Hollywood has had a tough go during the pandemic. Box-office profits plummeted, cinemas closed and at-home streaming providers made a mint. In October, though, the animated film “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” surprised everyone by breaking one box-office record after another — and LiSA, the voice behind its opening theme, saw new levels of success.
Having penned and performed the opening tracks for the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” TV series, as well as the full-length feature follow-up, LiSA, whose stage name is an acronym for “Love is Same All,” has seen her fan base flourish as the franchise gains worldwide popularity. But that isn’t the only thing she has to celebrate.
On May 19, the Gifu Prefecture-native, whose real name is Risa Oribe, released a seven-track mini-album titled “Ladybug” (stylized in all caps) to commemorate her 10th anniversary as a solo artist. It features collaborations with high-profile musicians such as Grammy Award-winning B’z guitarist Takahiro Matsumoto, Yuzu’s Yujin Kitagawa and Avu-chan from pop-rock band Queen Bee (Ziyoou-vachi).