Artists are fun to talk to because of all the unique ways life informs their music, and artist Vicke Blanka completely exemplifies that. Anime fans will recognize him for his extremely popular work on anime OSTs. Specifically, Vicke Blanka is widely known as the artist behind “Black Catcher” (2020) and “Black Rover” (2018), the two opening songs for the anime Black Clover that continuously cause fever around the world. Vicke Blanka kicks off 2024 with her first North American Tour, starting in Vancouver and ending in New York City. We had the opportunity to chat with him about the origins of his musical career, his approach to creating art, and his many inspirations along the way.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: When you first started singing and becoming a musician, what or who were your main inspirations?
That was when I was an elementary school student. I loved singing and dancing in front of a lot of people. I watched Michael Jackson's music videos and I was shocked! I imitated his movements and songs and taught my classmates how to do them. I am an influencer at heart.
Q: When did you first realize “I want this to be my career” and act on that thought?
I composed a song for my mother's birthday. I let her listen and she cried. So I think maybe I have the ability to create strong emotions with my music.
Q: Have you encountered any major surprises performing in North America versus elsewhere?
It's easy to compare North America and Japan. Japanese fans never sing with me when I sing ballads, but North American fans do. I really like that attitude! North American fans have brought me completely new experiences. And they kept screaming during my live performance. That's so aggressive and powerful. It drives me crazy, although in a good way!
Q: Can you talk about the impact different places around the world have had on your music? Are there any cities that have a much stronger impact than others?
All the cities I visited left me very impressed. Sicily, Paris, Riyadh, Krakow, Barcelona…I have composed many songs inspired by these places. Of course, the North American tour means a lot to me; These experiences force me to create new music and I love being in that situation.
Q: It's quite rare to see musicians writing, composing and arranging their own songs. How do you balance your multiple roles along with performing?
My habit for a long time has been to do every part of the music-making process so I haven't thought much about it. I feel more comfortable when I can control the entire spirit of my song. On the other hand, performing feels like pursuing ideas on stage in real time. So creating and performing requires a completely different energy from my mind.
Q: Can you talk about the order in which you compose most of your songs? Do you think about lyrics, instruments, melodies, etc. in a certain order? Or is it different every time?
I always start with the melody first and the basic arrangement later. The lyrics I do are at the end. I think this is the best way to stay creative. For me, if I start with the lyrics, I'll have to use my brain too much and end up stuck with pen on paper.
Q: Which song would you most recommend to your fans? mainly know you from Black Clover?
They should listen to “Snake.” Luckily, it was very popular during my North American tour and my colleagues and I weren't expecting it. The second song I want to recommend is “Sad in Saudi Arabia”. This deep, danceable track got everyone moving their feet a lot and I'm glad to see that.
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Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in music or who are just starting out early in their career?
Everything must be based on confidence. So build your mind and don't let the wind of others tilt it.
Q: What kind of music and anime do you personally listen to and watch?
I often listen to house music while driving. It feels great and gives me a lot of ideas.
Q: What kind of music and anime do you personally listen to and watch?
I I watched the anime Black Clover and Yu Yu Hakusho and read the manga Marritoxin and Dandadan…But unfortunately, I've been too busy to watch new anime lately. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Recommending anime is always difficult, but the three I recommend are Hunter x Hunter, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and Bocchi the Rock!. We'd like to thank Vicke Blanka for the opportunity to chat with us during a busy and enjoyable tour. You can listen to his music on Spotify here and pick up DVDs of his performances here.
