Acclaimed singer-songwriter Keina Suda, also known as vocaloid songwriting balloon, has been making waves in the music industry with his unique blend of folk-inspired melodies and poignant lyrics. With the release of his latest single, « Utopia » (which is also the opening theme for the anime « Tsukimichi -Moonlight Fantasy- Season 2 »), he continues to captivate audiences with his introspective storytelling and soulful vocals.
In this exclusive interview, Keina Suda talks about her creative process, the themes behind « Utopia » and what motivates him as an artist.
Before you read the full interview, you can listen to « Utopia »:
« Utopia » Cover art:
AnimeTV: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?!
Keina Suda: I’m Keina Suda, a singer-songwriter in Japan. Nice to meet you.
Q: What’s your musical style?
Keina Suda: I create music in various genres, but I fill every song with ear-catching elements.
Q: Did you see getting into anime music when you started?
Keina Suda: I didn’t see that coming, but I am very happy that my songs reach listeners overseas through anime.
Q: How did the Tsukimichi -Moonlight Fantasy- Season 2 anime collab go?
Keina Suda: I can feel love in the way they use the song. I get really excited when the song is played along with the opening cut.
Q: Your single « Utopia » is such an exciting song ! Could you tell us a bit about the concept behind the song and how it was written?
Keina Suda: I produced it thinking that I wanted to write catchy rock music. I made sure the words were coming straight to the point in the thrilling sound.
Q: The art direction and visuals of the « Utopia » music video are incredible! How did you go about creating this music video?
Keina Suda: They helped to produce (the MV) after we worked closely together to create a seamless connection between animation and live-action, and the synergy that would result.
Q: Who are your favourite artists?
Keina Suda: It changes over time, but recently, I’ve been listening to the guitarist Marcin a lot.
Q: The artist you’d like to collaborate with?
Keina Suda: If I could collaborate with anyone in the world, it would be Charlie Puth. I want to witness up-close his power to elevate the little ideas in our lives into music.
Q: What anime are you watching right now?
Keina Suda: Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES
Q: You’ve performed for the anime Fire Force, Skip and Loafer and now the anime Tsukimichi! What other anime would you like to do an OP or ED for?
Keina Suda: I don’t have anything specific in mind, but I like serious and intense action works, so I want to do the ending theme for one of those.
Q: Do you have any last message ?
Keina Suda: Thank you very much for reading! I released a new song « April » on March 29. It’s a song about encounters and partings. I hope you’ll listen to it a lot. Someday, I’ll visit your country for a live performance.
Artist photo:
More about Keina Suda:
Keina Suda began his career as a Vocaloid producer on Japanese video-sharing site Niconico, under the name Balloon. His hit song ‘Charles’ and his own self-cover of the same song have been played more than 100 million times on YouTube; the song ranked No.1 on karaoke platform JOYSOUND’s overall chart of songs released in 2017, and No.1 for three years running on JOYSOUND’s per-age-group ranking and teen category, capturing the zeitgeist for today’s youth.
■« Utopia »
Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG5Shdaib7w
Download and streaming links: https://keinasuda.lnk.to/utopia
■ Keina Suda links
Official Website: https://www.tabloid0120.com/
Keina Suda/Balloon X: https://twitter.com/balloon0120
Keina Suda/Balloon X: https://twitter.com/__tabloid
LINE: https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40sudakeina
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeinaSudaBalloon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balloon0120/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sudakeina_balloon
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