By Azumi Wake, Machico, 25:00, Night Code. ─ We pick up new releases featuring crossovers between creators, vocaloids, and voice actors! [Monthly Seiyu Artists Bulletin February 2022

In the February 2022 issue, we picked up three groups: Azumi Wake, Machico, and 25:00 at Night Code. In the February 2022 issue, we picked up three groups: Azumi Waki, Machico, and 25:00, at Night Code.

Azumi Wake concept album "Ajyuju, Night, and Music" (released January 26)

Since her artist debut at the end of January 2020, Azumi Kazuki has been consistently producing four singles and one album in the past two years. As if to prove her fulfilling musical activities, she has delivered a concept album "Ajyuju, Night, and Music," which is titled after her own nickname, as she continues to strengthen her presence as a "high-span release girl.

Included in this album are five contemporary R&B songs on the theme of "night. Looking back, their first album, "Cho-Revolutionary Koisuru Nichijo," released in February 2021, had a pop-rock "Side A" and an electro "Side B," dividing the songs into two separate sections. Side B" was particularly well received, and the 90's R&B number "Tuesday" from "Side B" was used as the opening song at the band's first solo live performance. In light of these episodes, it is not surprising that they have taken this direction with their latest work.

The songs included in the album are, in order, "Marika (Jasmine)," which creates a smooth atmosphere with piano and flute. The lyrics, written by Eiichi Kogure (the band apart), include "te-maneki" (beckoning) and "step ha break-beats" (step ha break-beats), and the words "step ha break-beats" and "step ha break-beats" (step ha break-beats). The slow rhythm of the song and the singing of the words in a broken syllabic pattern seem to calm the hearts of the listeners by placing their hands on their chests, and the emotional mode naturally switches to nighttime.

The song "Even If This Love Wakes Up Faster Than a Dream" is a nostalgic and humid song with a chill trap that makes the listener feel as if he/she is floating on the surface of the water, and the downer rap in the verse part, while incorporating a touch of dancehall reggae, is a bit like a "downer" song. and the chorus of the hook that raises the tension a little from there, "Cara Melate" skillfully showcases the contrast between the expressive vocals. In the middle of the same song, <ex-archery club? That important information I'm curious about...", a part that abruptly talks about the characterization of a man she is interested in in a monologue style, also has a great impact.

The fourth song, "I Don't Need to Sleep," takes on a bedroom-pop tone. The fourth song, "I Don't Need to Sleep," has a bedroom-pop feel to it, and the song's flow changes freely throughout the song. The album also features rap/hip-hop vocal expressions scattered throughout.

The album closes with the urban pop of "Night of Iris. The minimalist track, similar to "Marika," invites you into a slumber, and the phrase "If I see you, I'm sure I won't be honest with you again (as usual)" is a favorite of the singer herself. When I am in front of the person I love, I feel so elated that I can't be myself as usual. This is something that anyone who is in love with someone, whether they are happily married or not, can relate to.

All of the songs on this album are a collection of on-trend contemporary R&B gems. In discussing this masterpiece, one cannot forget the presence of Mayumi Kaneko. Kaneko, who had previously worked with Ms. Waki on her debut song "Fluffy," wrote and arranged all of the songs on this album. It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Kaneko produced the sound for this project.

As was the case with the song "11th Dimension Lena" by Reina Kondo, which was introduced in last month's issue of this series, the artists affiliated with Nippon Columbia continue to appoint an author with a track record of trust and achievement, and ask him to produce a large number of songs. In fact, as the number of songs they produce increases, the artists are able to more concretely express the image they have created on their own canvases.

As a result, the artists' undiscovered talents are unearthed and new colors are added. With "Ajyuju, Night, and Music" as a tailwind, we may see more and more voice-over artists adopting this style of production in the future.

Machico Single "ENISHI" (January 12)

Machico, who will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut as an artist this May, has released a new single, his first under his own name in about two years.

The title track "ENISHI" is used as the opening theme for the TV anime "Genso Sangokushi Tengen Reishin Ki". Machico's long tones, one of her strong points, are brilliant throughout the song, and the first loop of the B-melody is almost silent a cappella, The first loop of the B-melody is almost silent a cappella, and the "power of the song" can be felt throughout the song. She also challenges herself to shout, which she says has never been her forte, and we hope you will experience the vocalist's "raw" singing expression.

Shunsuke Machiya, the director of "Genso Sangokushi Tengen Reishinki," heard the ballad "Everlasting Glory" from her album "Machibito Sagashi" released in November 2019, which led to the creation of "ENISHI". Machibito Sagashi" is an album that is full of songs that Machico herself "wanted to do" and that have a sharp sound. It seems that this work, which Machico has a strong emotional attachment to, has brought him the "fate" (=enishi) for new songs.

The coupling track, "Daredevil FORWARD," is an upper tune that was created with the groove of the rhythm players (bass and drums) in mind as well as the vocal expression. Live 2022" (SUNDAY STAGE) held on January 24th, so they must have a lot of confidence in this song as a "live banger". Let's enjoy Machico's new work in its entirety, which maneuvers between ballad and rock...... opposite expressions.

25:00, at Night Code. 2nd single "Endlessly Gray to / Idysmile" (January 19, 2012)

Last but not least, we present "25:00, by Night Code." The song was born from "Project Sekai Colorful Stage. feat. Hatsune Miku," a rhythm game for smartphones launched in September 2020! feat. Hatsune Miku", a rhythm game for smartphones launching in September 2020. The group consists of Kanade Yoizaki (CV: Tomori Kusunoki), Mafuyu Asahina (CV: Rui Tanabe), Ema Shinonome (CV: Minori Suzuki), Mizuki Akiyama (CV: Hyuga Sato), and others. It is an unidentified music circle that gathers at 25:00 on "Night Code," a chat tool that appears in the play, to create music.

In Project Sekai, Kanade Yoizaki and other original characters encounter the "virtual singers" of the title, Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin. The story is told at ...... and depicts the characters overcoming their struggles in the real world with the support of these girls.

25 O'clock at Night Code" is no exception. is no exception to the rule, as its central character, Kanade Yoizaki, has had a traumatic experience in the past, and the girls' story begins when a circle participant, Yuki, disappears from sight. The song "To the Endless Gray" is a song about a girl who is in the midst of a traumatic event, and her story is set in motion when "Snow" disappears.

The song "To the Limitlessly Gray" was produced by vocaloid P, Nosurii, whose lyrics and arrangement of Shiina Natsukawa's "Antithesis" have also been featured in this series of articles. With the keyword "talent" as a key word, he and Kagamine Rin share the anguish of not being understood for the art they create. The song is a house-style number with a watery soundtrack. The song is a house-style number with a watery sound effect. ). ) This song was written with MEIKO (a virtual singer who appears in the film), who sings about her feelings of distance from the person she wants to cherish.

There are countless examples of voice-over artists singing songs provided by vocalo-pop artists. In recent years, in addition to "Project Sekai," virtual talents from the virtual driver group NIJISANJI have participated as voice actors in the "Den-On Club. In addition, Ayane Sakura released a collaboration song "Asahi" with virtual singer Hanafu, and there have been many opportunities to see voice actors/artists and virtual talents get close. 25 o'clock at Night Code." and other works that show this kind of cultural crossover will eventually lead to major innovations in the mainstream.

(Text by Kota Ichijo)