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She is the singing voice behind some of anime's biggest modern hits like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaba, My Hero Academia, Sword Art Online, and Fate/Zero. She is also the lead musical act behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's Japanese release. And now she's in America, with a recent performance at Comic-Con International: San Diego, an upcoming one this weekend at Anime NYC, and the impending debuting of her concert film LiVE is SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER- in theaters across the United States and Canada.

Her name is LiSA.

LiSA is a J-pop global sensation who has reached fans far and wide with her music, and as her concert film comes to theaters here - which includes her Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train theme song 'homura' - we spoke with her about her career, her creativity, and her ambitions.

Popverse: How was your experience performing on the LiVE SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER tour? 

LiSA: It was the first tour in a long time where the audience could sing and express themselves freely without restrictions. Before the pandemic, my fans would often sing along, so to celebrate the return of that freedom, we thoughtfully put together a setlist full of songs that encouraged singing, creating many moments to connect closely with the audience. It made me so happy to feel that connection again. 

Your last performance on the LiVE SMiLE ALWAYS -LANDER tour is now a film that will be in North American theaters soon. What are you most excited for fans to see? 

The sense of unity and togetherness inside the venue, as well as the emotions pouring out of the performances especially with a live band. 

Your sound and concerts are so high energy. What do you do to prepare for performances? Do you have any specific routines? 

To prepare for the concert, I would visualize the performance while singing on an exercise bike. I also did some kickboxing five minutes before the show to get my heart rate up. 

Speaking of theme songs, your song 'REALiZE' served as the theme for the Japanese dub of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Can you talk about your approach to writing a song for a major Hollywood film?

Reflecting on previous Spider-Man movies, I’ve always seen Spider-Man as a hero burdened by the weight of his destiny. For this song, I imagined Spider-Man soaring through the air and battling his foes, which inspired me to create a high-energy track. 

How did you approach the lyrics and the message you wanted to convey? 

When creating a song, I channel the passion of everyone involved in the production. I read the original works beforehand and connect deeply with the emotions of the main character and the story. Using this as my foundation, I then infuse the lyrics with my honest, raw emotions, ensuring that I can sing them with sincerity. 

If there is one anime you’d like to recommend to people, what would it be? 

One of my favorite anime is “Puella Magi Madoka Magica.” 

You recently performed at San Diego Comic-Con, which is one of the largest conventions in North America. What was it like performing for those fans? 

Since it wasn’t just a Japanese anime convention but a global comic convention, I was anxious about whether anyone would come to hear me sing or even know who I was. However, everyone made it an unforgettable experience. It was incredibly moving to see the crowd sing along to familiar songs, as well as enjoy tracks they were hearing for the first time. 

Is there a specific song you get really excited about when fans sing it back to you? 

'Gurenge.' I’m continuously moved by the powerful impact it has on listeners all over the globe. 

You put so much passion and love into your music. Is there a song that is most personal to you? 

'crossing field.' The first time I performed this song live was in the U.S., and it was amazing to hear everyone sing along in Japanese. It showed me how music can bring people together across borders.

 

Is there an album you are most proud of? 

'LEO-NiNE' -This album became very important in helping me break free from a world exhausted by the pandemic. 

Speaking of love and passion, I heard you mention it takes a lot of heart and time to make one CD. Can you explain how you go about writing your music? 

The music arrangements and lyrics? For me it starts with an internal interview, asking myself what I’m feeling at that moment and what I want to scream out loud to the world. From there, I collaborate with creators to translate those emotions into sound, then add lyrics. Throughout the process, I envision when and how I’d want to perform the song during a concert, and that vision guides the creation process.

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Slay on, Demon Slayer. As we prep for new installments of the Demon Slayer anime, here's a survival kit to help you. First, a guide to all the major Demon Slayer characters. Second, recommendations for how (and where) to watch all of Demon Slayer. Third, context of why Demon Slayer is so popular. Fourth, when we think Demon Slayer season 4 is coming out. And also, how Demon Slayer ends (at least in the manga).

And as a bonus, you can watch the full NYCC Demon Slayer panel with the voice cast.