“Wowaka,” the musician most known for his work as a composer for digital pop star Hatsune Miku, died at the age of 31 due to heart failure on April 5.
The news comes via a post from the band Hitorie, whom Wowaka performed as a vocalist for since 2012. A funeral has already been conducted by relatives, according to Crunchyroll.
Wowaka began his Vocaloid production career by posting his first song “Grey Zone” onto Nico Nico Douga, a Japanese video sharing site, in 2009. Some of his most popular songs include “Ura-Omote Lovers,” “Rolling Girl,” and “Unhappy Refrain.” The future of Hitorie is unclear, but the remaining three members say they will continue on with their music in some form.
Wowaka’s last tweet was at the end of March, calling Rei (the name of Japan’s newly announced era) “beautiful.”
令和きれいだー。
— wowaka (@wowaka) April 1, 2019
On Twitter, reactions from fans and Hatsune Miku lovers has been expectedly sad and thankful for Wowaka’s work, a large number of these tweets contain custom fan art of Miku and Wowaka. Some fans praised Wowaka for his humble roots, which in turn inspired Vocaloid fans to pursue their own dreams.
https://twitter.com/riningear/status/1115270398709514241
I’m trippin. Wowaka just passed. He was Japanese musician who did a bunch of Miku songs and led the band Hitorie, which I been recently listening to nonstop. Caught up on all their music videos last night and was about to tweet out a bunch of my favorites too. Gone too soon. RIP. pic.twitter.com/dYgfVTRjxJ
— MICHAEL HIGHAM (@michaelphigham) April 8, 2019
In a 2017 interview with natalie.mu (according to a translation on vgperson.com), Wowaka claimed that he owed Hatsune Miku for getting him into making music.
“I heard the theme for [the Miku 30th anniversary] compilation is ‘gratitude,’ but personally, I made a song themed around love,” Wowaka said. “It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but this is the first song I’ve ever made in my life themed around love. I never gave it a second of thought 10 years ago as I posted songs, but no matter how you look at it, Hatsune Miku is the one who got me to start music. Miku is sort of like a mother figure to me.”
Thanks wowaka, for making my high school years less depressing.#VOCALOID #初音ミク pic.twitter.com/B1leRPMRUH
— MCx (@MCXARTS) April 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/shubsicles/status/1115279847444451328
Thank you wowaka. Thanks for saving us all.
— ᴊᴇʀʀʏ (@jeminix2) April 8, 2019
.
Feel free to use this if you want for a tribute cover, just credit me. pic.twitter.com/QtfEboPl5L
i’ll be damned – rest in peace @wowaka you helped define an amazingly fun and charming moment of internet and musical culture that i can’t compare to anything else#wowakaさん #wowaka #RIPwowaka #onelasttime #miku
— ♫ lastkeymusic ♫ (Music Comms Open!) (@LastKeyMusic) April 8, 2019
artwork by: @camiinoa pic.twitter.com/LElfLIiKSd
https://twitter.com/sleepy_milk/status/1115275315591483392
https://twitter.com/TheRiikoArt/status/1115267663109001223
https://twitter.com/moonprincett/status/1115264217765031938
Wowaka is one of my favorite vocaloid producers . I would get hyped whenever he released a new song on his channel . I was absolutely devastated when i heard about his death . So this is my tribute to Wowaka . May you rest in peace . ” One more time”#wowakaさんありがとう pic.twitter.com/mcfnmNpSpP
— Yoake @ HIATUS (@egg_yolkkkk) April 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/KrimsonGray/status/1115088667691737090
It goes without saying that Hatsune Miku as a brand and “performer” will continue. The beauty of Miku is that she’s software that practically anyone can use to create songs, and she has plenty of other famous songs by other composers. But don’t be surprised if future composers take inspiration from Wowaka.
Correction 1:47pm CT: An earlier version of this article mistakenly credited the natalie.mu interview to a translation site. The article has been corrected and clarified.
READ MORE:
- Virtual pop star Hatsune Miku is touring the U.S.
- With ‘Rose Gold,’ Kitty is in charge of her own destiny
- The secret sauce in Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg’s cooking show? Friend goals
