Summary

Collider’s Steve Weintraub talks with J-Pop artist Ado about her 2025 world tour, “Hibana,” in collaboration with Crunchyroll.

In this interview, Ado discusses her early days of performing and the artists who influenced her.

She also talks about finding her unique vocals, her go-to karaoke songs, her favorite Studio Ghibli movie, and more.

Taking a brief moment from her global tour, powered by Crunchyroll, J-pop superstar Ado recently spoke with Collider’s Steve Weintraub about her legendary musical influences, the unique and dynamic vocals that took the world by storm, and even shared her favorite Hayao Miyazaki film with us. Ado is a mysterious 22-year-old superstar who soared to fame in 2020 with the release of her debut song, “Usseewa.” Likened to the Banksy of music by fans, Ado performs on stage anonymously, her face shrouded in darkness as bright candy-colored light shows illuminate her from behind. The singer has topped the charts by performing Vocaloid songs, utilizing her specific blend of powerfully feminine vocals and edgy growls. She’s since gone on to sell out her first world tour, “Wish,” and perform seven tracks for 2022’s One Piece Film: Red. Now, in the wake of her latest album release for Zanmuin, Ado has been traveling the world since late April and continues until the end of August. You can purchase tickets and find out more information here. During her interview, Ado takes us back to the early days, when she was still experimenting with her vocals, finding the distinct sound her fans adore her for today. “I wanted to become famous, so I was searching for my own voice,” she tells us, citing Vocaloid producers and rock legends like Kiss and Queen as her earliest influences. She also shares her favorite Studio Ghibli movie, what about anime inspires her most, which song new fans should start out with, and more.
“Usseewa” Sky-Rocketed Ado to Stardom and Became a “Social Phenomenon”

“It’s a very powerful song.”

COLLIDER: You already, in your young career, have done so many songs, and there are going to be people out there who have never heard anything you’ve done. If someone’s never heard any of your music, what’s the first thing you’d like them to listen to and why? ADO: I’ve been singing so many different songs in different genres, so it’s a little difficult for me to choose one particular song, but I think I have to go with “Usseewa,” which is my debut song. In Japan, it became like a social phenomenon, if I say so myself. It’s a very powerful song. The lyrics are very intense, and the title, “Usseewa,” is repeated in the chorus, so it’s very strong and it’s intense. Actually, the closest word to “Usseewa” in English would be “shut up,” so it’s not a very nice word, but it comes up quite frequently in the chorus, so it’s like I’m continually saying, “Shut up, shut up, shut up,” in the chorus. It kind of makes its mark, you know? It leaves an impression. This was my debut song when I was still in my teens, so I think it’s quite impactful and, in a way, quite refreshing. This is going to be a little silly, but what is your go-to karaoke song? And is anyone willing to do karaoke with you? ADO: [Laughs] I really love karaoke, so I go to karaoke to sing a lot. I tend to sing a lot of Vocaloid songs, like Hatsune Miku. I sing quite a lot of Hatsune Miku songs. Also, I tend to sing a lot of Vocaloid songs by Kikuo. I’ve actually covered one of his songs, “Aishite Aishite Aishite,” on my cover album, and this is another song that I tend to sing a lot. So yeah, I’ve always been singing a lot of Vocaloid songs by Kikuo and other track makers. I also sing a lot of songs from the anime Love Live! [School Idol Project] and J-pop artists, too, like YOASOBI and Kenshi Yonezu. As for if people want to go karaoke with me, I go with my friends a lot, and so they tend to ask me to start out the karaoke session because they say I’m a good singer. Not a lot of people say they don’t actually want to go with me, but it’s more like I’m with friends, and then it just kind of feels like, “Okay, well, let’s go to a karaoke place then.” It’s just like a regular gathering with friends, and we end up at a karaoke place.

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I understand. Anime has always been very, very popular in Japan. What is it about the art form that you love? ADO: Well, you say animation, but there are so many different genres, so it’s really difficult to pinpoint one reason. But I think I’m actually very drawn to the animation, the creative, the drawing itself part of the anime, especially with hand-drawn anime, the expressions on the characters’ faces, or the beautiful scenery. Those are aspects that take me away to a different world, almost. It’s not based on reality, but the more that it’s not based on reality, it takes me away to a place of fantasy. So, I tend to be drawn by the animation with beautiful drawings in general. Do you have a favorite [Hayao] Miyazaki film? ADO: There are so many, but I think When Marnie Was There has always been a favorite. I remember my dad taking me to see the film, and I remember being enthralled by the beauty of even her eyes, or how her hair would be blowing in the wind, or how the mansion that she lived in was depicted. That film takes place in Hokkaido, far up north in Japan, and it was just beautiful. It took me away to a different place. I remember being just enthralled by how the anime expressed that beautiful world.
How Ado Found Her Own Voice and Greatness

At 15, the singer set out to experiment with her massive vocal range. Now, she shares the inspiration behind her music, from Kiss to Queen and everything in between.

