Saiki is no longer the Ice Queen. She is simply the Queen!

This change has coincided with her singing improving. The vibe I get is that she's become completely comfortable in herself. This is an incredibly freeing moment and it's really nice to see.

I've been following BM for over four years now and Saiki morphing from "The Ice Queen" into "The Princess", Miku will always be The Queen of Band-Maid. When they first started Saiki was not only the newest member but also the youngest so yeah she was shy, distant and seemed cold....thus the Ice Queen. Over the years she has melted into where she is now. It took years but if you go back and watch some of her and Miku together in interviews and podcasts you'll see her change. I feel spending more time with Miku and her outgoing personality had a lot to do with it and also what @barrycounts490 said below in the comments "maybe Saiki has just realized she's in the best band on earth!" Whatever did happen it was not an overnight thing, it was a work in progress, and for me it has made her even more beautiful than she already was.

Maybe its her new hairdo or maybe Saiki has just realized she's in the best band on earth !

Take a look at this, it's Band-Maids radio interview schedule for April and May. Miku was the spokesperson of the band from the start, has been for years. Saiki was really shy. Lately, in the past year or so Saiki has been accompanying Miku on interviews, but always with MIku. Here is Saiki taking on the role Miku always did. THIS is a massive change! April 27　3:00am-3:55am　FM Osaka “BUZZ ROCK” Miku Kobato comments April 29 5:00pm-6:55pm　FM Okayama “TWILIGHT PAVEMENT” SAIKI comments April 30　12:00pm-3:55pm　AIR-G' “Be My Radio” Miku Kobato comments April 30　2:00pm-4:30pm　ZIP-FM “OVER VIEW” SAIKI comments April 30　3:00pm-7:00pm　LOVEFM “music serendipity” SAIKI comments April 30　5:00pm-6:55pm　FM Mie “GETSUMOKU!　SAIKI comments May 1　5:00pm-7:51pm　CROSSFM “Urban Dusk” SAIKI comments May 2　2:00pm-7:00pm　FM Shiga “Catch!　SAIKI comments May 4　8:00pm-9:00pm　North Wave “RISING SUN ROCK FM” SAIKI comments May 6　7:00pm-9:00pm α-STATION “AWSOME NEW” SAIKI comments May 7　4:00pm-7:00pm FM Kumamoto “FMK RADIO BUSTERS” Miku Kobato comments May 8　1:30pm-4:55pm FM Ehime “Groovy Radio Caravan” SAIKI comments May 10　11:30am-12:55pm / 1:30pm-2:55pm Hiroshima FM “Mash The Radio” SAIKI comments May 11　8:00pm-8:30pm FM Fukuoka “SATURDAY SONIC STYLE” SAIKI comments May 15　4:00pm-6:50pm J-WAVE "GRAND MARQUEE" SAIKI live appearance May 16　2:30pm-5:00pm FM AICHI"AFTERNOON COLORS" SAIKI comments May 16　10:00pm-12:30am ABC Radio "ABC Music Paradise" SAIKI comments May 17　7:30am-10:49am FM Nagano "clap!" SAIKI comments May 17　12:00am-1:00am KBC Radio “DOMO RADIO” SAIKI comments May 19　6:30pm-6:55pm FM Fukuoka “TREASURE TIMES” SAIKI comments May 22　2:00am-3:00am TOKAI RADIO “Music Submarine” SAIKI comments May 27　7:30am-10:00am FM GIFU「MORNING SPLASH」SAIKI comments May 27 5:20pm-6:00pm　FM San'in “Takada Rion's Go-Evening!” SAIKI comments

It seemed to me that it was the post covid US tour in 2022 when Saiki really started blossoming and she's just continued from there. I think they all started to really relax on that tour and upped their engagement levels to greater heights and I'm sure a big part of that was the reaction they got from audiences.

As Saiki has become older and more confident. She has taken on the role of the leading lady from Miku. She has done more work behind the scenes and organises set lists and written more lyrics. Saiki also designs much of the clothes and stuff they sell. She now does far more talking on stage and does a lot of work that Miku used to do to make appearances to advertise the band. Saiki and Miku did a radio show together during Covid and this seemed to help with her confidence. A lot of the credit goes to Miku who has always tried to make the other shyer members of the band come forward. The Yokohama arena concert they updated their costumes. As the Bestie music was written by the bands good friend Mike Einzinger of Incubus. The clothes again had a redesign. Saiki no doubt had a big say.

This is interesting because I got a sense that Saiki started to become more outgoing a couple of years ago.

Indeed, many things changed in Band Maid, but some are from the decision of the label that Saiki and Miku always be together in the promotion of the band and even they maked it a radio show speaking about anything, so this positive influence of Miku bring Saiki to take the place of represent the band in a better way, so now Saiki have more interaction with the audience in the shows so now Miku don´t need to be the only spoke person in the shows.

The Ice Queen has thawed a bit. I think a lot of it is just natural maturity. She was 19 when they started, and she is 30 now. Also, Kanami, Akane and MISA were already masters of their instruments when they started, and Miku is the personification of confidence. Saiki took a while to hone her craft, not only singing but stage presence, on the job so to speak.

If you want to know more about Saiki, you might want to check out Ohrenje's documentaries starting with Saiki.