producer spotlight: DATEKEN

[clefairy]

So it's been ages since a Producer spotlight, and I figured I'd help fill in the blank :D! Hope no one minds x_x

DATEKEN

mylist | twitter | website | community

DATEKEN is one of those producers that have been around for quite a long time, but fall under the "Oh I've heard of him....I think" category. Which is an absolute pity, because he's one of the most versatile producers I know of. Spanning from traditional songs all the way over to club music (though he's definitely more prolific in that sector), he's a very hit-or-miss producer for those who only like a particular genre. DATEKEN is most well-known for NEVER, Tsumugi Uta, and Namae no Nai Uta, which are all completely different in terms of style, going so far as to show his ability to please in whatever genre he chooses to take on. He's possibly most famous for being absolutely amazing at tuning the Kagamine twins (listen to the samples and you'll understand in an instant), though he has shown that he's got his way with Miku Append. He's also good friends with utaites Hanycham and Airi*, and have collaborated on NNI songs with them, as well as producing the music track for Tightson and Kettaro's dddawn!!.

A signature of his is that he keeps his melodies and lyrics fairly simple, choosing to let you "feel" the song rather than pay too much attention to lyrics (which can span from absolutely mindless, to deep and meaningful). He usually only writes a single version of a chorus and repeats it, which in turn, makes his songs easy to pick up and hum along to. His songs are also very human, and very much the type you can always envision an utaite sounding amazing on. All in all, I think writing is too difficult to explain DATEKEN's music, and it's easier understood by listening!

sample music
• Tsumugi Uta
• Jutenija
• Never
• Namae no Nai Uta
• trick art

sample NNI music
• Drawing Palette (with Hanycham)
• One Way Love❤ (with Airi*)


Ciel says

hnnnngggg choosing sample songs was so hard, but I tried to pick stuff that show how versatile he is rather than my favourites (though if anyone wants to know them feel free to comment and ask :D).

He's one of those hard-to-approach-through-twitter types, but is genuinely a nice guy, so no harm following him and stuff! He's also quite okay at English, and I've conversed with him in both English and Japanese before (though mostly Japanese, English only coming up whenever he decides to be a smart aleck and prove that he's good at it 8D), and I believe it's because he has to deal with non-Japanese in his post-graduate course and such.

Also his singing voice is adorable :D (community locked link I'm afraid! Though is an absolutely beautiful song!)

Everyone should love DATEKEN damnit. LOVE.

Comments

[fascinates]

I'm terribly sorry for the lack of updates, as I said before. I'm having a hard time recently. That said, thanks for writing this.

[clefairy]

No worries, life gets the best of everyone, that's why I thought I'd try helping out! I'm not the most knowledgable about utaite so I figured other people could do that but uh, P's, I can do P's!! Don't stress too much (´；ω；`)

[jakuu]

i love his music too. he is capable of many styles, which are all so lovely to listen to *___* thanks for covering DATEKEN >

[stephieku]

Thanks for the coverage! I only know NEVER, but that's so cool he's quite diverse *w* I will check out!

[lluvia]

Yessss. DATEKEN is one of my absolute favorites, so glad to finally see him featured here.

[kuuki-chan.livejournal.com]

Aaahh..DATEKEN is one of the first P that I knew XDD
The first song I heard was Namae no nai Uta and was very impressed by it <3 /I mean LEN HUMMING IN THE SONG!!gdofbhabfhrebheb DD:
Haa..I agree!! EVERYONE SHOULD LOVE DATEKEN :DD

[bloodcaramel]

Thanks for covering DATEKEN~! I love his Tsumugi Uta and Trick Art. But i'm also in love with his other songs, Parallellines and Tear(remix and normal ver). Mostly Tear.