If you’re like most people outside of Japan, when you first discover Vocaloid or Hatsune Miku, you probably thought it was just thought all their songs were created by a single artist or brand. The truth is actually a lot bigger, deeper, and a bit complicated!
Vocaloid is the name of the software. Every person can use that program for free to create vocals for their tracks and release it. Thus, while it is still Vocaloid and Miku, there is a producer behind these songs.
Some big artists, like Kenshi Yonezu who created Lemon that topped the charts for weeks, started off as a Vocaloid producer working under a different name. I’m sure this was a chance for him to try out new musical ideas, get feedback from others, and grow as an artist. It also gave him a boost in fans when he decided to official debut.
So if you’re still a bit new to this ‘Vocaloid’ thing or you haven’t taken the time to dig deeper, let’s explore and learn more together! I’ll also be mentioning some popular Vocaloid producers for you to check out.
And if you’d like to learn more about other Japanese music, you’re a musician who likes anime music, or a producer who wants to create Japanese-sounding music, definitely check out my Japanese Music Learning Resources page.
What Is Vocaloid?
Vocaloid is a paid vocal synthesizer program and software. The word Vocaloid is a combination of the words “Vocal Android”. Producers can use the Vocaloid software to create robotic vocals for their music. It was designed for both professionals and hobbyists alike. You can check out all the specs on their official website.
How Did Vocaloid Come To Be?
The concept of artificial voices isn’t exactly new. In 1981, the IBM 7094 was actually the first computer to sing a full song named “Daisy Bell”.
In 2000, Hideki Kenmochi, who is dubbed “The Father of Vocaloid”, started a similar project to created a vocal synthesizer with his team at a University of Spain. They named it the “Daisy Project” in reference to the above, but it was never intended to be publicly released.
YAMAHA were working on their own project between 1997 and 2000 named the “Elvis Project”. Their goal was to create a program where they can imitate and bring back vocals of legendary singers, such as Elvis Presley whom it was named after.
The project was scraped and they started anew with Vocaloid. It was around this time that Kenmochi joined the team. With most of the research already completed, YAMAHA was mainly responsible for the design and development of the actual project.
By 2003, YAMAHA made their official announcement for the project, and it was released publicly on January 15, 2004. Sadly, it didn’t do too well on the market, only selling 500 units. While the launch wasn’t what they expected (it was pretty much a flop), not all hope was lost. It did garner some attention and fans the following years.
Crypton Future Media was already a part of the Vocaloid project since 2002. They saw an opportunity and decided to take over, giving the product an upgrade. Vocaloid2 came with a handful of character voices (aka “voicebanks”), with Hatsune Miku being the first to be released on August 31, 2007. Her name means “First Sound of the Future”, and what better name, don’t you think? Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku were an instant hit! They were selling 300 units a week, and sold over 40,000 units by the end of the year.
On October 17, 2007, not even 2 months after it’s release, Hatsune Miku was looked up so much that Google and Yahoo blocked her, thinking it was spam, even removing her Wiki page. Fans were outraged and an investigation was prompted the following day. Thus, that day was dubbed ‘Hatsune Disappearance Day’ (source). She was super popular and people were already standing up and defending their artificial diva.
Vocaloid continues to be upgraded over the years and over 100,000 songs have been made using the software. While other characters and voices have come out, Hatsune Miku continues to be the most popular, even going on to have her own video games and VR concerts.
How Does The Software Work?
Vocaloid looks like most DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software. You have a desktop program with various presets, tools, and instruments that will allow you to create almost any kind of music you could imagine, but in this case, it only provides vocals and melody. The software can be used independently, or ‘plugged in’ to an individual’s DAW where they create the instrumentals for their songs.
If you want to add vocals, you’ll add a note to the right section of the track. You can then increases or decrease the length of the note, and also input the sound or work you want the software to say. Definitely check out the video below to see it in more detail.
Are The Voices Actually Artificial?
