As one of the notable artists in the anisong world, ZAQ is well-known for her performance in anime franchises such as “Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!”, “Classroom of the Elite” and “Food Wars!”. After our first interview at the convention “Anime NYC” in 2019, we had the opportunity to talk with ZAQ again. This time, we dive into her style, creation process, and recent works.

Performing anime music to 37,000 fans in Japan: Interview with ZAQ #classroomoftheelite

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What are three anime theme songs that you have participated in and are particularly proud of? Why?

I’m very proud of my debut song “Sparkling Daydream”, which was the opening theme for “Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!”, an anime that is very important to me. I’m also proud of “VOICE”, which served as the opening theme for its second season. Additionally, I’m proud of “Classroom”, the opening theme for “Classroom of the Elite”, which helped make my name widely known.

If you could be reincarnated in any of these anime as a friend of the protagonist, which would you choose and why?

I’d like to be reincarnated into Classroom of the Elite. The protagonist, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, is an extremely smart person who manipulates those around him to rise to the top, so I think it would be interesting to get caught up in that.

What is the hardest part when creating anime music, opposed to a regular song?

The hardest part is the specific time limit. It’s difficult to express the entire anime within, say, one minute and twenty-nine seconds. On the flip side, there’s also the fun of being able to do anything within that framework, which makes anime songs very rewarding to create.

ZAQ / カーストルーム -Music video full size-

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You’ve created incredible rock themes for “Food Wars!” and “Black Rock Shooter”, but your latest, “Dramatic Overlay” from “Alma-chan wa Kazoku ni Naritai”, showcases your versatility with its cute, electronic style. What do you attribute this versatility to?

I think my wide musical range comes from having listened to anime songs for a long time. One of the appeals of anime music is that it spans all sorts of genres. Because I’ve listened to so many different anime songs, I have the desire to express various sides of myself, and I think that’s what gave rise to my versatility.

We were impressed by your energetic performance at Saitama Super Arena, which holds about 37,000 people. How does performing for such a large crowd compare to smaller venues?

Well, in terms of feelings, there’s no real difference. The environment is different, so the music I hear in my ears changes slightly, but beyond that, I don’t approach anything differently. I’ve always performed with the mindset of fulfilling my mission to deliver my music to the audience in front of me, so my feelings remain the same.

You not only sang on stage, but DJed as well. How was that experience?

Since it was my first time DJing, it gave me the opportunity to showcase everything I’d prepared. It was a completely new experience for me, and I’m very grateful for it.

Could you share some final words for your fans?

My new song “Liar Veil” has been released and are receiving rave reviews. Please give it lots of listens! This has been ZAQ!

ZAQ「ライアーヴェール」MV (TVアニメ『ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 4th Season 2年生編1学期』エンディングテーマ)#よう実