Image Credit: Christian Maravelis Anime inspiration can take many forms, although some are more obvious than others. With Lore, the new project featuring Jay Christian from Cat Company and "The Frog," his mysterious co-conspirator, the influence is hard to miss. With their new single and video for the song “Senpai,” which features Isaac Wilson of Dwellings, the band blends the smooth melodies of pleasant rock with the undercurrent of lofi for a visual and sonic delight. I am thrilled to bring you the exclusive premiere of the video for the song, alongside a chat with Jay Christian about how anime bleeds into their creative process and how isekai guided the creation of the video! Exclusive Premiere of Lore's New Single "Senpai" What was the inspiration behind the direction for this music video? Jay Christian : Well, “Senpai” at its core is a love song, so we kinda started with that aspect, but at the same time, we’re into a lot of isekai type anime. The thought of building our own sort of “another world” setting just seemed like the most natural step toward what we like to do with our music. Which is to tell stories, and we had so much room to expand on basically every idea that came to mind. We just let loose on with the creativity, so you’ll see a bunch of little Easter eggs and “subtle nods” to different anime in our up and coming music and visuals. Tell me a little bit about the upcoming EP! Did the writing sessions play a part in creating an animated music video? Christian : You could definitely say that! A lot of the lyrics and visuals tie together. We were in the “world building” stage of this project early on in the writing/recording process, so we wanted to keep things very tangible and relative as we went along with things. Ultimately, with the EP, we wanted to present it as a bit of a prologue for a much bigger story to come with our next record. Did you write “Senpai” with Isaac from Dwellings in mind? Christian : FUN FACT! Isaac actually wrote all of his own parts, from lyrics to vocal melodies and harmonies on this song! There was even a point in time where Isaac could’ve very well been the vocalist for Lore, but it wasn’t until much later that I joined the band. I loved what Isaac had done so much that I added my own parts to the song to compliment what he had already written, so we could keep his parts on as a feature. It is definitely an odd way to arrange vocals in a song, but it turned out amazing and we’re really proud of what came of it! Was anime on or around while you were writing or recording? Christian : Anime is always around AND on 24/7 when we write. While writing the lyrics and vocal melodies, I was watching either DAN DA DAN or Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (kind of just depended on the day for me). I usually tend to write music to anime with amazing soundtracks, in my opinion, like FLCL or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure . When I was a kid, I’d even loop the K-On soundtrack on YouTube while I wrote cringey metalcore lyrics (lol). RELATED: Employed to Serve's Justine Jones: Dragon Ball Z is Metal Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? Christian : Like most kids in the USA that grew up with anime, my first anime was Dragon Ball Z , but I also used to watch Voltron and things just kind of snowballed from there. Then, later on, I found Pokémon and Digimon , and we all know how big of a hit that was. Next, I got into Sailor Moon and this other show called Medabots , which I still rewatch sometimes. I don’t know if anyone remembers Hamtaro , but that was one of my favorites as well as a kid. Anime’s been in my life since I started watching TV. Have you settled on a favorite genre of anime? Or do you have a favorite anime trope? Christian : So, for me, I love a good story period. Whether it’s a shonen, isekai, mecha, Iyashikei, mystery, magic, supernatural fiction, seinen, sci-fi, drama or horror. I think a lot of people like to compartmentalize anime genres, and I feel they tend to cut themselves off from stuff that could potentially be one of the best animes they’ve ever seen, simply because it’s “not what they’re used to”. Are there any other anime series that got you deeper into music or taught you something musically? Christian : FLCL , Samurai Champloo (long live “Nujabes” 🫶🏾), Persona , JoJo’S Bizarre Adventure . Just to name a few. You could say anime heavily influenced how I approach writing music. I even listen to the OP’s on Spotify or YouTube after I scan the credits for the bands that are a part of the soundtracks. I’ve found so many new bands that way, and it’s a system that just never fails cause someone’s always out there writing the next big bop! Did you get into music around the same time as you got into anime? Or were they separate from each other? Christian : I’d say they really went hand-in-hand for me. I’ve always loved music and singing, but anime definitely amplified that passion. A lot of the soundtracks and opening/ending themes I heard growing up shaped my taste in music in a big way. They introduced me to styles and emotions I might not have explored otherwise. Anime music has this unique way of blending genres rock, orchestral, electronic, and even softer ballads, and that variety opened my ears to experimenting more with what I listen to and create. I think that’s why my musical style today pulls from so many different directions. So, while I probably would’ve always loved music, anime definitely played a huge role in guiding and influencing the sound I connect with most. Why do you think anime fans are drawn to alternative music and vice versa? Christian : I think anime fans are drawn to alternative music because there’s a lot of overlap in the emotions and themes. Anime soundtracks and openings are often super dynamic. They can be heavy and intense one moment, then really emotional and heartfelt the next and that’s basically what a lot of alternative music does too. Both connect to that feeling of being different, misunderstood, or just wanting to express yourself in a deeper way. On the flip side, I think alternative music fans can vibe with anime for the same reason it’s creative, expressive, and not afraid to break from the “mainstream” formula. It feels like both communities are kind of built on the idea of finding something unique that speaks to you. Which anime have you been watching lately? Christian : Lately, I’ve actually been going back and rewatching some of the anime I loved when I first got into it. FLCL is one that I’ve been revisiting, and it still hits just as hard now as it did back then. On the newer side, I just started WIND BREAKER and got really into it, so it’s kind of a bummer knowing there won’t be another season after Season 2. It’s been fun balancing that nostalgia, and also discovering newer shows. It keeps things fresh, all while reminding me why I fell in love with anime in the first place. RELATED: Force Model on How Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad Inspired Them to Form a Band If any character from an anime you’ve seen could join Lore, who would it be and what would they do? Christian : I think it’d be so fun to jam with Yui from K-On ! She's got that playful, carefree energy that would probably bring a whole new vibe to the band. On the flip side, I could also pick Tayuya from Naruto . She's such a unique character and the idea of working wind instruments into a post-hardcore track sounds wild in the best way. I feel like it could be one of those unexpected combos that ends up being a total bop. Plus, I just love the idea of mixing those anime-inspired sounds into what Lore is already doing. It'd be chaotic, but in a really cool and creative way. Is there anything you’d like to plug or say to the Crunchyroll audience out there who may not be familiar with your music? Christian : Yeah, for sure! First off, we’re huge anime fans, so being able to connect with the Crunchyroll audience is really exciting. A lot of anime openings and soundtracks have some incredible guitarwork and energy, and that’s actually been a big influence on how we approach our own songwriting. We love the way anime music balances intensity with emotion. It's intricate, but also super catchy and I try to carry that same spirit into Lore’s sound. If you’re into shows with killer intros that stick with you long after the episode ends, there’s a good chance you’ll vibe with what we’re doing. And especially with the new stuff we’re working on, you’ll definitely hear more of that inspiration shining through.
