If you’re an anime fan, you’re likely be familiar with Mika Kobayashi. The Japanese singer has her own label in “miccabose” apart from her involvement in various anime songs, as well as being a songwriter in her own right. She was in Malaysia for the weekend, performing at Asia Comic Con 2019.  This is her second time in the country, and she’d like to know more still.

You’d probably know her from her collaborations with Hiroyuki Sawano. From how she puts it, their work flow seems pretty easy enough. Kobayashi will receive an almost completed demo music from Sawano, and from there, she will sing as how she “feels”. Considering her repertoire of anime-related work, does she herself watch a lot of it? Kobayashi admits she watches old anime, giving boxing as an example: Ashita no Joe.

Kobayashi doesn’t think she gets inspiration from any one person in particular. She gives more weight to incidents or feelings. She creates songs from the experiences and the time she spends with people. She doesn’t have a method per se, to get into the feelings. She does think it important that she doesn’t try to sing “good” or “nice”, but to deliver the feeling first and foremost.

As a musician, Kobayashi says she likes a lot of musical genres. To actually pick one is hard, but she answers classical – since she plays the piano – and also house/dance music. For those aspiring singers, she advises the following: Always be honest with your emotions. Keep trying and don’t quit. Singing is now an intrinsic part of Kobayashi’s life. She likens it to an “engine” and “fuel” for her life. She’s worked so hard to be a singer, and life without that is hard to imagine.

Closing out the interview, Kobayashi reiterates singing being her life now, and she will continue to do so. She hopes you will continue listening to her songs, and she’ll look forward to seeing you on the live stage.