fascinates: (kimi ni todoke | kazehaya////)
nikki ♫ ([personal profile] fascinates) wrote in [community profile] ofurotaimu2012-01-15 11:14 pm

Producer Spotlight: TokuP

TokuP / とくP

mylist | community | website | Wikipedia entry.

This writeup took me a long time to write because of the very vast history and work-related information TokuP has. I mean, he has his own Wikipedia entry, for goodness' sake! Of course, there is probably no one in the Vocaloid fandom who does not know him. He is known for his highly popular song, SPiCa and other Vocaloid hits.

Born March 5, 1978, Toku or Yoshinori Abe is not only a Vocaloid producer but is also a professional arranger/composer/musician. He was first a member of the professional band "beatica" and was named arranger/manipulater/remixer in it. His producer name "Toku" also came from his nickname in this band. Before and while he was working on Vocaloid stuff, he was also doing pro works as an arranger and manipulator for artists like Angela Aki, Dir en grey, KinKi Kids, baroque, Superfly, Rie fu, Rag Fair, etc. He also arranged the opening song for Fate/Zero, "oath sign", sung by LiSa. He was also part of arranging the ending song of Ano Hana "secret base~kimi ga kureta mono(10 years after ver.)", under the name estlabo, a collaborative group composed of TokuP himself, wowaka, FullkawaP, and hachi. And he was also the composer for the opening song of the anime Freezing, "Color", which was sung by MARiA. You can see a list of his professional work here.

He started uploading his Vocaloid works in Nico Nico Douga in 2009, and was noticed for the impeccable quality of his songs. His first two songs are based from Beatica songs, and his first original "SPiCa" remains his most widely-acclaimed creation in the Vocaloid community. He is known for making electropop upbeat songs which, although appearing to have a common rhythm, has a multitude of sounds. His ballads are often dramatic but powerful. and Almost all of his songs have the characteristic "rising mood" wherein the song starts slow before slowly picking up pace towards a fantastically grand chorus that sets a high climax for his songs. He uses a lot of instruments, mostly distinct keyboards and guitars (esp. in the recent uploads).

TokuP is known as one of the first producers to have used GUMI after her release in 2009. However, he mostly uses Hatsune Miku for his works, tuning her solid with mid-range that slowly rises into a crescendo with a high pitch. He also uses Miku append in some of his works. Aside from Miku and GUMI, he has also used Miki and Kagamine Rin.

Despite having professional work (for other artists), TokuP still collaborates with other Vocaloid producers, like with estlabo and Vocaloid music label Balloom. Aside from his Vocaloid works, he also concentrates on his non-Vocaloid indie groups, namely GARNiDELiA with utaite MARiA, and Headphone Tokyo, where he is the composer, keyboardist, mixer and sound producer.

TokuP has released a number of doujn CDs including SPiCa, SPiCa ReACT, etc. He doesn't have a major release yet, but he has taken part in tons of compilation albums including EX:P2~Ex:Producers, DEBUTANTE VI, VOCALO SMILE/TEARS feat. Hatsune Miku, VOCALOID BEST from Nico Nico Douga, EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalolegend, Hatsune Miku - Project DIVA - extend Complete Collection, etc.

sample songs
A. Vocaloid
blue bird (GUMI)
Butterfly (Hatsune Miku)
The Universe (miki)
Hands (Kagamine Rin)
Melting Summer (GUMI)
Arrow of Love (Hatsune Miku)

