While most artists struggle in keeping up with the trend in the music industry, there are a selected few who are still standing strong in the fast paced changes and challenges through the years. Let us get to know this awesome Japanese music duo who still managed to keep up with the trend and still produce awesome songs that have left its mark in TV Anime Adaptations, movies, and more!
Join us in getting to know the Atsuko and Katsu from the Japanese music duo Angela, as they share their career milestones, goals, their routines in producing quality music.
Angela in the music industry
Question: What has been your key to success in continuing to be creative and engaging after a long and colorful career in the Japanese music industry?
Atsuko: Trying to listen to other performances other than ourselves and listening to other music, then using those as basic then incorporating different genres into anime theme songs.
Question: What is your approach when creating a song for an anime you are performing for?
Atsuko: Going through the original work of an anime (i.e. manga or novels) and make a songs that lifts up or cheers on the protagonist.
Question: Is there other genre of music that you would like to try out?
Katsu: It’s not exactly a genre but we are really interested in trying to use traditional instruments of each countries, then someday incorporate it into anime songs.
Question: Who were the musicians you grew up listening to?
Atsuko: Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie.
Katsu: I has listened to a lot of songs/music way before, but my roots comes from Billy Joel.
Question: Your performances are always high-energy — what’s your personal ritual or mindset before going on stage?
Atsuko: We always do a handshake right before the performance to tell each other to cheer for each other, relax and have fun. We get very nervous on stage so we try to open-up and make a friendly vibe for the audience.
Question: Fans love how you interact with the audience — can you share your most unforgettable live performance moment?
Atsuko: When we do international performances in America, Europe, and Asia. It makes us happy and moved when the fans/audience sings with them loudly even if it’s a different language, fans/audience try to sing with us.
Question: Between the two of you, who is more likely to forget lyrics on stage?
Atsuko: There’s no such thing. Not even once.
Atsuko strongly denied this and was laughing a bit when answering the question.
On this topic, this is where we had a chance to ask her a unique question that for sure, most of their fans would like to know about. Our correspondent Franz, was the one assigned for this particular interview.
F: Hi, Konnichiwa!
Katsu & Atsuko: Konnichiwa!
F: I’m Franz, from Setsu Ani, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Katsu & Atsuko: Onegaishimasu~
F: This is my first question, in song writing is quite the difficult task and endeavor at one point, as an Artist can you share some of your ways in conceptualizing a song and your inspirations with making music?
Atsuko: If it’s an anime they try to go through the original works (i.e. manga or novel), and in cases when it’s not, they draw inspiration from everyday life or experience with fans.
F: Okay, and then for our second and last question from us, given the amount of anime, manga, and adaptations not yet airing or are set to air, what and which of any are you perhaps looking forward to compose music for and why?
Katsu: Gundam. I am a fan of the Gundam series. We haven’t done any songs for the franchise. They wish someday they’ll be given a chance to sing for a Gundam title.
From here on out, different members of the media had their chance for their own unique questions.
Question: Of all the anime you’ve worked on, which theme song is closest to your heart, and why?
Atsuko: Fafner in the Azure. They’ve created a lot of theme songs for Fafner for 20 years. Which already has a total of 35 songs and it has been recognized by Guinness World Record for the most number of theme songs sung for a single anime franchise. Among those songs Shangrila is the most important for them.
Question: Many fans discovered you through conventions abroad. Do you have a favorite memory from meeting fans overseas?
Atsuko: During autograph sessions, it really makes us happy when some fans bring past CDs with them, and wearing exclusive shirts from past live performances/concert, and also when fans come all the way to Japan to come see us perform.
Where would Angela be if they weren’t in the music industry
Fellow members of the media asked the following questions with regards to this “what ifs”.
Question: Outside of music, what activities or hobbies inspire you and influence your creativity?
Katsu: Scuba Diving, Underwater photography, and also rescue diving. He is a certified rescue diver. He added that “if you are having trouble under water, you can call him.”
Atsuko: Going to other artist’s concerts or lives, and traveling gives her the motivation she needs.
Question: Do you see yourself doing anything else aside from being musical artists?
Katsu: Diving, Bee??…
Atsuko: its something Bee….
Katsu: Bee? what was it again?
Interpreter: is it Jollibee?
Katsu: Jolli…bee…
Atsuko: We want to try working at Jollibee, then for me, traveling around the world within a year.
At the end of the interview
Question: What can your fans look forward to next from angela? Is there anything you’d like to say to your Filipino fans?
There will be a new album coming out and they’ll be doing a lot of tours that everyone can look forward to. Tours will be mainly in Japan and China, but they also want to do it in the Philippines.
The next day, the Japanese music duo gave an amazing performance during the third day of Cosplay Mania’s JAM Concert where they performed their hit singles like RECONNECTION, KINGS, Zenryoku☆Summer!, JUST COMMUNICATION, SHIDONIA, SHANGRI-LA, and many more.
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