable career so far and exciting prospects ahead, is there a type of music you’d wish to try but feel might be too difficult or even unexpected?

The other day we held our first orchestra concert and it was very difficult! And I was impressed by how much more possibilities can be opened up by rearranging the same piece of music. I also found new challenges as a vocalist, so I will make proper preparations for the next concert.

And speaking of arrangements, when you envision a new song, is there any favorite instrument you always enjoy including?

The instruments I incorporate vary from time to time. An interesting experiment in my recent music is “Time Machine,” in which various sounds recorded in my house are used as sound effects in the song. The sound of twisting the stove, closing the curtains, tapping the dishes, setting down the cup, etc. I want to use this new toy called music to make those sounds. It was a lot of fun to record while recalling the childlike excitement of wanting to try this or that.

“Sound! Euphonium” has several wonderful songs, each with a powerful message for those listening. How do you connect with these pieces?

I feel that it will be something that many people will be able to relate to because we all know the joy of playing music with someone else! This is also the thought that I put into the ensemble, but I am sure that we all feel such joy in chorus, ensemble, and live performance. “Sound! Euphonium” is a work that teaches us again such a sound that cannot be played alone, the joy of music.

Do you have any hobbies that help inspire your music creation?

Camping! There are many views you can see by putting yourself in nature. It is also a time of dialogue with myself.

That’s really cool! However, not everything is joyful when creating music and living the dream. What do you feel has been the biggest challenge to staying relevant in the musical world?