The idea of releasing two EPs was originally suggested by COVER’s Music Production Team. Since this project also marked my first production after returning to hololive, I felt both a desire for listeners to revisit my earlier songs and the want for them to hear songs that I can only create as of now. Because those ideas felt aligned, we decided to move forward with that approach.

The tracks included on “Re:Birth” are centered around songs that marked important turning points in my music career. However, rather than choosing only songs with particularly strong personal memories for me, I wanted to keep a more objective perspective as well, so selections were made together with the Music Production Team. We also made sure to keep in mind which songs might resonate with listeners discovering them for the first time through this EP.

As I went into the recording, I found myself recalling those days, while also feeling the urge to be a bit critical of my singing in the past (lol). Of course, there were things about my singing back then that I still appreciate, but I also felt that there was significance in singing these songs as who I am today. It felt like I was singing very honestly, relying on my current voice as it is.

What I had in mind was presenting a side of me that listeners haven’t seen before. For example, a mid-tempo track like “Okey Dokey” was something I hadn’t explored much in the past and while I’ve created many different kinds of songs over the years, I wanted to challenge myself in ways I hadn’t tried yet. The title track, “Mirai Campanella,” was created through a competitive submission process, and I shared quite a lot of my own thoughts along the way.

Yes. Since it was also the first song* after returning to hololive, I wanted it to reflect the feelings I’ve carried with me up until now, while also being a song that feels like it gently pushes me forward as I look to the future. After listening to the various songs submitted as part of the competition, I chose the one of which the lyrics and melodic flow felt the closest to that idea.

I originally wrote and composed this song during my time at INoNaKa MUSIC, driven by a desire not to leave any regrets about what I hadn’t been able to do together with Suisei. As time went on, although I was supposed to finish up in 2022, I chose to continue, and Suisei also continued to devote herself to her craft. As a result, we were able to sing this song together at 5th fes. when Suisei updated part of the lyrics.

When Suisei revised the lyrics, it felt as though the song, which I had initially intended to be a gift for her, was given back to me. I remember thinking, “She really got me there!” (lol). Now, I truly believe that “The Last Frontier” is a song that continues to grow and change over time, so we chose to include it because it resonates so strongly with the themes of these two EPs.

It’s a little embarrassing (lol), but now, I feel that it was probably the best we could do for one another at the time.

For me, it’s a process where I can express my feelings in a way that’s different from simply talking about them. I want my songs to convey those feelings when someone listens, and at the same time, be something that encourages the listener. I often struggle when writing lyrics because I am thinking about things like that. Melodies, on the other hand, usually come to me quite naturally: I’ll be lying in bed late at night and think to myself, “Oh, this would be a great melody,” and quickly record it on my voice recorder.

Yes, I do. Basically, each song is filled with the emotions I felt at the time, so when I listen back later, there are times when it feels a little embarrassing. Still, those were emotions I genuinely held at the time; ones which I wanted to share with others as well as myself. Recently, I wrote a song titled “Farewell” and first performed it at “Departure,” with the hope of capturing my raw emotions and creating a song that stays in the memory of anybody who listens to it remaining as one of my core guiding principles.

I wanted to pack as much of these past seven years into this concert as I could and deliver a spectacle to all my fans from those who have supported me since my debut to those who have only recently discovered my music. So first of all, I am just so thankful that we were able to successfully pull off this concert, and, of course, would also like to express my gratitude for being able to sing on such a big stage.

Honestly, the most important thing for me was simply being able to make it to the day in good health and spirits. This was of course true not only during the lessons and rehearsals when I was preparing, but especially for the day itself, the staff and everyone who was involved in supporting the event and for the fans were giving me their valuable time to come and watch it. I felt nervous and worried about whether my message would come across properly, but more than anything, I wanted to just enjoy being able to sing on such a big stage.