Image by Jefferson Chacon

One of the things that people love about your voice is the way it can switch between delicate and angry tones. When did you first realize you could do this, and what is it actually like on your vocal cords when you’re switching so quickly in the middle of a song? ADO: I realized I could do this maybe when I was about 15, so in Japan, I’d be in ninth grade. At that time, I’d already been posting videos of me singing on a platform in Japan called Nico Nico Douga. I wanted to become famous, so I was searching for my own voice. I suppose there was this particular Vocaloid producer who came out with a new track which was quite rockish and hard, and it was a really cool track, so I wanted to give a hand at it. This, I think, was my first time that I consciously gave it that sort of shouty and that growly aspect to my singing. As for how or why I can switch it up, I’m not really sure myself, but I think this was because as a young child, I used to mimic a lot of artists if I liked the songs by those singers, and also my parents listened to a lot of Kiss and Queen, so I was also listening to them. So, I think I was influenced by them, as well. I can’t really explain how my vocal cords work. When I’m recording a new track, it’s not as if I’m thinking ahead of, “Okay, so at this place, I’m going to be singing falsetto or this place I’m going to be shouting.” It just kind of comes naturally. I’ve been able to control my voice without even having to think about it, whether it be when I’m singing in vibrato or falsetto. I think nowadays I’ve learned to control it a lot better. So, it all comes down to probably mimicking a lot of the artists, singers that I loved as a child. That has helped me to be able to sing as I want right now. Your parents have very good taste. Queen is my favorite band. ADO: [Laughs] Yes, I love Queen as well. I remember my parents playing a lot of Kiss or Queen songs. So, when they played an album, I would sing along, “Bicycle, bicycle,” along with the song.

Image by Tomokazu Tazawa

I’m not saying that you should introduce “Bohemian Rhapsody” to your tour, but you should introduce “Bohemian Rhapsody” to your tour. ADO: [Laughs] On my latest track, there’s a song called “Rockstar.” When I was going to perform “Rockstar” to a live audience, it made me start to think about what a rockstar truly was, so immediately, Freddie Mercury came to mind — his live show performances and that iconic silhouette that everybody knows. So, I’ve been influenced a lot by that. In terms of “Rockstar,” I’ve incorporated all the artists that I’ve been influenced by or respect into that particular performance as I filmed it.

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I saw people online calling you the Banksy of music, and I’m curious, how do you feel about that? ADO: That’s actually the first time I’ve heard that, but I kind of get it. Banksy also doesn’t reveal who they are, but they leave a huge impression on people with their artistry, and leave a really tremendous impact. So, I kind of understand that.
You Could Have Been Right Next to Ado, Sightseeing, and Never Known

She discusses prioritizing mental and physical health while touring the world.

I’m friends with a number of musicians, and they all talk to me about the toll it takes on you while touring and how it plays a little bit with your mental health when you’re playing back to back on many nights. Something that I looked at with your current tour is that you’re not playing on back-to-back nights. You play, have a day off, or you play and have a few days off, and it’s unusual because so many people really push and grind on their schedule to do as many nights as they can. Can you talk about why it was important to you to have days off on the tour on a schedule like this? And was it tough to convince the financiers and everybody to let you do something like this? ADO: In terms of convincing, maybe the backers, financiers, that I have to thank my team for. They really worked really hard to do that for me. I’m not really specifically involved in that. For example, I don’t do the type of live show, as you said, where I play back-to-back, whether it be in Japan or abroad. A lot of it has to do with me being a solo artist. I would be singing over 20 songs per night, so I think that my team is looking out for my mental health and my physical health, as well. On times when I do have a long break, like maybe a week in between shows, if I’m in the States or in Europe, I’d stay in one area and, actually, to be honest, I’d go sightseeing. That time really helps me to sort of stabilize my mental health and my physical health, as well. I think that’s really important for me to be able to put on a good performance. So, I’m thankful that I have that time, and I need that time, and I’m thankful that my team is looking out for me and knows that that’s very important for my well-being.

Image by Tomokazu Tazawa

I think it’s very, very important, and I commend everyone involved on your team for maintaining that. It will help you keep your career. ADO: Yes. Objectively speaking, as an artist, to have a team that really prioritizes one’s mental health and physical health, as well, is really important because I’m not an AI or a robot. I have a physical body. I’m human. So, it’s really important to maintain that health side of myself. How did you decide on the set list for the tour? ADO: I think about the theme of the tour before selecting songs, and I try to anticipate the audience’s reaction as I decide what cover songs to choose. Are certain songs more difficult on your voice, and how does that affect your song choices? ADO: I used to have a hard time expressing myself with ballads, but I got over that. So now, I would like to be able to try more genres.
Ado Reveals the Most Unforgettable Moments of Her Career So Far

“Having that come true has had the most profound effect on my life.”

Image by Tomokazu Tazawa

You’re halfway through the world tour. What are your favorite parts of touring, and what ends up being more of a challenge than people realize? ADO: I am enjoying visiting cities I didn’t get to go to last year. The thought of being able to take in scenery I’ve only experienced in picture books, films, and school books brings me so much joy. I’m genuinely enjoying that. What is challenging is… jet lag is just part of the deal, so I’m concentrating on staying healthy by going walking when I can and pushing myself when I’m working out. You’ve had so much success at a young age. When you got into music, you couldn’t have known this was going to happen. What’s been the best part of this success? ADO: There are so many memories to choose from, but I would have to say my solo concert at the Saitama Super Arena in 2022 stands out the most. Performing at the Saitama Super Arena was my biggest dream ever, and having that come true has had the most profound effect on my life. It was a day that meant a lot to me, which is why it’s one of the most unforgettable moments ever since my major label debut. You can purchase tickets for Hibana here.