Hiroyuki SAWANO, Japanese musician and composer, is set to make his U.S. debut performance with a headline concert in Los Angeles on November 14 at the Peacock Theater. He’ll be performing some of his best known musical works in anime, including Attack on Titan, Solo Leveling, 86 -Eighty Six-, and The Seven Deadly Sins. SAWANO won’t be taking the stage alone, as the show will feature a roster of guest vocalists: Eliana, Laco, mizuki, mpi, SennaRin, and XAI. Ahead of his first LA show, Asia Blooming connected with the musical artist to discuss his upcoming concert.
Congratulations on your upcoming first headlining show in the US next month! How are you feeling about it, and what are you looking forward to?
Since this will be my very first live show in Los Angeles, I just want to fully enjoy it together with the other members, and create a special atmosphere with the audience. I’ll be really happy if we can all have an amazing time together.
Your LA show features an impressive lineup of your frequent collaborators. Looking back, you started your vocal project, SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], in 2014 with a focus on collaborating with other artists. Why was it meaningful to you to explore this project, and do you have memorable moments or milestones to share?
Thanks to this project, I’ve been able to take on various live performances both in Japan and overseas.
A major milestone was the release of the album “R∃/MEMBER” in 2019, where I collaborated with many different artists. It made me realize that even artists I had not met before were interested in my music and willing to work with me. Since then, I’ve been able to approach each new album with the idea of collaborating with different artists in mind, which has been a really meaningful development for me.
Collaborating with others can lead to learning new things about yourself. Have you found that to be true in your experience? If so, what did you learn?
I’m always inspired by how other artists approach each project with flexibility, without clinging to their usual methods, and how sincerely they engage with the music.
You’re known for blending orchestral and electronic elements in your music. How do you approach performing your richly layered studio compositions in a live performance?
While using sequenced tracks is an important part of the performance, I feel that adding live instrumentation unique to a concert setting brings out even more power and energy in the music.
What is one of your favorite songs to perform live, and why?
I often perform “Battle Scars” as an introductory piece in my live shows, and it’s a song that always gets me really energized when I play it.
You’ve composed many iconic songs that have deeply shaped how fans experience anime. How do you view the relationship between music and anime storytelling?
I think music serves to complement the world and emotions of the characters in an anime, making the storytelling more emotional. At the same time, I feel that the power of anime allows listeners to form a deep emotional connection when they hear the soundtrack afterward.
Lastly, do you have a message to your U.S. fans?
I hope everyone continues to enjoy the anime and its music works that have already ended, and that the music helps spark your imagination in new ways each time you listen.
Ticket information for Hiroyuki SAWANO’s LA show is available here.
