Producer Spotlight: doN

[fascinates]

doN / どん

mylist | piapro | community

It's been a while since I've featured a producer of this genre but I remember some people liking stuff like this so why not? :D

doN is a Vocaloid producer who started uploading his works in Nico Nico Douga sometime in 2009, although he only started gaining somewhat large popularity recently. Aside from doing Vocaloid works, he also does rearrangements of Touhou songs.

His primary genre is electronic rock, with influences of emo and screamo. He is categorized also under Vocaleamo and Vocaloud. When he started, his songs were more on pure electronic rock, sythesizer-based music with rich bass texture and stray piano melodies. As he developed his music, he began inserting stronger guitars, more echoing bass, very fast drums and less obvious synth. His style can be placed side by side with music by Yuyoyuppe and on a slightly less similar note, Caz. He often collabs with meola and AO for artwork in his songs.

doN uses Miku and Luka in her works. In his earlier works, he tuned Miku normal and solid, ringing against the electronic beats sharply. In his later works, though, he started making Miku sing in varying pitches, usually starting off low and echoing, then slowly rising into a spine-chilling high pitch at the choruses. His Luka is tuned high, too, but since her voice is softer, she doesn't have the sharp effect against the guitars like Miku does. Of course, in his recent works, doN has started making Miku do screamos.

He has one CD released during Vocaloid Paradise named Wishes to the Moon, Emotions of Yggdrasil. You can buy it in toranoana here. Aside from Vocaloid, he also sings or rather...screams covers of other producers' songs XD.

sample songs
• My Last Moment (Miku)
• Nijiiro no Majiwaru Bashou (Luka; Touhou Arrangement)
• Cybirth (Miku)
• Awkwardness (Miku)

sample covers
• Leia (with maturu, original by Yuyoyuppe)
• I am a super man. (Yuyoyuppe original)


nikki says
I am never really a fan of screamo or hard rock (my ears can be really sensitive I guess) but there are producers who manage to make me listen to them, like Caz and Leia. Recently, doN adds to the very small list of screamo/vocaloud producers I can listen to. I personally like his earlier works (which are comparatively tamer) like Cybirth, but I also enjoy Awkwardness (despite the screamo XD), especially the piano-esque intro evolving into a rough guitar-piano ensemble.

Producer Spotlight: SunzriverP

[fascinates]

sunzriverP / すんｚりヴぇｒP

mylist | community | blog | piapro

Since Sunzriver is going to AX this year with Penguins Project, I figured an introduction is necessary for those who'll be attending so here goes.

Sunzriver's name can be shortened to "SunzP". He started his Vocaloid career way back in 2008 and though he might not seem as active in Vocaloid as before, he still is active in making music. His mylist is a bit long because he's known for redoing his songs or making covers of his own songs using different Vocaloids. He is one of those producers who seem to be able to use any Vocaloid expertly.

His music is actually a bit difficult to describe for me, but I can generally call it synth or electro pop with a very small hint of ambient music. While there are many electropop producers, Sunzriver is different because he rarely makes dance music (as is common in electropop Vocaloid songs) but concentrates on a more peaceful, orchestraic composition of the songs. This is most apparent in his recent works. He uses a lot of instrument sounds, primarily organ/piano and drums but sometimes his songs are laced with orchestra backgrounds, harpsichord and even chiptune. I think in terms of instruments used and variation in melody, his works can be likened to NataP's earlier works. He also has that tendency to include a different noises/feedback-like sound in his songs' backdrops.

Sunzriver uses Miku, Rin and Len, Luka and Gakupo in his works. Since he uses a lot of Vocaloids, there is very little to discover about his mannerisms and quirks in tuning. Most of the time his Vocaloids are tuned straight-forwardly solid, with rarely any peaks in pitches (they usually do not have alternating super high or super low tones). His Kagamines are especially good when they are made to sing together, the blending is wonderful.

He has one album out called "Windows Music" (he mentions Windows a lot in his songs) and is available in toranoana.

sample songs
• Sakasama Rainbow (Miku x Rin)
• Mayoi no Mado - Satoru no Mado (Gakupo x Miku)
• Hayarihitto (Rin and Len)
• Tower of Sunz (Miku)
• Hybrid (Rin and Len)


nikki says
To be honest, I haven't heard from sunzriver in so long that I rarely check his works, but when I found out he's going to be in AX, I just had to relisten to his songs. His songs are really hit or miss with me, since his style is popular. I like his works involving collabs of Vocaloids more than songs with just one singer. Of course, my favorite is Sakasama Rainbow followed by Mayoi no Mado (both Gakupo and Len versions).



