Lovely Vocaloid

[Carefully Selected] A Special Feature on Hidden Vocaloid Masterpieces

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Musicians who started as Vocaloid producers—like Kenshi Yonezu, Ayase, and Eve—have been doing amazingly well lately, haven’t they? They’re always near the top of the Japanese music charts.

In this article, we’d like to introduce some hidden Vocaloid gems.

It’s perfect for anyone looking for music they haven’t encountered before! We’re using the phrase “hidden gems,” which basically means “songs that deserve much more recognition.” This is a playlist our editorial team confidently recommends!

[Carefully Selected] Hidden Vocaloid Masterpieces (1–10)

Irony AutomataTokaya

Irony Automata / Tokaya feat. Kagamine Rin

Irony Automata Tokaya

You might get hooked just from the intro guitar riff! This piece by Vocaloid producer Tokaya was released in 2019.

It’s a stylish number featuring a four-on-the-floor rhythm and razor-sharp band sound.

The chorus melody and the way the rhymes are laid down really stick in your head! It has that irresistible charm that makes you want to hum along after just one listen.

If you like Vocalock, definitely give it a spin! The funky bass solo in the interlude is a must-hear—absolutely scorching!

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Fiction writerpote

Fiction Writer – Pote / v flower [MV]

Fiction writer Pote

This is a profound Vocaloid song that portrays the inner conflict wavering on the boundary between reality and fiction.

Created by Pote and released in November 2018, it features v flower’s gentle vocals resonating over a pop melody, while the lyrics carry the complex emotions of someone who weaves stories.

If you’re involved in creative work, the questions this piece poses will likely strike a chord.

It’s a Vocaloid track with a mysterious charm that makes you inevitably relate it to your own experiences as you listen.

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soliloquyBluer than blue

Monologue / VY1 [MV]

Soliloquy, bluer than blue.

This is a rock number where VY1’s beautiful vocals blend with a sound that seems to resonate from the ocean floor.

The track, by Aoyori mo Ao, was released in 2019.

The lyrics carefully depict introspective emotions, delicately expressing the loneliness and inner conflicts felt in everyday life, and they resonate deeply with listeners.

The band-driven soundscape is highly emotional.

Give it a listen when you want to face your inner self alone.

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[Carefully Selected] Hidden Vocaloid Masterpieces (11–20)

StrangeloveLove in a Closed Room

Strangelove / Locked-Room Love feat. KAFU

Strangelove: A Love in a Locked Room

This is a song that drags you into a dangerous yet beautiful world of love! It’s a work by Misshitsu no Koi, released in 2022.

The theme is a codependent romantic relationship, featuring a crisp bass, stylish synth sounds, and KAFU’s languid vocals that leave a strong impression.

The lyrics depict a precarious love where pain and pleasure intersect, sure to resonate deeply with those who relate to self-sacrificial romance.

When you’re feeling lost in love, it might be the song that stays close to your heart.

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Huh? Are you fictional?gooey

Hatsune Miku: “Huh? Are you a fictional character?”

Huh? Are you a fictional character? Troo-reee.

It sounds like the axis is off, yet it still works as a single piece of music.

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It’s a Vocaloid track crafted with an exquisite sense of balance.

Created by Toroory, a Vocaloid producer known for experimental music, it was released in 2022.

You can’t take your ears off the wavering beat steeped in dissonance and the mysterious melody line that carries a hint of hip-hop.

And the eccentric vibe of the music video matches the tone of the track perfectly.

Once you listen, you won’t be able to escape Toroory’s world.

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The Wonderland and Alice.Surely, forever, alone.

Alice in the Land of Wonders ft. Yamine Renri

A strange land, and Alice. Surely, always, all alone.

It’s a mysterious Vocaloid track that makes the boundary between reality and fantasy feel like it’s growing blurred.

“Kitto, Zutto” is a song by Bocchi-san, released in October 2021.

The fantastical world woven by Yamine Renri’s vocals is somehow eerie yet beautiful, drawing the listener into its story.

A guitar-driven rock sound intertwines with elements of electronica, resulting in a melancholic finish.

And each word of the lyrics, like a soliloquy, pierces the heart.

It’s a perfect song for when you want to escape from reality.

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The Last Space VoyageGomahichi

Final Space Journey - Hatsune Miku

The Final Space Voyage Gomahichi

A cute yet somewhat wistful Miku song that draws you in with its gentle electronic tones.

Created by Vocaloid producer Gomahichi and released in 2022.

As the title suggests, the lyrics unfold around the theme of a “Final Space Voyage,” depicting the inner feelings of Hatsune Miku.

The thoughts she wants to convey at the very end… by the time you reach the outro, it’s hard not to get teary-eyed.

The whispery vocals also perfectly match the mood of the track.

By the way, the MV illustrations were done by the artist themselves.

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