Yes and no. I thought it was completely robotic, made from scratch, but it turns out that any Vocaloid voicebox available actually required a voice actor. Hatsune Miku, for example, was sampled from Saki Fujita. However, even though it is sampled from a real human being, the final results end up quite distinct from the original.
The video below compares Vocaloids and their Voice Provider by putting a Vocaloid over a track by their provider. You don’t have to watch the whole thing as even a couple examples will give you an idea of how different they sound.
Is Japanese The Only Language Available?
Outside of English and Japanese, the only other official languages available are Korean, Spanish and Chinese, and Taiwanese.
In the list below, one producer makes songs in Tagalog. I thought maybe they used a similar language and worked around it, but Tagalog is quite unique, so they more likely used the manual voice input for on Vocaloid.
Are There Additional Benefits For Using Vocaloid?
Of course! For one, it’s a way for producers to add vocals to their tracks without needing to find or work with a singer. No studio session or vocal editing required.
This allows them to explore and experiment with different genres, and they could make the voice do things that may not be completely possible with a human voice. For a lot of the darker songs, it’s a way to spread a message via lyrics, as opposed to human emotion being heard in the voice.
While there are a lot of other programs, like the free software UTAU which has quite a bit fanbase of it’s own, the biggest benefit for using Vocaloid is that they are a well known brand and the characters are popular. Just by using Vocaloid and including the name of the character in your song title or credits, you have higher chances of being discovered by people who may otherwise never come across you or check out your music.
There was a recent announcement that producers will now be able to monetize their Vocaloid content on Youtube (with some restrictions for brand’s image) which may make it that much more enticing.
How Are “Official” Vocaloid Songs Chosen?
The brand has recognized over 100,000 Vocaloid songs, and the majority of those are sung by Miku. However, there are less than 150 official Vocaloid songs, and those are the ones that you’ll hear over and over, especially in games or at concerts. Who decides what songs become official?
A lot of the most well known songs, like Electric Angel, Levan Polka, and Melt, came out not long after Hatsune Miku was created. Since the program was still new and the brand wanted to promote the product, they would see which songs were trending on Nico Nico Douga and asked the producers if they could adopt it in exchange for a royalty. Some of those first producers may have gone on to work with the brand or have been commissioned to create other hits.
Due to the amount of competition these days and the amount of songs, it’s definitely a lot harder for a song or producer to stand out, but there are still bound to be some super popular ones that the brand can’t help but recognize.
For example, in May 2013, Lost One’s Weeping by Neru was released. It entered the “Hall of Fame” less than 2 days after it’s release as it hit 100,000 views on Nico Nico Douga. Within 3 weeks, it entered the “Hall of Legends” as it hit 10,000,000 views! Obviously, a song that goes that viral wouldn’t be ignored by the brand.
There are also regular contests run by the creators and convention organizers. They will invite producers to create a brand new song by the deadline. Whichever song is chosen as the winner will be recognized, some even being performed by Hatsune Miku at the next event, which can greatly boost a producers popularity and fanbase. On top of money and/or royalties, they may also win additional prizes like album licensing, vouchers for software, bonus voicebanks, and of course, merch!
Why Are There So Many Emo/Dark Songs?
If you’re curious why Hatsune has so many dark, emo, depressing songs, the above is also a great example. But here’s a few others that sound happy or cute but actually have darker lyrics.
Thing is, Japan is a country with a lot of stress and depression. Competitive schools, overtime work schedule, etc. As a collective and community-based society, you simply follow the rules, fit in, and do what is expected of you.
As their saying goes, ‘the nail that sticks out is hammered down’, and individuals have been bullied at school and in the workplace, tormented or outcasted, just for being different. If one tries to speak up, they’ll be targeted even more. If they ask for help, they aren’t taken seriously. It’s very easy for one to feel alone, or like the world would be better without them.
