What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
As a child, I was not a very good communicator and was very shy.
However, I was able to communicate with people through music by playing in a band and belonging to a choir. Music is a communication tool like language for me, and it is still a precious tool that connects me with people from all walks of life.
Introduce us to all of the members and your musical history.
I (Aina Ougi, piano vocalist of AINAKANNA) originally debuted as a solo singer-songwriter on a major Japanese label. I also sang the theme song for the movie ” Reincarnation” directed by Takashi Shimizu, the famous director of the horror movie “The Grudge” (which was broadcasted all over the world).
After that, I continued my musical activities in various forms and started gigging by myself, strumming the piano and singing as if I were shouting. During this activity, there was an event in which she had to perform as a duo, and I called kanna, a drummer who has experience playing with famous Japanese rock musicians. We thought “this band will be great!” and we started playing as a band.
What was life like for you before music?
I was just a Japanese otaku who loved video games and manga.
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
This is SPEED, a Japanese idol group from the 90s! Though their musical style is totally different from today’s…
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
It’s still developing,
What’s the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
That continuing is the most difficult and important thing
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
Dog person, Otaku, Heavy drinker( “lie” I can’t drink any alcohol, but I can get drunk with coke!)
If you could wish for one thing to aid your career what would it be?
I want to sing everywhere in the world.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
I am very interested in how each country’s culture is interpreted in each country. So I would like to try Japanese food in the U.K.
Tell us something about you / each member that you think people would be surprised about.
Aina: It must be crazy short when I get off the stage.
Kanna : She looks cute, but her drums are very loud. Also, she can dress in a kimono.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
The ensemble is able to highlight the songs because of its simple composition of only piano, drums, and singing, and the band is more than loud enough for being a two-piece.
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it. What was the recording process like?
“ORIGINAL” has been the theme song for a famous professional bowling tournament in Japan every year for five years, and is the theme song for this year.
kanna’s idea was to create a song that would bring people back to their beginnings and remind them of their initial impulses.
The lyrics of the first verse are about Professional Bowlers, and the second verse are about musicians!
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes? Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I myself am better at writing songs with minor tones, but I tried to make “Original” pop and catchy by trial and error with AINAKANNA. I tried to make the song energetic and nostalgic.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Although postponed due to the pandemic, AINAKANNA will finally go to the U.K. I love British rock music such as Queen and YES, so I am really happy to be able to sing in the U.K.!
In planning this tour, I made many friends who listened to AINAKANNA’s music and helped me. I still think music is a universal way of communication.
We want to feel the air of the U.K. and reach everyone in the U.K. with AINAKANNA’s music beyond the language barrier. I can’t wait!
This is your first UK tour. What are you most excited about when it comes to playing shows in the UK?
We’re most looking forward to seeing how the people of U.K. will react to our music! We will be performing almost songs in Japanese, but we are sure the music will transcend language!
We’re also looking forward to playing with a great band in U.K.
Which cities are you going to be visiting?
We’ll visit Manchester, Leeds, London, Brighton, and Hastings.
What should UK audiences expect from your live show?
We are a simple band with just piano, drums, and vocals, but that allows us to have an ensemble that stands out for its passionate vocals. Our concept is “Minimum × Maximum”!
We also believe that our songs, which are rooted in old Japanese pop and European music, are unique fresh and stimulating. We hope you will also enjoy our gorgeous kimono.
Do you have a message for the UK fans?
We’ve been postponed since 2020 due to the pandemic, but we can finally go to U.K. It is one of our dreams to perform in the U.K. We are really looking forward to unite the audience with our music, transcending borders and languages! Can’t wait!!
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