B. Non-Vocaloid
ORiON (GARNiDELiA)
GET OUT (GARNiDELiA x L.I.N.E.)
MACHINE DOLL (feat. Harada Hitomi)

nikki says
Like most of you, I also knew TokuP from his work SPiCa, which I think is already a Vocaloid classic. However, I didn't start liking him because of this song, but for his other two songs blue bird and Butterfly. I think he's a really talented person, especially after seeing him collaborate with MARiA for GARNiDELiA and see them perform live. I always thought he was a man of potential, but I didn't think he would be this accomplished until I read up about him. Seriously... He worked for 12012 albums!! That band's like...they used to be one of my favorites. Also, Angela Aki!! His list of works in his website is impressive (even though it's mostly arrangement/manipulation, working for that many artists...). But outside the being pro and stuff, I'm mostly amazed at how wonderfully he could juggle all of this work while still posting food pictures in his twitter. Having tons of wonderful accomplishments is pretty norm for talented people, but managing to do all of them so well without missing a beat, that IS saying something.
pengy: (Default)

[personal profile] pengy 2012-01-15 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
ARiA was the first TokuP song I listened to, and ever since then, thats the first thing I think about when I hear TokuP. I'm amazed that he's done so much! Thanks for the link with all of his works! Also Ano Hana ED ;_;
MARiA was also the first to get me started with Utattemita, and the GARNiDELiA album is just absolutely amazing. Especially the Piano in ORiON <3.
Overall, I would say that TokuP+MARiA really helped me get into the vocaloid and utattemita fandom, and without them, I wouldn't be here commenting!
asatenshi: (Default)

[personal profile] asatenshi 2012-01-16 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Wow this pro guy;; I had no idea that tokuP was so accomplished either!!;; and he still has time to write in Chinese on plurk too LOL

Otsukare for this write up! My first song by him was also SPiCA hehe.. I haven't listened to a lot of his works but all the ones I've heard have been really nice, and I really like oath sign *A* Wow he worked with 12012 *O* /also a fan of them
asatenshi: (Default)

[personal profile] asatenshi 2012-01-16 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
oh wait, dir en grey too!?!? :O
stephieku: (love_is_war)

[personal profile] stephieku 2012-01-16 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Holy o_o I know that he was pro, but wow! I'm amazed at all the work he's done! But omg he did/participated in the arrangement for Angela Aki's Requiem? I love that song so much and it seems to have TokuP-ish traits now that I relisten to it.

The song I first listened from him was SPiCA, but the first song I fell in love with was ARiA. I also really love his remixes on wowaka's Unhappy Refrain, I prefer them to the original. And a recent favorite of mine is his Hoshi no Uta. Some of his songs kinda have his "anime" feel, but it's in a good way. I love the way his songs build up and he uses sorta like.. a dramatic pause in his songs.

Also he was my first follower on Twitter. Does this man like...make doppelgangers or something!?
Edited 2012-01-18 10:45 (UTC)

[personal profile] wax_rain 2012-01-16 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't gotten to listening to his songs tbh, but who doesn't know SPiCA? XD one of the first Vocaloid songs I'd listened to. I think I'm going to give his stuff a try soon though, I like 'oath sign' and the 10 years after remix of Secret Base.

And lololol the first spotlight with a wikilink! I was surprised to know he's a pro... Even though I don't follow his works lol...
arya3087: KimiTodo → Sawako & Kazehaya (Default)

[personal profile] arya3087 2012-01-17 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Wow I really didn't know he was this accomplished either. * o * He worked with so many well known artists, it's really impressive! I don't really remember that well which was the first song I heard from him, but it was probably SPiCa for me too. I can't say he's one of my favourite Ps, but I do like some of his works. I'm really surprised to know all this though, just...wow!
Thanks for the write-up!

TokuP is amazing!

(Anonymous) 2012-11-19 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, I didn't know TokuP did so much! I only knew him for his vocaloid songs, especially SPiCa (Which is my favorite song) and ARiA. My favorite non-Vocaloid singer is LiSA, and I had no idea he arranged music for her! I love all of her songs. I must listen to more of his Vocaloid pieces. Wonderful article!
stephieku: (Default)

Re: TokuP is amazing!

[personal profile] stephieku 2012-11-19 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
On LiSA 's most recent album, there are some songs actually composed by ToluP and wowaka :)