More than ten years into her career, NANO, one of the most recognisable voices in the anime music sphere, is stepping into new territory. The Japanese-American singer, known for her androgynous vocals and bilingual lyrics, first gained attention through YouTube covers. Now, her name is now tied to titles like Btooom!, Arpeggio of Blue Steel, and Shadowverse F.
Her new EP, ‘aИomaly’, turns the push-pull between discomfort and growth into fuel for the next phase of her “Rock Your Heart Out” ethos. Across six tracks, she leans into that tension with collaborators including Yosh and Show (Survive Said The Prophet), Seann Bowe, and Shota Horie.
As NANO brings her DO OR DIE!! Rock Your Heart Out in EUROPE tour to the UK for the first time, Electric Bloom Webzine caught up with her to talk pushing past vocal walls in the studio, writing for pachinko machines, and the long wait to bring her live set to fans in London, Glasgow, and a birthday finale in Warsaw.
You’ve described the title ‘aИomaly’ as capturing a feeling of discomfort that’s driven your growth. What made this the right moment to centre an EP around that theme?
Not so much a “discomfort”, but more like something that feels out of place, or doesn’t belong. I’ve felt like both as a person and as a musician, there have been so many of these things and moments that feel imperfect, which ends up becoming my motivation to strive to keep trying, or improve myself. Without all these “anomalies” in my life, I think I wouldn’t have been able to make the music that I’ve made, or to come to where I am now in life. And after that ten-year milestone in my career, I feel like I’m older and wiser enough to face those anomalies and turn them into good things.
The lead track ‘ENDGAME’ pairs a hopeful tone with harsh realities. How did your collaboration with Yosh and Show from Survive Said The Prophet shape that contrast?
I had the opportunity to participate in a few of the same events overseas with Survive Said The Prophet, and that’s how we got to know each other. Since then, I’ve always wanted to collaborate on a song with them, and this was the perfect timing to make that move. Lucky enough, they accepted. I had an image of the song I wanted to create with them, a hybrid of their heavy band-rock groove, and my sort of emotional themed lyrics, and most importantly, a vibe that the crowd could join in on and love. I was so happy with the outcome, and how Show gave so much spice with his screaming. Altogether it feels so refreshing, and energizing.
Two tracks on the EP, ‘Devils In Me’ and ‘WAKE ME UP’, were written for the pachinko title P Devilman THE FINAL. How different is it writing for a pachinko machine compared to an anime or game?
I think the biggest difference I felt was that for pachinko songs, it has to really be invigorating and high energy throughout the song. The player wants to feel that drive with the music playing in the background, and with all that noise going around them, the song must have enough punch. For anime songs, yes, energy and catchiness is important, but storytelling, and synergy with the plot and characters and artwork plays a huge part. So anime songs tend to be very drastic, with lots of contrast, drama, and color. The same goes with game songs.
“Without all these ‘anomalies’ in my life, I think I wouldn’t have been able to make the music that I’ve made, or to come to where I am now in life.”
You’ve consistently written your own lyrics. When working with multiple composers and arrangers like Seann Bowe, Shota Horie, and Ayumu Matsubuchi, how do you maintain a unified emotional core across a release like this?
For me, I think being able to work with a lot of different creators and trying new things — experimenting — is more important than aiming to keep a consistent sound with my songs. I learn so many things when I work with new people, and it makes me stronger and more confident as a singer. Just like every singer has a unique voice, every creator has a unique song-writing style, and it’s just so inspiring to have the chance to work with all these amazing people. In the end what keeps my songs connected, and gives that NANO-vibe, is my lyrics and the message I portray in my singing.
The line “There are sounds that can only be born through destruction” from the EP’s concept is a powerful one. Were there moments in the studio where things had to fall apart before they clicked?
Sometimes when I’m recording, I do hit walls and struggle with myself to find what I feel is ‘right’ for that song. With ‘Do or Die’ for example, I kind of had a mini-breakdown moment in the vocal booth, because I just couldn’t get the singing right, and I was going way too hard on myself for it. So I took a little break, had a talk with Shota who was in the studio with me, and after that, things went so much better. Music for me is a very raw, emotional thing, and sometimes you gotta break your barriers and dig deep inside you to find the right answer.
What are you most looking forward to about performing in the UK for the first time, especially in cities like London and Glasgow, which have such deep musical roots?
The UK has always been one of the places I’ve most wanted to go to in my life, just because a lot of the things I’ve loved in my childhood were from there. Being born in the US, the UK seemed so different from what I’d grown up knowing, and yet, it wasn’t completely opposite. And the fact that so much good music comes from Europe is such an exciting factor of being able to tour there. I know that the crowds are going to be great, and that hopefully I can give them a great show!