As sort of refresher, here are the producers we've posted spotlights about last year:
[04-08-10] HeavenzP
[04-15-10] Pulot/SantenP
[04-22-10] Rerulili
[04-29-10] Ebot

Utaite Spotlight: Kurod

[gero]

Kurod / くろど

mylist | nico community | twitter

I am sure anyone who nama surfs has been tricked into this guy’s nama at least once because of the ridiculously cute smiling cat picture...... Anyways, although Kurod is more of a nama nushi than a utaite, a few of his recent uploads did pretty well in the weekly rankings so I thought he was probably due for a spotlight.

While the genres and range he can cover are limited, when he sings songs that go well with his voice, he can manage to sound very smooth and on occasion, even eroi. His most famous cover would be a mash-up of 1925 and Al Dente. Kurod has been uploading since 2007 and has been doing namas for a little over a year now. His older uploads really don’t do him justice, he has improved quite a bit and you will have to listen to his namas to hear to the difference.

He namas often and always at around the same time so they are pretty easy to catch. Just be warned that his namas are........full of Abe san/gachi homo jokes and can get slightly R-18. He has the tendency to breathe heavily into the mic or go “chucchu peropero”. His listeners are also super DoS so do not be alarmed by how rude the comments are.

sample songs

JBF piano ver. (he only uploaded this to twitter)
1925 x Aldente (Tpocket original)
E? Aa, sou (ChouchouP original)
Chichi wo Moge (some anime song that I dont know)
Under the Darkness (community only)

and then for lol-ing sake
Okkusenman

angie says

I was one of the people that got tricked by the cat picture, and then joined his community because of how ridiculous he sounded singing よっしゃあ漢唄 (Yosshaa Kan Uta?). I think his voice is actually kind of interesting and I can’t think of anyone to compare it to. It’s also funny that he sounds better singing live compared to his uploads. Personally, I think Kurod is someone fans like more for the crack than for the actual singing.

Utaite Spotlight: Ritsuka

[stephieku]

Ritsuka / リツカ

Mylist | Twitter | Blog

Ritsuka is a prolific female utaite who began uploading in February 2008. She has a soft, gentle voice that can reach high notes seemingly with ease and without being hard on the ears. She can also sing in a cutesy way, but it does not feel fake or forced. She can sing pop songs very well, but I find her ballads exceptionally good. She covers mostly vocaloid songs, but has a lot of anime song covers as well. Ritsuka also has covers of Sound Horizon songs and has participated in the Sound Horizon cover band Acostoria Her breakout hit was her cover of Meltdown, and still remains to be her most popular upload. Some of her songs were mixed by Asamaru (such as her Meltdown), however she likely mixes most of her songs (since they do not have a mixer credited). Ritsuka is a regular member of EastNewSound, a Touhou arrange group.

Ritsuka most often does collaborations with Mitani Nana, and has worked with other artists in making original songs. She is also part of a music unit called “Quee Quee” with PENGUINS PROJECT and Aki. You can buy their first album digitally in many countries via iTunes and Amazon’s mp3 store.

She also writes songs and she posted a list of songs she has written on her blog. She also wrote some of the songs on Penguin Project's Quee Quee. Her songwriting style matches her voice, and the songs are light, calming, and sometimes upbeat.

She also provides the vocals for the image song “Clear Note” for Rodoku Shoujo, a Japanese audiobook reading application for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. Like Quee Quee, you can purchase the song digitally at iTunes and you can see the PV here. Interestingly, you can even download the app for free at iTunes.


sample songs (covers)
celluloid (baker original)
Alice (FullkawaP original)
Yowamushi Mont Blanc (DECO*27 original)
Bokura no 16-bit Sensou (sasakure.uk original)
*Hello, Planet. (sasakure.uk original)
trick and treat (OSTER Project original)

sample songs (original)
Dearest (collab with Polyphonic Branch)
star in the dark (original by Ritsuka herself, a #prayforjapan song)
Nau! (Original by Ritsuka, collab with samfree)
blue bird (collab with PENGUINS PROJECT)

stephie says

Ritsuka is one my first female utaites, and still remains to be one of my favorites. I find her voice so cute, yet it never gets on my nerves. Her more energetic songs can be hit or miss for me, but her singing ability still impresses me. I'm more biased towards her ballads, which I think suits her voice perfectly. I had to restrain myself from listing a gazillion ballads under the sample songs list XD. My favorite song from her is still celluloid, it makes me tear up sometimes :’D.

To be honest, before I wrote this spotlight, I had not listened to her entire mylist, it's so long! But going through her songs, I found so many good covers and I wish I could list them all. I'll spare you guys this time. Recently I can't stop looping her cover of Mami's Theme from Madoka Magica.

I also find her doodles so cute (twitpic), she even drew the art for her Popopo~n cover.

EDIT(06/25/2011): I added a little bit more information here and there in this post after getting more info :) Sorry for the inconsistency!