User:Collectiphile/sandbox
Kikuo | |
|---|---|
| きくお | |
| Born | September 21, 1988 Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2003–Present |
| Website | kikuo |
Kikuo (きくお), is a Japanese composer, songwriter, and arranger who has gained international attention for his work utilizing Vocaloid voice synthesizers in his music. Originally being highly involved with the Japanese Doujin music scene, he has been self-releasing his original music since 2003. In addition to his own original works he has a long history of composing for video games and has also participated as both a composer and arranger in many projects for major labels and entertainment properties since the beginning of his career.
In 2022 his song "Love me, Love me, Love me" reached 100 million plays on Spotify, making it the first Vocaloid song to reach this milestone. In 2024 he became the first Vocaloid producer to participate in a nationwide tour in the United States.
Biography[edit]
Kikuo began producing music in 2003 when he was still a junior high school student utilizing a software called "BMS Creator", a program intended to be used for the creation of custom game data for the "BM98" beatmania simulator. Despite not being a traditional digital audio workstation, he created songs by pasting individual sounds into the program and arranging each of the notes manually. He would post these early songs on the popular Japanese BBS 2channel in a thread intended for beginners to share their music in hopes of receiving feedback. In 2005 he began participating in doujin music compilations and assisting with sales booths at events such as Comiket. Through his participation in doujin compilation albums based on the Touhou Project franchise, he was able to save up enough money to drop out of college and start pursuing music full time in 2009. He released his first solo album, Yume no kane, with doujin circle Iemitsu. at Comiket 77 in December 2009.
In 2010 at the encouragement of one of his peers, Kikuo began composing music utilizing Vocaloid voice synthesizers, specifically Hatsune Miku. Up until this point he was mostly active composing music for video games, idols, and Touhou Project doujin albums. He uploaded his Vocaloid songs to Niconico to reach more listeners, and his early uploads were tagged by fans as "Vocaloid Gensokyouku Link" in reference to his often fairytale-like sound. He started posting his work to YouTube in 2011 to promote his 2nd album, Kikuoworld, In April 2023 it reached the 1 million follower milestone. In 2013 he was a featured contributor on the official Hatsune Miku album "Sakura". In 2013 he also formed the duo named Ikitama with vocalist/illustrator Si_ku.k, Kikuo would take on composing duties for their first two albums while only arranging and mastering the third. Throughout 2014 he also held a series of live performances titled Kikuolab at Shibuya Parco. On March 6, 2015 he released "Love me, Love me, Love me" which would achieve more than 200 million plays across YouTube and Spotify. Also in March 2015 he would compose 2 songs for DAOKO's first major label release on Toy's Factory.
In 2016 he created the unit Kikuohana with vocalist YURiCa/Hanatan, they have released 2 albums as of 2017 with both reaching the Oricon top 50 upon release. Later in 2016 he would perform during the Nico Nico Super Party at Saitama Super Arena. In 2017 his music was featured in the high school textbook "High School Music 1" published by Kyoiku Geijutsusha. On March 1st, 2022 NHK released a documentary titled "Professional Work Style - Ultimate Diva: Virtual Singer Hatsune Miku" in which Kikuo participated as one of the featured Vocaloid producers who spoke about their work utilizing the voicebank. In 2023 he released a self-titled best-of collection as a 2 disc analog record exclusively at the Kikuoland concert held at Roppongi's EX Theater. In January 2024 he joined English musician Bo En on a 12-stop tour of the United States, and later in March 2024 conducted his own solo US tour which included multiple shows taking place during SXSW in Austin, TX.