Kenshi Yonezu has expressed this himself. He has high-functioning Autism, and with his odd name, he was always seen as a kind of monster. One time in kindergarten, he injured his lips and required stitches. The next day, many kids just looked at him as if he was a weirdo (as opposed to showing concern or care) and it left a real impression on him (source). You can definitely see him express these feelings of being weird or alone in his songs “Loser”, “Vivi” and “Flamingo”.
Point is, as nice and polite as Japan may seem to the rest of the world, they have many underlying social problems that no one is working to change because Japan has the mentality of “Shouganai” aka “it is what it is”/”it can’t be helped”/”just accept it”. Even if some see what’s wrong with society, they don’t want to be the nail that sticks out.
Whether you choose to believe that or not, that doesn’t change the fact that Japan has one of the highest suicide populations, even having their own suicide forest where many young people go to kill themselves. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, so suicide is one of their leading causes of death.
Thus, anytime people, especially young people, have a chance to be honest and express themselves, they tend to go hard. Their Harajuku fashion, for example, is quite weird and extreme, but that’s because they are in uniform the rest of the time. Many of them know that once they become adults, they will have to wear business suits and be professional all the time.
So back to the music and producers, Vocaloid is an amazing means for one to get their feelings out there. The producer doesn’t have to use their voice or any other identifying features. They are able to work under a different name and stay completely anonymous.
Thus, whatever gets their blood boiling, whatever suicidal thoughts they may be having, they can put it in a song and release it. And because so many other people can relate to the lyrics, they will connect to the song and love it.
Why Is Hatsune Miku So Popular and Even Idolized?
Japan’s idol culture is a huge business, with AKB48 making the most single sales for quite a few years in a row. I wrote about Jpop and Kpop idol scenes in detail, along with training and why one is more popular in this article.
“Hatsune Miku, isn’t real though, so why are people paying to attend her concerts, cheering her on, and putting her on a pedestal?”
As for why idol culture is so big, I think there’s certainly many factors. One of them is that Japan doesn’t have a religious population. Shintoism and Buddhism is incorporated in their society, but most people don’t practice it outside of maybe a temple visit on new years. Their religious populations (ie Christian, Muslim) are very miniscule, less than 6%, so the majority don’t have a God whom they can connect with or look to for hope in the future.
Thus, finding purpose can be hard for many. “Why am I working so hard for?” “When will they be truly happy?” “Is there any point to life?” Society is monotone, repetitive, and sometimes dreadful. They can’t truly be themselves and they can’t say what they really want to say. If life becomes too hard, it’s easier to just give up, as many have done.
In comes idol culture. Idol music is usually bright, positive and fun, and you get to see these youthful girls smiling, dancing, and doing their best to put on a show their fans can enjoy. For girls who choose to become idols, they may feel a sense of purpose knowing they are making others happy and are encouraged by their fans. If they see a fan quiet often, they will do their best to remember their name and details. They do truly appreciate their fans.
For the fans who get attached, the idols give them hope and happiness, and they find purpose in supporting them. Some will spend a lot of money to attend their events, purchase their songs or merch, and of course, pay for a photo, handshake or a few minutes with them. Getting to see them in person and be acknowledged by them is like a dream come true! It’s similar to meeting a celebrity, but more personal and warm. The fan will feel less lonely and may even feel motivated to work hard like the idols do.
While people in the West may find old man fawning over cute young girls creepy, to many of them, romance and lust isn’t a part of it at all. Rather, it’s admiration for the idol’s hard work, and it’s a chance to embrace their inner child again. You’ll see some many with light sticks running around or going crazy, but it’s one of very few times where they can truly let go and go crazy.
Considering Japan is also the land of anime, there are bound to be many 2D or artificial characters that people have come to obsess over. But unlike them, Hatsune Miku isn’t attached to a show or a storyline, she is actually an idol and performer like the girls above. Artificial idols are perfect. They don’t have the kinds of flaws we do. They don’t get tired or into scandals, and that’s also attractive to many.
