In this exclusive interview, singer and songwriter HIRAIDAI takes us into his multi-influenced musical world, which ranges from surf music to rock, pop and country. He talks about his unique experience with The Apothecary Diaries, for which he composed the ending theme of season 2, “Shiawase no Recipe”.
Official jacket:
Before you read the full interview, you can listen to “Shiawase no Recipe”:
AnimeTV: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
HIRAIDAI: Nice to meet you. I’m HIRAIDAI, a singer-songwriter.
How would you describe your musical style?
HIRAIDAI: Though my roots lie in surf music, nowadays I create the music I love regardless of genre, whether it’s pop, rock, or country. I’ve played the ukulele and guitar on the street since I was young. Now I enjoy performing rock-style concerts with my band, occasional acoustic sets on the beach, and playing chill music.
How did the The Apothecary Diaries anime collab go?
HIRAIDAI: I was genuinely thrilled when I was offered the chance to write the ending theme for The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. The first season was a fantastic, incredibly popular anime. I was honored that my song would be used as the ending theme.
“Shiawase no Recipe” is such a beautiful song ! Could you tell us a bit about the concept behind the song and how it was written?
HIRAIDAI: Thank you! This song depicts the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi from Jinshi’s perspective. It expresses the frustrating, sometimes bittersweet feelings of caring deeply for someone else. I drew on my own feelings of longing and affection for my own special someone while writing it.
Was there anything you paid special attention to during the recording?
HIRAIDAI: I was especially particular about the arrangement. I wanted to ensure the song perfectly matched the atmosphere of the anime, and also allowed viewers to savor the lingering feeling after an episode ends. It took some trial and error with the producer and engineers to arrive at the final version, which I believe is the best possible arrangement. I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Are you satisfied with the visuals for The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 ending?
HIRAIDAI: When I first saw the ending animation, I thought it beautifully captured how Jinshi constantly thinks about Maomao with my song to create a stunning ending sequence. I was also impressed by how beautiful the animation was.
Which artists do you draw the most inspiration from?
HIRAIDAI: I don’t draw inspiration from any one artist in particular. Instead, I’ve always listened to a wide range of genres, including country, surf music, and occasionally hip-hop. Memorable phrases and sounds that resonate with me provide inspiration for my own music.
Do you have any last message you would like to spread to your fans around the world?
HIRAIDAI: Being able to contribute the ending theme to The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 has made me realize my music is reaching international audiences through anime. I’m truly honored by that.
Last year when I performed at a major festival in China, seeing the crowd erupt with excitement during my guitar solos and enjoying my music in a different way from Japanese crowds left a huge impact on me. I’m so happy to know that my music is crossing borders and reaching so many people.
I’ll continue releasing new songs, and hope to perform in many countries in the future. Please look forward to it!
Artist photo:
More about HIRAIDAI:
Japanese singer-songwriter HIRAIDAI began gaining attention for his organic lifestyle and the sound of his ukulele and acoustic guitar, with songs rooted in surfing culture. He first picked up the ukulele at age 3, a gift from his grandmother, immediately cementing his love for music.
To date, his songs have racked up over 4.5 billion total streams, and he has provided tracks for multiple anime series and films, with ‘THE GIFT’ selected as the theme song for the movie ‘Doraemon: Nobita’s Chronicle of the Moon Exploration’ in 2018.
HIRAIDAI was nominated for the Best Japan Act Award in the Local Artist category of the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards, one of Europe’s largest music award ceremonies. In 2021, he performed on Japan’s prestigious yearend music program, the 72nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, exposing him to an even wider audience.
His popularity has secured high rankings for many of his songs on streaming services, while he has developed a strong reputation for his live performances, holding a successful solo stadium concert at ZOZO Marine Stadium in 2023. In May 2024, he also performed at China’s major music festival, Strawberry Music Festival 2024.
■ HIRAIDAI songs streaming links
Download and Streaming link: https://DaiHirai.lnk.to/songs
■ HIRAIDAI music videos playlist
link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR7j-PuqjxvCP2XdgOl1oBS1FPdT4FjmF
■ HIRAIDAI links
Official website: https://hiraidai.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hirai_dai_official/
LINE: https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40hiraidai
X (Twitter): https://x.com/hiraidai?s=20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiraidai.official/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiraidai
BiliBili: https://space.bilibili.com/3493111466560059
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/7218170924
Douyin: https://www.douyin.com/user/MS4wLjABAAAAF4nsERVTNjCABvcs305inV-NvsVoUpndIRGwTwp_j8rJ3AP7UiLe42CzSBLwyVFi
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