We spoke with NOMELON NOLEMON about their work on Gungam GQuuuuuuX with their song “Halo” for Anime Expo 2025.
Music is key to anime, whether its opening and ending themes or special songs made for the series, and Gundam GQuuuuuuX is no different. To celebrate the latest Gundam series, a live screening and concert were held at Anime Expo 2025. And NOMELON NOLEMON was in attendance, thanks to their song “Halo” which was featured in the series.
We spoke to Tsumiki, who plays a primary role in almost all song lyrics, composition, and arrangement for the duo, and MIKIMARIA, who provides vocals and contributes to some songwriting and composition. NOMELON NOLEMON debuted in 2021 with the landmark single “INAZMA.” Since their formation, they have released two albums: POP (2022) and Rule (2023).
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Their hit “SAYONARA MAYBE” from their sophomore album Rule has been widely used on TikTok, going on to become their biggest single to date. NOMELON NOLEMON embarked on their first-ever tour in February 2024. The Astro Hikou Tour featured stops in five cities across Japan: Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo. Later that year, the duo saw their landmark anime collaboration, performing the ending theme “Suikou Setten” for Rurouni Kenshin – Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story – Kyoto Disturbance.
We spoke with them about what anime they’re watching this season, their favorite mech, and what it feels like to be part of pop culture with their work on Gundam GQuuuuuuX.
BUT WHY THO: Hi, I’m Matthew Glenn. I’m with But Why Tho, and I’m excited to interview Nomelon, Nolemon. First off, I’d like you to introduce yourselves.
TSUMIKI: I’m the composer of Nomelon, Nolemon, Tsumiki.
MIKIMARIA: And I’m the vocalist, Miki Maria.
BUT WHY THO: Awesome. It’s nice to meet you. My first question is, what anime are you watching this season?
TSUMIKI: Gundam GQuuuuuuX!
BUT WHY THO: Surprise!
[Everyone on the call laughs]
BUT WHY THO: And how did it feel hearing Halo and GQuuuuuuX, and being a part of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise?
TSUMIKI: I’m just really, really flattered to be part of it, as you mentioned, Gundam was such a long-standing anime and a franchise, loved by so many over the years. So, I think it was a really huge moment for Nomelon Nolemon, and we leveled up as a unit.
BUT WHY THO: Wonderful! Have you seen any previous Mobile Suit Gundam series and what inspired Halo?
TSUMIKI: When I learned that we were going to be part of this new Gundam project, I went back and watched First Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam 1979). So it taught me a lot about sort of the world setting, the key players, and a lot of information about the Gundam universe.
BUT WHY THO: Nice, nice. I think that was a great choice. What’s an underrated opening or ending song for an anime? And which one’s like don’t get enough love?
MIKIMARIA: Gegege no Kitaro! The opening theme song is so iconic, you can just hear the first melody and know exactly what it is, instantly.
BUT WHY THO: Nice, nice. And what is your favorite, Gundam, mobile suit or mech? Whether it’s the Gundam series, Evangelion or something else?
TSUMIKI: I’m gonna have to go with Evangelion. I really, really love the anime, all the movies, and unit zero, to me, is the standout.
BUT WHY THO: And do you have any, like, favorite ships in Gundam, like, OTPs, like, relationships between two characters, and Gundam or Evangelion?
MIKIMARIA: Hi. It’s hard to pick a ship, but I can comment on the OTP. For me, Machu and Nyan, I think they’re sort of a bond, and you could tell their relationship, there might be some fighting sometimes, but I think that’s their way of trying to better understand the other. So I’m gonna go with that pairing.
BUT WHY THO: Nice, nice. Mine are Char and Amuro! Are there any dream projects you’d like to contribute a song to?
TSUMIKI: It’s not necessarily a specific project, but similar to how we were involved in Gundam. I really enjoy being part of these long-standing franchises and IP coming from Japanese culture. For example, we got to do the ending for Rurouni Kenshin (2023), likewise, as our individual projects, we were involved in Urusei Yatsura (2022). So a lot of this sort of Japanese pop culture icons being able to be part of it and almost kind of have the rep of being the artists that goes with that, to me, would be one of my big goals.
BUT WHY THO: Awesome, awesome. Well, thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this interview, and talking to me about Mobile Suit Gundam, different anime and your work. Thank you.
TSUMIKI & MIKIMARIA: Thank you.
Gundam GQuuuuuuX is streaming now on Prime Video. To learn more about NOMELON NOLEMON click here.