Her serious fans will love seeing her, listening to her, interacting with her, and supporting her. They will buy her merch and interact with her whenever possible, which you’ll learn a bit more in the ‘future for Vocaloid’ section below. Best of all, they don’t have to worry about Miku retiring or finding a boyfriend like you would for human idols.
Where Do The Dance Routines Come From?
In the Kpop world, when a group has a comeback, they not only release a new song but choreo that goes along with it. In the vocaloid world, however, producers are simply making music, and dances aren’t usually in their official MV, so…where do these routines come from?
If you’re not sure what I am talking about, Japan has it’s own dance cover culture. The dances are usually done to Vocaloid songs and uploaded on one of their biggest video sharing platforms, Nico Nico Douga. And you may be surprised to know this, but just like how Vocaloid songs are fanmade, so are the dances!
In the case of the infamous Luka Luke Night Fever Dance above, I just found one of the first dancers I’ve come across when looking into Jpop dances a decade ago, and also my favourite, Kozue, is actually the official creator of the dance routine. Others may have liked, shared, and covered it, helping the routine go viral, and naturally, it was accepted as the official dance routine.
And just like how there is the Vocaloid software for voices, there is also a software for people to use the singer’s avatar to create digital versions of the dance called MikuMikuDance, which is also free! If the dance is later adopted by the Vocaloid channel or video games, the company will use a mix of animation and live capture, thus the higher quality and more fluid or realistic movements.
Continuing on with Kozue, not long after that dance, she became one of the first members of Danceroid. This professional dance group has covered some songs, but also created other original Vocaloid dances alongside the choreographer Yumiko. Some notable ones being “Megu Megu Fire Endless Night” and “Galaxias”. Kozue is credited for creating the dance for “First Kiss” which was released by the group.
While Vocaloid may have started as a vocal program, if you’re going to have artificial characters as the mascot, it only makes sense that they have something to do, and what goes better together than singing and dancing?
One thing I’m also suspecting, if a song was doing pretty well on Nico Nico Douga, and someone decided to make a dance for it that catches on, that could be the push needed for the brand to recognize it and make a song official.
What Is The Future For Vocaloid?
Vocaloid has been around for quite some time, so you’d think ‘the hype’ may have died down again, but nope! Unlike other trends that are centered around an individual or fashion, Vocaloid is essentially a community.
You got professional and newbie producers, you got fans who love to dance, and if you know anything about Japan, they do have a thing for adorable fictional characters and mascots. Thus, unlike other artists who may retire, or other programs that die when the creator gets bored, there are so many people from all walks of life using Vocaloid and helping create more and more content for others to enjoy.
As mentioned in Vocaloid’s history, Hatsune Miku has been a huge success since her release. She has been the ambassador for many products and continue to endorse and promote other things. She has made appearances in so many places, performing alongside Lady Gaga and her songs have been included in Just Dance more than twice, thus helping more with her exposure in the west.
There are also a lot of notable products for Hatsune Miku, her more popular ones being her video, arcade, and app games. The first Hatsune Miku Project Diva came out on July 2, 2009, and has had 20 games (including arcade games) come out since. According to Wikipedia, as of 2018, over 6 Million units were sold!
More recently, Hatsune Miku: Colorful Page released on the app store, but there are over 30 other apps, official and fanmade, available as well. Not to mention, she’s had countless concerts over the last decade. She is not a joke in Japan!
With a artificial character as popular as her, of course there’s still a lot of money to be made. We already talked about games and concerts, but there are also posters, clothes, keychains, figurines, plushies, and other merch to buy. Even if you’re not a fan of her music, you gotta admit, she’s pretty cute!
In 2016, Gatebox had an amazing idea and they turned Miku into a hologram that people could take home. In this case, Miku would not only be able to have conversations with you, but she was also your virtual assistant like Google Home and Alexa. She was your friend, and to some, family. Someone who will great you when you came home and who you can do activities with.
