Mark Stefanos
When J-pop superstar LiSA visited Los Angeles in 2013, then a burgeoning singer known for her anime theme songs, she dreamed she would one day rock LA’s iconic Roxy stage.
“There’s so much music I’ve admired that came from America, and also so many legends I’ve admired have stood on the stage at The Roxy,” she told LA Weekly last week. “In my song ‘I’m a Rock Star,’ I sang about wanting to put my backstage pass alongside theirs on the venue wall and to stand on the same stage one day.”
On Monday, she went far beyond putting her pass on the wall — she sold the dang place out, lighting the stage in a blaze of fun and fury, performing “I’m a Rockstar” as the second to last song in her set. The next night she sold out the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater in Inglewood, just in case there was any question about her global reach and rockstar bona fides.
LiSA performs at The Roxy, June 23, 2025 (Viola Kam – V’z Twinkle)
The two LA stops are a part of her first headlining North American Tour “Another Great Day” which included a stop in New York, and takes the songstress, real name Risa Oribe, to Mexico City this Saturday.
The intimate 500-capacity Roxy show was a love letter to her fans, packed with hits like “Gurenge” (the global sensation from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba), “crossing field” (Sword Art Online), and a cover of Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi,” a nod to her teenage years rocking out to Western pop-punk.
“I’m curious about what kind of energy the audience would spring out, especially in America, which is totally a challenge for me,” LiSA said ahead of the Roxy show. The crowd’s response? Pure joy — dancing and screaming along, proving the engagement of American audiences she loves: “I was so happy to see that the audiences in New York were so freely enjoying themselves on the floor. They dance so much, and that’s something that’s so unique about the American audiences.”
The following night, LiSA kicked up the energy at her YouTube theater show with a giant production, belting her songs while running through the audience with the crowd as her backup. The setlist was a career-spanning journey, kicking off with “oath sign,” her debut solo single, and weaving anime staples like “Homura” (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train), “Akeboshi” (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc), and “ADAMAS” (Sword Art Online: Alicization) throughout. The encore, featuring “crossing field” and “best day, best way,” sent fans into a frenzy.
LiSA performs at the YouTube Theater, June 24, 2025 (Viola Kam – V’z Twinkle)
A highlight was her performance of “ReawakeR” (feat. Felix of Stray Kids), the opening theme for Solo Leveling Season 2. LiSA provided a solution for the absent Australian K-pop star — “That song definitely cannot exist without Felix’s voice, so please get into the music as if you were Felix for me and sing with me.” The crowd obliged, making its performance a communal anthem that bridged K-pop and J-pop fandoms.
“This is my first North America tour, and I’m sure there are so many fans who get to see me for the first time, so I made sure to incorporate all the older songs and also the newer songs,” LiSA told us about the tour prep. “Also, I prepared many surprises and specials for the show as well. Hope you’ll enjoy!” And enjoy fans did at both shows, proving her ability to command both intimate and massive venues with a long catalog that blended her anime roots and rockstar swagger.
LiSA’s journey to becoming a rockstar wasn’t an overnight flight. Born on June 24, 1987, in Seki, Gifu Prefecture, Risa Oribe found her voice through music. Starting piano at age three and later diving into dance and vocal lessons, she was inspired by Japanese acts Love Psychedelico and Ego-Wrappin’. In high school, she fronted the indie rock band Chucky, covering her idols before moving to Tokyo in 2008 to chase her dreams. Her big break came in 2010 as the singing voice for Yui in Angel Beats!’ fictional band Girls Dead Monster, with hits like “Ichiban no Takaramono” earning her a dedicated anime fanbase.
LiSA performs at The Roxy, June 23, 2025 (Viola Kam – V’z Twinkle)
Her solo debut in 2011 with Letters to U and the single “oath sign” launched her into the spotlight, followed by “crossing field” in 2012, which became a global anime anthem. Since then, LiSA has dominated the anisong scene with themes for Demon Slayer, Fate/Stay Night, My Hero Academia, and more. Her 2019 hit “Gurenge” became a cultural phenomenon and albums like LEO-NiNE (2020) and best-of collections LiSA BEST -Day- and -Way- (2018) have solidified her as a J-pop powerhouse, while her live performances at Nippon Budokan, Saitama Super Arena, and international festivals showcase her electrifying stage presence.
LiSA’s ability to blend genres is her secret weapon. “I consider anime music to be also a big part of me, so whether you like anime or rock, you can absolutely enjoy, even if you get to know me through anime,” she said. “I’m sure you enjoy all the other songs I’ve created as well.” Her shows seamlessly fuse the emotional depth of anime ballads like “unlasting” with the raw energy of rock tracks like “ROCK-mode” and “QUEEN,” appealing to both otaku and rock festival crowds.
With her North American tour soon to be in the rearview, LiSA isn’t showing signs of slowing down, already teasing new projects. “I’m working on creating some more music that people can get excited about, and I’m noodling with so many fun ideas that fans can get to enjoy! Please look forward to it!” She better believe we will.
LiSA on the June 27, 2025 cover of LA Weekly (Photo: Viola Kam – V’z Twinkle; Cover design: Mark Stefanos)