Producer Spotlight: TokuP
Jan. 15th, 2012 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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.
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.