Producer Spotlight: GYARI

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GYARI / CocoaCigaretteP

mylist | website | pixiv |

No big fan of Vocaloid jazz would not know of GYARI. Even though he started uploading works since 2008, he has only uploaded two original works in Nico Nico Douga and a few arranged tracks. Despite that, it cannot be denied that he is one of the most celebrated Jazz arranger-producer in Vocaloid, as you will see in the number of views in each of his works.

GYARI is also named CocoacigaretteP, mainly because of how his Rin is depicted in his videos as chewing on a cocoa cigarette. Since his debut, he has only uploaded two original works and six jazz arrangements, which he calls "jazz sessions". His earlier works including his two original songs are jazz, but they concentrate more on strong and very dexterously played piano and crisp percussion. Recently, though, he has incorporated more trumpet/sax and more distinct bass in his works. Despite all of his songs being jazz, he has managed to make each of his arrangements unique and very nice to the ears. In his EXIT TUNES Presents Vocalonation compiled arrangement, he has highlighted every instrument he has used in his works.

He concentrates working with Kagamine Rin in his originals, but he has used Miku, KAITO, Len, and recently, MEIKO, in his arranged versions. His Rin is tuned very high but softened a bit to adjust to his suave notes. Since most of his jazz arrangements are instrumental with only phrases of lyrics, it's hard to describe his other Vocaloids as a whole. However, he has assigned instruments and personalities to the Vocaloids for his mass jazz sessions. Here are them:

• Kagamine Rin (vocals, piano) - always has a cocoa cigarette in her mouth, plays the piano quite carelessly but is really good.
• Kagamine Len (electric piano) - A shy guy who is fixated with jazz
• Hatsune Miku (bass) - plays the huge violin according to Rin, has really good grip and is always the one who does everything with her best, likes teasing others
• KAITO (drums) - a miracle drum player, can be quite meddling, Rin's "target"
• MEIKO (trumpet, producer) - suddenly just entered the scene without warning
• He has also included Gakupo (percussion), Luka (vocals), and GUMI (saxophone) in his arranged works.

GYARI is also pretty good with illustrating and has illustrated and animated all the videos of his works/arrangements. Aside from Vocaloid songs, he has also covered anime songs from Clannad and Air. Aside from arranging and composing, GYARI also participates in live jazz performances, usually playing the piano, like with is performance in Mirai no Neiro in Tokyo. He has participated in compilation albums EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalonation and VOCAJAZZ vol.1.

original works
• Moonlight Stage
• evening glow

arrangements
• Original Works Jazz Session (includes his original songs in samba/jazz arrangements)
• Vocalonation Jazz Session (has all the tracks in the Vocalonation album in jazz arrangements; talkloid by LamazeP)


nikki says:
I first heard of GYARI because of Moonlight Stage. Back then I was only getting into Vocajazz, so he introduced me wonderfully into the genre. He is also probably the reason why I treasure a lot of Vocaloid jazz songs until now. I love his piano-playing the most and I'm a sucker for jazz songs with lots of fast-paced, impressive piano melodies. It's just a pity that he doesn't work much on original songs, although I appreciate his Vocalonation jazz session so much. Nyanyanyanya(ry jazz arrange couldn't be awesomer.

Producer Spotlight: Raioo

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Raioo / らいおお

mylist | piapro | blog

Raioo is a fairly new producer and has only started uploading his original works in Nico Nico Douga sometime late 2010. Since his debut, he has only uploaded five songs, but they're all pretty good, not to mention interestingly varied in many ways.

As he is a new producer, Raioo seems to be still exploring the genre where he sits more comfortably. All his works are largely varied from each other. He started his career with a slightly rockish beat with heavy bass and a pop-ish happy beat. He has also tried RnB and recently, cheery and upbeat electropop. Outside his electronic beats, his guitars sound pretty impressive with clear, echoey overtones. His bass also appears distinct in his non-electropop works and his percussion always sound muffled but nevertheless fits the aura of his songs well.

He primarily uses Hatsune Miku in his songs but recently, he has taken to using Rin. His Rin is tuned sharp but not high and screechy. His Miku changes tuning depending on the type of song, but she is mostly whispery and a bit high, which makes it seem like she gets drowned in the music. His Vocaloids cannot hold long notes that well, but he makes it up by leaving a certain quirk wherein they sing with a slight lilt in the ends of their phrases.

songs
• Nekojita Crazy (pop feat. Miku)
• Momoiro Vanilla (electropop feat. Miku)
• Mata Ashita Ne (rock ballad feat. Miku)
• fake of love (RnB feat. Miku/Rin)
• Love You * Love You (electropop feat. Rin)

nikki says
I actually first knew of Raioo via twitter when people RT his works. His first song I heard was Momoiro Vanilla and back then, I wasn't really a fan of electropop. However, his second work Mata Ashita ne impressed me so much, not to mention surprised me because of the sudden style change. I like his guitars so much as well as his rhythms, because they're always a nice listen and are never boring. My favorite by him would be his only RnB song. It's quite hard to find good VocaloRnB songs and his is remarkable.

