An interview with Kikuo: Reflections on music, Vocaloid, and creation

Almost everyone who is remotely familiar with Vocaloid will have heard of Kikuo, a household name in the genre. Vocaloid is a type of music originating from Japan that is based on the usage of voice synthesizer technology. It attained a cult following in the 2000s and has grown to receive international acclaim.

Kikuo is an artist with an instantly recognizable, unique sound that has made him iconic in the Vocaloid world. His songs dance on the edges of manic and unsettling, finding a unique niche in the space between the two.

With music that pierces, floats above, and defies conventional norms, his notoriety is well-deserved. Read on to learn more about Kikuo’s reflections on music, the world of Vocaloid, and the concepts and sounds that color his creative process. If you’re interested, I highly recommend checking out his upcoming show in San Francisco on September 8th at the Regency Ballroom.

Please note that this interview was done with a translator present, and the content below has been edited for clarity.

Gwen Tam (B-Side): I was wondering if we could start with you introducing yourself and what got you into Vocaloid?

Kikuo: I’m a Vocaloid producer! Hmm… I decided to become a creative person when I was very little, at the very beginning. In junior high school, I began to create music on my PC and in university my friend got me interested in Vocaloid music and I began to pursue it. I started to create and upload it and that led up to now.

GT: When you started producing was it for fun or did you always intend to create music for an audience?

Kikuo: Early on, I had decided that I was going to make a career in music. That was a given. I tried a lot of different things and out of the things I’ve tried, Vocaloid was the one that did the best. If you ask whether I did it for fun, my way of explaining it is that I was desperate, so I was just doing anything I could, whatever stuck is what I did.

GT: I see! For your current tour, what are you most excited about? Is there an aspect about performing that you like the most? I’ve noticed that you’re a little elusive online, so I was wondering if there was an aspect of performing and being seen by so many people that you found the most enjoyable?

Kikuo: In Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, one thing that really struck me was the crowd. The crowd was very different from what I’m more accustomed to in Japan. In Japan, people are generally quieter, they’re listening to the music, which is respectful in a sense. In South America, I was amazed by how much the audience would actually actively interact. A handful of the audience was singing “Olé, olé, olé, olé, Kikuo, Kikuo,” and it was pretty amazing. During the interlude, the same energy level was still there, so what I tried with the next track was I used the audience singing “Olé, olé, olé, olé,” and adjusted the tempo to match with the voices from the audience. Then I mixed that into the next song, kind of on the fly, to keep that energy level and improvise to make the performance seamless. What I liked the most was the fact that I was able to create a performance that incorporated the fans’ creation and my creation, so it’s like a collaboration that happened.

GT: I feel like that’s the really interesting part about Vocaloid since Vocaloid is something that you technically take and use. Like the voice synthesizer, you take it and create your own thing and it feels like that kinda parallels that experience! Like communities creating music and forming their own little cycle of creation, so it’s awesome that you were able to interact with the crowd that way in Argentina! On the other hand, what would you say is the hardest part of performing Vocaloid music specifically? Do you think that there are any challenges unique to being a Vocaloid music producer as compared to non-Vocaloid music?

Kikuo: It’s kind of difficult. I don’t really do anything else in terms of music genre. I only play Vocaloid music, so I don’t know about other artists.

GT: Is there something about Vocaloid that made you stick to it and not explore other genres?

Kikuo: I’ve actually branched out to other non-Vocaloid music too, the problem is that no one listens [Laugh].

GT: I guess that’s fair, especially since you’ve made such a big name for yourself in Vocaloid, I can see how it would be difficult to break out of it. Out of all your projects, is there any one that you’ve enjoyed the most?

Kikuo: I’m sorry, but I try not to answer that question. If I do then that really affects how the fanbase thinks, and I would rather keep that to myself.

GT: Oh, I see! That’s fair. I was actually curious about the mask you wear while you perform. I was wondering where that came from? Does it have any symbolism or meaning behind it?

Kikuo: I designed the mask myself. It’s based on designs taken from different ceremonies and different cultural aspects. It’s a mish-mash of all these different ceremonies and rituals from around the world. It’s hard to explain, but there’s no literal meaning. That being said, if you go deeper there are a lot of underlying meanings behind it. It’s meaningful and simple at the same time. To me, it represents everything from celebration to destruction to godlike spirituality, but at the same time, I see it as also just a fashion statement. In traditional Japanese culture, there are dolls on strings, like marionettes?