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Release Date | Title | Catalog no. | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 30, 2009 | Yume no Kane | SICD-054 | |
| December 30, 2010 | DOZED OFF | KSW-0001 | Touhou Project Arrange Album |
| August 13, 2011 | Kikuo Miku | KSW-0002 | |
| December 31, 2011 | KIKUOWORLD | KSW-0003 | |
| August 11, 2012 | Kikuo Miku 2 | KSW-0004 | |
| December 31, 2012 | KIKUOWORLD2 | KSW-0005 | |
| August 12, 2013 | Kikuo Miku 3 | KSW-0006 | |
| December 31, 2013 | KIKUOWORLD3 | KSW-0007 | |
| December 31, 2013 | Ikimono no Tamashii no Yukue | KSW-0008 | Kikuo 1st vocal album feat. si_ku |
| August 17, 2014 | Ryakushite Kikuo Miku 0 | KSW-0009 | Collection of early works from 2003-2009 |
| December 30, 2014 | Kikuo Miku 4 | KSW-0009 | shares catalog number with previous release |
| August 16, 2016 | At First | KSW-0011 | |
| August 14. 2015 | Kikuo Live | KSW-0012 | Contains recording of Nico Nico Chokaigi 2016 Performance |
| December 29, 2017 | Kikuo Miku 5 | KSW-0013 | |
| November 6, 2019 | Kikuo Miku 6 | KSW-0014 | |
| March 21, 2013 | Kikuo Miku 7 | KSW-0016 | Released at Kikuoland live show |
Digital Singles[edit]
| Release Date | Title |
|---|---|
| June 3, 2022 | Voices of Svaahaa |
| Astral Travel | |
| Knife, Knife, Knife | |
| November 11, 2022 | My Time OMORI ver. (Kikuo Cover) |
| December 14, 2022 | In a deep, dark forest |
| January 20, 2023 | The Good Child and the Fox Spirit |
| September 13, 2023 | As it is, as it is, without change |
| Emptiness, Emptiness, Emptiness of Emptiness STuPiD DaNCe ReMiX |
Other Albums[edit]
| Release Date | Title | Note |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2012 | "Kikuo Miku 2" A limited early release at the venue | CD-R Advance release of "Kikuo Miku 2" with unreleased songs |
| March 21, 2023 | Kikuo | Best of album released on vinyl |
As Ikitama[edit]
| Release Date | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2015 | Oishii Suiteki | Composer, Mastering |
| October 24, 2016 | San-mai no Shashin wo Mita Hi ni wa | Arrangement, Mastering |
As Kikuohana[edit]
| Release Date | Title | Catalog No. | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2016 | First Act | SCGA-00045 | Peak Oricon Position: 27 |
| May 31, 2017 | Second Act | SCGA-00061 | Peak Oricon Position: 43 |
Appears On[edit]
Game Soundtracks[edit]
| Release Date | Game Title | CD Title | Catalog No. | Song Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2010 | Touhou Sozinengi | Touhou Sozinengi Original Soundtrack | Composed 47 tracks | |
| December 15. 2010 | BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II | BLAZBLUE SONG ACCORD #2 with CONTINUUM SHIFT II | KDSD-00407 | Composed 13 tracks |
| April 8, 2011 | mecyaon! | mecyaon! | ONOMATOPE001S | "w i t h." |
| July 29, 2011 | Imouto Style | Imouto Style Original Soundtrack | CDRIVE-006S | "CAN NOT - DO NOT" |
| February 24, 2012 | Hatsukoi yohou | Hatsukoi yohou. Hatsukoi zensen. Original Soundtrack | CLGN-0002CD | "Hatsukoi" |
| March 30, 2012 | Reajuu Saimin | Reajuu Saimin Preorder Bonus Soundtrack & Saimin Onanie CD | CDRIVE-009-S~Y | "A special friend" |
| May 25, 2012 | Sakura no Reply | Sakura no Reply Original Soundtrack | ONOMATOPE-002S | "Yumeiro Diary" |
| July 25, 2013 | Xblaze Code: Embryo | XBLAZE CODE: EMBRYO Original Soundtrack | ASWJP-13071 | Composed 7 tracks |
| August 30, 2013 | Love Death 555! | Love Death ~Realtime Lovers~ Series BGM Complete Music Collection | TEA-G023-3 | "Itsudoko!? Love☆Link de Go Go Go!!!" 6 BGM tracks |
