[CD] Nagisa Aoyama / Gentle Beginning [Limited Edition]

Voice actress Nagisa Aoyama releases her first EP, marking the start of a new chapter!
The EP features a total of 8 tracks, including the title track “prayer” and instrumental versions. The limited
edition comes with a Blu-ray featuring the music video for “A Prayer” and behind-the-scenes footage.
Additionally, the first-press run includes a limited-edition bonus: a serial code for priority registration for “Nagisa Aoyama Solo LIVE ‘Gentle Beginning’”!
■ “Gentle Beginning” Product Overview
: Nagisa Aoyama, Re:Debut.
While starring as Koi Hazuki in “Love Live! Superstar!!” and active as a member of Liella!, Nagisa Aoyama has also continued her career as a solo artist. Now, she takes a new step forward with her EP, “Gentle Beginning.”Aoyama wrote the lyrics for all four tracks
on the EP. Through themes of “prayer,” “departure,” “conflict,” and “realization,” the EP tells a story—much like a single life—of growing up while chasing one’s dreams.Talented creators such as Takui Nakajima, Yusuke Kato, Yocke, and Takahiro Yamada contributed to the project, enriching her words and emotions with a diverse range of sounds.
“Gentle Beginning” consists of four tracks that mark Nagisa Aoyama’s new chapter as an artist—her “Re:Debut.”

■ prayer
“prayer” is a song that heralds Nagisa Aoyama’s “Re:Debut”—a new beginning. Aoyama wrote the lyrics herself, drawing on the journey she has taken so far to express her desire to move forward toward the future—despite her doubts and anxieties—by weaving these feelings into a “prayer.”
The music was composed by Takui Nakajima, who—while active as a rock singer—has also provided numerous songs to Hello! Project artists, including Angerme’s “Daiki Bansei,” as well as Juice=Juice, Tsubaki Factory, and ℃-ute.The arrangement is by Tomohiro Sumikama, whose sound—combining delicacy with drama—vividly brings Aoyama’s newfound resolve to life.
This track symbolizes the release of the EP *Gentle Beginning* and the beginning of Nagisa Aoyama’s second chapter.
■ Your Journey Starts
“Your Journey Starts” is a positive rock number that captures Nagisa Aoyama’s determination as she sets out on a new journey. The lyrics, written by Aoyama herself, convey a strong will to “get back up even after falling,” transforming even the setbacks and frustrations encountered while pursuing her dreams into strength.
The composition and arrangement are by composer Yusuke Kato, who has worked on songs such as “Our Battlefield,” “Valkyrie Won’t Stop,” and “Valkyrie Won’t Give Up” for the tactical music unit Valkyrie, which originated from the anime *Macross Δ*.The fast-paced sound and the iconic phrase “Your journey starts right here” powerfully support the start of a new life.
This song symbolizes the “departure” depicted in *Gentle Beginning*.
■ “I Want
to Change” “I Want to Change” is a hard rock number in which Nagisa Aoyama candidly describes, in her own words, the inner conflict she faces after setting out to pursue her dreams.Through phrases like “imposed ideals,” “suppressed emotions,” and “pre-determined paths,” the song vividly expresses the anguish of being bound by the values of those around her and the impulse to break free and reclaim her “true self.”
The song was composed by Yocke, a sound creator known for writing, composing, and arranging SixTONES’ “Rollin’,” as well as the opening themes “With The Wind” and “calling” for the TV anime *Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS*.Set to a rock sound imbued with a sense of speed and urgency, the song proclaims, “I won’t let anyone else hold the steering wheel anymore,” expressing the determination to take back control of one’s own life.
This track embodies the “inner conflict” of *Gentle Beginning* and serves as a turning point leading toward a fresh start.
■ *I Want to Tell You Now*
“I Want to Tell You Now” is a warm ballad that depicts the preciousness of a “place to return to” found within the casual routines of everyday life. Nagisa Aoyama herself wove together the words “Thank you,” “I’m sorry,” and “Welcome home.”“I’m home”—expresses the feelings she couldn’t honestly convey precisely because those people were so close to her, as well as the importance of the warmth she had taken for granted.
The song was composed by Takahiro Yamada, who created “Snow Halation,” a signature song for μ’s from *Love Live!*, as well as μ’s first single, “Our LIVE, Life with You.”The arrangement was handled by Hideyuki “Daichi” Suzuki, known for his work on Morning Musume’s “Resonant Blue” as well as numerous projects for artists such as Ikimono-gakari, V6, and Sexy Zone, and for his arrangement of “AXIA ~Daisuki de Daikirai~” by Valkyrie from *Macross Δ*.
The gentle yet poignant melody, combined with the warm sound that complements Aoyama’s vocals, makes these emotions resonate even more deeply. It’s precisely because she has chased her dreams, wavered, and struggled that she realizes what she truly wants to protect. This song ties together the story of *Gentle Beginning* through “realization” and “love,” leading the way to a new beginning.