TRUE: The Dynamic Voice of Modern Japanese Rock
TRUE is a Japanese singer and songwriter known for her powerful vocals and central role in the anison (anime song) rock scene. Hailing from Tokyo, she achieved a major career milestone when her 2019 album Journey debuted at number 5 on the Oricon weekly albums chart.
Early career
Born in 1991, the artist who would become TRUE began her professional journey under the name Miho Karasawa. Her early involvement in music included performing as a support vocalist for the band SCANDAL during their 2010 "Best Scandal" tour. She officially debuted as TRUE in 2014 with the single Dream Solister, which served as the opening theme for the anime series Sound! Euphonium.
Breakthrough
TRUE's consistent delivery of hit anime themes solidified her position in the industry. A significant breakthrough came with the 2017 song Sincerely, the opening theme for the popular anime Violet Evergarden. The single charted on Oricon and its streaming numbers soared, introducing her music to a massive global audience through the series' international success on Netflix.
Key tracks
Dream Solister — This debut single immediately established TRUE's signature sound of energetic rock paired with soaring, emotive vocals for the anime Sound! Euphonium.
Sincerely — As the opening for Violet Evergarden, this sweeping ballad became her most internationally recognized track, showcasing her vocal range and emotional delivery.
Butterfly Core — This powerful rock track served as the second opening for Cross Ange, demonstrating her ability to handle harder, more intense musical arrangements.
Stealth-Wing — Used as an insert song in the mobile game Azur Lane, this song highlights her versatility in creating music for different media formats beyond traditional anime.
Ashita no Keshiki — Featured as the ending theme for the anime Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song-, this track exemplifies her continued relevance in scoring major anime productions into the 2020s.
TRUE has released multiple studio albums, including Around the TRUE (2016), Journey (2019), and Vision (2022), all of which have charted on Oricon. She frequently collaborates with renowned composers like Jun Maeda of Key and the band ZAQ, and she performs regularly at major anime music concerts and events across Japan. Her work is primarily released under the label Lantis, a major force in the anison industry.
Fans of TRUE's brand of anison rock often appreciate the work of similar artists. LiSA shares a similar trajectory from anime theme singer to arena-filling rock powerhouse. ReoNa offers a comparable blend of poignant, narrative-driven lyrics with a rock and pop foundation. The energetic pop-rock anthems of SCANDAL provide a parallel guitar-driven sound. For those who enjoy TRUE's powerful vocal delivery, Aimer presents a more atmospheric and soulful take on the Japanese rock and anison genre.
The music of TRUE is a staple on dedicated anime music radio stations and online J-rock radio streams featured on this platform. Her hit songs from series like Violet Evergarden and Sound! Euphonium receive regular rotation, ensuring fans can hear her powerful voice alongside other genre greats.
Listeners can discover the dynamic rock catalog of TRUE on the anime and Japanese music radio stations available on onairium.com. Tune in to hear her charting singles and anthemic album tracks as part of our curated rock and anison programming.