| April 26, 2014 | magical beat | MAGICAL BEAT ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK | ASWJP-16005 | Composed 22 tracks |
| April 15, 2015 | XBlaze Lost: Memories | XBLAZE LOST: MEMORIES original soundtrack | KDSD-00763~4 | Composed 54 tracks |
| September 2, 2015 | Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai | Hatsune Miku Project mirai Complete | UMA-9056~62 | "NATURE" Room BGM |
| October 6, 2016 | BlazBlue: Central Fiction | BLAZBLUE SONG INTERLUDE III SOUNDTRACK | ASWJP-16005 | "conciliation" |
| December 29, 2016 | CHUNITHM AIR | Stein Relation ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK | WM-0738 | "Gangu Kyousoukyoku -shuuen-" |
| November 5, 2017 | CHUNITHM AIR | CHUNITHM ALL JUSTICE COLLECTION ep.I | WM-0742~5 | "Gangu Kyousoukyoku -shuuen-" |
| February 21, 2018 | Secret of Mana | Seiken Densetsu 2 Secret of Mana Original Soundtrack | SQEX-10635/7 | "A Curious Happening" "The Oracle (Kikuo Version)" |
| October 9, 2019 | Dragalia Lost | DAOKO x Dragalia Lost | TFCC-86695 | "Ryuusei Toshi" "Yume Utsutsu" |
| October 12, 2022 | CHUNITHM NEW!! | CHUNITHM NEW ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK | "Spider's Thread (feat. Kagenui Hana)" |
Tsukiuta Series[edit]
| Release Date | CD Title | Artist | Catalog No. | Song Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2013 | Tsukiuta Series November Shun Shimotsuki: Aishiteru | Shimotsuki Shun | TKUT-0018 | "Icicle" |
| November 28, 2014 | Tsukituta Duet Series (Tencho Gumi 2) Shun Shimotsui & Kai Fuduki: Celestite | Shimotsuki Shun & Fuduki Kai | TKUT-0034 | "Celestite" |
| June 26, 2015 | Tsukiuta Series November Tsubaki Tendouin: Ryusei Butai | Tendouin Tsubaki | TKUT-0050 | "Ryusei Butai" |
| February 12, 2016 | Tsukiuta Series Procellarum BEST ALBUM: SHIROTSUKI | Shimotsuki Shun | TKUT-0082 | "Icicle" |
| March 11, 2016 | Tsukiuta Series Sells BEST ALBUM: HOSHITSUKI | Tendouin Tsubaki | TKUT-0091 | "Ryusei Butai" |
| February 24, 2017 | Tsukiuta The Animation Ending Theme CD 6 | Shimotsuki Shun | TKAM-0011/2 | "albion ~Futari Dake no Shiro~ |
| September 13, 2019 | Tsukiuta Series Procellarum Best Album 2: SHIROMOCHIDUKI | Shimotsuki Shun | TKUT-0221 | "albion ~Futari Dake no Shiro~ |
Doujin Works[edit]
| Release Date | Circle Name | CD Title | Catalog No. | Song Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2005 | Niyarhythms | Anikii, CD Tsukuttemita de Yansu yo~o | "Machined memories" "Coffee Dope into the sea" | |
| Sound Iemitsu | SI-STYLE/01 | SICD-001 | "Yozora no Fujikake" | |
| December 30, 2005 | Sound Iemitsu | Guren Byakuya -TRANCE from S.Iemitsu- | SICD-002 | "Sleeping is typing a keyboard" |
| April 29, 2006 | Niyarhythms | Fundo CD | "Yogiri no Sabaku" | |
| May 21, 2006 | Sound Iemitsu | IA-STYLE/Toho | SICD-005 | "Kō*chi*atsu" (arrangement) |
| August 13, 2006 | Sound Iemitsu | Guren Kuro Hana -HARDCORE from S.Iemitsu- | SICD-006 | "S" |
| IA-STYLE/Toho-J | SICD-009 | "GEISHA-HARAKIRI-MOE" | ||
| December 31, 2006 | Sound Iemitsu | Karen Sora -Vocal from S.Iemitsu- | SICD-015 | "6-Jikan-go no mirai" feat. Koko |
| 2007 | ange | Iyashi no Tenshi Cure Angel | "Shine to the dark -Short ver.-" Various BGM | |
| April 29, 2007 | studio satuki | HappyBellol | SSCD-01 | "Korokoropii" "Tabiji" "HappyBellol xim"Jﾆ1" |
| Oshikari CD Remixes | SSCD-02 | "Gorogoro☆Pishyari" | ||
| NETJEEP | KIKO-1001 | 4 songs feat. Koko | ||
| kxA Cherry's | Cherry's | "Mizukagami" | ||
