Wowaka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
wowaka
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Wowaka in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Genjitsutouhi-P (現実逃避P) |
| Born | November 4, 1987 Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | April 5, 2019 (aged 31) |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, lyricist, arranger, vocalist, guitarist |
| Instruments | Hatsune Miku, Fender Telecaster |
| Years active | 2009–2019 |
| Labels | Balloom |
| Associated acts | Hitorie |
Wowaka (pronounced "woh-wah-kah"), whose real name was Genjitsutouhi-P (現実逃避P), was a very talented Japanese musician. He was born on November 4, 1987, and sadly passed away on April 5, 2019. He was best known for his amazing Vocaloid music. Vocaloid is a special computer program that lets you create songs using synthetic voices, like the famous Hatsune Miku. Wowaka was also the lead singer for the band Hitorie. Many people think he was one of the most important musicians in the Vocaloid world. He created many popular songs during his career, which lasted over ten years.
Wowaka started making music in 2009 with his first song, In the Gray Zone. In 2011, he helped start a music company called Balloom. That same year, he released his first album, Unhappy Refrain. This album is now seen as a classic in Vocaloid music. After that, he joined the band Hitorie as their main singer. He continued to work with Hitorie for the rest of his life.
Sadly, Wowaka died on April 5, 2019, when he was 31 years old. He passed away peacefully in his sleep because of heart failure.
Early life and beginnings
Wowaka was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. From middle school, he loved the idea of being in rock bands. He started by playing the guitar. He joined bands in high school and college. He went to the University of Tokyo and led its music club. In college, he began writing his own songs for his band.
Music career
Wowaka first discovered Vocaloid music in December 2008. He heard a song called Last Night, Good Night by livetune. He really liked it and was surprised to learn that one person made the whole song. This inspired him to try making music with Vocaloid. In April 2009, he stopped playing with his band. He started creating Vocaloid music using Hatsune Miku.
In May 2009, Wowaka uploaded his first Vocaloid song, In the Gray Zone, to a Japanese video-sharing website called Niconico Douga. For his videos, Wowaka drew his own pictures instead of using Vocaloid character illustrations. He wanted to show the feeling of his songs this way. He kept this unique style for all his Vocaloid songs.
Wowaka's songs on Niconico were known for their fast tunes and deep lyrics. These lyrics often talked about the feelings of young women. He became known as "Genjitsu Touhi P" because he often wrote "Escaping from reality, how nice!" in his song descriptions. His music became very popular on Niconico Douga. After releasing his own album, he helped create Balloom. This was an independent music company with other popular musicians from Niconico Douga.
In May 2011, Wowaka released his first big album, Unhappy Refrain, through the Balloom label. Critics loved the album. It is now seen as a very important album in Vocaloid music. Many people consider it Wowaka's most famous work. Songs from the album like "Two-faced Lovers," "World's End Dancehall," "Rolling Girl," and "Unhappy Refrain" became hugely popular. After this, Wowaka wrote a song called And I'm Home. This song was used in the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. In the same year, he joined the rock band Hitorie as the main vocalist and guitarist. He then focused more on the band. Hitorie released their first album, Room Sick Girls Escape, in 2012.
In August 2017, Wowaka released his last Vocaloid song, Unknown Mother Goose. This was six years after his previous Vocaloid works. He made the song for Hatsune Miku's 10-year anniversary album, Re:Start. In October of that year, Hitorie released their own version of the song with Wowaka singing. In an interview, Wowaka said that Hatsune Miku helped him start making music. He said, "Hatsune Miku is the one who got me to start music. Miku is sort of like a mother figure to me."
Death and remembrance
Wowaka passed away in his sleep on April 5, 2019, from heart failure. He was 31 years old. Hitorie's website announced his death on April 8, 2019. After his death, the band canceled their planned concerts. They also said they had not decided what they would do next. His family held a private funeral. On June 1, 2019, Hitorie held a special concert to remember him. Tributes were also held for him at Hatsune Miku's Magical Mirai 2019 and Miku Expo Europe 2020 concerts.
Legacy and influence
Many other Vocaloid artists have been inspired by Wowaka's music. His songs like "Rolling Girl" and "World's End Dancehall" are very famous and have influenced many people. These songs, and others he made, inspired fans to create their own versions and artworks. After he passed away, fans honored him on social media. They remembered his amazing musical talent and singing.
Musician Kenshi Yonezu, who is also known as Hachi when he makes Vocaloid music, was a close friend of Wowaka. After Wowaka's death, Yonezu said that Wowaka had a big impact on what "Vocaloid-esque" music means to creators. He added that Wowaka also influenced his own music. He had great respect for him.
Aiden Strawhun wrote in Kotaku that Wowaka's name means a lot to people who have been part of the Vocaloid community since Hatsune Miku first started. He said Wowaka's songs, like "Rolling Girl," had a strong, emotional feeling. He wrote, "Where there is Hatsune Miku, there is Wowaka." He also said that with Wowaka's passing, the community lost a very important and influential person. But he added that Wowaka's work will live on. He believed Wowaka did more than just create music; he created magic.
See also
In Spanish: Wowaka para niños