GT: Like puppets?

Kikuo: Yeah, yeah! In Japanese history, there is a long history of the use of marionettes in traditional theater, so I want to reference that too. I want to add that the mask does not specifically represent any one thing, like psychedelics, spirituality, or religion. I want it to be rather abstract in that sense. You can also take it simply as fashion too, if you don’t want to think too much about it.

GT: I see, that’s where the complexity and also the simplicity of it comes in then?

Kikuo: Exactly!

GT: So I guess sort of on the topic of the mask, my next question relates to the artwork on your album. I would say the artwork on your album is pretty iconic, and they all seem pretty thematically similar, or at least, the style, so I was wondering if there was a reason why? Is it meant to emphasize the way you want the audience to view your music or anything?

Kikuo: I consciously try not to convey any specific message, so it’s kind of the reverse. The only thing I focus on is making sure the listener enjoys my creation. Personally, I like to create music that’s simple and fun, but I’ve gravitated towards the current style because that’s what the listeners like, and so my passion, my job, is to give my audience what they want.

GT: I feel like that’s a really different approach from a lot of artists. I feel like artists usually make music to express what they want to the audience, so it’s really interesting that you, not necessarily do things for the audience, but use them and what they want as a main source for what direction your music goes!

Kikuo: I have two things I want to say about that. The first one is that I see myself less as a musician or an artist, and more like an inventor. An inventor would probably want people to use the invention that they created, so that’s kind of the way I am when it comes to music. Number two is kind of difficult to explain, because I can’t really say for sure how other artists think, and I’m not dissing other musicians, but I personally feel like music is a form of communication, so when you push your own opinion on somebody, regardless of whether or not they want to hear it, it doesn’t feel like communication to me. That’s why it’s important to me that people listen to my music and like it. To me that’s communication and a vital part of my work.

GT: I think the inventor metaphor is a really cool perspective to have! I’ve never really heard people put it that way before! I was wondering also, if you think anything about Vocaloid music and its community has changed since you started making music?

Kikuo: Yes, there have been really big changes! Something I’ve noticed is that the international community has really gotten on the bandwagon. There are a ton of other things that have changed from other perspectives, you’re probably more knowledgeable about that kind of stuff, but from my point of view, the biggest thing is that international attention.

GT: I think that’s definitely a huge thing! Something I wanted to mention that’s related is Hatsune Miku performing in Coachella in LA because I feel like it really shows how big Vocaloid has gotten. Vocaloid used to be considered something that nerds or otaku listen to, but now it’s like “Wow! Miku’s at Coachella!” 

Kikuo: Yes, yes, yes, yes!

GT: Do you think because it’s gotten so much more popular internationally, that that has changed your music-making process in any way?

Kikuo: There is no change. For one thing, the lyrics are in Japanese and people still listen to and enjoy it, so I haven’t felt the need to change anything.

GT: Yay! Awesome. I had a question that I was going to ask at the beginning, but I actually forgot. I was wondering where the name Kikuo came from?

Kikuo: A classmate in middle school actually gave me the nickname Kikuo. Part of the reason is that Kikuo in Japanese is not necessarily such a fancy, stylish name. It’s got this countryside feel to it, in a bad way. But at the same time, it makes it more relatable, so I went along with it!

GT: Ah okay! I’ve always wondered where that came from. I always thought it was maybe part of your real name, so it’s really cool to know that it means something more rough around the edges. I have just two more questions left, I won’t keep you for much longer [Laugh]. I was wondering what kind of music you’ve been listening to lately?

Kikuo: Recently, I’ve been listening to pretty much exclusively cultural tribal music. One example is Nakibembe Embaire Group. Sorry if this isn’t the answer you were looking for, I’m not sure if you were expecting something.

GT: No, I think it’s really interesting! My last question is actually a more personal question, my friend was wondering if you were going to play your cover of the song from Omori during the tour.

Kikuo: [Laugh] That is a secret, but maybe this will give you a hint. [Starts showing OMOCAT Omori merchandise.]

GT: Woah! Is that from the OMOCAT store?

Kikuo: Yes! Exactly. This is my answer [Laugh].

Interview and words by Gwen Tam