| August 17, 2007 | Sound Iemitsu | SI-STYLE/B1 | SICD-020 | "Kintama hiyuhyun★" with 8T |
| October 8, 2007 | studio satuki | Yummy! | SSCD-03 | "CC Candy" "Stars' Sweet Parfait" |
| Yome 404 Not Found | SSCD-04 | "Jinsei Sanka" | ||
| May 11, 2008 | studio satuki | Tsu | SSCD-05 | "White Outs" "Triplights" "Outer Planets" "Sharpshifts" |
| Hito://Mawari | SSCD-04 | "Yome 404 Not Found (SouthernCoast Remix" "Stars' Sweet Parfait (NorthernCoast Remix)" | ||
| December 29, 2008 | LOLI.COM to Shonan Smile☆Ongakutai | Utahime to Koi no Hokorobi | SNSM-0001 | "Hontōni Daijina no wa Hitotsu Dake (kikuo's timing remix)" |
| project-Delta | TOHO RAVEN | SORR-00053 | "Jokyoku -Genkyoku- (kikuo rmx)" "necromaniciaII-DDB- (kikuo rmx)" "silentensemble (kikuo rmx)" "broken-dolls (kikuo rmx)" "WhyMyDollsCry -scrfice- (kikuo rmx)" | |
| October 11, 2009 | Guuno-ne Sounds | AC Adapter KICK-OFF! | GNCD-02 | "Rainbow OverDrive!" "Seiken-den Nanchara 2,Boshi no Nancha-ra Super Deluxe-fū" |
| December 30, 2009 | Iemitsu | Re6-R- | SICD-051 | Arranged 12 tracks |
| June 25, 2010 | Shot Music | SUPER SHOT2 -Bishoujo game remix collection- | SHOT-004 | "Symphonic Love (Melodies Overflowed mix)" |
| September 19, 2010 | Iemitsu | Nekoniwa | SICD-060 | All song arrangements |
| October 31, 2010 | Lotus Root Orchestra | Caps! | Arrangements: "Stay Inside" "Monoid" | |
| December 31, 2010 | Poyaccio | Puchirhythm CHU | KTHT-0009 | "Michi no Wakusei" "Akibare no Asa" |
| February 4, 2011 | Pearinet Records | Paranoia☆Love | PEAR-2002 | Composed all songs |
| May 8, 2011 | Iemitsu | Toho7pm | SICD-061 | Arranged all songs |
| May 28, 2011 | Pubsense | Kakumei☆Otokono | OPSR-1001 | Composed 3 songs |
| August 13, 2011 | Poyaccio | Puchirhythm san! | KTHT-0011 | "CHU WA CHU CHU!" |
| December 30, 2011 | Includeore | Chi -WISDOM- | ORECD-06 | Arrangement "Yuko Yako" "Mangetsu Tanuki Soshi" |
| December 31, 2011 | Poyaccio | Puchirhythm Foo/// | KTHT-0014 | "Iseijin to Renai" |
| April 30, 2012 | Poyaccio | Magicute!! | KTHT-0015 | "Bakuhatsu! Love Panic" |
| August 11, 2012 | cordelia | DIRNDL.FRAU | HNKS-004 | "Akazukin no Okami" |
| forestpireo | Perfect Pretty Phantom | FPR0021 | "Kaeru Haneru Yume no Yado" | |
| December 31, 2012 | Poyaccio | Shaking! | KTHT-0018 | "Gōhō Loli ni-mei kara Kokuhaku sa Retanode Dotchi ka Yome ni Suru" |
Others[edit]
| Release Date | Artist | CD Title | Catalog No. | Song Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2009 | Various | Anime nitoro☆itane Mix! | PREGET-2 | "PreParade" Remix "Happy☆Material" Remix |
| August 5, 2011 | Various | Pop The Hatsune Miku☆ | "Don't Look at Me in That Way" "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokoro Zuyosato" Hatsune Miku Cover | |
| January 30, 2013 | YURiCA/Hanatan | Primrose Flower Voice | DGSA-10046 | "Lai Lai Lai" |
| March 26, 2013 | Hatsune Miku | Cherry Blossom Story | DQCL-1921 | "Opening -Cherry Blossom Sings-" "Sakura no Goya" "Ending -Cherry Blossom Stories Go on-" |
| April 17, 2013 | Nagi Yanagi | Yukitoki | GNCA-0269 | "Surrealisme" |
| April 29, 2013 | lasah | INNOCENCE | LASAH-0001 | "BEAUTIFUL WORLD" |
| September 3, 2013 | Hatsune Miku | COMING DAYS | PINC-1029 | "Naki Mushi Denki" |
| March 25, 2015 | DAOKO | DAOKO | TFCC-86508 | "Yume Utsutsu "Ryusei Toshi" |
| December 12, 2018 | Shiteki Ryoko | TFCC-86655 | "Tanemoshikakemoarumahou" | |
| December 23, 2020 | Eve | Kaikai Kitan/Ao no Waltz | December 24, 2020 | Arrangement: "Ao no Waltz" "Shinkai" |