If you’ve heard the story about the man (Akihiko Kondo) marrying Miku which was brought up again more recently, he owned one of these, and thus he genuinely felt he had a real bond with Miku.
If you watch Black Mirror, there was an episode where Miley Cyrus’ pop idol character in the show had an AI counterpart and a matching toy. The main character in the story really wanted one and she grew to see the toy as her best friend. I’m pretty sure the idea for the episode was based on Miku. Point is, many people are lonely and crave connection. Some go to pets, while others prefer an AI who can think for themselves and talk to you.
As for recent news regarding the man’s marriage to the artificial diva, the same Gatebox program was no longer being maintained as they believe it had ‘run it’s course’, so he wasn’t able to communicate with her and that connection was lost. It’s actually quite sad because, as we mentioned earlier, loneliness and depression is a real issue in Japan, and he also dealt with bullying, so Miku may have been his only source of happiness.
The Takeaway: Vocaloid Is A Community Effort
All in all, Vocaloid, and especially Hatsune Miku, is super popular and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. The main reason I believe that, is because Vocaloid was built by the community.
Thousands of producers are creating music for the characters. Illustrators can create pictures and editors can create music videos for the songs. Dancers get to create choreographies and others get to cover it. Others may use their skills to create fan-made merch as well. Vocaloid is a great way different artists to get discovered or gain fans.
On the business side, software and app developers have many jobs working on graphics and virtual reality for the brand. Musicians are hired to play alongside Miku during concerts. Brands can use Miku as an ambassador to help with sales. And of course, those who are part of the Vocaloid company are making money off everything everyone else does, so they will only encourage and celebrate those who create popular content.
Finally, let’s not forget the millions of fans who can’t get enough of their artificial Diva, so you can be sure Miku and her friends will be around for quite some time. Vocaloid is a product where everyone wins and benefits.
Vocaloid Producers To Check Out
For this list, I collected some more active producers who have their own channels. I think it’s a great way to see how different people utilize the software into their own style of music. This list is in alphabetical order. If you’d like to discover more artists and Vocaloid music, check out Nico Nico Douga. Many Vocaloid songs are uploaded every singly day!
40mP (40 Meter P)
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Starting off strong, we got 40 Meter P. He has created countless songs since 2008, making him one of the OGs. His songs tend to have a more happy and nostalgic sound that I think anyone can enjoy.
AdyS (ADYXSHA)
This producer is based in Malaysia and has many English Vocaloid songs. She has been making songs since 2011, and her songs are in the trance and rock genres.
CircusP (VocaCircus)
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
CircusP is definitely one of the hottest producers, with new songs getting 20K views in a week, and his older tracks getting millions.
Crusher
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Crusher is from the USA so her tracks are in English. She’s not only a producer, but a singer and illustrator as well. She is well known for her horror-themed works.
Dasu
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
If you’re wondering why the names of these songs are so long, it’s actually because they are sung in Tagalog.
DECO*27
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
This producer has been creating songs since 2008 and got lucky in that his first work got over 100,000 views quite quickly. He continued to be popular and went on to create songs for anime and games. He created one of my personal favourite Vocaloid songs, Ai Kotoba, which I came to know through this cover.
EasyPop (Betti)
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Here’s another OG producer, best known for the very popular and well known song “Happy Synthesia”. He is still very active and continues to put out mostly bright and poppy songs.
EmpathP
This producer is from America and has made quite a few songs. Her songs are in English and tend to be on the softer, sweeter sound, with a few upbeat techno hits.
Emon(Tes.)
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
If you’re looking for cuter songs, this is a producer you should check out. They actually made it to professional level, having their songs and videos featured on Hatsune Miku’s official channel!
GHOST
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
This younger producer has already made a name for themselves. They live in the Midwest USA…or…umm..I mean they’re dead so ^^”
Giga P
Here’s a pretty big Vocaloid producer from Japan. If you’ve heard Mr. Music, cLick cRack, LUVORATORRRRRRY!, or Gigantic O.T.N., they were all by him. If you want more upbeat music with some stunning music videos, definitely check this channel out.
