MADKID is a Japanese pop group formed 10 years ago. Shortly after their formation, they went through some lineup changes and have been continuing their journey for a long time with Shin, Lin, You-ta, Kazuki, and Yuki. The group, which has managed to release 3 full albums and 10 singles in their career, has also prepared songs for each season of the popular anime The Rising of the Shield Hero. In addition, MADKID is a group that performs concerts in Europe and the United States—something we wish more Japanese groups would do. We would like to thank them again for taking the time to accept our interview request despite their packed schedule just before their U.S. tour, and we hope you enjoy reading the interview!
1. Hello! Thank you so much for accepting our interview request. I’ve been following MADKID for a long time, and it’s a great pleasure for me to be able to interview you. I know you well, but could you briefly introduce yourselves for our readers?
YOU-TA: Hello Turkish AXCELs (our fan name)! Nice to meet you! We are MADKID, a Japanese male group that has songs for The Rising of the Shield Hero anime and many others, and this year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary! I’m very happy to be doing an interview with the Turkish media.
2. It has been exactly 10 years since MADKID debuted. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary! Over these 10 years, what have been your biggest lessons and most important experiences?
SHIN: Thank you!
I learned how fun it actually is to create something as a member of a group.
Before joining MADKID, I thought it was better to leave songwriting to professionals. But the members of MADKID write their own lyrics and compose their own music, and watching them inspired me to try it myself. My first attempt at songwriting was with the song “Dream Journey” from our DROPOUT album, and I really enjoyed writing the lyrics.
For me, the most important experience over the past 10 years was creating an opening theme for an anime. Along with that, it defined the group’s musical style and direction. That’s why I’m proud of every anime music project I’ve been part of.
3. Last month, you released your latest album DROPOUT, which includes both your popular songs and new tracks. Could you tell us a bit about the album preparation process? My personal favorite from this album is Chaser, but could you also share which song from DROPOUT is your favorite?
LIN: Our new album DROPOUT includes anime opening songs. My personal favorite is “Swell”. I tried to give this song a fresh vibe, and the other members also experimented with performing it in a different way.
4. I noticed that RISE, FAITH, and SIN ranked among the most popular anime openings. We also hear MADKID in the openings of all three seasons of The Rising of the Shield Hero, which is amazing! Do you plan to continue making music for anime in the future?
YUKI: I think our songs are very suitable for anime music. Especially the songs we made for The Rising of the Shield Hero fit the anime’s theme and sync very well with the main character.
When writing lyrics, I usually take inspiration from the original content and try to express it in our songs.
And of course, I definitely want to keep creating new songs for anime in the future!
5. Speaking of anime, could you tell us what your favorite anime are?
KAZUKI: My answer is, of course, The Rising of the Shield Hero!
This anime was our first project for anime music. Actually, I didn’t watch much anime before, but after The Rising of the Shield Hero, I started watching other anime as well. By the way, my favorite character from this anime is Elhardt.
6. MADKID has fans not only in Japan but all over the world. As a group that has performed in countries like the United States, Canada, and Germany, what do you think is the biggest difference between your concerts in Japan and overseas?
LIN: Actually, I don’t think there’s much difference. That’s because music is universal and knows no borders.
But still, may I say that it feels different to sense the character of people from each country?
Japanese people, whether good or bad, don’t show their emotions very openly. But with overseas fans, you can feel their reactions every single moment.
7. You also have an upcoming tour in the United States. You must be excited! How are you preparing for this tour? Can fans expect a special stage show?
KAZUKI: This will be my first experience performing overseas, so I’m very nervous, but I’m looking forward to it!
I’m really excited and happy to do this tour with NANO, who is both my friend and my rival!
To our fans—let’s all have fun together at the concerts and make it an amazing tour! I’m also really looking forward to meeting our Turkish fans!
8. This might be a cliché question, but I’d like to ask members of a group so eager to go global: Which other countries would you like to perform in? Where would you like to visit?
YUKI: In the past few years, I’ve had more opportunities to perform outside Japan, and I’ve realized how amazing it is to connect with the whole world through music. Every country has its own unique vibe, so I want to visit more countries and experience these differences! Also, I definitely want to go to Turkey someday!
9. You create a lot of content aimed at fans outside Japan. In particular, the reels Shin makes with Turkish songs have become very popular among listeners interested in Asian music. Apart from our songs, what else do you know about Turkey?
SHIN: Thank you for following my Instagram account! I’m especially interested in Topkapi Palace in Turkey. I definitely want to visit it. I’d love to see the diamonds exhibited there. I also want to go to Cappadocia to see the fairy chimneys and ride in a hot air balloon.
10. Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to our readers and your fans who enjoy your music? If you want to send a message to your Turkish fans, now is the perfect time 🙂
YOU-TA: Thank you so much for reading our interview! Unfortunately, we haven’t had the chance to visit Turkey yet, but we will definitely come someday. Until then, please continue enjoying our music!
MADKID’s Social Media Accounts
Twitter/X: @MADKID_official
Instragram: madkid_official
TikTok: @madkidofficial
YouTube: @madkid-official