"Bundle! ] Shizaki Kanon and Kurachi Rei talk about their latest single and joint live performance

Rinko and Pareo's past and growth

Media Mix Girls Band Project "BanG Dream!". As part of the project, the voice actors who play the characters are also performing band activities in real life, and four real bands have been born so far.

This time, I will be in charge of keyboards in the second real band Roselia, Shizaki Kanon (as Rinko Shirokane), and in the third real band RAISE A SUILEN. Interview with Rei Kurachi (role of Pareo).

Let's talk about how you've grown through band activities, what to hear about their latest singles "ZEAL of proud" and "mind of Prominence", and the joint live performance "Rausch und/and Craziness." I was told

○●Two people who change through band activities

――First of all, please introduce the characters you each play.

Shizaki Rinko Shirokane, who I play, is in charge of the keyboard at Roselia. She was originally quite an introvert, but after working with her band, she's slowly becoming more outgoing... or rather, she's trying to be. Also, he can look at the band objectively, and he sometimes speaks from a different perspective than the other members. When I read the story, I feel that I've become more respected by the members than when I first met them.

――As Rinko has changed, have you changed what you are conscious of in the play?

Shizaki: That's right. I was the type of person who didn't talk much and couldn't put my thoughts into words, so at first I often mumbled. Even during dubbing, there were times when I was told to "be more weak". However, now that I am able to express my opinions clearly, I have more opportunities to speak clearly than before.

Kurachi: Pareo-chan, who I play, is in charge of the keyboard for RAISE A SUILEN (hereafter, RAS). She loves Tutu-sama, who is in charge of producer and DJ in the same band, and she wants to support her. Self-proclaimed Tutu-sama maid. Also, she is the type to pay attention to details, and she also arranges RAS' costumes. It may be said that he is the existence that supports the band behind the scenes.

――In 2020, RAS has been engaged in various activities such as anime, games, and stage performances. During that time, did your impression of pareo change?

Kurachi: Pareo-chan's way of dealing with the members has changed in particular. In a good way, the gap between me and Tutu-sama has closed... I feel like a wall has been broken. I think that's because, while doing band activities, a sense of camaraderie grew between us as members of the same band.

Actually, even in the story, even though it's the same "desu, masu" tone as before, the formal feeling has faded, and you can see that the sense of distance has decreased. For example, I messed around with Tutu-sama, made more jokes, and talked about otaku in Paspare Talk (laughs).

――In "BanG Dream! 3rd Season", the past of pareo and tutu was also revealed.

Kurachi: I think there were quite a few people who changed their impressions when they saw the appearance of "Reiona" (Pareo's real name), which has a different atmosphere from the usual pareo. If you watched the anime, I think you could understand where my loyalty to Tutu-sama came from. I myself have deepened my understanding of Paleo-chan after going through that episode.

○●A band that unites in the same direction and a band that has different personalities

――Next, please tell us about the characteristics of each band.

Shizaki 　Roselia as a character is a band that works with the slogan "Aiming for the top" and is extremely serious about music. It features a gothic and dark world view, and all the members want to do it. As one of the performers, I am proud of the fact that everyone is looking in the same direction and has members who love the band. We have the same atmosphere when we are active in real lives. Everyone loves Roselia! I feel like I always think about Roselia when I act.

――BanG Dream! is where the characters and the real world are linked, but I feel that the characters who are most influenced by everyone who is active in the real world are Roselia.

Shizaki: That might be true (laughs). More than before, we have become a band with a gap between when we talk and when we perform. I think that being able to flip the switch to "do it when you want to do it" has now become one of the attractions of Roselia.

――Shizaki-san will play Rinko from 2018. She also joined Roselia halfway through, but has there been any change in her relationship with the members after her activities up to this point?

Shizaki 　At first, I was dragging everyone's feet, and I was just being helped. However, in the course of my activities, I feel like I've become able to show my personality, or rather, my humanity.

――By being with her, I started to feel that I was familiar with Roselia.

Shizaki: That's right. When everyone is saying the same thing, I'm the only one who pops in a different opinion. It may be that you have a strange familiarity.

○●Roselia「Avant-garde HISTORY」

What is the atmosphere like at RAS?

Kurachi: I think it's a band that has a wide variety of members, both characters and reality. The characters have different schools, ages, and appearances. The lives of us in the real band are also completely different. Risa Tsubuki and I were the first band members in RAS, and when we first formed, we were just starting out as voice actors.

Riko Ohara, on the other hand, is a senior in the industry who has worked as a voice actress and has band experience. Raychell and Natsume were energetically active in music even before RAS was formed. Their specialties and characteristics are completely different. The sense of clothes is also different (laughs). I myself think that it is rare to find a band where members with so many different things come together.

-I see.