Hachi
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
I mentioned in the intro that Kenshi Yonezu was (and still is) a Vocaloid Producer. If you’re curious what name he worked under, this is the one. One song I think many heard at one point or another is Panda Hero. He’s always been known to make quite bizarre and experimental music, but whoever is editing his videos…damn.
Halyosy
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Harry P
While this producer doesn’t have as many views as some producers, the quality of his music and videos are top-tier. I especially love the instrumentals, which include piano, guitar, and violins for a more nostalgic and anime feel.
Kairiki Bear
If you really love the creepy cute kinda songs and asthetics, you’ll definitely love the music from this producer.
Kikuo
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
If you want some really creepy music and videos to haunt your nightmares, or just some songs with depressing lyrics, here’s a channel to check out.
Kurage P
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Like Kenshi Yonezu above, this is another artist who also makes their own music under their own name. Wada Takeaki (和田たけあき) has been making Vocaloid songs since 2010, so you’re bound to quite a few tracks you’ll like.
Lamaze P
If you’re looking for something just simpler and sweet, I think I found the channel for you. There are some hyper songs, but as a whole, it gives me carnival or video game background music kind of vibes. Music for a calm sunny day.
MARETU
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
Aaaaand back to the creepy and dark stuff. You’ll notice this is quite a trend in the community, and it makes sense. Vocaloid is a means to experiment afterall! If you like that kinda sound, be sure to check out this producer. I can find their older songs on other channels, but their channel is pretty new.
Masa Works Design
More creepy stuff? I got you! While this producer definitely has some songs under their name, they are also an artist, creating their own visuals for their videos. Pretty cool!*
Mikito P
Here’s another prodocer if you need a break from the emo Vocaloid tracks and want something more light hearted, fun, and beautiful.
Mitchie M
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
This producer combines more upbeat pop with some REOL vibes. The visuals for their Music Videos are cute and stunning. This is the kind of music I’m sure many think of when they hear the word Vocaloid.
Neru
If you’ve heard the song or a cover of “Lost One’s Weeping”, this is the original producer. Their songs may sound upbeat and cute, but the lyrics are actually…quite dark and depressing. Gotta love the visuals too, simple but still makes a statement.
Picon
If you’re tired of hyperbeat music and are interested in something more relaxing and chilled out, this producer definitely has some tracks you may like. They have some non-Vocaloid songs as well like this one which is a bit more funky and experimental.
Pinocchio P
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
If you’d like more upbeat and fun pop songs that have that stereotypical Vocaloid sound, definitely check out this artist. Their songs aren’t super fast or high pitched compared to some others, so you may find them easier to listen to as well.
Samfree
As mentioned in my dance section, Luka Luka Night Fever is a huge hit and many know or have heard the song. I found out through this video that the producer has sadly passed away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out his songs and continue his legacy. Gravity=Reality was definitely one of my favs thanks to this dance cover.
Utsu-P
Youtube Channel | Website | Spotify
This producer mixes both the darker styles above in a heavy rock and metal fashion. Consider this the Vocaloid equivalent of BabyMetal if you will.
Conclusion
I hope this article has answered all the questions you had. I’ve only really come across Vocaloid music as a Jpop cover dancer myself, so it was also interesting for me to dig more into it and figure out how things are really done. If you have other questions, or cool facts I may have missed, definitely leave them in the comments.
This blog, Chromatic Dreamers, is focused on Japanese music and rookie musicians, so if you’re into that kind of stuff, definitely check out my blog and my Japanese Music Learning Resources page.
And if you’re interested in learning more vocabulary and kanji so you can watch anime and dramas, read manga, sing J-pop at karaoke, or play raw Japanese video games, definitely check out my Japanese Study Guide!
Your support would also allow me to write more and help answer more questions like this in detail, so if you’d like to leave a tip, please check out my Ko-Fi page! Thank you~
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