Iyowa (Japanese: いよわ) is a Japanese musician, Vocaloid producer, songwriter and illustrator. He is best known for his 2021 single "Kyu-Kurarin" (stylized as "kyu kurarin"), which has been viewed 50 million times on YouTube.[2] His artist name allegedly came about from having a weak stomach.[3][citation needed]
Career
Iyowa began composing music in elementary school using the Nintendo DS software Jam with the Band. He became interested in Vocaloid music when he was in junior high school, when he discovered Jin's song Children Record.[4]
In 2018, Iyowa debuted as a Vocaloid producer, submitting his music to Nico Nico Douga.[5]
Iyowa released his debut album Sleeping Pink Noise in November 2019.[6] The album was initially released only on CD, but later released on streaming formats.[7]
On June 8, 2020, Iyowa released "Clover Knight" as his debut single on his own label, Igusuri Records.[8]
On September 4, 2021, Iyowa released "Kyu-Kurarin". This song's music video gained 100,000 views on Nico Nico Douga one week after its release, and 10 million views on YouTube by June 19, 2022.[9] This song reached number one on the Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20. It is the longest charting song on the chart, and is still charting as of July, 2024.[10] It has lyrics that allude to depression and suicide, and many users have discussed the meaning of the lyrics.[11] It was a single from Watashi no Heritage released in December of the same year. This album debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums, and became his first entry on the chart.[12]
On October 22, 2022, Iyowa released a song titled "Heat Abnormal" featuring vocal synth character Adachi Rei, which was number one in the VOCALOID Collection 2022 Autumn.[13]
On December 7 2022, Iyowa's song "Leave You on the Back of the Earth" featuring RIME became the number one single on Billboard Japan's newly instituted Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20 singles chart.[14] Six months later, "The Peachy Key" reached number one, making Iyowa the artist with the most number one songs on the chart.[15]
In January 2023, Iyowa was featured on the song "Droplet" from Japanese voice actress and singer Mai Fuchigami's EP Mai Create.[16] That year, he produced "Zanshi", a song from another voice actress and singer Saori Hayami's third studio album, Shiro to Hanataba.[17]
Iyowa released his third album, Films, Sunny Spots, Graduations on 26 June 2024. It reached number nine on both Oricon Albums Chart and Japan Hot Albums, becoming his first top 10 hit.[19][20]
Artistry
Iyowa's songs are known for using a lot of dissonance and are often described as emotionally charged.[21] The abrupt jumps in scale and the abundance of dissonance led to his early career to be described as "that sounds like it was written at random, but it is a song and it is mutant".[22] In 2022, he described his musical style as "Strong characteristic and strange music".[23]
Vocaloid music videos are generally commissioned from a different person than the composer, but Iyowa produces all of his own music videos and his songs.[24][1] He attributed this to the reason: "I was afraid to have a music video produced by someone I had never met before."[23] The girls in his music video are called "Iyowa girls", and he said he is very happy to see their fan art.[4]
Inspiration
Iyowa has cited Harumaki Gohan, Nuyuri, and Enon Kawatani of Gesu no Kiwami Otome as major musical influences.[25] In particular, Kawatani is a strong influence on Iyowa, and many of Iyowa's songs are influenced by his works.[1] He has also stated that he is influenced by Jin's Kagerou Project, a mixed-media project.[26]
Personal life
Iyowa is a college student as of 2022. After he graduates, he plans to continue working as a producer while working another job.[27]