I do (lol). On the day of the concert, I was watching from the dressing room as the venue opened and the seats gradually filled up with people, and little by little it started to feel all too real: “it’s finally happening.” The concert would open with me picking up a microphone placed on the floor and singing a cappella, and that was exactly the moment when I felt the most nervous. But once the performance began, there were parts where I could let myself go with the flow, and I was able to concentrate on singing while putting all my feelings into it.

To express both a farewell to the past and the path I’ll be walking down moving forward, I searched together with the Live Operations team for many different words that could capture that idea beautifully. I felt that something straightforward that wouldn’t be overcomplicated would be best, so we chose “Departure,” meaning “setting out.” Even though it represents breaking away from the past, I especially wanted it to carry the meaning that it doesn’t mean things end here and from here, a new start begins.

This is also connected to the stage production, but with this concert I wanted to clearly share the journey I’ve taken so far with everyone. My activities originally started with an ending already decided, but in the end I chose the path of continuing my activities. I call the timeline where my activities were meant to end Route α, and the timeline where I decided to continue Route β. After that came Route γ, where I made my major debut with Victor Entertainment. After properly tracing the songs from these three routes, I also wanted to deliver songs from hololive RECORDS as a new departure toward the future. With that in mind, I chose the songs and arranged the setlist.

I did. This is why I ended up having the six-song medley at the beginning (laughs). Those songs are where AZKi started, so I really wanted to sing them. But if I had sung all of them in full, the concert would have gone over time, so we decided to make it a medley. It turned into quite an intense way to start, but I think I was able to put a lot of emotion into it.

From the perspective of a “new departure,” I think the two new songs are symbolic. The first, “Going My Way,” is a song we created as the unit “AS_tar” with guest Hoshimachi Suisei. As I mentioned in the second interview, Suisei and I share a history together as part of the INoNaKa family, so I loved being able to sing a new song looking to the future with her as the new unit “AS_tar.”

The other song, “Farewell,” was written specifically for this live concert. As I repeatedly thought about what I wanted to convey through this solo live, I felt that rather than putting it into words, I wanted to convey it through my music, so although it made for tight scheduling, we managed to make it happen.

I’ve been active since 2018, and after many twists and turns, being able to stand on that stage was truly an important source of strength for me. However, more than anything, I feel the utmost gratitude for the pioneers who came before me and created this wonderful scene together with me. Compared to my first live show at Akihabara Entas, the scale of this one was about 100 times larger: having the chance to perform on such a big stage allowed me to experience emotions that I will never forget.

One of the ways in which many people have discovered me and my streaming activities has been a game called GeoGuessr. My interest in maps has grown a lot after playing this game, so I’ve started a project called “AZKi’s LOCATION!” I even went to Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture, which I feel a personal connection to just because of its name.

While it’s not necessarily exactly because of that, someday I think it would be nice to hold an event that connects travel and music. For example, offer something of a package tour where people can sightsee on the island of Shodoshima, and then go to a live concert at Anabuki Arena Kagawa in Takamatsu. I’d love to create an experience where music becomes one of the memories people have from their travels.

Compared to when I first started my activities, the system for music production at hololive has become truly large in scale, and I feel that there has been an accumulation of a lot of know-how as well. Through this project, I was able to see up close how those strengths are used to bring to life songs and live concerts that are deeply moving for more and more people. Going forward, I’d like to keep creating songs and putting on live performances, together with the hololive members and everyone at hololive RECORDS, that are etched in people’s memories and continue delivering that sense of emotion.

Because there have been times in my life when music has saved me, I hope that by singing and creating music myself, I can provide someone with that something they are looking for. In that sense as well, I value the opportunity to express this sentiment through live performances.

One of the interesting things about VTubers is that music can be inspired by communicating with fans during everyday streams, which creates stronger connections when performed at live shows. In the past, I haven’t been a very proactive streamer, but now I really feel that connection. While cherishing those ordinary day-to-day moments, I hope to continue creating music that may one day help someone going through a difficult time.