Having grown up captivated by the songs of classic musicals like Mary Poppins and The Sound Of Music, Sena Kana has always had a connection with songs and how they can influence and inspire people, and while attending school, she spent her days involved in numerous sound and stage projects, honing her craft and learning all she could about the art form she’s come to love. Now, with her music career flourishing – last year she made history as the first female Japanese solo artist to have a single reach Gold status in the US and having dropped her EP Serenity earlier this year – she’s looking ahead to an even better and brighter future. She spoke to PopWrapped about the artists she’s most inspired by, how she’s been keeping busy during the Corona Virus pandemic and what’s next for her.

At what age did you realise that you’d developed a passion for and wanted to pursue music as a career? 

Well for me music has always been a passion of mine. I started singing at a young age and have always loved it. Trying to pursue this as a career was less of a distinct choice for me, but rather a natural progression of something I love to do.

What would you say sets you apart, musically and artistically from the many other bands and artists around today? How do you like or work it make yourself stand out? 

What I think really sets me apart from others, is that I want people to take something meaningful away from my music. I want the people who listen to me to feel inspired and hopeful. I think it is that feeling that truly helps me during the creative process.

Which one band or artist are you perhaps most inspired or influenced by, and why? 

That’s a great question, but honestly, it’s not particularly one artist or sound that has influenced me the most. From Michael Jackson to The Beatles, I think there is inspiration to be found in all music if you look at it the right way.

In October 2019, you became the first female Japanese solo artist to reach Gold status in the US, with your debut single “Up” – featuring Wiz Khalifa – amassing over 87 million streams, with video views not far behind. Did you ever expect the song to have that big of an impact with music fans, and what do you think it is about the song that helped make it so popular? 

I knew there was something special about that song even before it was released. Being joined by Sheppard and Wiz Khalifa on this record was amazing and I think together all of our parts cumulated into one song that reached fans of all genres. I think that appeal of different styles coming together really appealed to many different people.

Tell me a little about your EP, Serenity. Why’d you choose that name/word for the title? 

Serenity, as the title of the EP suggests, is the number one word I wanted to deliver to my audience as a message I feel at peace when I sing it. I hope the listeners will remember, feel, and try to find their own “Serenity” through this song and through the EP as a whole.

Which of the four songs on the EP might you say you’re most proud of or are more personally touched/affected by?

Well, all of the songs on this EP are very important to me, but if I had to choose one, I think I would have to say “Undisputed.” From the moment Poo Bear first wrote this song, it became a very important song to me. I had visioned this idea of being deep underwater and desperately seeking that “warrior” which brings hope. Not only did I get to work with Poo Bear on the song-writing aspect of the album, but I also got him on board as a singer on this song. This is one of my favorite songs I’ve written so far, and I hope my fans enjoy it as well.

What do you want listeners to take from the EP when they hear it? 

Whenever I sing, I wish for the happiness of my listeners. My goal is to help my audience around the world to feel lighter, see hope and be kinder to others. On this EP, I hope that I will be able to reach people in all different situations through the range of messages included in each of the songs.    

What did Grammy nominated producer Ken Lewis, who has contributed to albums by Taylor Swift and Arianna Grande among others, bring to the creative process of the EP? How did you find working with him?  

Ken has been just amazing to work with. When I am recording vocals, he has for the most part been the person behind the board, and I think when the two of us work together that’s when I really do some of my best work. In terms of what he does on the mixing side, I think his work speaks for itself.

In the last couple of years, artists and bands from Japan, Korea and other such regions have amassed huge fanbases and earned widespread critical acclaim. What do you think it is about such artists that appears to suddenly have this “global” appeal? 

Yes, I definitely been seeing many various artists sending out their messages. Honestly, I am not too attached to the artists’ nationality in general, so I just wish more people can come across music that cheer them up on streaming platforms, hopefully them being mine. Also, it would be very exciting to collaborate with artists from around the world in the future.

2020 has been pretty much written off, personally and professionally, for many, including artists such as yourself. With the usual tour/promotion plans having had to be set aside, what have you been doing in the last several months, aside from working on this EP? Have you been enjoying some down time or finding new ways to keep busy and creative? 

For me even with everything that has been happening around the world, I have kept myself pretty busy with working on my music. Figuring out how to do remote recording sessions and working on some new songs. I can’t wait for the opportunity to perform these songs in front of everyone!

Finally; as and when the world returns to “normal”, might we expect to see you out on the road? Have you thought about the countries and venues you’d perhaps want to play in, given the chance? What’s next for you? 

Absolutely, as the world starts to stabilize again, I want to offer the whole world the opportunity to experience my music. For now, I don’t know when that will be possible, but I am prepared to do what I can under the current circumstances and hope that I can bring my songs to everyone as soon as possible and thereby bring light to as many people as I can.

For more information on Sena Kana, visit her website, give her page a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Her EP Serenity is out now.