Virtual Singer KAF Holds Historic First Arena Show
Japanese Artist Reveals New Projects, Upcoming Releases
Pioneering virtual singer KAF explored her musical history, challenged her own reality-blurring identity and offered looks towards her future during her historic first arena show — becoming the first virtual singer to pull off such an event — held at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on January 14. It was a celebration of her art over the last five years — and a declaration of challenging greater goals moving forward, including the introduction of a new project called KAIKA
In front of a sold-out crowd waving pink-hued pen lights, KAF took the stage joined by a band of seasoned players to bring her rock-grounded creations to life. She sang and danced alongside dizzying visuals nodding to her digital origins. Despite her status as a virtual artist, KAF provided physicality to her performance, assisted by fans bouncing, clapping and shouting along to her hooks. She reflected her eclectic approach to style by highlighting songs dabbling in different genres, from straight-ahead rockers to rap-influenced cuts to electro-pop numbers.
Throughout the night, guests joined KAF, further underlining the wide range of sounds found in her music. Voice actor and singer Ayane Sakura joined her on stage for the slow-burning drama of “Sunrise,” while Virtual YouTuber Mori Calliope brought hip-hop energy to the swift “handicraft-high.” She linked up with electronic creators Hakushi Hasegawa and Mondo Grosso for a section both nervy and moody, while also offering a particularly surreal segment by linking up with KAFU, an avatar representing a digital singing voice built from KAF's own voice.
The night featured works from across KAF's career — alongside wardrobe changes reflecting different periods — but it also featured a smattering of new songs, pointing to her future. She announced that she's currently working on her fourth album, Fable, for release sometime this year, alongside a remix collection for last year's Crazy For You titled Crazy For You Gamma coming on March 27. KAF also announced the second installment of her Suite Series, where she collaborates with artists from across the musical spectrum. She offered a preview of what was to come via new song “Gimi Gimi Flight'' featuring Gen-Z rap dynamo #KT-Chan, performed with particular swagger at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
KAF offered several other announcements about the year ahead of her, including a virtual stage play set for July, but the biggest news came in the show's final stretch. The familiar site of KAF's digital avatar vanished, and on top of the stage appeared the silhouette of a person. They introduced themselves as KAIKA, a new artistic project. Whereas KAF works alongside songwriters, KAIKA said this new persona would only share music she herself wrote. She existed somewhere between real and digital — static ripples cutting through her image on the video board — but the emotion she shared was undeniably raw and human.
KAIKA shared several new songs at that moment, signaling the start of a new creative period. Yet it wasn't the end of KAF either, but rather another side of the artist behind this blooming creative world. It was a fitting gesture to end a show devoted to her sonic curiosity and constant drive to challenge herself.
Watch the archive of the show here until February 18
ABOUT KAF:
Debuting in 2018, KAF uses an anime-style avatar to present herself to the world, while creating
music centered around her versatile and powerful voice. She's become one of the most
prominent virtual singer's in Japan, with her original songs and covers earning millions of views.
She's performed at some of the country's most celebrated venues, including a sold-out night at
the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. This past March, she released her third full-length album,
further showing her artistic growth and ability to capture the complexities of growing up in 21st
century Japan.
Visit KAF's official website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO:
Founded in 2019, Tokyo KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO is a creative agency and management company at the cutting-edge of technology and entertainment. The group counts a variety of forward-thinking artists as part of its roster, including many virtual singers blurring the lines between the digital and real world.
Pioneering virtual singer KAF explored her musical history, challenged her own reality-blurring identity and offered looks towards her future during her historic first arena show — becoming the first virtual singer to pull off such an event — held at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on January 14. It was a celebration of her art over the last five years — and a declaration of challenging greater goals moving forward, including the introduction of a new project called KAIKA
In front of a sold-out crowd waving pink-hued pen lights, KAF took the stage joined by a band of seasoned players to bring her rock-grounded creations to life. She sang and danced alongside dizzying visuals nodding to her digital origins. Despite her status as a virtual artist, KAF provided physicality to her performance, assisted by fans bouncing, clapping and shouting along to her hooks. She reflected her eclectic approach to style by highlighting songs dabbling in different genres, from straight-ahead rockers to rap-influenced cuts to electro-pop numbers.
Throughout the night, guests joined KAF, further underlining the wide range of sounds found in her music. Voice actor and singer Ayane Sakura joined her on stage for the slow-burning drama of “Sunrise,” while Virtual YouTuber Mori Calliope brought hip-hop energy to the swift “handicraft-high.” She linked up with electronic creators Hakushi Hasegawa and Mondo Grosso for a section both nervy and moody, while also offering a particularly surreal segment by linking up with KAFU, an avatar representing a digital singing voice built from KAF's own voice.
The night featured works from across KAF's career — alongside wardrobe changes reflecting different periods — but it also featured a smattering of new songs, pointing to her future. She announced that she's currently working on her fourth album, Fable, for release sometime this year, alongside a remix collection for last year's Crazy For You titled Crazy For You Gamma coming on March 27. KAF also announced the second installment of her Suite Series, where she collaborates with artists from across the musical spectrum. She offered a preview of what was to come via new song “Gimi Gimi Flight'' featuring Gen-Z rap dynamo #KT-Chan, performed with particular swagger at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
KAF offered several other announcements about the year ahead of her, including a virtual stage play set for July, but the biggest news came in the show's final stretch. The familiar site of KAF's digital avatar vanished, and on top of the stage appeared the silhouette of a person. They introduced themselves as KAIKA, a new artistic project. Whereas KAF works alongside songwriters, KAIKA said this new persona would only share music she herself wrote. She existed somewhere between real and digital — static ripples cutting through her image on the video board — but the emotion she shared was undeniably raw and human.
KAIKA shared several new songs at that moment, signaling the start of a new creative period. Yet it wasn't the end of KAF either, but rather another side of the artist behind this blooming creative world. It was a fitting gesture to end a show devoted to her sonic curiosity and constant drive to challenge herself.
Watch the archive of the show here until February 18
ABOUT KAF:
Debuting in 2018, KAF uses an anime-style avatar to present herself to the world, while creating
music centered around her versatile and powerful voice. She's become one of the most
prominent virtual singer's in Japan, with her original songs and covers earning millions of views.
She's performed at some of the country's most celebrated venues, including a sold-out night at
the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. This past March, she released her third full-length album,
further showing her artistic growth and ability to capture the complexities of growing up in 21st
century Japan.
Visit KAF's official website, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter
ABOUT KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO:
Founded in 2019, Tokyo KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO is a creative agency and management company at the cutting-edge of technology and entertainment. The group counts a variety of forward-thinking artists as part of its roster, including many virtual singers blurring the lines between the digital and real world.
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