Interview: Ayaka Tachibana Talks Dorohedoro and Songwriting

Anime Atelier is pleased to bring you a new interview about the Dorohedoro anime's music: this time, we discussed the series with singer and songwriter Ayaka Tachibana from the (K)NoW_NAME unit.

Tachibana is one of the signature voices for the adaptation's theme songs, alongside NIKIIE, and is also the lyricist behind some of the enigmatic track hits. A member of (K)NoW_NAME since 2016, Tachibana is about to release her second album.

For Season 2 of Dorohedoro, she performed and wrote the lyrics for the opening theme song "Zettai Must Danmen," which is a unique blend of everything Dorohedoro is.

Q: Around what time did you become involved in the production of the Dorohedoro anime again? Also, how long did it take to produce the opening theme? And how do you feel about returning to the project?

Tachibana: It was around the time the anime’s production was confirmed. Just like with Season 1, I was involved not only in the singing but also in writing the lyrics, so I took quite a lot of time to really engage with it, from crafting the lyrics all the way through to actually recording the vocals. I was really delighted when I found out I’d be able once again to make the music for a series I love so much.

Q: This time, you wrote the lyrics for the opening theme titled “Zettai Must Danmen.” Can you tell us about the production process?

Tachibana: Just like with Season 1, it was a precious process of engaging with both the world of Dorohedoro and myself. I read the original manga over and over again, picking out words and then imbuing that list of words with various meanings. That’s the kind of process it was. And as I kept rereading it multiple times, the image I initially had of it started to change, and I realized I was trapped by my own preconceptions. I worked through the lyrics by tearing them down and rebuilding them from scratch.

Q: This time too, the opening lyrics are quite chaotic, and at first glance, they might sound inconsistent or incoherent. How difficult is it to write lyrics like that, so that they harmonize with the music?

Tachibana: I usually write the lyrics first and then make the music around them. For this project, however, I had to adapt the lyrics to an already composed melody, so personally, it was very challenging, but also a lot of fun.

Q: Comparing this opening to the previous one, what do you think are the biggest differences and the biggest similarities?

Tachibana: A major difference from when I wrote the lyrics for the Season 1 opening was that the title of the Season 2 opening had already been decided. Director Hayashi had specified in advance only that the song title would be “Zettai Must Danmen,” so I wrote the lyrics based on that. As for the common point, just like the previous one, it's the spirit of the series: welcome to chaos.

Q: When writing the lyrics for this opening theme, were there any specific story elements you had pictured in your mind? You mentioned before that the producer told you to write a chaotic song for Season 1, and also to somehow include the word “gyoza”, which also appears in this one as well.

Tachibana: “Making for the Gyoza,” right? After all, in Dorohedoro, gyozas are the protagonist Caiman’s favorite food, and also represent the bond connecting him and Nikaido. I felt it was a must-have. Rather than focusing on a specific part of the story, I aimed for lyrics that would evoke memories of Season 1 and allow listeners to imagine the world of Dorohedoro as a whole.

Q: What did you think of the opening animation? Did you get to see it before it was finished?

Tachibana: I was shown it only after it was finished. Since the first season’s opening had that gyoza-making animation, I was really excited to see what kind of visuals they’d come up with this time. It betrayed my expectations in the best possible way—it went way beyond what I’d imagined, and I was really thrilled.

Q: Looking back on “Welcome to Chaos,” were there any aspects you consciously pushed forward or refined when producing “Zettai Must Danmen”?

Tachibana: I intentionally changed my vocal delivery. In “Welcome to Chaos,” I sang with a consistently strong style from the first verse to the chorus. In contrast, for “Zettai Must Danmen,” I sang the beginning with a slightly cuter tone, and the chorus in a strong, rough style. My goal was to make the song feel closer to the image of the work.

Q: Do you have any thoughts on bringing this kind of wordplay-heavy approach into projects beyond Dorohedoro as well? During the past six years while the series was on hiatus, I imagine there wasn't much opportunity for that.

Tachibana: I don’t think I’ll be doing that in my own work for the time being. I think there are aspects of this approach that only work exactly because it’s Dorohedoro.

Q: How difficult is it to sing these kinds of songs live? Your voice is incredibly powerful and harmonizes beautifully with the music, but aren’t the lyrics a bit challenging to sing?

Tachibana: Strangely enough, at first glance the lyrics look difficult even to me, but they stick in my head and roll off the tongue very well, so they’re actually easy to sing live. It feels really good to sing them.

Q: Going back to the first season, the ending themes were closely tied to the story’s developments. I believe you wrote the lyrics for some of them. Did you receive specific instructions, or did you immerse yourself in the manga and episodes to find the most interesting approach for the music?

Tachibana: I wrote the lyrics for the ending themes “Who am I?” and “Strange Meat Pie.” Rather than receiving specific instructions, I was told in advance which episode each song would correspond to, and I wrote the lyrics to match them. My approach to writing the songs was the same as the opening’s.

Considering that more than five years had passed, was it difficult to switch back to the distinctive sound of Dorohedoro?

Tachibana: All I did was simply re-read the whole series once, so I don’t really remember it being particularly difficult.

Q: Which of (K)NoW_NAME’s songs for Dorohedoro is your personal favorite? And why?

Tachibana: My absolute favorite is the Season 1 opening, “Welcome to Chaos.” That’s because it was the very first work that made me encounter Dorohedoro.

Q: Do you have a favorite character in Dorohedoro? In a past interview, you mentioned Noi, and NIKIIE-san said Shin.

Tachibana: It’s definitely still Noi! She’s strong and broad-minded, yet innocent and cute. She’s so cool!

Q: Do you think the Dorohedoro OST (including the theme songs) is music that people can enjoy even if they haven’t watched the anime?

Tachibana: Of course! I think it’s the kind of music you can listen to at any time, whether you’re tired or having a nice, happy day.

Q: What is the typical workflow for (K)NoW_NAME’s music projects? Do you have a favorite member you feel you work the best with? And is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with more often?

Tachibana: Since (K)NoW_NAME is a group that creates music closely tied to anime, the anime comes first. Then, the music is composed, followed by the lyrics, and then the vocals. That’s the usual flow. Everyone is incredibly talented, and I always learn a lot whenever I get to work with them.

Q: Do you watch the anime series you write the music for? Also, is there one in particular you’d say is your favorite?

Tachibana: Of course. I’ve watched all of the shows I’ve worked for so far. I love them all equally; I can’t pick a favorite.

Q: Are there any manga, franchises, or series you’d really like to work on in the future?

Tachibana: Definitely Dorohedoro Season 3!!!

Q: What are your future plans with (K)NoW_NAME?

Tachibana: That’s still hidden in chaos. Just like Dorohedoro!

Q: Do you have a message for the fans of Dorohedoro?

Tachibana: Thank you so much for loving the series since Season 1, and for waiting so long for Season 2 to come out. Please continue to enjoy this world of chaos along with its music! Welcome to chaos.

We'd like to thank Tachibana-san for answering our questions and sharing her passion for Dorohedoro and its chaos. You can find her on Instagram and on her official website.

Images: Courtesy of Toho