Maaya
Sakamoto didn't plan to be a singer and recording artist. She comes
from a theatrical family in Japan and had expected to follow that
tradition and enter acting, but then came her encounter with Yoko
Kanno, the outstanding composer and pianist. Under her influence, "All
of a sudden I began singing these songs. I became a singer by
coincidence - it was a matter of luck and the way things went." Her
singing ability and the support of Geneon Entertainment led Sakamoto's
concert before American fans at Anime Expo. "Before the concert - this
is my first concert in the U.S. - I was very nervous. I wasn't sure if
the audience would know me, and since this was my first time in the
U.S. I didn't know what to expect. I was very nervous, but once I got
on stage the audience was very welcoming and I was able to enjoy the
concert." Sakamoto enjoys performing most when she can have a two-way
flow of emotions with her fans. "It's kind of like playing catch with
the audience. When I do something and they react, it gives me more
energy and encouragement. I want to make the concert more fun for the
audience, too. "When he audience is enjoying the concert, I want to do
better and do more."
The
role that convinced Sakamoto that she could be a successful anime voce
actor was her initial role in the Vision of Escaflowne, the 1990's
adventure series for which she also sang the opening theme song. "The
role that I did the first main character role that I did, was for
Escaflowne. I didn't have a lot of experience at that point. It was my
first encounter with anime. I was trying to figure something out that I
didn't know much about, and I was trying to do a good job." Acting and
singing are related because of their expressions of emotion, but
Sakamoto sees a subtle difference between the two forms of expression.
"I think that they are similar but the biggest difference is that while
you're acting, you have to be someone else and the emotions you express
are not your own. When you're singing, it's your own emotional outlet."
Maaya
Sakamoto didn't plan to be a singer and recording artist. She comes
from a theatrical family in Japan and had expected to follow that
tradition and enter acting, but then came her encounter with Yoko
Kanno, the outstanding composer and pianist. Under her influence, "All
of a sudden I began singing these songs. I became a singer by
coincidence - it was a matter of luck and the way things went." Her
singing ability and the support of Geneon Entertainment led Sakamoto's
concert before American fans at Anime Expo. "Before the concert - this
is my first concert in the U.S. - I was very nervous. I wasn't sure if
the audience would know me, and since this was my first time in the
U.S. I didn't know what to expect. I was very nervous, but once I got
on stage the audience was very welcoming and I was able to enjoy the
concert." Sakamoto enjoys performing most when she can have a two-way
flow of emotions with her fans. "It's kind of like playing catch with
the audience. When I do something and they react, it gives me more
energy and encouragement. I want to make the concert more fun for the
audience, too. "When he audience is enjoying the concert, I want to do
better and do more."
The
role that convinced Sakamoto that she could be a successful anime voce
actor was her initial role in the Vision of Escaflowne, the 1990's
adventure series for which she also sang the opening theme song. "The
role that I did the first main character role that I did, was for
Escaflowne. I didn't have a lot of experience at that point. It was my
first encounter with anime. I was trying to figure something out that I
didn't know much about, and I was trying to do a good job." Acting and
singing are related because of their expressions of emotion, but
Sakamoto sees a subtle difference between the two forms of expression.
"I think that they are similar but the biggest difference is that while
you're acting, you have to be someone else and the emotions you express
are not your own. When you're singing, it's your own emotional outlet."
