Interview: Takanashi Kiara
Hololive Myth's Flaming Phoenix recently took the center stage with her new single "Perfume," and we had the honor of interviewing her about it. We chatted not only about the new song but also about behind-the-scenes processes, concerts, and more.
But first, a bit about Kiara: debuting in 2020 as part of Hololive's EN first generation alongside four other genmates, she has taken the world by storm. After the initial rise of VTuber popularity and the success of CoverCorp's Hololive Japanese generations, it was only a matter of time before the company branched into English content with the introduction of Hololive Myth.
Over the years, Kiara has paved the way for other VTubers by bringing an incredible energy to her streams and later her concerts. She has accomplished a huge amount in her nearly five years at Hololive. Since her debut single "Hinotori," she has released numerous original songs, an album, as well as some covers. "Perfume" is her latest single, released in April with an original music video.
This interview was conducted in May of 2025.
Q: Congrats on the new song! Can we learn a bit more about how it came to be? How was the idea born?
Kiara: I basically wanted a sweet, fresh-sounding song about self-love, and my music team, Asteroid, went as hard as usual on it! I was hoping to show a more feminine, elegant, and sweet side of myself!
Q: Why “Perfume” specifically as the title?
Kiara: Let me quote my lyricist, Monii, for this one! “I chose phrases like putting lipstick and perfume on as a way to say [that] once I put this on, I'm brand new and none of the old bad thoughts matter.”
Q: The official music video for “Perfume” is now also out. What role do you usually take on when it comes to creating MVs for your songs?
Kiara: Actually, I have never taken on this much creative direction before as I have with "Perfume." Normally, I just convey a couple of rough ideas or vibes, and let my MV maker Kanauru do most of the work—he understands quite well what fits the songs I make, and then builds on to the visuals of the outfit that I prepare for it. But for "Perfume," I had a clear vision [ever] since I first heard the song, and I wanted to make sure that it comes true. It feels super satisfying to take more control and see the outcome of it! I am very happy with the MV.
Q: What was it like working with the team on this song and the MV? Can we get some behind-the-scenes stories?
Kiara: I would say one BTS story is that this song was supposed to be released in December, as I like to couple my releases with my 3D Lives, and there was supposed to be one in December. It got delayed to spring, so the song got delayed too. It gave us a lot more time to polish the song, MV, and 3D outfits. But honestly, I think that was perfect, because Perfume definitely feels a lot more like spring than winter, right?
Q: You performed “Perfume” live for the first time at the recent KIARA & FRIENDS: H!P Cover Song Spring Concert in April. What was it like presenting the song in that way?
Kiara: It was a bit weird, perhaps this time because the 3D Live had a theme, within I limited myself to singing only H!P songs, but at the very end I revealed this song, which was obviously dancing a little out of line there. Also, it was super challenging this time with six back dancers—usually I just do four, but the more dancers I add, the more intricate the choreography looks, which is cool, but also a lot tougher to learn for my 1 brain cell!
Q: Who would you say are your music idols?
Kiara: I think Chunghwa is a big inspiration for me. She is a solo artist in South Korea, and her music is always an earworm for me. Her choreographies too are something to die for, and a level of intricacy that I always aspire. I want to dance with that much confidence and elegance.
Q: If you could collaborate with any artist on a song, who would it be?
Kiara: KATSEYE! I’ve been into them since the start, and they are absolutely amazing—the whole group is made up of such talented and skilled individuals, and their songs are bangers. I love every single member's personality too; each one of them has a special charm.
Q: When you first started streaming, did you expect that you would be someday making music? Do you think that this shift towards original music is, in a way, a natural progression for the VTuber community?
Kiara: I definitely always wanted to do more stuff musically, and Hololive gave me a good platform. Although in the beginning, no. I don’t think I saw me taking this path so seriously quite yet. I think I was mostly focused on finding my place in terms of streaming, and Hololive as a whole wasn’t as music-focused yet as they are now. I think a lot of VTubers love singing, and therefore it leads them down this path! For me personally, though, I want my focus to be on the performances as a whole—I am not the BEST singer, but I think my strength lies in being a full package.
Q: VTuber fans overseas created a big community that is now becoming quite mainstream. As part of the Hololive Myth, which played a huge part in popularizing the VTuber culture, how would you describe the state of the fandom now compared to the time of your debut?
Kiara: I am glad it became SO BIG, but it still feels niche in a good way. The community has its days where we break out and reach mainstream places and people, but in the end, we all go back to our cozy community. I also have heard directly from many VTubers, who told me that they started because of Myth, and that without Myth, international VTubing would not be as big as it is now. Hearing that face to face from others is extremely moving and honoring, and I am so grateful to have been part of something that changed so many peoples lives.
Q: Because we are an anime-oriented site, we have to ask: what is your current favorite anime?
Kiara: My number one will forever be the Monogatari series, no matter how long the breaks between seasons may be!!!!!!! I shall be patiently waiting for the next one, whenever it comes.
Q: What’s next for Kiara? Should we expect more live performances or perhaps an album?
Kiara: My birthday is coming up, and I actually already prepared everything for a celebratory 3D Live! It is gonna be AWESOME, so tune in for some amazing guests and great performances! 6th July 2025!!!! (Japanese Standard Time)
Q: And lastly, do you have a message for our readers?
Kiara: Thanks for reading through this!!! This means you are either already a fan or I piqued your interest. Welcome to KFP, you are hired!
We'd like to thank Kiara and her team for finding the time to make this interview happen, and can't wait to see what she is up to next. We encourage you to follow her platforms—YouTube, Spotify, and X (Twitter) to keep up with all her upcoming streams and events. And most importantly, make sure you check out "Perfume" and its music video!
At the time this interview's publication, "Perfume" has reached an impressive 840k+ views on YouTube and over 330k plays on Spotify. Since the interview took place, Kiara has performed in her Birthday Concert (mentioned earlier in the article) and has released another new song, "Tasty," also available on her platforms.
Images: © COVER Corp.