Utaite Spotlight: Amatsuki

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天月 / Amatsuki

mylist | community

Amatsuki is quite known in the Nicodou community even though he only started as an utaite in 2010. He is also one of the younger-sounding voices in the community. Initially entering NND as a namahousou personality in 2009, Amatsuki decided to cover songs in 2010 and gained an impressive view count. Since then, he has been covering songs although he's also quite active in namahousou.

Amatsuki's voice is often describe as cute, innocent-sounding, and boyish, hence he is often lumped with similarly voiced ShounenT. He has a gentle voice that lacks sharpness or power, so he sounds best with ballads, jazz or pop songs. However, he has a penchant for singing loud, rock songs. Because of his softer than usual voice, his rock songs tend to lack power, but that doesn't mean that they're bad. In actuality, he sings rock songs quite well with a certain sweetness that is not often heard in rock covers, making his covers quite unique and interesting to listen to. He also tends to sound a bit awkward in the start of songs, especially if they're with fast paced lyrics or very low notes, but he always catches himself midway and hits both super high and low notes really wonderfully. Very rarely, he sings with a deeper "ikemen voice" although he usually does it to match his collab partner.

Amatsuki is currently a 20-year old university student standing at 176 cm. He likes pudding, yakiniku, melon and Elmo. His fascination with Elmo and his way of imitating Elmo's voice causes his fans to draw him always with Elmo.

sample songs
A. Solos
• orange (ShounenT original)
• I Love You, I Need You (KEI original)
• Usotsuki (Tsunamaru original)
• Maigo Life (NishizawasanP original)
• Tokyo Teddy Bear (Neru original)

B. Collabs
• Sakujitsu no Matsuri (with Shamuon; MygodP original)
• Akatsuki Arrival (with ShounenT; Last Note. original)
• Nekomimi Archive (with Itou Kashitarou; KusoinakaP original)
• Ai to Nasu to Heiwa na Kajitsu Rap Arrange (with Hashiyan; saiB original)

nikki says
I've listened to all of Amatsuki's uploads from his very first up to his recent upload. He is one of the utaite I have followed since he was new so he holds a really special place in my heart even though I don't mention him as one of my utmost favorites. When I first listened to his cover of "Limit Friends", I thought he has a cute way of singing (almost impertinent, pouty-sounding) and I thought it was interesting, since there's not many singers who sang that way back then. Eventually, I got hooked to listening to him and I'm always surprised by his song choices. Nevertheless, it's my forever opinion that he will always sound adorable whether he sings rock or upbeat songs or ballads XD;. There are many utaite who try to sound cute when singing cutesy pop songs and fail, but with Amatsuki, I think it's a given talent already XD;. Currently, my most favorite cover by him would be "Usotsuki". I just wish he won't get stuck with covering popular songs and be a bit more adventurous with his choices.

Utaite Spotlight: KK

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KK / けけ

mylist | community | blog

KK is not as popular as other male utaite in the utattemita community, but recently he has been gaining remarkable increase in view counts and fans. He is probably most known for his cover of Envy Catwalk wherein he showed off his unique singing style.

KK started uploading his Vocaloid covers in Nico Nico Douga sometime in 2009. He is known for emotionally singing ballads. He has a deep and slightly husky voice that remains unique to him although sometimes he shares vocal similarities with Tourai, Xiao, and sometimes even halyosy. He is known for his wonderful vibrato, especially in ballads. He can hold his high notes really well and has an interesting way of pinching his voice that makes his covers sound a bit RnB-ish.

Although KK's voice is more fit to sing ballads, he has recently begun covering fast-paced and strong rock songs. His singing style changes these songs from something powerful and sharp to something a bit gentler and smoother, which is really awesome. No matter what type of song he sings, he manages to tame it down and make it more suave--a really good twist to hear especially in well-covered bandwagon songs.

KK has no solo albums of his own, although he has participated in Utattemita Gentei's album "Alternative". He has also collaborated with some singers and has taken a particular interest in collaborating with Vocaloid producer yukkedoluce and singing most of the P's works.

sample songs
A. Solos
• Starduster (JimmythumbP original)
• Kimi ga Suki (yukkedoluce original)
• WATERISE (NataP original)
• Bokura no Let it Be (Harry original)
• Waltz of Anomalies (Nanou original)

B. Collabs
• Here (with ZERO; KEI original)
• Sekai no Hajimari (with Keysuke; whoo original)
• 11-kaime no Uchuu to Lovere (with Chomaiyo; yukkedoluce original)

nikki says:
I actually knew of KK when yukkedoluce excitedly tweeted about his "Kimi ga Suki" cover and was curious because not many people covered the song then (I knew only of Asamaru). And I'm glad I did check him out because I was most impressed. Since then, KK had been my go-to for country-ish covers of ballads. I like how he manages to make his covers unique because of his slightly rough voice that creates an RnB-ish/country-ish feel to every song. I was most surprised when he not only started covering rock songs but really did well in singing them! I was first reluctant to listen to his stronger covers because I thought it wouldn't fit his voice, but his "Envy Catwalk" proved otherwise, didn't it?