Meet A-Wake

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful A-Wake a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

From a young age all the members of A-Wake have loved to sing. We never would have guessed that it would take us this far but we are glad it did. Growing up we each found various inspirations leading us further along our journey. We came across J-pop idols and were inspired by their energy and dedication. K-pop idols also inspired us with their hard work and determination. Both these different types of music, culture, and inspiration gave us a fighting spirit. We admired idols but never originally imagined becoming one. We would sing karaoke and occasionally join some singing contests for fun. Several people complimented our voices and told us we should form a group.

There weren’t a lot of local idols around at the time so we weren’t even sure where or how to really start. However we were passionate and it was decided to actually make it happen. It started with Rina at the head and then Katsumi, Angel, and Victorica joining. We each took our own unique taste of idols and brought it to life. It all started by being asked to be a small part of a halftime show during a cosplay competition. Whilst seemingly insignificant, it was like a mustard seed growing into a huge tree. It was a small spark that lit a fire. Snowballing to having the courage to perform at small anime conventions and applying to perform at many more. Now we have grown to being invited to larger events! You never know what the future holds if you never try.

We have been working hard in hopes of sharing and spreading the joyous passion we found. We wish to bring about a whole new experience and appreciation for Japanese idol culture. It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun. Bringing to those who feel they have never had the chance, we want to introduce this feeling to them and spread our light to the world. We hope that we are able to inspire you to follow your passions with enthusiasm and joy.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

私たちは輝く愛の笑顔！We are a shining smile of love! This is our motto. We are A-Wake, an overseas idol group of sisters from Texas. Overseas Idols also known as Kaigai (meaning “overseas” in Japanese) Idols, are idols who show appreciation to the Japanese Idol culture throughout their own communities. Our performances include the styles of J-pop and K-pop. We take our inspiration from mainly J-Pop idols, as well as K-Pop and our own experiences in our local community. A-Wake represents the sunrise with performances beautifully filled with energy and a shining promise for the day ahead. We shine brightly to you through our singing and dancing. Like the first rays of the sun, we A-Wake are idols that always aim to rise brightening your day with a shining smile filled with love.

We really enjoy what we do. It makes us happy to know that we fill our fans with such great joy. We love to sing and love to see what an impact we have made as well. Our fanbase “Morning Star” is living proof that we are making a difference. We love to be able to connect with our fans. You could even say that we are fans of our fans. We love them so much. When we first started it was not very popular to have local idols. There is now a greater appreciation for idols. There are more idols starting out these days and we are very excited to know that we have inspired many of them. Each opportunity to perform is especially special because of this. It means that we get another opportunity to connect and interact with fans and inspire others. Seeing the rise and passion in idol culture is truly amazing. We will continue to grow and share our light with more people. Striving to bring an even greater experience to our fans and the community we are working hard on our original song.

Our first original song “Game of Lies/噓のゲーム” is scheduled to be released in 2025. Written by the leader of A-Wake, Rina Denka and constructed with the help of the members together, this song is about being true to yourself. If you lie about who you really are and hide behind a mask, you end up cheating yourself. We shine most brightly and become happiest when we are true to ourselves. After our first song is released, we have plans for a whole album, music videos, and more. We are overflowing with excitement as the date draws closer and can’t wait to share it with you all!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Having a strong sense of self improvement, individuality, and teamwork. These are all very important factors to have as an idol. No matter if you are aspiring to be an idol or have been in the industry for many years. You will find yourself growing and relying on your experience in these areas throughout your entire journey.

It is especially important to have a sense of self-motivation and a sense of self improvement. As an idol you are constantly being watched by others. Some people may have seen you before while some are watching you for the first time. You are a role model, performer, and a professional. Fans look to you and aspire to like you, the internet will offer both support and criticism, people have expectations and demands. It’s important during this time to have a strong sense of self-motivation and a sense to improve yourself constantly. You have to have a clear idea of what you want and be able to set your own goals.

Some people may be negative, make fun of you, and or tell you that you’re wasting your time looking like a fool. You may even feel dejected with your own thoughts. If you keep in mind that you are never to let anyone stop you from being the best version of yourself, it will allow you to push through hardships and succeed as an idol. Having this mindset can be hard at times, but by being true to yourself with things that bring you happiness you can become who you want to be. We find our motivation from our fans and from each other. We always want to improve ourselves and be the best we can be, not to let others down but more importantly not to let ourselves down. Think about the idols that you love and how you aspire to be like them. You can’t be perfect, but can always strive to be better. By constantly working to improve yourself, you can continue to grow. This not only benefits you but also your fans and group members. Even when it is hard to see improvement, remember not to give up, you aren’t alone. Your fans want to see you grow and improve over time. They want to see you become the best version of yourself. Never give up or stop trying your best, they believe in you and you should too.

Individuality is also an important factor for an idol. Your fans look up to you and want to be like you. They will remember you because your individuality stood out to them. It is important to have a unique identity that sets you apart from others. Many young idols who are just starting out feel that they are lacking in this area. If this is you, do not worry. You can find your individuality by simply being yourself. By embracing yourself, your likes, your talents, hobbies, and uniqueness you will find that you are like no one else. That is your image, it is who you are, how you want to be seen, and what you aspire to be. Only you can create an image that resonates with your fans. By embracing yourself, you can create a brand that is unique to you, highlighting your individuality and becoming someone whom fans will remember. Both you and your fans will love it because it is truly you and you are unique.

Teamwork is important whether you are a soloist or part of a group. You hardly will ever be working by yourself. You have to work well with others and maintain a professional attitude at all times. Working with others is vital for you to create a successful performance. Think about everyone who works behind the scenes just for one show, there are so many people involved from the event coordinators to each volunteer. Each one of these people you may interact with are important. You are an idol and your actions and behavior will reflect not only on yourself but also those whom you work with. It is important that you maintain a professional attitude both on and off stage. Things like being punctual, respectful, and responsible are all admirable qualities you should have when working with others. By working well with others, you can create successful performances and build a reputation. It can be easy to become overly caught up in yourself thinking you’re the only person that matters, but selfish thinking and actions will only hurt you. To put on a show that you can be proud of involves teamwork from everyone around you. When you work with others, think of it as you are on a team. Genuinely interact with gratitude and create a positive reputation. Not only will this create a positive reputation but also a positive atmosphere which exudes to not only those whom you are working with but also everyone who sees you. You shine most brightly by being genuine. It spreads a warmth that comes from you to all, giving everyone a brighter spirit. By doing so you will gain trust and respect from fans and industry professionals.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We always welcome the chance to work with other hard working and passionate people. We have enjoyed working with other idols, Asian festivals, anime conventions, charity events, and more. We would love to continue to expand our partners and collaborate with more amazing people. Whether you are an idol wanting to sing with fellow idols, a producer wanting to bring your vision to life, or an event coordinator wanting to give your event a unique experience, we are here and ready to collaborate. We are ready to create something amazing together that will leave a lasting impression. Together, let’s spread a smile and show our love in our passions! We are a shining light to all those around us. No matter how important or insignificant you may feel, each and every one of us has an important role, unique to our own individuality. You can always become who you want to be. Let’s connect and make it happen!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

A-Wake

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,