Ending the tour in Warsaw on your birthday sounds like perfect timing. Did the stars align, or was that your plan all along?
For this tour, fortunately, the stars just aligned I suppose. Of course we originally wanted to include more stops on the tour, but timing and a lot of things just didn’t work out this time, and so these were the stops that we were able to make happen. I feel so blessed to think that the tour final will be on my birthday. It’s the best present I could with for!
“To be strong, to meet wonderful people in life, to deliver strength and love through my music. You don’t have to be a superhero to do all that.”
During your joint tour with MADKID earlier this year, you mentioned collecting magnets on the road. What are your top three favourites you’ve picked up so far?
I have so many now that there are no white spaces on my refrigerator door, so it’s really hard to choose! Not having anything to do with what I think of the country itself, but just by aesthetics, I would say my favorite magnets are Hawaii, Mexico, and Germany at the moment! But New York comes close to making it!
RELATED: NANO & MADKID live in San Francisco: Rock and pop collide on joint US tour
From ‘No pain, No game’ to ‘Do or Die’, your discography features a lot of tracks about resilience and survival. What keeps bringing you back to those themes?
In the end, that’s who I am. I write lyrics that are true to me in different aspects, whether it’s an anime song or an original, but I have always been a person who wants to become better, stronger, and overcome things inside me. I’d rather fight battles with myself, than with other people, and I’ve had a fair share of difficult battles in my life. But more so than not, music has been such a strong strength and support to keep me grounded and sane, which is why I chose to pursue this career, because I know that I can be that strength and support to someone out there with my music.
As a bilingual artist, how do you decide when a lyric should be in English or Japanese? Is it instinctual, or does it depend on the song’s intent?
Most of the time it is instinctual, but sometimes, there will be directions from the anime or game side, on how much of which language they prefer to have in the song. But when it is instinctual, I usually first just keep humming the melody until bits and pieces of words come dropping in, and from there I elaborate.
You’ve worked with a wide range of collaborators, from MY FIRST STORY to FLOW to DEMONDICE. Is there anyone you haven’t worked with yet that you’d like to?
So many! From singers to bands to creators, there are many amazing people I’d love to work with. Some that I’ve met and some that I have never met. Artists like IKE from SPYAIR, LiSA, MIYAVI, and creators like Sawano Hiroyuki, and TeddyLoid. Just to name a few.
“I’d rather fight battles with myself, than with other people, and I’ve had a fair share of difficult battles in my life.”
Your covers first gained traction online in 2010. When you look back at those early uploads now, how do you view the person behind those performances?
A very naive, sensitive, insecure, dreamer with a colossal heart. Up until then, my life had been feeling like failure after failure, and yet still, there I was unable to just drop everything and stop pursuing a dream or hoping for a good future. I don’t think there really is a ‘goal’ per se, but I definitely know that where I am now is better than where I was back then, so it’s proof that you gotta just keep going no matter what. And keep rocking on.
What’s one thing about your creative process now that would surprise your early-career self?
That I am capable. I’m not perfect, and will never be, and still, I can be capable. To be strong, to meet wonderful people in life, to deliver strength and love through my music. You don’t have to be a superhero to do all that.
With the ‘aИomaly’ mini-tour in Japan coming this autumn, what are you most looking forward to sharing with your fans back home?
My fans in Japan have been waiting so long and patiently for this opportunity, and I am so grateful for their kindness and support. I am going to make sure that this Japan tour is one to make up for all the time and so much more.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans in Europe about the new EP before they hear it live?
I just can’t wait to FINALLY rock out with everyone in Europe. I have been looking forward to this chance for years and years and years, and it’s truly a dream come true. I hope everyone will not miss this opportunity to come have a great time with me! I’ll be performing my well-known songs AND many of my newer ones as well, so it’ll be blast for sure!
NANO’s DO OR DIE!! Rock Your Heart Out in EUROPE tour hits London tonight, June 8th, with shows in Glasgow and Warsaw still to come. For ticket info, visit her official website.
Dates and tickets
| Date | Location | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 2025 – 6 Jul 2025 | Anime Messe Babelsberg, Babelsberg, Germany | |
| 8 Jul 2025 | The Underworld, London, UK | |
| 10 Jul 2025 | The Garage, Glasgow, UK | |
| 12 Jul 2025 | NIEBO, Warsaw, Poland |
NANO
aИomaly
Release Date: 02/07/2025
Label: Hiropro inc.
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