Kurachi: However, it's precisely because we have different personalities that we can absorb each other. If I have any concerns about music, I consult with members who have a lot of experience, and if there is something I don't understand about voice actors, someone with experience gives me advice and thinks about it together. We are building relationships that complement each other.

――Kurachi-san had learned piano and electone, but as you said earlier, this was the first time for you to be in a band. Was there anxiety and pressure because of that?

Kurachi: There was. Even before the formation of "THE THIRD", the predecessor of the current RAS, Raychell, Natsume, and Sae Otsuka of Poppin'Party (hereinafter referred to as Popipa) and I, "Galpara Live & Gal" Party! in Tokyo”, I had the opportunity to be in charge of the backing band.

At the time, Raychell and Natsume were already engaged in other musical activities, and Otsuka was already performing in front of people as Popipa's guitarist. On the other hand, I am inexperienced in a band. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I could support the main singer in such a situation.

――I think the pressure was considerable because you suddenly decided to perform on a big stage.

Kurachi 　I couldn't help but be afraid that my performance would ruin the stage. At that time, Mr. Raychell said, "Let's go out to eat together." By deepening the friendship there, it became easier for everyone to ask questions about music. Performance, etiquette as a member of society... I was taught a lot of things. At that time, I thought that if the members supported me, I might be able to do this. I am still very grateful to the members.

○●RAISE A SUILEN「Sacred world」

● That joint online live was a skirmish

○●What is your band image?

――What is your impression of each other's bands?

Kurachi 　Roselia-san, all the members are looking in the same direction. The unity of consciousness is amazing. Even at live performances, you can feel that everyone is playing with the same feeling. In fact, I'm always curious about how they manage to unify their consciousness... What are you doing!? Let me study!

Shizaki: Huh!? I think RAS is also doing it, but at events and the like, don't you get fired up in the wings of the stage like "Let's go!"

Kurachi: We do things like forming a circle!

Shizaki 　It's a signal. Once we do that, we are already Roselia! Is that also connected to the unity of consciousness...?

――Roselia is a band where if vocalist Yukina says, "Aim for the top," all the members will be serious about it. Maybe that's why there's a bunch.

Shizaki: Certainly, if Yukina says, then the members of Roselia have an aspect of doing it. It is not an order, but I think that it is established because there is a relationship of trust. Because of that relationship, it may be possible to become one even at live performances. But from my point of view, RAS's live is a live show where you can really enjoy music, so I'm longing for it.

Kurachi I'm so happy!

Shizaki: When you watch a live performance, you naturally get on with the song. Through live performances, they tell us, “This is how to enjoy this song!” I think that it is really good at bringing it to the world view of RAS. I personally love it too. I respect!

――Roselia and RAS have done a joint live. Did you notice anything by feeling each other's bands close?

Shizaki: By doing a joint live, I feel like we were able to face ourselves. During our first joint concert, the members would go out to eat and get together, discussing what we were good at and what the fans wanted from Roselia. I was. I thought that if we misunderstood that and just played with the feeling that we didn't want to lose to RAS, we would lose sight of ourselves. Roselia will do her best to perform like Roselia, and RAS will also perform with all her might. By doing so, I feel like I was able to rediscover the band color.

Kurachi: I completely agree. By coming into contact with Roselia's charm, it was an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and the appeal of the band. Furthermore, at the Roselia x RAISE A SUILEN joint online live performance held in December, we were able to notice the difference in the production by watching the video that was being distributed for ourselves.

I think that the production is basically done by the staff thinking about how to express the uniqueness of each band. In the live broadcast, I was able to objectively see the production, and I learned a lot.

○●A new song full of charm as a band

――Both bands continue to evolve through various activities. Each single will be released in January 2021. On the 20th, Roselia released her 11th album "ZEAL of proud".

Shizaki　The title of the song "ZEAL of proud" means "proud enthusiasm". Roselia is a band aiming for the top, and this song expresses that in a powerful and positive way. Each member's solo part has lyrics that make it appear as if they are expressing their determination. I think it's a song that expresses Roselia's strength and pride throughout.

――How was the recording of the solo part?

Rinko Shizaki has an image of "singing weakly and modestly", but this time she is singing with a strong will in her own way. Please pay attention to that point.

○●Roselia 11th Single「ZEAL of proud」

――What kind of song is the coupling song "Blessing Chord"?

Shizaki: It's an intense rock song, but this song also has a solo part. Each solo part is a little longer than before, so I think it's a song that conveys the charm of each individual.

――As the title of the song “Blessing” suggests, it has a majestic view of the world.

Shizaki: That's right! It's a rough expression, but there is an image of "expanding". I personally feel that it also contains fantasy elements. I would love to hear your thoughts as soon as possible.

――I'm looking forward to performing it live, but it seems that it will be very difficult to perform.

