This single was the first non-tie-up single since her second single “Kimi To No Yakusoku Wo Kazoeyou”. In the title track “Equal”, a public call for a “Tadokoro chorus team” was formed for the recording of this song, and there was a song recorded for Tadokoro’s backing band titled “Azusa Number 2’s theme song”. It’s a single only made possible by way of a non-tie-up.

For Tadokoro, who has had many opportunities to work on tie-up songs, what kind of message does she want to express to the listeners through these songs made just for her? In this interview translated from Natalie, she talks about her feelings about the songs and her fans who have been supporting her all this way.

This is the second of two parts of the interview.
You can check the first part here!

Azusa Number 2’s Theme song: The more you listen, the more you’ll find

As you can see in the title “Azusa Number 2’s theme song”, it’s about your backing band, was it made to be a theme song in mind?

It began from “let’s make a theme song when we introduce the band members”, so we asked John Kanda (PENGUIN RESEARCH) to make the song. As it is a member introduction, there’s a solo part for everyone. Also, there’s a male voice inside saying “Kamacho!” which is guitarist Tomohiro Nagasawa’s voice. (laughs) For those who have been to the lives, you’ll recognise this yell.

You can even hear one part of the melody of “Junshin Always” inside the song as well.

That’s right. It’s a little easter egg for the core fans. The more you listen, the more you’ll find in this song, and it’s something you’ll never get tired of. We made a Kami-Kyoku!

How was the recording?

The recording for this was a little different than our usual recordings, as since this is “Azusa Number 2’s theme song” we got the actual members for the recording. Kanda was there for the vocal recording and since he’s a very passionate person he gave me a unique direction in the sense of “you can just ignore the melody!” and that was very memorable.

I’m sure all the yells that were recorded in the song will, of course, be done during the live as well right?

Of course. (laughs) Conversely, that’s what I’m looking forward to seeing Azusa Number 2 doing. It’ll be something very hype during the live, so I believe that and “Equal” will be staples of my lives going forward.

What are the members of Azusa Number 2 to you?

They’ve taught me many things, and they’re very reliable elder brothers and sister. There’s a huge difference in the sense of security I have (during a live) when they’re behind me or not. And not just in the lives, but we’ve become closer in private as well so I’m very glad to have met them.

It’s not a song about myself, but for everyone.

Your third song “Aserazu ni Ikou” has a very straight-forward title with a middle tune to it. If “Equal” is “a song about getting closer to the fans” what would this song be?

Most of my songs until now has been about myself but “Aserazu ni Ikou” is about my fans. They have been supporting me all this way, so this time it’s my turn to sing a song about supporting them.

What did you speak about with the creator and lyricist Aira Yuuki?

I couldn’t speak directly with her, unfortunately, but I feel that the way Yuuki write lyrics doesn’t have difficult words, akin to reading a letter, and it’s wonderful. When we did the recording, I had an image of reading a letter in mind, and I sang it while imagining I was reading it out to someone. I hope it reaches everyone, as it is a song about supporting them.

When you’re recording for singles there’s always a non-tie-up song, so what’s the difference between the tie-ups and non-tie-ups?

It’s not easy to explain but, for songs with tie-ups, we add our emotions towards the work into the song. For non-tie-ups that are original songs, it’s something where the fans and I add our emotions as we go along. For example, for “Dearest Drop” from the anime “What Do You Do at the End of the World? Are You Busy? Will You Save Us?”, you’d be thinking about Chtholly Nora Seniorious’s melancholic life and it’s a very strong track with lots of emotions in it.

For non-tie-up songs, I remember the feeling when we perform the song during the lives, and the experiences with the fans build up as well so it’s where my emotions towards the songs get stronger the more we perform it.

In a previous interview, you mentioned that you weren’t “good at lives”, but you’ve been increasingly doing more lives recently.

I used to be nervous in the past, I didn’t want to be there unless I absolutely have to, but since a few years ago I felt that my lives had a really at-home feeling to them. Since it was a place where everyone was so welcoming to me, I thought of “what would I have to do to please everyone?” Recently I’ve been able to think positively about lives.

Every job is connected in some way

In November, your next live “AZUSA TADOKORO SPECIAL LIVE 2019 ~EQUAL~” has been confirmed to take place at the Katayanagi Arena in Tokyo. It’ll be your first arena live, do you have any plans in mind?

I don’t have anything in particular right now but since the location is huge, I could do something I haven’t been able to do until now. While we submit all sorts of ideas, having a simple live like what we’ve done until now wouldn’t be so bad I think. I’d like to have fun thinking about what we’ll be doing.

We’ve realised in this interview with you that you’ve realised exactly what you want to do as an Artiste one by one.

I’m really glad. To have my requests such as “I want to sing this type of song” or “I’d like to work with this lyricist or this creator” granted and it really thankful for it.

Your main job is as a Seiyuu but, do you feel there is a change in the relative importance of your job as a Seiyuu and as an Artiste?

Of course, I feel that Seiyuu is my most important type of job but, I’m really beginning to enjoying singing as well, and I want to get better at it. I’d also love to be able to express more things through music as well. Both Seiyuu and Artiste are equally as important jobs to me.

I really love to do my radio work as well. But what I really want to say is that, no matter what job it is, all these experiences are connected. I don’t want to be restricted to one, and I don’t want to work my hardest on one, I want to work on all of them together.

Live Information

AZUSA TADOKORO SPECIAL LIVE 2019～Equal～
Location: Katayanagi Arena, Tokyo
Date: 10th November 2019

Source: Natalie Music