Rie Takahashi is releasing her first full-length album. The voice actress behind Ai Hoshino in Oshi no Ko and Emilia in Re:Zero will release Amplifier, written in katakana as アンプリファイア, in Japan on February 24, 2027, through Pandora Pops, a brand new label inside Sony Music.
The album was announced on Saturday (October 17th) along with a new artist visual, and its lead track, "Hajimari no Hi," began streaming early at midnight Japan time on Sunday (October 18th). Takahashi's label staff account shared the announcement on X:
The new artist photo puts Takahashi in a bold red look, and red is the color tied to this new era of her music. Pandora Pops is a new label, and songwriter Keita Tanaka noted that Amplifier is its very first release.
Editions And Lead Single
Amplifier will come in two versions. The regular edition is a single CD priced at 3,850 yen. The first-press limited edition costs 12,000 yen and comes in a slipcase with a two-disc digipak and a booklet. Along with the CD, it includes a Blu-ray of Takahashi's second solo concert, A Rie in Wonderland.
The only song confirmed for the tracklist so far is "Hajimari no Hi," which translates to "The Day It Begins." The label describes it as a song that delivers honest, unvarnished feelings straight to the listener with a refreshing, emotional sound. Keita Tanaka wrote the lyrics and co-composed the song with Goro Miyazaki, who also handled the arrangement. Tanaka also directed Takahashi's vocals on the track.
The music video for "Hajimari no Hi" premieres on Takahashi's official YouTube channel on Sunday at 8 p.m. Japan time (October 18th), with Takahashi hosting a surprise Instagram Live about an hour before it starts. The label also released a short teaser spot for the video on Saturday. Check out the music video below:
Pre-orders are open now in Japan, and several retailers are offering their own first-come bonuses. Animate is giving out an A3 clear poster and a 56mm can badge with the limited edition and an L-size bromide with the regular edition. Gamers is offering an A3 tapestry, can badge, and bromide with the limited edition. Sofmap and Animega, Tower Records, HMV, Sony Music Shop, and Aniplex Online are all including bromides, while Rakuten Books has an acrylic keychain, 7net Shopping has a coaster with an acrylic stand, and Amazon Japan is offering a mega jacket. The bonus artwork will be revealed later.
A New Chapter For Her Music Career
Takahashi made the announcement at a release event for her third EP, Kimi Kanetsuchu, held at Seven Park Ario Kashiwa in Chiba with Tower Records. The event included a mini live and a meet-and-greet. Afterward, she posted that the event marked the end of what she called "Part 1.5" of her artist career, and she pointed fans to red as the next color for her music before shouting out the album.
Her label has framed Amplifier as the start of Part 2 of her music activities. It is also her first release since moving to the new label, and her first full album, following three EPs. The title fits that idea nicely, since an amplifier exists to make a signal bigger and louder.
Busy Weekend For Takahashi
Takahashi is one of the busiest voice actresses in anime. Along with Ai Hoshino and Emilia, she is known for playing Takagi in Teasing Master Takagi-san and Megumin in KonoSuba. On Thursday (October 15th), she announced she will voice Vanessa in the TV anime Himekishi-sama no Himo, which premieres in January 2027.
She also joined Yusuke Kobayashi on Sunday morning (October 18th) for a Re:Zero stage at the Machi Asobi event in Tokushima, where the pair looked back on the anime's fourth season. Her schedule this weekend went straight from that stage to the Instagram Live and the music video premiere.
Are you more excited to hear what the rest of Amplifier sounds like, or would you rather hear Takahashi sing more character songs for her anime roles?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.