As the world of technology is constantly evolving and developing, musical artists are finding new ways to express themselves, tell stories, and create communities through innovative techniques and systems. Beginning as a Yamaha (the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturing company) research project, Vocaloid — a way to authentically synthesize human voices started as a niche technological tool — has recently become a global phenomenon.
The software for Vocaloid comes from synthesizers that mimic human vocals from inputs of melodies and lyrics, and its transformative technology has revolutionized the way music is consumed and produced, creating entirely new pathways for music production. Vocaloid’s cultural popularity also stems from the different character avatars linked to voices, such as the recent musical phenomenon Hatsune Miku. In the last 10 years, a massive online community of around five million people grew attached to these digital personas, encouraging illustrators, producers, as well as fans to center stories around the characters. Vocaloid’s combination of technology, creativity, and culture is what drives musicians and producers to incorporate it into the advancing world of musical pop culture.
Inspired by the technological capabilities of Vocaloid, Berkeley High School students have created their own Vocaloid club community which celebrates and explores Vocaloid music and its corresponding characters. “Originally, I just thought the characters that went with the voice banks (a set of basic letter pronunciations made by human voices) were cool, and I didn’t really know what they were from. But then I learned more about it and that’s what kind of got me into it,” Gia Sambrone-Meyer, a BHS freshman, said. Sambrone-Meyer, along with BHS freshmen Luna Cowles and Syl McKinsey, began the club earlier this year as a space for students to enjoy Vocaloid and discuss the different stories and characters associated with it. “I just want to find other people who are interested in Vocaloid, just (to) share with other people, like my friends, to support their friends and their interests and learn more about it,” Cowles said.
Vocaloid is very fan-dependent, encouraging fan-made stories, characters, and even concerts. One of the more famous Vocaloid voices, Hatsune Miku, developed by Japanese media company Crypton Future Media, held a holographic concert for fans in 2013 and was streamed worldwide. Vocaloid club focuses on fostering the excitement and admiration for Vocaloid at BHS that is seen in many digital communities around the globe. “I love the club. I think I’ve learned a lot about it (Vocaloid) since I joined,” Cowles said. “Something cool about Vocaloid is that it’s mostly fan-made. Fans of Vocaloid make music using voice banks, (and) people will draw the characters,” Cowles said.
Debuting this year, the Vocaloid Club has been meeting consistently every Thursday after school, listening to different Vocaloids, discussing interesting fan topics associated with the genre, and learning about the history behind its recent popularity. Through collaboration, shared learning, and community building, the Vocaloid Club hopes to expand its reach. “I’d recommend (Vocaloid Club) to people that wanna meet new people and are just interested in it. Or, if they don’t know much about it, they can discover new types of music,” Cowles said. “Lots of people who have joined didn’t really know what Vocaloid is — you learn more and it’s also just a nice place to be,” Cowles said.
Though smaller compared to some larger BHS clubs at around five to eight members, the size of Vocaloid club forms a close-knit community and is always welcoming new members. “I think because of the small aspect, we’ve all kind of grown to be friends. And maybe more people would change that, but I think it wouldn’t break it,” McKinsey said. Ultimately, the Vocaloid club’s presence at BHS creates a space for those who are interested or curious about the technological and cultural phenomenon that is Vocaloid to explore and learn more.