During his visit to the German convention AnimagiC, we sat down with singer and composer VK Blanka. The artist performed two concerts at the convention’s Mozart Hall during the weekend, alongside signing sessions at the Black Screen Records booth. We previously interviewed the artist in 2024, which is when he had his first North America tour.
In this interview, we talked about VK Blanka’s inspirations, experiences performing overseas, and his tracks for Black Clover and Fruits Basket.
Portions of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: If you could choose any magic from Black Clover, which one would you choose? Why?
A: I’m a huge fan of Luck so I’d like to get that kind of speed. Thundering abilities are good for me.
Q: If you could compose music from an anime about your own life, how would it sound?
A: It would be ‘rockapella’ because my life has a lot of changes, like Bohemian Rhapsody.
Q: I saw you are a fan of Queen and Michael Jackson. Have you seen the latest movie?
A: Of course! I was invited to a private screening for everyone involved in the film, and got to watch the movie. Afterwards, I was also invited to appear on a Japanese TV program featuring a Michael Jackson special.
Q: You have played instruments since you were a kid, including the piano since your sister had one at home. Were you inspired by your family in any other ways?
A: My songs are influenced by my family, and even by my relationships with friends and girlfriends.
Q: You also play many instruments, which you learned on your own as a self-taught artist. Was it difficult for you?
A: Yeah, in Japanese we call it ‘gaaryu.’ It depends on the artist but I prefer to be a gaaryu because formal learning implies the same mold for everybody. Being a gaaryu means that I can play and act in the way I want. The source of our curiosity is our own mind, which I think is better for me.
Q: Do you plan to learn a new instrument?
A: Currently I’m practicing the drums, which I already know how to play but I want to develop my skills even further. I’m aiming to have the necessary skills to perform on stage.
Q: Why do you think ‘Black Rover’ [opening 3 of Black Clover] was successful? Were you worried about how it would be received?
A: No, I wasn’t afraid. I’m confident every time so I was excited to have the chance.
Q: For ‘Black Catcher’ [opening 10 of Black Clover], I found it interesting that you were the one reaching out to the anime staff to perform it. How much of the melody or lyrics did you have in mind when you contacted the anime staff?
A: No, first I called them and said ‘Hey, I hear that you need the new song for opening 10, so you need to pick me’ and they agreed.
Q: Were either of the two openings composed from the perspective of any of the characters?
A: Of course! Yami was a very important character for me in the creation of both songs. His iconic phrase of ‘surpassing your limits here and now’ is the big theme of both songs. But I want Luck’s ability [laughs].
Q: Is there any chance we may see you in Season 2?
A: I hope so, I keep calling them [laughs].
Q: That would be nice, as many fans, including me, started the anime because of the songs. Another one of your anime songs is ‘Lucky Ending’ for Fruits Basket. You mentioned your sister had a lot of shojo manga. How much of the shojo manga world inspired the song?
A: In my house we had a lot of shojo manga. I grew up reading many of them, like Good Morning Call. That’s why writing the lyrics for ‘Lucky Ending’ came naturally.
Q: I read that you’re also a gamer. Have you ever gotten inspiration from any video game soundtrack or song?
A: Yeah! I have a song titled ‘Mirage’ inspired by the character of the same name from Apex Legends. Also in my song ‘Death Dance’ I was inspired by the phrase “I am not just a shadow” from the character Omen from Valorant. Overall, I put the essence of gaming everywhere in my music.
Q: Are there any video games you would like to compose music for? Any from your childhood?
A: Yes, every game I play. These days I’m into Overwatch again. I’d also love to write the League of Legends seasonal theme song. From my childhood, I can tell you all Japanese kids grew up with Nintendo video games, like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and Captain Falcon. We were totally into games.
Q: Regarding your live performances, I have to say that they feel like a party as you have this DJ side. How much of this did you plan for your overseas concerts?
A: I already did it that way in Japan, but when I did it overseas the crowds were more excited so it feels even more like a party.
Q: Has performing overseas helped you grow as an artist?
A: Of course! Every experience from overseas, whether it’s Germany, Spain, France, the US, or another country, makes me tougher and more flexible at the same time.
Q: Even with the language barrier, overseas fans get excited by the live performances. What would be your advice to Japanese artists who want to perform overseas?
A: Even though there’s a certain degree of ‘language barrier,’ there are no real barriers in music. If an artist has the courage to go abroad even one time, and see for themselves, they are going to experience amazing things. Sometimes Japanese artists overthink these facts or how hard it could be.
Q: In Europe, we’re always happy when a Japanese artist confirms a tour here. Are you working on any project or goal?
A: Yeah, I’m working on many projects these days. I’m a busy guy. I’m wondering when it will end [laughs]. You will be surprised by future news, no spoilers [laughs]. Wish me luck!
Q: When you were on your US tour, you released your latest album around the same time. That was impressive. Do you have any current anime or manga you are a fan of?
A: Witch Hat Atelier. I would love to perform the theme song. I also read and watch Baki the Grappler.
Q: Have you read the last chapter of the Black Clover manga?
A: Oh, not yet, please no spoilers [laughs].
Q: Finally, could you share a final message to your fans?
A: Very nice to meet you. I hope you keep listening to my songs and wait for my new band. See you soon!
We want to thank VK Blanka and Black Screen Records for the opportunity to explore the singer’s career and the production process behing some of his popular anime songs.
VK Blanka will also be performing “Kan Peki no Peki,” the ending theme for the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Beerus anime.
Concert photos by: @cdecasa_s (me)
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