Shizaki: It must be very difficult (laughs). I get nervous when I think about going solo at a live show... But I'm looking forward to playing with everyone.

――Following Roselia, on January 27th RAS will release their 6th single "mind of Prominence". In the last interview, you said it was a "refreshing song".

Kurachi: That's right! Especially the chorus part has a sense of speed, and when I listened to it in the morning, I felt that it was a song that would motivate me for the rest of the day. However, when I was interviewed last time, Raychell-san and Risa Tsubuki-chan said that it was a lively song with fights...

I was surprised because I hadn't had many impressions between the members before. Actually, after the interview was over, I listened to the song from the point of view that the two of you were talking about. After that, I felt that it was indeed a crackling and strong song! I would like everyone to listen to it again and again by changing the points of attention, such as the lyrics, the singing style, and the instruments.

○●RAISE A SUILEN 6th Single「mind of Prominence」

――What kind of song is the coupling song "JUST THE WAY I AM"?

Kurachi: Would you say this is RAS-esque... Anyway, it's cool! Over there, both the guitar and the keyboard are playing the same phrase. I had never played a song in unison for such a long time before, so it was refreshing. At the same time, I also felt that it was a song that tested the strength of the band.

Also, pay attention to Tutu-sama's rap. It seems that Tutu-sama repeats "self-praise"! I also like the provocative lyrics unique to RAS. I want everyone to say yay yay, and I want them to say "Shut up!" together! It's a song that will definitely get people pumped up at live performances, so I want to perform it in front of everyone as soon as possible.

○● I'm going to work with the goal of conquering the world

――Speaking of live performances, Roselia and RAS will hold a joint live show titled “Rausch und/and Craziness” (hereafter referred to as Raukre) on February 22nd at Yokohama Arena.

Shizaki: "We would like to demonstrate our uniqueness to the fullest and show everyone something new. We went in December. The joint online live was a skirmish, so please look forward to it.

――That confidence that can be said to have been a preliminary battle is cool.

Shizaki Thank you (laughs). Reiho-san feels the same way, right?!

I'll do my best, Kurachi! Yes, I have to do my best. We're planning to perform in front of the band reamers (general term for everyone who supports "BanG Dream!") at our upcoming live, so we're even more enthusiastic. The five of us are practicing together to deliver an even better RAS sound while making use of what we learned at the joint online live. The set list is also aggressive, so please look forward to it. Ahh, I have so many things I want to say, but I don't know how far I can go!

Shizaki (laughs).

Kurachi: For the time being, I'll just tell you if there's a song that I'll perform with Roselia-san...

――I'm looking forward to the live performance!

Shizaki: Even now, people from various countries know about it, but I want to spread the goodness of "BanG Dream!" to the world. I also want to be able to perform live in front of many countries and people. In summary... I'm going to work with the goal of conquering the world!

Kurachi: I definitely want to do a live performance with all the bands from "Garpa" someday. In 2020, a new band called Morfonica will join the group, and I think that each band's individuality has become more prominent, so I would like to show it to the band dreamers.

Also, now that we are able to do live performances composed only of RAS songs, I would like to do a backing band again! I would like many people to see RAS' backing band, which has grown through experience!

○●Roselia 11th Single「ZEAL of proud」

・Limited edition with Blu-ray

Price: 6,400 yen (excluding tax)

・Normal Edition

Price: 1,400 yen (excluding tax)

CD contents

M1.ZEAL of proud

M2. Blessing Chord

M3.ZEAL of proud -instrumental-

M4.Blessing Chord -Instrumental-

Blu-ray contents

・Video of Roselia's solo live "Rausch" held at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in February 2020

○● 6th single "mind of Prominence" release information

Release date: January 27, 2021

・Limited edition with Blu-ray

Price: 7,400 yen (excluding tax)

・Normal Edition

Price: 1,400 yen (excluding tax)

CD contents

M1.mind of Prominence

M2. JUST THE WAY I AM

M3.mind of Prominence -instrumental-

M4. JUST THE WAY I AM -instrumental-

Blu-ray contents

Live video of "Craziness" held at Shizuoka Ecopa Arena in February 2020

"!NVADE SHOW!" MV

○●Roselia x RAISE A SUILEN Joint Live "Rausch und/and Craziness Performance Information

Date: February 22, 2021

Venue: Yokohama Arena

Cast: Roselia x RAISE A SUILEN

Roselia (Aina Aiba, Haruka Kudo, Yuki Nakajima, Megu Sakuragawa, Kanon Shizaki)

RAISE A SUILEN (Raychell, Riko Ohara, Natsume, Rei Kurachi, Risa Spinoki)

・Live viewing ticket

General sale (first come, first served) February 11, 2021 18:00-February 19, 12:00