Following a recent interview with Arcana Project, we now have the pleasure of interviewing one of the sweetest voices in Japanese pop music, singer and songwriter Miho Karasawa, also known as TRUE. Maybe her name and stage identity don’t immediately resonate with you, but we’re sure you’ve been captivated by a few of her hits, like “Sincerely” or “Storyteller” (the opening theme from Violet Evergarden and “That Time” Song) “I Was Reincarnated as a Slime 2”.
Want to learn more about TRUE? continue reading!
Interview TRUE
We had the pleasure of not only interviewing you in the past, but also attending your “Acoustic Live 2022 TRUE NOTE page.1” concert last year. Thanks for chatting with us again. Looking back at when you were preparing your latest album, do you remember the experience of creating “Ensemble”?
This is so much fun. This is a new album after four years, and it’s also the first time in such a long time that I’ve used euphonium to compose songs! It’s always an exciting feeling.
As a veteran singer who has been debuting for nearly ten years, what allows you to still enjoy the joy of music creation after so many years?
Because that’s all I can do, I have no choice but to keep doing it, right? Ten years ago, and even now, I was making music with the same fresh feeling. I think I really like music!
After creating multiple hit songs, which one do you still think is true to the best of circumstances?
All songs are written by me! They’re all a part of who I am, so I think they represent who I am very well. This song has become a calling card for me in terms of being known to a lot of people, and that’s “Sincerely.”
If you could go back in time and give your younger self some early advice, what would it be and why?
I would say, “You can keep going!” My childhood dreams brought me here. Cherish your encounters with people. be yourself. 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 I hope she believes this and perseveres.
You’ve had a remarkable career so far with exciting prospects, is there a genre of music you’d like to try but feel might be too difficult or even unexpected?
We had our first orchestra concert the other day and it was very difficult! It impresses me how many more possibilities can be opened up by rearranging the same piece of music. I have also discovered new challenges as a singer, so I will be fully prepared for the next concert.
Speaking of arranging, do you have a favorite instrument that you always enjoy when coming up with a new song?
The tools I use change over time. An interesting experiment in my music recently is “Time Machine” where various sounds recorded in my home are used as sound effects in songs. The sound of turning the stove, closing the curtains, banging plates, setting down cups, etc. It’s 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 the listener. How do you connect to these works?
I think this is something a lot of people can relate to, as we all know the joy of playing music with other people! This is what I put into the ensemble thinking, but I believe we all feel such joy in chorus, ensemble, and live performance. “sound! Euphonium is a work that once again teaches us the joy of music, a sound that cannot be played alone.
Do you have any hobbies that inspire your music?
camping! Being in nature, there are many sights to see. This is also a time to have a conversation with yourself.
marvelous! However, not everything is happy when making music and living your dreams. What do you think is the biggest challenge in staying relevant in the music industry?
Anime is becoming more and more familiar to everyone because it has taken root in society and can be enjoyed through subscriptions and other methods. The career of anime song singers has undergone tremendous changes in the past five to ten years. In the past, anime song singers composed music for anime, but recently, rock bands and pop singers have become more common, and anime song singers are becoming an endangered profession. Of course, anime song singers also have their own unique advantages, but I think a change in consciousness is necessary. Unless anime song singers are better able to enliven their work than pop singers, they are no longer viable. If the strength of anime song singers is that they can create something more suitable for anime, we need to reinforce that. Another advantage we have is that we can deepen our affinity with the work and transform our musicality in a rainbow of ways. I believe that by creating work in dialogue with both parties, we can create something better for both parties.
As you can see, dear reader, TRUE is proud of her music and, most importantly, remains passionate about creating melodies that captivate our ears. While we eagerly await her next hit song, why not connect with her on social media or indulge in her catalog of songs? You won’t be disappointed!
connect with authenticity
Streaming link: lnk.to/LACM-24407d
Official website: true-singer.com/
X (Twitter): x.com/miho_karasawa
Instagram: instagram.com/miho_karasawa
YouTube channel: youtube.com/@TRUEOfficialChannel